Illustration: Greg Bakes
From the birthplace of golf to music icons to aristocracy to mogul entrepreneurs to picturesque countrysides to a rich history of politicians – what more could you ask from such a humble sized yet powerful country. The United Kingdom offers its people and its guests a plethora of cultural, historic and iconic resources. Ranked within the top 5 superpowers by the United Nations, the UK is a dominant force in the global community with its resilient economy despite the worldwide financial situation and its trend setting population. Below are some highlights of life in the UK that will help to give you a more well rounded picture when choosing whether to live, work or study in this fascinating country.
Language:
English is the main language.
Britspeak: Though English is the primary language, the expressions are quite different. Here are some helpful phrases to get you started.
- Ace: Used to describe something good. ”Shearer’s goal was ace!”
- Fire: Means central heating. ‘Turn the fire on it’s freezing in here!’
- Knackered: Same as tired. You could also use the word ‘shattered’ for tired.
- Y’alright?: It’s a shortened form of ‘Are you alright?’
Climate:
The weather tends be fairly temperate with a 1 to 3 ration of overcast days. It is often joked that ‘when to Englishmen meet, they first talk of the weather.’
Currency:
The official currency is the British Pound Sterling (GBP), and is decimal based like the dollar; there are 100 pence in a pound. The coins are 1p, 2p, 5p, 10p, 20p, 50p, £1, £2. The notes start at £5, £10, £20, and £50 pounds.
The slang for a pound is a Quid.
Cost of living:
There’s no getting around it – England isn’t cheap. Public transportation, food, restaurants and hotel rooms all tend towards the expensive end.
Some added bonuses however: there are a ton of free museums in London, tipping at restaurants is minimal (10%) and tipping at bars is not required. Because the UK is full of travelers, finding creative ways to use your money wisely is fairly easy.
Banking information:
International banks that offer great rates for international transactions: Citibank; HSBC.
Visa and MasterCard credit and debit cards are widely accepted in throughout the UK.
Finding a place to exchange your money (cash or travellers cheques) into pounds is never a problem in major cities. Some post offices offer this service as well and the exchange rates are fair (and usually commission free).
Multinational Companies:
Bank of Scotland
Virgin Group
Ministry of Sound
Sony UK
Reuters Group
Unilever
Major cities:
London: Famous for The Tower of London and Westminster Abbey
Liverpool: Famous for the inventing and pioneering mass modes of transportation like ferries and the Beatles (of course!)
Manchester: Famous for Oasis and John Dalton, a brilliant chemist who pioneered the Atomic Theory
Edinburgh: Famous for the Fringe Festival
Modes of public transportation:
Public transportation is by far the easiest a temporary expatriate. The UK has a reliable system of trains & buses. When in London, take the London Underground or Tube, a subway system which covers most of London and connections can be made via several London rail stations.
The UK also serves as a major international hub of airline carriers and inexpensive flights to countries in Europe. Among the most popular and inexpensive are Ryan Air and Easy Jet.
Good websites for apartments, activities:
Meetup UK:
Gumtree: Similar to Craigslist in the US
Reading resources:
Lonely Planet England by David Else
Passport United Kingdom: Your Pocket Guide to British Business, Customs & Etiquette by Timothy Harper
Fun facts:
Average number of cups of tea drunk per day: 3
Total number of televisions: 30,500,000
Average number of days when it rains: 1 in 3
Fish n’ Chips with vinegar in rolled up newspaper: arguably the treasured national dish
Health & Safety
Health: There are no mandatory immunizations for visiting England or the rest of the UK. Travel insurance, however, is always highly recommended. Travel insurance is always highly recommended. Regardless of your nationality, everyone receives free emergency treatment at accident and emergency (A&E) departments of state-run NHS hospitals. Simply have a minor ailment? Visit the chemist or pharmacy who can advise on minor ailments like a sore throat or an ear ache.
Safety: When traveling by tube, tram or train service, choose a carriage that has other people. Avoid deserted suburban tube stations at night; a bus or taxi can be a safer choice.
Shops, banks & offices
Most shops and post offices are open 9am to 5pm, Monday – Friday (possibly 5.30pm or 6pm in cities). Saturday, shops open 9am to 5pm, and banks (main branches only) open 9.30am to 1pm. Post offices may open all or half-day Saturday. Sunday shopping hours are around 10am to 4pm or 11am to 5pm, but banks and post offices are closed.
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