We’ve all spent a lot of time inside the past year, and most of us took up a hobby while we were in quarantine. Some of us tried making sourdough (bread is complicated, y’all), others took up knitting (even more complicated than bread-making, if you ask me), and most of us listened to Taylor Swift’s folklore and evermore a lot. Now, those things might not seem like they add up to anything, but if you ask me, they add up to a love for cottagecore – or at least an interest.
And since it doesn’t seem like we’re really going to go places with people for, you know, a while yet …what better thing to do than to plan a trip outside, or dream of a trip outside.
That’s where BritBox comes in – virtually, of course.
Britbox – British TV’s answer to Netflix, is a partnership between the BBC and ITV, and is basically a streaming service that includes all the best British TV shows you can think of (and a few you can’t and I will tell you about in a bit), from the original The Office, to Downton Abbey, classic Doctor Who and the 90’s version of Pride and Prejudice, which everyone should watch at least once in their lives.
The service is $6.99 a month, or $69.99 annually, and you can subscribe through the Britbox website, or through Amazon Prime Video or Apple TV.
How can a streaming service give us that cottagecore feeling, you ask? Well, the only way we get things these days, with a new line of Home & Garden programming that might not physically take you outside, but sure makes you feel that relaxed, country feel. Hey, it worked on me, so don’t knock it till you try it!
In particular, I want to highlight five Britbox shows that are set to put you in the right cottagecore mood: Countryfile, This Farming Life, Gardener’s World, Escape to the Country and Life in a Cottage Garden, all on the right side of relaxing and charming. In fact, these are the kind of shows you (and by you I, of course, mean me, I did it, I’m guilty) could watch eight straight hours off and not feel even a tiny bit bad.
Countryfile
Filled with spectacular settings and stories celebrating the beauty, diversity and heritage of the countryside, Countryfile connects viewers with the beauty and the reality of rural life. The program reveals the people and places that make the countryside so precious, with sweeping drone photography revealing the gorgeous landscape, and specialist cameras capturing wildlife and rural life in macro detail.
This Farming Life
Not just a job, a way of life. This warm, compelling series weaves intimate personal stories with the dramatic events that make up life on a farm, with families carving out a living in some of Britain’s most beautiful landscapes. Whether dealing with the difficulties caused by a sick herd of cattle, or battling against a bitter snowstorm, they must withstand all that the elements throw at them. With joy and heartache in equal measure, This Farming Life reveals the secrets of a singular profession.
Gardener’s World
The popular BBC flagship gardening program returns and is packed with good ideas and tips from experts, as well timely reminders to get the most of your garden, whatever its size or type. Hosted by gardening master Monty Don, this BBC lifestyle institution is full of down-to-earth advice from experts and surprise guests such as Mary Berry.
Life in a Cottage Garden
Embrace the cozy cottage lifestyle with Life in a Cottage Garden as Carol Klein (Gardeners’ World) guides us through a year in the life of her own garden at Glebe Cottage in Devon. From the hidden secrets of winter, the first shoots of spring and the fecundity of summer right through to autumn, the series is a beautiful documentation of how a garden flourishes, dies and is reborn.
Escape to the Country
Ever wanted to move from the city into an idyllic rural retreat? Surrounded by concrete and noisy traffic, most city people are tempted to quit the rat race for the peace of the countryside. Experts and realtors help people to achieve that dream, finding a suitable property and guiding prospective buyers through every aspect of buying, selling and moving. Each episode follows one move, and includes everything from snug, chocolate-box cottages to rambling castles. Will they fall in love with the properties that are shown, or has their search been in vain?
Do you want to go hide in a cottagecore world with me? Remember, all of these shows are available on Britbox.
