If you've ever found yourself watching Downton Abbey for the fourth time, brewing a pot of Yorkshire Tea at 4pm, or planning a trip to the Cotswolds you've been dreaming about for years — you might be an Anglophile. But what exactly is an Anglophile, and why are there so many of us in America?
The Definition of an Anglophile
An Anglophile is a person who admires or loves England — its people, culture, history, language, and way of life. The word comes from the Latin Anglus (English) and the Greek philos (loving). While the term technically refers to England specifically, most self-described Anglophiles love all of Britain — England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland — along with everything associated with British culture.
Why Are There So Many American Anglophiles?
America has more Anglophiles than any other country outside the UK. This isn't surprising when you consider the deep cultural, linguistic, and historical ties between the two nations. American English is derived from British English. American literature, law, and political philosophy are rooted in British traditions. And for generations, British culture has been exported to America through books, music, film, and television.
But the modern wave of American Anglophilia has been driven primarily by British television. PBS Masterpiece has been bringing British period dramas to American living rooms since 1971. BritBox now has over 4 million subscribers in the USA. And shows like Downton Abbey, Bridgerton, The Crown, and All Creatures Great and Small have introduced millions of Americans to the warmth, wit, and elegance of British storytelling.
What Do Anglophiles Love?
Anglophiles are passionate about many aspects of British culture, but some themes come up again and again:
- British television — period dramas, cosy mysteries, and British comedies
- British food and drink — proper tea, biscuits, Cadbury chocolate, British crisps, and pub food
- British history — the monarchy, the World Wars, the Victorian era, and the Regency period
- British literature — Jane Austen, Agatha Christie, P.G. Wodehouse, and James Herriot
- The British countryside — the Cotswolds, Yorkshire Dales, Lake District, and Scottish Highlands
- British lifestyle — afternoon tea, village life, garden parties, and the pub
Why Anglophiles Love British Subscription Boxes
For many American Anglophiles, the hardest part of loving British culture is the distance. You can stream British TV on BritBox and PBS Masterpiece. You can read British books on your Kindle. But you can't easily get authentic British food — the proper Yorkshire Tea, the McVitie's Digestives, the Cadbury Dairy Milk that tastes different from the American version — without either flying to London or paying extortionate shipping fees.
That's where LondonPop Box comes in. Every month, we hand-pick 6–8 authentic British products and ship them directly from London to anywhere in the USA. It's a little piece of Britain delivered to your door — the perfect way to bring your love of British culture into your everyday life.