Study in Great Britain
Places Of Interest In Great Britain
Hundreds of thousands of students study in Great Britain every year.
Students study in the Great Britain (United Kingdom) because it is a fun and interesting place to study. Students find it easy to travel around the Britain to see the major cities, landmarks and tourist attractions.
As Great Britain is a small country, it only takes students a short time to travel from one part of the United Kingdom to another. Therefore, students can get to see many different places in the United Kingdom.
There are many fun and interesting things for you to see and do in the Great Britain.
City life:
- London, the capital city of the UK, has over 200 free tourist attractions, world heritage sites, museums, shops, street markets and theatres
- Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland, has royal palaces, castles, museums and world heritage sites and is one of Europe's finest cities
- Cardiff, the capital city of Wales, has modern shopping malls, castles and museums
- Birmingham, the second largest city in the UK, has modern shopping malls, cinemas, museums and music, film and comedy festivals
- Manchester and Liverpool are two cities world famous for music and football with world class tourist attractions
- Bristol, Glasgow, Leeds and Newcastle are four cities world famous for art and culture, modern shopping malls, museums and nightlife
- Stoke-on-Trent is world famous for art and pottery and has historic buildings, gardens and modern leisure facilities
Tourist attractions:
- Blackpool has a large theme park with Europe's largest rollercoaster
- Stratford-upon-Avon, is one of England's most beautiful towns, and has 500 year old houses where William Shakespeare was born and lived
- Oxford is world famous for architecture, especially the university buildings
- Nottingham hosts one of the largest fairs in Europe with over 150 rides and 450 other attractions
- Bath, Chester and York are ancient and medieval cities and world heritage sites, dating back to Roman and Viking times
Natural beauty:
- Much land in the Great Britain is beautiful forest and woodland - national parks, lakes, mountains and mediaeval castles
- Small towns and villages in the countryside include thatched cottages, stone buildings, churches, stately homes and gardens
Culture
Great Britain is a great place for exchange students to study because our society is cosmopolitan and diverse.
The multicultural population of Great Britain includes many different people and cultures from all over the world.
- People from England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland have their own cultures and customs
- Many British people can trace their heritage to other parts of the world
- Nearly 10% of British people are Pakistani, Indian, Bangladeshi, Afro-Caribbean, Chinese or mixed heritage
- Over 1 million people in Britain were born in another country in Europe, North America or Australia
Weather
Most exchange students find it easy to acclimatise to the British weather.
Our weather is mild and calm.
We rarely experience extreme temperatures or severe weather conditions.
- The warmest months are from May to August
- The average summer temperature is about 16°C to 18 °C
- There are up to 18 hours of daylight in June and July
- The spring (March and April) and autumn (September and October) are a mixture of sunshine and showers
- The winter months (November to February) are cooler and wetter, but the temperature is usually well above freezing, on average 5 °C or 6 °C in December
Customs & Traditions
Exchange students in Great Britain can celebrate their own customs and learn some new ones.
Many of the customs and holidays in the UK are the same as customs in other countries.
Christianity is the most common religion in Great Britain. British people celebrate the Christian festivals of Christmas and Easter. Chocolate eggs are given as gifts as part of Easter celebrations.
Britain has a multicultural population. Important dates in the Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim and Sikh calendars are celebrated by many.
However, students can participate in some new customs they may not have tried before. Many customs are part of British life and only celebrated in the UK.
- In January, there are celebrations in Scotland on Burns night (to celebrate the famous Scottish poet)
- In March, there are celebrations in Wales on St. David's Day (the patron saint of Wales)
- In March, there are celebrations in Northern Ireland on St. Patrick's Day (the patron saint of Ireland)
- In April, there are celebrations in England on St. George's Day (the patron saint of England)
- In June, there are military processions and parades to honour the King or Queen's official birthday
- In November, there are celebrations on Guy Fawkes night. Bonfires and fireworks are lit across the country in mass celebrations.
Shopping
Many exchange students enjoy shopping in the Great Britain and the rest of the United Kingdom.
Britain has some of the largest shopping malls in Europe, which are fun to explore.
Most large stores are located in city centres or out of town shopping malls. Out of town shopping centres are increasingly replacing city centres as the main place to shop.
In city centres and shopping malls, there is a wide range of fashionable stores and entertainment, including cinemas, cafes, restaurants and amusement arcades.
Beyond city centres and shopping malls, many other shops and amenities are conveniently located in residential areas where people live.
Exchange students living in towns and suburbs in Great Britain are often within walking distance of many shops and services - banks, post offices, chemists, convenience stores and newsagents (which sell newspapers, magazines and confectionary).
Music
Music is an important part of life in the United Kingdom. Listening to music is one of the most popular forms of recreation in the Great Britain.
Pop and rock music has influenced generations of British youth. Many of the world's best selling musicians have been British.
Today, young people in the UK enjoy many different styles of music. The range of music played in Great Britain reflects the cultural diversity of British society.
Many styles of music are popular in the UK:
- Rock
- Pop
- R&B
- Hip Hop
- Techno
- Garage
- Banghra
Sport
Exchange students in Great Britain enjoy the opportunity to play and watch many sports.
In recent years, more people in the UK have started to play sports to keep fit and stay healthy.
The number of gymnasiums, spas and swimming pools in Great Britain and the rest of the United Kingdom has increased very much in recent years.
The most popular sports in Great Britain (United Kingdom) are football (or soccer), rugby and cricket.
Football and rugby are played in the autumn, winter and spring. Cricket is played in the summer.
Horse racing is popular in the Great Britain (United Kingdom). Horce races take place throughout the year.
Many famous sports events take place in the United Kingdom every year. Lots of people in the Britain watch these sports events on television.
- In April, the Grand National steeplechase (horse race)
- In April, the boat race between Oxford University and Cambridge University
- In May, the Football Association Cup Final
- In July, the Wimbledon Tennis Championship