by MacKenzie Geidt, Sunset assistant travel editor

It is a truth universally acknowledged that a proper cup of tea is hard to find outside the Commonwealth.   

But if you find yourself marooned in the colonies and desperately seeking the civilities of the Empire (clotted cream with your scones, petit fours with your tea, digestive cookies, a proper curry, Cadbury chocolate, and the latest production from Masterpiece Theatre), you must get thyself to the "British Ghetto" in Santa Monica,  where a bevy of pure-bred English establishments is a welcome respite from the orange tans and short shorts of Los Angeles.  Follow the Queen's mandate and proceed to the following:

You can get a decent pot of tea at the Tudor House Tea Room, but even better, you can pick up England's most popular tea (PG Tips is "Britain's favorite cuppa") to take home from their market full of delectable British imports (just for a little perspective, sources allege that Britons drink 35 million cups of PG Tips per day...)

Or stop in for a pint or a Pimm's at Ye Olde King's Head Pub (310 Santa Monica Blvd.)

The King's Head also has a market where you can stock up on your favorite British imports (including British newspapers and magazines--who doesn't love getting updates on the royal family from HELLO! magazine?!)   And doesn't it make you feel less guilty to eat a cookie when it's called a "digestive"??

To catch a game of Cricket (just pretend like you understand what's going on), there's the Cock 'n Bull Pub (2947 Lincoln Blvd) or the Britannia Pub (318 Santa Monica Blvd.)

If you have time to pop over to Abbott Kinney Blvd in Venice, you can even shop for all-British threads at Brick Lane (1132 Abbott Kinney Blvd.)--the red telephone booth marks the spot.

Crikey, there's simply LOADS of ways to celebrate the Brit in LA--do drop me a line if you think of any more locales I've missed.  God Save the Queen!