- Geography
- History and politics
- People in the UK
- Languages
- Family life
- Media and communications
- Getting around
- Leisure activities
- Money matters
- UK laws and safety issues
Geography
The United Kingdom is made up of four separate countries: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. 61.4 million people live here.
England, Scotland and Wales share the island of Great Britain, whilst Northern Ireland occupies the northern end of the adjoining country of Ireland.
At its longest point, Great Britain measures 874 miles (1,407 km) end-to-end by road. This is from John O'Groats in north-eastern Scotland to Land's End at the western tip of Cornwall. The total land area is 93,000 square miles (244,820 sq km).
England is the largest of the four nations, and the most densely populated, especially in the South East in and around London. Western areas of Great Britain tend to be mountainous and rugged. The countryside becomes flatter and more fertile to the east.
Although the UK is a northerly nation, it has a mild and damp climate. Winters are wet rather than cold, and snow is rare.
The weather varies according to region. Scotland and Northern Ireland, the most northern parts of the country, have the coldest winters and most snow. The South tends to be the warmest and driest part of the country. Western areas get the most rainfall. But wherever a student chooses to live, it's important to note that the British climate is temperate and changeable – it can be raining one day and warm and sunny the next.
London is the capital and the biggest city in the UK, and also the most multicultural. Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland, Belfast the capital of Northern Ireland and Cardiff is the capital of Wales. There are other major cities all over the UK, each with its own unique character and attractions. Click here to go to the VisitBritain website for more information.
History and politics
Britain and the English language have been shaped by other cultures. The benefits of early Roman and French invasions included roads, law, and a strong Latin and French input to the English language.
The absolute power of the King was curbed in 1215 by a revolt of high-ranking citizens. Parliamentary government was established in 1689 by a Bill of Rights.
Scotland and England were joined in an Act of Union in 1707. Men and women got the right to vote in 1918, although this was not on an equal basis until 1928.
The Queen is officially head of state and has an active role in Government. Britons are not citizens, but subjects of the Queen.
The London-based government and Parliament ruled the whole of the UK until 1999 when the Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for Wales, and the Northern Ireland Assembly were established.
The UK is an active member of the European Union (EU) although it has not joined the Euro currency system.
The UK Parliament, which sits in the House of Commons in London's Westminster, has Members of Parliament (MPs) representing every area of the UK, including Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
There are 646 MPs, each representing an area (constituency). Most belong to one of the three main political parties (Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats) and will usually vote with their party.
Each parliament can last for a maximum of five years, when a general election must be held. Elections may be held more often if a Government is weak, has a very small majority, or thinks it would be a good time to win an election.
The UK's voting system means that in each constituency the person who gets the most votes becomes the MP. The political party with most MPs then forms a Government. The party's leader becomes the Prime Minister, who then chooses who will join the Government (called the Cabinet) and lead the different departments of state.
The Government will propose legislation and introduce Bills to the House of Commons. Here, they are debated and changes sometimes made, depending on the size of the Government's majority. Bills must then go to the upper chamber, called the House of Lords, for further debate.
Members of the House of Lords are not elected. They are senior members of the Church and people who have either inherited or been given a title such as Lord or Lady. Their powers to change legislation have been reduced.
The Queen, who is the head of state, has a major role in the political process. She is consulted each week by the Prime Minister, and also when Parliament is to be dissolved or there is a change of Government. She attends the State Opening of Parliament each autumn. She wears a crown and reads out the laws the Government hopes to pass in the coming year.
People in the UK
21st century Britain has a very diverse population.
The UK has always welcomed immigrants and numbers increased dramatically in the last half of the 20th century. Many of the people who came to live and work here then were from countries which were part of the British Empire in the 19th and 20th centuries.
More recently, European Union regulations allowing citizens to settle and work in any member nation have also led to population changes. Many people have come to work from Eastern European countries such as Poland.
Britain has also welcomed many refugees from all over the world.
Cities have seen the biggest changes in population. Some schools in London will have pupils who have more than 50 different home languages, and shops and restaurants selling food from many different cultures.
Smaller, more remote towns and villages may retain a more traditional British culture.
It is illegal to discriminate against people in the UK because of their race, gender, sexuality or disability. The UK is a very tolerant society and most people live happily side by side.
Languages
English is the official language of the UK. In Wales, around 20 per cent of the population also speak Welsh, and most official communications, including road signs, are in English and Welsh.
In Northern Ireland about 7 per cent of the population speak Irish. In Scotland, a small percentage speak Scottish Gaelic and a third speak Scots.
The most common other languages spoken by people living in the UK include Punjabi, Bengali, Urdu, Sylheti, Cantonese, Greek and Italian.
Students often ask about the different regional accents in the UK. These do exist but the pronunciation differences are smaller than would be found between British, Australian and American English.
Teachers and host families will always speak very clearly for students, and they are unlikely to encounter any problems with local accents.
Family life
Two-thirds of mothers of young children go out to work in the UK, though they are more likely than men to work part-time. Their children are usually cared for in private nurseries or by childminders, who look after small numbers of children in their own homes.
Marriage rates are at their lowest since records began. On average, women marry at nearly 30 and men at 32. Women are less likely to marry and more likely to live with a partner.
Civil partnerships are legal ceremonies which give same-sex couples the same rights as marriage. Since civil partnerships became law in 2004, around 8,000 couples a year have gone through the ceremony.
Media and communications
The British media is dominated by the public service broadcaster, the BBC. Anyone who owns a television set must buy an annual television licence, which funds the BBC.
The BBC broadcasts four main television channels, six national radio channels and has a widely-respected website which covers news, current affairs and entertainment. It does not broadcast advertisements.
There are several other main television channels available on all television sets, and a large selection of digital channels only available with special equipment or through a satellite dish.
National newspapers range from the more serious titles to the very sensational tabloids. These carry more trivial stories about celebrities and ordinary people. British people love word jokes – puns – and this is reflected in the headlines of newspapers.
Mobile phones are more popular in Britain than most other countries. Most people have one, and often spend a lot of time texting their friends.
Public phones are less common than they were but phone boxes (often the iconic red telephone boxes) are still available on city centre streets and sometimes in pubs and hotels. They are coin or card operated.
Stamps for letters and cards can be bought in supermarkets and small shops as well as post offices. You can buy either first class or second class: first class is faster but more expensive. It is a good idea to check in a post office or on the Royal Mail website before sending letters overseas for the first time, to ensure the correct stamp is being used.
Letter boxes are red and available on many streets. Letters are collected daily.
Getting around
Transport links are good and it is possible to get to most places by plane, coach, bus and train. There are also cycle tracks in many towns and cities, and also long distance routes across the countryside.
Flying: There are now airports serving the UK's cities and many major towns, and it can often be cheaper to fly than take the train. Many international routes also connect places from around the world to the UK's regional airports. This can often be quicker and more convenient if your destination is away from the capital than flying into a London airport.
Train travel: All cities and most of the major towns have a train service. Most of the lines radiate out from London, which has four major railway stations sending trains to different areas. Long-distance services, such as between London and Edinburgh, are very fast; local services can be slower.
Train travel can be very expensive. It is worth advising students to buy student travel tickets or to book in advance to get the best deals.
Coach travel: National Express coach services cover most of the UK and are a very cheap way to travel.
Driving: Unlike most of the world, cars drive on the left in the UK. Students hiring cars may need to specifically request one with an automatic gear change if this is what they require. Major roads and those in the cities can become very crowded at peak times in the morning and evening, particularly on Fridays and before national holidays. Radio traffic reports are broadcast regularly.
If you are a visitor, resident or student and have a driving licence issued in the country you have come from, there are certain conditions that affect how long you can drive, and what you can drive in the UK. Click here for more information.
Travelling locally
Inside London
London's underground train service, often called the Tube, is the quickest way to get around most of the city although it has limited stops south of the River Thames. It runs till late at night. There is also an extensive urban overground railway network.
The bus is a good way to see London and to travel to most areas, though it can be slower than the Tube. The cheapest way of using all three forms of transport is to buy Travelcards (daily, weekly, monthly or annual), or to get an Oyster card which can be topped up with cash. The Transport for London website has all the details – www.tfl.gov.uk.
Black cabs can be waved down from the pavement. These are fully regulated and much safer than any other car service in London.
Driving: There are lots of reasons not to drive in London. One is that there is a toll payable when entering the central area (called the 'congestion charge') which must be paid in advance. It is also very busy, parking is difficult, and there is good public transport.
Outside London
Major cities have good bus services and often a metro or tram. Cycle lanes are common on roads and pavements.
Smaller towns usually have bus services.
Taxis/private hire cars/minicabs: Taxis are the safest option for getting home late at night. Drivers are regulated and checked often. Taxis can be hired with a wave on the street. Private hire cars (also known as mini-cabs) are also regulated but must be booked.
Travelling outside the UK
The UK is a perfect base for travelling in Europe during or after a course. There are ferry ports along the east and south coasts, with direct services to Scandinavia, Holland and France. It is also easy to get to France through the Channel Tunnel, either on the Eurostar train from London St Pancras or driving from Dover.
Europe is a short flight from most airports and many airlines offer low-cost tickets at certain times of the year. Some even occasionally offer free flights – passengers pay the tax only!
A Schengen visa allows non-EEA nationals the right to enter any of the 25 Schengen countries as a visitor for a maximum stay of 90 days in a 6 month period. The United Kingdom is not currently a member of the Schengen Visa Scheme.
- If a student is visiting only one country in the Schengen area, they should apply to the embassy of that country.
- If visiting several of the 25 countries, they should apply to the embassy of whichever country is their 'main destination' - the country in which they plan to spend the most time during their trip.
- If visiting several countries in the Schengen area without having a main destination, they should submit an application to the embassy of the country where they will first enter the Schengen area.
Leisure activities
There are an enormous range of things to do in the UK during the evenings and weekends.
British people like to socialise in pubs and bars, and this is usually a popular option with overseas students.
Eating out in the UK is also a fantastic experience. Britain now has some of the world's top restaurants. It is also possible to spend far less and get a really great meal. Since the UK is now such a multi-cultural country, it's possible to sample food from all over the world even in small towns.
Most towns will have at least a Chinese and Indian restaurant or takeaway, a fish and chip shop and a pub which will serve food. Pub food is often very good, especially in 'gastropubs' which concentrate as much on food as drink.
Students staying in London, Leeds, Manchester and other major cities have the most choice of cultural and entertainment options. London has some of the world's top museums and art galleries, as well as leading orchestras, opera and theatre companies.
Outside the major cities there is beautiful countryside to walk in and many castles, preserved grand houses and formal parks.
Language centres routinely organise student social programmes which will include visits to the UK's top attractions, as well as to local pubs and bars. Typical trips often include Stonehenge, Oxford, Cambridge, London, York and Leeds Castle. Many will also take students to Paris. Most schools will send a sample copy of their social programme on request.
Money matters
Even the youngest students will use British currency.
One UK pound (£) is worth 100 pence. Every British coin and bank note has a picture of the Queen on one side. The most common banknotes are £5, £10 and £20. £50 notes are usually available from banks rather than cash machines.
Anything smaller than a pound can be called a pence or a pee.
£1 coins are fat and gold. £2 coins are larger.
Less valuable coins are the 50p, 20p, 10p and 5p which are silver coloured, and the 2p and 1p which are bronze.
Some students staying for longer courses (usually over 6 months) may wish to open local bank accounts. Their language centre will usually assist with any paperwork needed to show the student's status in the UK.
Banks are usually open Monday to Friday from 9-5, and sometimes on Saturdays. They are usually found in town centres.
Cash machines are found outside banks and supermarkets. There are sometimes cash machines at petrol stations and inside small shops and pubs, but these may charge extra to withdraw money. Many cash machines accept international bank cards.
Britain has not adopted the Euro.
UK laws and safety issues
Britain is a very safe place to visit, although visitors should take the same precautions as they would at home. Students all over the world like to socialise late at night, and they should be reminded to consider how they will get home safely as part of their plans for the evening.
The British Council publishes an excellent leaflet for international students which can be downloaded here.
British people are used to living in a multicultural society and are generally very tolerant of visitors.
Students should make sure they take care of belongings, and buy insurance before arriving. Language centres can often help organise this.
British laws are likely to be similar to those in the student's home country. But it is worth remembering that:
- It is illegal to smoke in public buildings and sometimes outdoors. Areas where smoking is banned includes language centres, pubs, restaurants, cinemas, public transport and railway stations.
- It is illegal to discriminate against anybody else because of their race, gender, sexuality or disability. It is possible to get into trouble if you insult anyone for their race, or because they are homosexual, for example.
The UK emergency phone number is 999. People calling this will be asked to say what the problem is, what their name is, and where they are. The operator will then send the fire brigade, the police, or an ambulance if this is needed. It is important to use this number only in a real emergency.
Downloads
To download English UK's essential information for agents as a printable document, please click here.
