3 Great British Pastimes

Grabbing some down time by undertaking fun activities is a great way to bring some enjoyment into your life and also helps to recharge your batteries.

Over the years people in Great Britain have become famed for embracing different types of pastimes that have become firmly embedded within popular culture.

Some of these activities date back over 100 years, while others are a much more modern phenomenon that have been driven by advancements in technology.

Read on as we take a closer look at three pastimes that are hugely popular in Britain in the 21st century.

Bingo’s back with a bang

Bingo first boomed in Britain during the 1960s, but suffered a big slump later towards the end of the millennium as it struggled to shake off its perception of being a game for old people.

However, the rise of the internet completely changed the landscape, quickly opening up bingo to a much wider cross-section of people.

Gambling operators were eager to latch on tom this, offering people across the country the chance to play online bingo from the comfort of their own homes.

This sparked a huge rise in the number of people playing the game and helped to build a big network of online bingo communities.

With people’s enthusiasm for bingo reignited, the ‘real-life’ version of the game has enjoyed an inevitable surge in popularity over the past few years.

Some companies have even added a modern twist to this popular pastime, incorporating dance music with bingo games to help grow its appeal amongst younger people.

Gardening is good for the soul

It is estimated that around half of all British people partake in gardening, making it one of the most popular pastimes in the country.

Television programmes starring the likes of Monty Don, Charlie Dimmock and Alan Titchmarsh helped to broaden the appeal of gardening, inspiring people to see if they could match their creations.

Expenditure on gardening in Britain is now more than £12.5 billion per year – a figure that highlights its prevalence as a widespread pastime.

Social media has also played its part in modernising gardening, with people using platforms like Facebook and Instagram to share their creations with friends and family.

Many gardeners issue challenges to see who can grow the biggest fruit or vegetables, helping to get even more people engaged with the activity.

Spending time in the garden remains one of the great British pastimes and it is one that should continue to endure for many years to come.

Surfing the web is all the rage

Technology has undoubtedly changed many facets of daily life and that is certainly the case with regards to how people spend their spare time.

Surfing the internet has become all the rage in the 21st century, with millions of people spending their free time browsing social media, shopping online and much more.

Keeping up-to-speed with celebrity news is popular amongst younger people, while social gaming has also become firmly entrenched in British culture.

Popular games like Candy Crush, FarmVille and Pirate Kings are tremendously addictive and have become an integral part of everyday life.

Many people use chat services like Messenger and WhatsApp to stay in touch with friends and family, further highlighting the power of the web in modern society.

These types of activities have surpassed watching television and reading books for millions of people, proving that surfing the web is now a genuine British pastime.

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