The search for Tiki in the United Kingdom is sometimes feels like looking for a needle in a haystack, but the odd artifact or clues to Tiki times past do crop up.

Tiki never had quite the same effect on the United Kingdom as it did on
the US, for a variety of reasons. Perhaps the greatest of these is the effect of the World War 2. It's well documented that GI's stationed in the Pacific developed a taste for the rum, sun, women and other mainstays of the Islands, and brought much of the culture back with them. A combination
of cheap land, the birth of 'Googie' architecture, and a new attitude towards enjoyment of life (typified by early Playboy) a gave rise to the first Tiki Bars in the US. As time went by, Tiki typified an lifestyle
where money was plentiful and people could kick back and enjoy themselves
Anyway, just read 'The Book of Tiki' for the full story!

In the UK, the War was fought in less pleasant environments, to say the least, so there wasn't suddenly an influx of exotica after the War. Also, while the exotic holiday spot for Americans was undoubtably Hawaii, Spain was the destination of choice for vast numbers of Brits once the idea of a foreign
package holiday became the norm. So, while Americans brought back Hawaiian shirts
and statues of tiki gods made out of lava or plastic, we brought back straw donkeys and dolls in full Flamenco or bull-fighting costume. Some people in the UK collect these tacky souvenirs as avidly as Tiki mug collectors.

Another crucial factor in Britain not fully embracing Tiki-Culture is the climate.
Sadly, the lack of prolonged exposure to the sun meant that the whole backyard BBQ luau party scene never got off the ground in the UK. A British Barbecue is can be summed up by the image of a burnt sausage suddenly getting wet because of a freak shower. So, home tiki bars, party lights and tiki-torches didn't really make an impression over here.

The Kon-Tiki expedition hit a chord in the UK as it did it many other countries
as it was such a 'boys-own' adventure. As a consequence, should you mention the word 'Tiki' to anyone over a certain age in the UK, chances are they will relate it to Thor Heyerdal. Just a few minutes after I bought the hard cover version of 'Kon-Tiki', I bumped into a woman who had the cover tiki on her scarf! (She gave me a funny look when I pointed out the likeness...) The books were such a great success that Spears Games actually created a board game in the 60's
that re-created the journey of the Kon-Tiki, and included a little plastic raft!

There is what could virtually be considered 'fossil' evidence that Tiki has, at some time,
made an impression on the UK. This evidence presents itself to us as a result of the British
love of house naming. Many many homes in the UK have are named, rather than numbered, and a little research has unearthed the fact that many homes were named with Tiki in mind. In fact, there are five homes named 'Tiki' (as well as one 'Tiki Cottage'!). In addition to that, there are 12 'Kon Tiki's, a couple of 'Tahiti's, and a whopping 94 'Bali Hai's!! How many of these are holiday homes? Who knows....but we intend to write to a number of them for more info!

So, The UK has only been lightly touched by the hand of Tiki, so the Urban Archaeologist
has a far tougher time over here than in the States. I'll endeavor to unearth as much Tiki-related stuff as possible, and keep a list of anything Tiki on this page.