Life used to be simple. Be interesting, be unique, be individual, and people will be drawn to you. Now, we have multiple personas to cultivate across multiple platforms; neglect your twitter feed and you’ll signal a lack of virtue; fail to post on Facebook and signal that you’re, well, dead. But there is one platform which all others bow down to. One which can be used to convince the world that you live the fullest, craziest existence, all from the comfort of your sofa. In your jim jams. Yes, we’re talking about Instagram.
Making sure that your Instagram game is up to scratch can be difficult. Friends will be posting snaps of far flung locations and far out activities, and keeping up can be tough. The good news is, there are some places much closer to home which will look just as amazing on your feed. So, we’ve teamed up Cottages in Northumberland, purveyors of cottages in Beadnell, to offer 7 unusual locations in Britain IDEAL for you Instagram.
ALNWICK TREEHOUSE
If you’re looking for an extraordinary treehouse high up in the branches – and let’s face it, aren’t we all? – head to Alnwick and you won’t be disappointed. The Treehouse in Alnwick Garden is one of the largest wooden treehouses in the world; made from Canadian cedar, Scandinavian redwood, and UK pine. That’s the most multicultural, treebased domestic space we’ve ever had the pleasure of seeing.
Make sure you head into the café; only accessible by walking across the rope bridges. These places make for good Insta-pics if you’re a foodie and love to show off unique dishes to your followers.
Alnwick Treehouse | © Christine Westerback /Wikicommons
KETLEY CRAG ROCK
If you’re looking to add some landscape shots to your profile, Northumberland should be your first stop. Enjoy a walk to Ketley Crag Rock, home to mysterious cup and ring carvings that have recently been named as Ancient Monuments by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Research has said that these markings were made between 3800 BC and 1500 BC. That’s a looooong time ago, before Instagram even existed. Fancy that? Historians are, however, still unsure of the meaning behind them.
THE PINEAPPLE
If you’re looking for a unique, one-of-a-kind flourish on a historic building, look no further than this tropical fruit rendered in stone. Built in 1761 by the Earl of Dunmore (a village in Falkirk, Scotland), The Pineapple is an eccentric summerhouse surrounded by a walled garden.
But why a pineapple? During the 1700s, the Earl of Dunmore was serving as governor in the state of Virginia, where sailors would leave pineapples on gateposts to announce their safe return from sea. After returning home, the joker Earl Dunmore decided to bring this tropical custom to Scotland in a more permanent fashion. We admire his commitment to the joke; it’s massive!
The Pineapple | © Giannandrea /Wikicommons
THE TINY POLICE STATION
Sometimes the madcap momentum of London can be a little overwhelming. This one is easy to miss when being moved by the crowd – but next time you find yourself in Trafalgar Square, head to the south-east corner to find this hidden treasure. This tiny police station has been around since 1926 and was built from a hollowed-out lamppost to help policemen keep an eye on protests, once upon a time a favourite pastime in Trafalgar Square.
With a direct line to Scotland Yard, this police station can surprisingly hold two prisoners at one time. Although today it’s used as a broom cupboard for the Westminster Council, Britain’s smallest police station is the ideal size and location for a selfie.
ANGEL OF THE NORTH
This one is taller than four double-decker buses and has wings the size of a jumbo jet; the Angel is the most dominant, iconic landmark that the North of England has to offer. It attracts over 150,000 visitors each year and is considered the biggest angel sculpture in the world, so why it may not exactly be unique to your feed, it’s a stunning sculpture nonetheless.
THE HEADINGTON SHARK
If your Instagram theme is for those with artistic minds, then the shark in a roof in Oxford is one snap you definitely need to capture. What makes it even more curious and crazy is its residential credentials. It’s not like it’s part of a quirky bar or restaurant, it’s simply protruding out of someone’s home in Oxford. It’s made from painted fibreglass and has become one of the town’s most famous residents since its installation in 1986. Despite legal battles to get the shark removed on health and safety grounds, the sculpture lives on and now, people from all over the UK stop by to get a selfie with the shark.
Headington Shark| © Henry Flower/Wikicommons
WALE’S SMALLEST HOUSE
This spot has made an appearance in the Guinness Book of Records and been declared the smallest house in Wales. Amazingly, 19th century couples lived here — however uncomfortably — and it was last occupied in 1900. If you’re looking for a picture that will trend then look no further, as this home in Conwy will be sure to bring in those likes.