7 Things You Will Love About Epcot’s United Kingdom Pavilion in Walt Disney World

The United Kingdom is one of my favorite places in the world. I love the culture: the people, food, and atmosphere. It’s amazing how closely Epcot can replicate these wonderful countries. The UK is one of the best pavilions, in my opinion. Here are 7 things I think you will love about Epcot’s United Kingdom Pavilion, too:

7. The Characters: I love the characters that call the UK home. Characters like Mary Poppins, Alice, Winnie the Pooh and Tigger often visit this pavilion for autographs and just hanging out. Seeing these guys is always fun because they don’t really appear that often around the parks (except at Crystal Palace for Pooh and Friends). Mary Poppins and Alice can usually be found standing right by the entrance to the pavilion gardens. I think they occasionally have a friend with them, but it’s usually just either of them. Pooh and Tigger like to hang out in The Toy Soldier by the Kidcot station. These characters are practically perfect in every way and would love to grab a spot of tea with you!

6. The Cast Members: The Cast Members all over the Parks are wonderful, but those at the UK pavilion are just really fun to talk to! The actual UK holds such a diverse group of people, and this pavilion isn’t any different! I once had a lovely conversation about life in Northern Britain with a Cast Member in The Tea Caddy. We casually chatted for about fifteen minutes, comparing life from here and there. My dad likes to talk football (soccer, for you non-Brits) with the lads in the Sportsman’s Shoppe. Any time you’re around the Cast Members in the World Showcase, try to strike up a conversation because they have really awesome things to talk about!

5. The Shops: In the United Kingdom pavilion, there are typical Epcot merchandise shops. You know, the room full of shirts that say “United Kingdom Epcot” on them. Super cool, I’ll admit, but not particularly any different than every other pavilion. But the UK also has shops that are perfectly quaint and British and authentic. I love Twinning’s, the teashop, and the toy store in the back corner and the football shop and just everything about them. Each store is decorated from top to bottom with Beatles posters and fake phone booths and medieval swords and any other British thing you could possibly think of.

4. The Music: The UK has borne some of the most iconic music of our time. The Beatles, Rolling Stones, The Who and countless others tend to make their way to this pavilion. Sometimes Beatles Mania plays on the stage in the garden courtyard and really makes the place feel like an invasion is happening. Other times there are bands who hail from all over the UK, from London to Glasgow to Belfast. This is the kind of music that pulls you into its groove and has you jamming along. Expect to hear this awesome music year-round and all throughout the pavilion and in the Rose and Crown!

3. The Performers: Make sure you see every single one of the World Showcase Players at least once in your life. The Players in the UK Pavilion are especially hilariously ridiculous. Several of the performers come out into the main square with a wheelbarrow, renaissance costumes and bloody brilliant accents. They announce to the always-large-audience that they are going to tell the story of King Arthur and the Holy Grail (“Grail, grail, grail, uhh!”). The players call up different audience members to play the roles in the show and are completely goofy about it. If you want a good laugh and a fun time, make sure to check them out!

2. The Food: Did someone say bangers and mash? Fish and chips? Hard cider? Well then the UK pavilion is the right place for you! This spot around the world is a great place for authentic food served in an authentic way. My family loves a quick stop at the Fish and Chip shop when you first enter the pavilion. In the UK fish and chips are kind of like fast food and that’s exactly how it is in Epcot! For more of a sit down meal, head to the Rose and Crown! It feels just like a pub in London, complete with amazing food and brilliant drink-and lots of it! This restaurant isn’t the most expensive of the sit down places in World Showcase, but it’s definitely worth a reservation. The Rose and Crown also makes for a great place to see IllumiNations! Don’t forget to stop in The Tea Caddy for English Breakfast and digestive biscuits!

1. The Detail: This pavilion does not skimp on detail. All of the pavilions in Epcot are totally authentic and look amazing, but this one feels different to me. The UK in Epcot feels like the real deal. Between the red phone booths, the lush gardens, the cobblestoned square, the thatched roofs and the cute little shops tucked away in the corners, this pavilion sweeps me up. I love the smell of fish and chips wafting through the street as I pass by. And the quietness of the back garden and the joy in the toyshop. The UK is a really special place to hang out and deserves much more than just a walk by. Stop in for a pint or some tea or to just enjoy the British invasion!