Understanding its unique nations, regions, people and lifestyles could take a lifetime. But there are some basic things every expat should know before they make the move.

One kingdom, many countries

The U.K. is made up of four countries: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Each has its own unique culture and identity, fiercely protected by the locals.

Different regions and cities within each country also have their own identities. It is often said that people from the North of England are more direct and outspoken than those from the South, for example. Although how well deserved you find these reputations to be will depend very much on the individuals you meet!

The U.K. is a highly multicultural country and generally respectful of all beliefs and cultures. .Discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation, age or disability is against the law. Many expats are attracted to the U.K. because of this diversity, finding it a welcoming and friendly place to live.

Living in the UK can seem daunting to international students at first. Rather than trying to avoid culture shock, you should try to embrace it. A great way of doing this is to immerse yourself in UK culture and traditions.

Language

The official language of the UK is English. Individuals throughout the nation interact with each other in this language. However, some people in Wales still speak Welsh. But the same individuals also speak English, so you won’t have to worry about a language barrier. Although, natives speak in different dialects throughout the country. Here are some of the main dialects that you’ll come across in the UK.

• Brummy: Birmingham

• Cockney: London (Most famous)

• Geordie: Middlesbrough, Newcastle, and Sunderland

• Mancunian: Manchester

• Scottish: Scotland

• Scouser: Liverpool

• Welsh: Wales

• West Country: Bristol, Cornwall, and Devon

With so many dialects and accents in the country, even the brits get confused at times while interacting with each other. Other language speakers in the UK include Irish Gaelic, Scottish Gaelic, Polish, Bengali, Gujarati, and Punjabi. Apart from these, some individuals also speak Arabic, Mandarin, French, and Portuguese.

Immersing in the UK culture

One of the best ways to immerse yourself in the culture of the United Kingdom is to visit museums. A lot of museums around the UK are free to visit and they are an excellent way to learn the history of where you are studying.

Food is a huge part of culture wherever you may study and the same can be said for the UK. Trying local food and drink is an authentic and fun way of immersing yourself in UK culture, whether this be fish and chips or a classic cup of tea.

Going for a walk around the area, as simple as it sounds, is a great way to learn more about the locals and lifestyle of where you are studying. Just by taking a walk you can learn about British architecture, and you may even come across famous landmarks and attractions.

Attending events is another great way of learning more about culture in the UK. These can include festivals, sporting events and live shows. Sporting events like football and rugby are a large part of culture in the United Kingdom.

Weather

The weather in the UK, although unpredictable, is rarely extreme. Even though it is known for raining most days of the year, the UK does experience distinguishable seasons. It has also been said that you can experience all four seasons in just one day.

• Summer – June to August

• Autumn – September to November

• Winter – December to February

• Spring – March to May

UK festivals

Festivals are a large part of UK culture with over 800 music festivals alone taking place every year. Although music festivals are one of the main attractions in the UK, other festival types also include wellness, arts and literary and food.

Food festivals, showcasing national and international cuisines, are becoming increasingly more common around the UK with each city having its own.

Food & traditions

Food culture in the UK is often based around social gatherings and interactions. Typical UK culture food consists of fish and chips, full English breakfast, a Sunday roast, and a cup of tea.

One of the first things you will be offered when walking into a British home is a cup of tea. Having a cup of tea (or coffee) is the basis of many British social interactions.

The national dish of the UK is surprisingly not fish and chips, although it was for quite some time. Recently chicken tikka masala has been named as the UK’s favourite dish, which is said to have originated from the South Asian community in Britain.

As the UK is vastly multicultural it is likely you will find food from all over the world almost anywhere you go.

Religion & Beliefs

The UK, known for its multiculturalism, is unsurprisingly diverse in its religious beliefs. Although the Church of England was the official state-sanctioned religion for quite some time, it now makes up less than half of the religious population of the UK. Judaism, Buddhism, Hinduism, Islam, and Sikhism are also prevalent within the United Kingdom.

However, not everyone in the UK practices religion, it is estimated that a third of UK residents have no religious connections.

Things you should know about UK culture

• Brits love to apologise

Bumped into someone? Say sorry before walking away. Need to get someone’s attention? Start your sentence with sorry. Need to squeeze past someone in a crowded room? You guessed it – say sorry as you move past.

• Brits are fussy about queuing

Brits are famous for their love of queuing and they take it very seriously. In the UK there is really no excuse for jumping to the front of the queue. Even if you are in a hurry you should not cut in front of others as this is seen as incredibly rude.

• Talking about the weather is a national sport

Talking about the weather is practically the national sport in the UK. British weather can change in an instant and Brits like to say that one can experience four seasons in a day. Whether it’s hot or cold, raining lightly or chucking down hail, the weather is a source of endless entertainment and conversation.

• Brits love to drink tea

Whilst coffee is a popular hot drink in the UK, in our hearts we are a tea drinking nation and we down a whopping 36 billion cups of tea every year. So don’t be surprised if you are endlessly offered a “cuppa.”

• British spelling is different to American spelling

• Curry is the national dish

• The UK is made up of four countries

• British humour is full of sarcasm and banter

• The pub is like a second home

It would be an understatement to say Brits love to go to the pub. It is a place to socialise, eat, drink, watch sport and take part in the great British pursuit that is called the “pub quiz”.

Pubs are friendly places, so don’t worry if you don’t drink alcohol because you can always get a “soft drink.” But remember the golden rule: Always buy your round!

This is a central part of pub etiquette and means that you will have your drinks bought for you by the people you go with – and in return, you should NEVER leave the pub until you have bought them a drink.