United Kingdom
Country Quick Facts
Official name: United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland
Population: 63,742,977
Capital: London
Prominent Language: English
Type of Government: Constitutional monarchy
Time Zone: 6 hours ahead of CST
Location: Western Europe, islands between the North
Atlantic Ocean and the North Sea northwest of France,
includes the northern part of the island of Ireland
Food/Meals
Breakfast is typically 7-9 am, lunch/dinner is at 12-1:30
pm, and supper/dinner is at 5:30-8 pm. Traditionally,
there has been a tea break around 4 pm. A traditional
English breakfast consists of toast, eggs, beans,
mushrooms, bacon, sausage, and a tomato. The main
meal on Sundays is typically a “Roast Dinner” of roast,
Yorkshire pudding, and vegetables.
Good to Know
They use the 24 hour clock, for example 4 p.m. is 16:00.
When crossing a street look right then left since they
drive on the left side of the road. Ask for “tap water” at
restaurants to get free, non-bottled water.
Cultural tidbits
British people are a bit more reserved than Americans.
They value privacy and punctuality. Greetings consist of
a more formal handshake. Football (soccer) is very
popular. The countries within the United Kingdom have
strong national pride and have distinct cultural and
language differences.
Additional Resources
http://www.bbc.com/
http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/globaletiquette/uk.html
Climate
The UK has a temperate, mostly cloudy climate.
Holidays
New Year’s Day, January 1; Valentine’s Day, February
14; St. Patrick’s Day, March 17; Shrove Tuesday
(“Pancake Day”), March/April; Mothering Sunday,
March/April; Easter, March/April; May Day, May 1;
Trooping the Color, June; Halloween, October 31;
Bonfire Night, November 5; Remembrance Day,
November 11; Christmas, December 25; Boxing Day,
December 26
Communication
Emergency #: 999
Cell phone companies: Vodafone, O2, T-Mobile, Orange,
Three
To call to the US from UK, dial “001” then the US #
including the area code.
Transportation
Buses are convenient and relatively inexpensive. Taxis
are also available, but they are generally more
expensive. Walking is also a common way to get
around in the city center. The subway in London is
called the Underground or Tube.
US Embassy
24 Grosvenor Square
London W1A 2LQ
Phone: 170-3543-9334
Web: london.usembassy.gov
Vocabulary
“Are you alright?” or “Alright?” – a greeting like “What’s
up?” or “How are you?”
Quid- slang for pound sterling, as in “10 pounds” or “10
quid”
Films
Some good films to check out are Tinker, Tailor, Soldier,
Spy (2011), The Lady Vanishes (1938), The King’s Speech
(2010), and Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994). Or
you can check out this list of films at
http://www.empireonline.com/100britishfilms/.
Study Abroad Office - Office of International Programs- Kansas State University- 304 Fairchild Hall -Manhattan, Kansas 66506
United Kingdom
Music
The UK is home to a variety of music genres including
pop, rock, punk, indie, and techno. Some artists to
check out are The Beatles, Adele, The Who, Amy
Winehouse, Elton John, The Arctic Monkeys, Radiohead,
Oasis, and Franz Ferdinand.
Advice from former students
“Make sure to take a pair of rainboots!”
“Be ready to talk a lot about the US, your home, they
love our accents.”
Electricity
220-230 volts (110-120 in USA)
Common plug shape
Clothing
Shorts are not commonly worn. Sweatpants/workout
clothes are not worn outside of the gym. Wear tasteful
clothing when going to class or out and about, no
pajamas. Dress for the occasion.
Visa
For the most current information on visas for the UK,
contact the Consulate General of Chicago.
625 N Michigan Avenue, Suite 2200
Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: 312-970-3800
Web:https://www.gov.uk/government/world/organisati
ons/british-consulate-general-chicago
Traveling while there
There are plenty of transportation options for travel
within and outside of the UK. The train system within
the UK is the National Rail, and the Eurorail system
connects countries in Europe. There are also discount
airlines that are efficient and inexpensive for travel such
as Ryanair and EasyJet. Planning ahead can save you
time and money. For travel tips, a good resource is Rick
Steves’ European travel tips: www.ricksteves.com.
Academic Culture
Interaction with professors is more formal. Students
are expected to do more self-directed studying, and
there may be fewer group discussion classes. In some
classes, you may only have 1 or 2 tests and no
homework, and it can be difficult to get an A. Typically,
in the UK a 40% is the minimum passing grade. A 70%
or higher is a high grade. There is a slightly different
vocabulary: module means class, course means major,
marks means grades, postgraduate means graduate,
university means college, and college may mean high
school.
Health and Safety
Medical services are widely available, but the charges
may be higher than in the US. Before traveling, make
sure you are up to date on your routine vaccines. Check
for any recommended vaccines with your doctor and
the CDC at http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/.
The crime rate for the UK is relatively low. The major
crime against travelers is theft. Watch for
pickpocketing in tourist areas. Be aware of your
surroundings and avoid carrying too much cash or
valuables with you to avoid making yourself a target.
The drinking culture is different in the UK, and often
alcohol may be stronger than what you are used to in
the US, so be careful when drinking.
Money
The UK uses the British Pound. You can use credit or
debit cards, but check with your bank about possible
international fees. ATMs can be a quick and convenient
way to get money in the local currency, but there may
be international fees. ATMS are sometimes called
‘Cash Points.’ It’s always a good idea to carry some cash
with you since some places might not accept cards. For
a current exchange rate, see www.oanda.com
Study Abroad Office - Office of International Programs- Kansas State University- 304 Fairchild Hall -Manhattan, Kansas 66506