We Victoria residents like to think we are “a little bit of England” The city has long embraced bits of British traditions. These British traditions have evolved into something uniquely Victorian. As a local guide who’s spent many years showing visitors the best of our city, I’ve watched tourists’ embrace these charming cultural holdovers. Here’s your insider’s guide to British traditions that continue to thrive with a distinctly Canadian twist.
Double-Decker Red Buses (With a Pacific Northwest View)
London’s iconic red buses found a second home across the pond, but ours come with views you won’t find in the UK. While British tourists might experience déjà vu boarding our double-deckers, they quickly realize that this will be a unique experience when ocean view or mountain vistas become part of the journey. Our buses aren’t just practical transportation taking you to the city highlights—they’re among Victoria’s most beloved tourist experiences, combining British nostalgia with breathtaking scenery that would make any Londoner jealous.
Fun fact: Victoria’s first double-decker buses weren’t actually imports from England—they were built right here in Canada specifically for Victoria in 1960. Today’s fleet includes both modern and lovingly restored vintage models.
Cricket and Lawn Bowing and Croquet: British traditions in Victoria’s parks
Nothing says “British tradition” quite like the sight of players in crisp white attire dotting a manicured greens, and garden settings. In Victoria, cricket lawn bowling and croque are more than just sports—they’re echoes of the city’s colonial past. Introduced by early British settlers, both games quickly took root in Victoria’s picturesque parks and with the mild subtropical climate in Victoria these leagues enjoyed longer seasons than in England.
Beacon Hill Park has hosted cricket matches since the 1860s, making our cricket grounds among the oldest in North America. What makes Victoria’s cricket scene unique isn’t just its longevity but its setting—players maintain proper British decorum while Pacific breezes carry the scent of cedar and salt water across the pitch. During summer weekends, you’ll find the Victoria Cricket Club facing off against visiting teams, with spectators spread across blankets enjoying picnics. The oldest continuous cricket tournament in North America is played right here—the “Tomalin Cup” has been contested annually since 1892 except during wartime.
Meanwhile, Victoria Lawn Bowling & croquet club (founded in 1901), offer picturesque and welcoming settings that attract both seasoned players and newcomers. The sport’s relaxed pace and social atmosphere make it especially appealing to older adults, but it’s enjoyed by all ages looking for a fun, low-impact way to stay active and connected.
British Pubs That Out-Brit the British
Victoria’s pub culture doesn’t just imitate British traditions—in some cases, it preserves them more faithfully than many modern UK establishments. The Penny Farthing, Irish Times, and Bard & Banker don’t just serve proper pints and pub fare; they create authentic gathering spaces that maintain the British pub’s original purpose as the community’s “living room.”
What makes our pubs special is how they’ve adapted: locally-brewed ESBs and porters sit alongside BC craft IPAs, while traditional bangers and mash might feature Vancouver Island-raised pork and locally foraged mushrooms. Many Victoria pubs are housed in beautiful heritage buildings with fascinating histories—ask your bartender about the bank vaults beneath the Bard & Banker or the secret passageways reportedly running under parts of Old Town.
Historical nugget: The Six Mile Pub in nearby View Royal has been serving thirsty patrons since 1855 and was once a stopping point for British sailors from the Esquimalt Naval Base. It’s believed to be the oldest English pub in British Columbia.
Proper Tea Culture (With Pacific Northwest Infusions)
While afternoon tea at the Empress Hotel remains Victoria’s most famous British tradition, our tea culture extends far beyond. White Heather Tea Room provides a cozier, less touristy experience in Oak Bay, while afternoon tea at Abkhazi Garden offers the extraordinary combination of perfectly brewed tea and finger sandwiches enjoyed amidst the stunning “garden that love built”—created by exiled Georgian Prince and Princess Abkhazi after reuniting following WWII. Pendray Inn is a beautifully preserved Victoria family home. It’s charm makes for a nostalgic, elegant experience. And of course, why wouldn’t anyone what to dine at the gracious home of Robert and Jennie overlooking the infamous Butchart Gardens.
Insider secret: The Empress Hotel uses a proprietary tea blend that has remained unchanged since 1908, and until recently, it was only available at the hotel. The recipe is still closely guarded and features select teas from some of the original gardens in Kenya, Sri Lanka, and India that supplied the hotel over a century ago.
British Gardens Gone Wild(er)
British colonial settlers brought their gardening traditions to Victoria, but our unique climate allowed them to flourish in ways impossible back home. While Butchart Gardens gets most of the glory, Victoria’s British gardening influence appears throughout the city in hidden pockets that showcase how these traditions adapted to local conditions.
Government House gardens offer free access to meticulously maintained formal gardens that would make any British royal feel at home—until they spot plants that could never survive UK winters. The private gardens of Rockland neighborhood showcase how wealthy Victoria residents historically competed to create the most impressive British-style gardens, often incorporating exotic specimens from around the British Empire that thrive in our climate.
Victoria’s unique climate allows gardeners to grow plants from Mediterranean, Himalayan, and Japanese regions alongside traditional English garden favorites. This has earned us the nickname “City of Gardens” with over 1,600 hanging baskets decorating downtown each summer—a tradition started in 1937 to celebrate the coronation of King George VI.
Experience Living History
Victoria’s British traditions continue to evolve while maintaining their historical core. These customs don’t just survive here—they thrive because they’ve found the perfect balance between honoring their origins and embracing their new home.
So next time you’re visiting our beautiful city, look beyond the obvious symbols of British heritage and discover how Victoria has taken these traditions and made them uniquely our own. From cricket matches with mountain views to pubs where local history flows as freely as the ale, these living traditions offer a window into both our colonial past and our vibrant present.