The characters of Mole, Toad, Ratty and Badger are familiar to many adults who grew up with the children’s classic The Wind In The Willows. Have you read the book, seen the story on stage or screen, listened to it on the radio or read the book to your children?

JRR Tolkien - author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings - was an academic who created a hugely detailed mythical world in which to set his stories. Tolkien was born towards the end of the nineteenth century - a Victorian by birth - yet his novels are still hugely popular today.

William Blake's poem Jerusalem, set to the music we use now during the First World War, is seen by some as an English National Anthem.

J K Rowling, creator, of Harry Potter, is one of the most successful writers on earth. Her books have transferred to the big screen with tremendously successful films which have a star cast of English actors.

Isambard Kingdom Brunel was an engineer, inventor and entrepeneur who transformed travel in England and beyond as he built bridges, railways and ships.

Rudyard Kipling’s IF is one of the greatest poems in the English language. On a technical level it has metre, rhythm, rhyme. On a soul level it has content that goes beyond words, a poem that can speak to people for all eternity.

The book How Clean Is Your House? by Kim Woodburn and Aggie Mackenzie, complements the successful television series of the same name. This two woman cleaning team have zealously tackled some of the dirtiest houses in Britain...

Hot cross buns - golden, glazed buns containing fruit and spices and topped with pastry crosses - are traditionally made on Good Friday. They are good to make with children who can get involved in all or part of the bun making process.

England has a huge array of celebrity cooks and chefs, many of whom have brought out recipe books which often accompany popular television shows. Books by England’s top cookery celebrities can make great gifts.

Geordie English is an excellent small book which provides a clear introduction to Geordie - an English dialect spoken in Northumberland. Famous Geordies include Ant and Dec, Alan Shearer and Cheryl Cole.