Down the road from Cambridge University’s Pembroke College, some of my fellow Americans and I discovered a catering truck that was open well after all the other neighborhood eateries had closed for the evening. It was the first night of our study abroad program, and as we were the late-night-college-food-binge types, this discovery literally made us jump for joy. We ordered England’s famous fish and chips, and when the server asked us if we wanted the chips (aka, steak fries) doused in malt vinegar with a side of mayonnaise, the lot of us said, “Sure, why not?”
This was the first blob of what would probably be barrels of mayonnaise that we’d consume during our time at Cambridge.
Of course, English food is much more than mayonnaise and dark vinegar made from malted barley, just as nights are not limited to carousing in pubs, nor daily activities to afternoon tea times and croquet lessons. Life and culture in the UK is as diverse as Brits themselves. Here’s a short cultural guide, with a few tips from The British Council (BC), on what you can expect during your stay in the UK.
Day-to-Day
The UK is a country of opposites—urban and rural, modern people and old architecture, monarchy and Houses of Parliament.
But the most important opposite to remember is which direction to look when crossing the street. Americans have a built-in reflex to look left, then right, when crossing streets. But automobiles in the UK drive on the left side of the street, so it’s necessary to look right, then left. It can feel awkward at first, but once you almost get flattened by a bus, you’ll learn.
Like American colleges, UK universities employ staff members to clean common areas in campus housing, but many also have maids who enter your bedroom to tidy up, make your bed, and even change your sheets. It’s not customary to tip, but getting a small gift for your maid is a nice gesture when your program nears its end.
Speaking of tipping, restaurants in the UK will usually add a 10 to 15 percent service charge to the bill, so it’s not necessary to throw in more unless you really enjoyed the service. You should also tip hairdressers and cab drivers, but not bartenders. As a student, it’s understood that you don’t need to tip, but it’s always nice if you can.
Food and Dining
Fish and chips aside, the UK is infamous for its meat and potatoes “Sunday Roast” dinners, pie lunches (typically shepherd’s, with meat and mashed potato crust), and breakfasts of baked beans on toast and black pudding—a sausage made by cooking pig or cattle blood. If traditional English food doesn’t excite your taste buds, there are likely to be plenty of other options.
Indian cuisine, for example, is plentiful in England and is generally one of the most popular alternatives to traditional dishes. There is also a variety of Asian food (Cantonese is a particular standout). And you’ll find a healthy range of organic produce for the UK’s growing population of vegetarians. There are some American fast food chains, like McDonalds and Pizza Hut (considered a little more upscale), but don’t be thrown off by toppings like tuna and sweet corn.
Like American colleges, UK universities try to provide a variety of foods, but you may want to prepare food for yourself as well. At Pembroke, I would skip the baked beans in the mornings in favor of yogurt and Weetabix cereal.
Social Life and Recreation
The UK has all sorts of entertainment options to help students get their minds off of coursework. Movie theaters, plays, and concerts of all types are usually just a hop and a skip away from campus.
Naturally, there are also thriving art scenes: “Apart from a wealth of clubs and societies on campus or in local communities, you can visit traditional museums, contemporary art spaces and galleries, with collections and exhibitions from all over the world. Sculpture, painting, video and photography are widely available to see in the UK,” reports the BC.
Pubs, the most popular gathering places for locals, are open from 11a.m. until 11p.m. on most nights. The legal drinking age in the UK is 18, so you may find a slightly younger boozy crowd than you’re used to in college towns. Try out a pub’s quiz night, when teams of friends compete for prizes—like t-shirts or a paid bar tab—by answering trivia questions.
If you’re the active type, the UK is nuts about football (a.k.a. soccer—David Beckham, anyone?) as well as rugby. Of course, you don’t have to join a team to get in shape, since the UK has a good selection of gyms as well. At Pembroke, I went on morning jogs in the surrounding countryside and went “punting” on the River Thames weekly. A punt is a flat boat, used on shallow water, with a square-shaped bow large enough to fit about four people. One person propels the boat by pushing against the river bed with a long pole. Unlike riding in Italy’s gondolas, punting can build a good amount of arm strength after several outings.
Lastly, don’t forget that as a student, you can usually get discounts at a variety of places near your college. Just remember to ask!