The United Kingdom really does boast a treasure trove of off‑the‑wall place‑names. Over centuries of linguistic twists and turns, villages and hamlets have ended up with monikers that would make even the stiffest Brit blush. From Bitchfield to Fanny Hands, the roster of cheeky titles is as entertaining as it is historic. If you missed our earlier roundup, you can still hunt it down – but today we’re diving straight into ten more British spots that keep the giggles going.
Why 10 More British Places Make Us Laugh
These names aren’t just a punchline; they’re a window into local folklore, ancient land‑measurements and even wartime intrigue. Each spot carries a story that explains why the name stuck, and why locals have learned to live with (or love) a little extra colour on the map.
10 Bitchfield
Bitchfield sits quietly in Lincolnshire’s South Kestevan district, tucked away on England’s east coast. Though it now appears as a modest, ‘shrunken’ medieval settlement, the Domesday Book of 1086 already recorded it under the name ‘Billesfelt’. The village actually splits into two clusters – Bitchfield proper and Lower Bitchfield – linked by the winding Dark Lane. A Norman‑style parish church crowns the hamlet, and while the settlement itself may be unassuming, its name has catapulted it into tabloid fame, alongside other Lincolnshire curiosities such as Tongue End, Pode Hole, Cuckoo Bridge and Whaplode. All very real, all very British.
9 Townland of Stranagalwilly
Stranagalwilly isn’t a town at all, but a townland nestled in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. In Gaelic tradition, a townland denotes a parcel of land – typically around 325 acres – and the term can be prefixed to many local names, such as Ballyshannon or Ballybogey. The area gained archaeological fame in 1961 when a farmer, while harvesting potatoes, unearthed four Bronze‑Age cist cemeteries. Among the finds were unburnt burials, cremated remains and even evidence of a leather‑worker’s burial, painting a vivid picture of ancient life in this quietly quirky corner of the island.
8 Crapstone
Crapstone lies on the fringe of Dartmoor in Devon, a landscape famed for its moody legends – think the spectral Dartmoor Hounds that inspired Conan Doyle’s The Hound of the Baskervilles. Despite the cheeky moniker, the name actually stems from an old family surname that helped shape the village’s church and even a local golf course. In 2007 the settlement featured in a British TV advert starring Vinnie Jones, but locals complained that the commercial used footage from another village and turned Crapstone’s name into a literal punchline. Ironically, beneath the crude title, the village boasts charming scenery and a surprisingly genteel vibe.
7 Brokenwind
Brokenwind, sometimes recorded historically as ‘Broken Wynd’, is a tiny hamlet tucked into Newmachar, Aberdeenshire. The term ‘wynd’ refers to a narrow, serpentine lane, and this particular one earned its name because the path was, well, broken. During the Second World War, nearby Newmachar hosted a covert British resistance patrol organized by Winston Churchill himself. The unit was poised to launch guerrilla actions should a Nazi invasion ever materialise, making the otherwise modest area a footnote in wartime strategy. Today, the name remains a favourite among those hunting for Britain’s most amusing place‑names.
6 Hole of Horcrum
Deep within North Yorkshire’s Levisham Beck valley lies the Hole of Horcrum, a striking 400‑foot‑deep, horseshoe‑shaped depression framed by towering trees. Hikers rave about its spectacular scenery, dubbing it a ‘must‑do’ walk on the moors. Legend attributes the name to an Anglo‑Saxon chief called Wade, who, after a marital spat, allegedly hurled turf at his wife, creating the hollow. In reality, the formation results from a geological process called spring‑sapping, where water erodes the base of a slope until a bowl‑shaped valley emerges. Whether myth or science, the Hole of Horcrum remains a visual marvel.
5 Muff
Muff sits on the border between the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, technically belonging to County Donegal. Though not part of the United Kingdom, its proximity to the border and the flow of Northern Irish residents across it have earned it a spot on this list, especially in the post‑Brexit era. The name derives from the Gaelic word for ‘plain’, but in certain British circles it doubles as a slang term for female genitalia. Every August, the village throws a raucous Muff Festival with parades and street parties, and even boasts its own self‑appointed Mayor of Muff. Adding to the humour, the local diving club proudly calls itself the Muff Diving Club – proof that the community embraces the name with good‑natured gusto.
4 Wide Open
Wide Open, more accurately spelled Wideopen, lies in Tyne and Wear’s northern reaches, not far from Newcastle‑upon‑Tyne. Historically a pit village, it sprang to life when the Wideopen Colliery opened in 1825, fueling the local economy for decades before closing in the twentieth century. Today, the village is perhaps best known for the Grade‑II‑listed Sacred Heart Roman‑Catholic Church, famed for its stained‑glass windows. The name’s quirky appeal has landed it in tabloid lists, though locals often correct the mis‑spelling that leads to postal mix‑ups. Despite the occasional confusion, Wideopen remains a proud community with deep roots in the coal‑mining heritage of the North.
3 Penistone
Penistone, the biggest settlement on our list, is a bustling market town in South Yorkshire. Its name appears in the Domesday Book of 1086, albeit as ‘Penstone’. Linguists trace the origin to the Old Welsh word ‘penn’, meaning ‘height’ or ‘hill’, which suits its perch atop a ridge overlooking rolling moors. Though the town suffered devastation during the Norman Conquest’s Harrying of the North, it has thrived ever since, boasting a vibrant community, regular agricultural shows, sports clubs and a thriving local market. The cheeky name may raise eyebrows, but Penistone’s residents are far more proud of their heritage than their moniker.
2 Sluts Hole
Sluts Hole Lane is a tiny stretch of road near Attleborough, Norfolk, linking Silver Street to Bunwell Road and lying close to the village of Besthorpe. The scandalously blunt name is actually a Victorian‑era typo: original records suggest the lane was called ‘Slutch Hole Lane’, with ‘slutch’ derived from the Dutch word for a sluice, describing the marshy, water‑logged terrain. Residents have attempted to restore the original spelling, but the modern mis‑nomer persists, drawing curious visitors from across the country. The nearest city, Norwich, lies just ten miles to the north‑east, and the lane continues to feature prominently on lists of Britain’s most eyebrow‑raising place‑names.
1 Fanny Hands
Fanny Hands Lane snakes through Lincolnshire near the market town of Market Rasen. The street has made headlines because homes on the lane reportedly fetch up to £80,000 less than neighbouring properties – a stark reminder of how a name can affect perception. In the UK, ‘fanny’ is a colloquial term for the female genitalia, while ‘hands’ can be a playful reference, making the full title a double‑edged cheek. Market Rasen itself appears in the Domesday Book, its name stemming from an Old English word meaning ‘plank’, likely referencing a historic river crossing. Despite the giggles the lane inspires, locals take pride in their quirky heritage.