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Brainstorm
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What do you know

about the UK?
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I can talk about my

country.
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ENGLAND TRAVEL

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ENGLAND
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ENGLAND TRAVEL

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Lets take a trip

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BRITISH
CULTURE
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British culture has its roots in the United Kingdom‘s rich history, the people and the four
countries — England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland — that it’s made up of each with
their own unique traditions and customs.

M British culture and social norms are very unique. One of the most important things to know
before going to any country is what their cultural and social norms are.
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Things you need to
know about, British
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people
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• The British are punctual.  • The British have a high amount of respect for older adults and
Being late is odd and, in some cases, considered to be rude. If you’re the disabled. 
going to be late to something, contact those involved as soon as you know If you are on public transportation, you are expected to give up your
you will be late. Also, it is less rude to be late to a dinner party at
someone’s home than it is to be late to a public meeting (such as dinner at
seat if someone who is disabled or older comes onto the tram (or
a restaurant). whatever vehicle you are in) and there is no other seat. If an older
adult or someone who is disabled seems to be struggling with
• Never jump lines, known as “queues” in UK. 
something, you are also expected to ask the person if they need your
In some countries jumping the queue may be acceptable, but in UK,
people may not be very happy with you and will definitely let you know
assistance.
how unhappy they are about the situation. Standing patiently in the queue • British people rarely use superlatives and are not very animated
is a normal part of British culture. when they speak. 
• In the UK, it’s acceptable to keep one arm’s length between yourself They value privacy over everything else, so be careful what you ask
and those you are speaking with.  because you could be prying without meaning to.
ENGLISH NORMS

Any closer is assumed to be aggressive and can be uncomfortable for

those native to UK.
• British people often avoid extended eye contact. 
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They find it uncomfortable and intimidating.

• Please, thank you, and sorry are normal parts of everyday
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conversations and interactions. • If you are invited to the home of a native British person, it is
 Some people are simply baffled by how polite British people are. As an normal to bring along a gift, 
international student, you may not be used to this, but you will probably such as chocolate, wine, or flowers to say thank you.
get used to it quickly after your arrival!
• If you go to a pub with your friends, it is common practice to buy a
• When greeting a good friend or family member in UK, you do not round of drinks for those who you came with.
simply shake their hand.
Many times, especially if one of the people that are greeting or being • The person who has invited you to dinner is typically the one who
greeted is female, you will frequently give and/or receive a small kiss on pays. 

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the cheek. If you are not a close friend or family member, then the
physical touch is perceived as odd or uncomfortable (you may shake to dinner at some point and pay for them to reciprocate.
hands, but often a smile and a bow of the head is acceptable enough).
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“Typically British”
• Eating a traditional roast dinner on a • Celebrating Remembrance Day
Sunday • Eating fish and chips on a Friday
• Putting the kettle on in a crisis • Pancake flipping on Shrove
• Eating a full English breakfast Tuesday
• Going to the pub • Saying sorry when you’ve not done
anything wrong
• Guy Fawkes night
• Dunking biscuits in tea
• Eating turkey on Christmas Day
• Checking the local weather report
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• Having an avid interest in the before travelling anywhere

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weather at all times

• Adhering to the rules
• White weddings
• Trying to catch the very last rays of
• Keeping a stiff upper lip at all times sun on a summer day
• Visiting Pantomime at Christmas • Barbequing at the first hint of
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“Typically British”
• Flocking to the beach as soon as the • Reading the newspapers in the
temperature rises morning
• Having a strong opinion about • Drinking cider in Somerset
whether you put the milk in before • Doing DIY on a bank holiday
the tea and hot water [or vice versa] weekend
• Refusing to complain about bad • Arguing about politics
service
• Instinctively wanting to go to the
• Obsessing about the traffic pub on a sunny day
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• Being overly polite in every • Travelling by black cabs or red

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eventuality buses in London

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Languages in Britain
• English, as you may have guessed it, is the official language and the
main language spoken in the UK. From over 65 million citizens that
live in the country, roughly 98% of them speak English as their first
language. But, there are also other native languages spoken across the
country that have evolved during the history of UK.

• Other than English, in the UK these are official native languages:

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LANGUAGES

• Welsh in Wales
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• Gaelic and Scots in Scotland

• Irish and Ulster Scots in Northern Ireland

• Cornish in Cornwall, England

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Clothing in UK

• In the UK the weather is pretty unpredictable.Depending on the weather

Brits choose to dress differently. When there’s winter weather they usually
wear heavy overcoats or anoraks, while when it rains Britons wear raincoats
and umbrellas.
FASHION

• As for the clothing, the UK’s wearing trends are closely similar to fashion
trends in western societies. At the same time, their sentiments for their
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typical clothing elements are highly expressed in their daily dressing styles.
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ENGLISH

• Across the UK there are many variations depending on several factors.

Young people, mainly follow the most actual global fashion trends. Their
clothing contains Jeans, T-shirts, jackets, and sneakers. Those who work
in an office usually wear on elegant business suits. Elders’ clothing styles,
mostly contain British traditional garments.

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ENGLISH FASHION

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ENGLISH FASHION

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Art
• Art is an important part of the British history and
culture. Many British artists created irreplaceable
artwork whose appealing influenced many artists from
all around the globe.
• Traces of British art development take us back to the
pre-historical periods. The Stonehenge, built around
2600 BC, is clearly the oldest British artwork we know
until now. The influence of Roman conquer and other
preceding historical ages are still present in UK. Old
ART
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churches and cathedrals have the same illuminated

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manuscript and sculpture as when they were built

centuries ago.
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• Throughout the history of art, the UK produced some

of the greatest artists ever. Names like William Blake,
J.M.W.Turner, John Constable, Samuel Palmer and so
forth made a strong basis for artists that would come
later

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Bridge Riley
VII: Pamela in the Bedroom with Mrs Jewkes
and Mr B.
1743–4

Riley often alludes to her impressions of foreign

cultures in her paintings. In 1981 she travelled to India.
Nataraja is a term from Hindu mythology meaning
‘Lord of the Dance’. It refers to the Hindu God Shiva in
his form as the cosmic dancer, who is usually depicted
with many arms. In this painting, vertical bands of
ART
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colour are cut across by diagonals, creating a sense of

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dynamic movement through intricate rhythm and

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counter-rhythm.
Gallery label, October 2016

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Joseph Mallord
William Turner
Self-Portrait
c.1799

This self-portrait appears to date from around 1799

when Turner was about twenty-four years old. It was
possibly intended to mark an important moment in his
career, his election as an Associate of the Royal
Academy. Despite his relative youth, Turner had
already made a name for himself as an original,
accomplished painter with the technical abilities of
ART
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someone more mature. He had been described in the

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newspapers as an artist who ‘seems thoroughly to

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understand the mode of adjusting and applying his

various materials’ and ‘their effect in oil or on paper
is equally sublime’. 

Gallery label, February 2010

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Francis Bacon
Study for Portrait of Van Gogh IV
1957
Bacon based this painting on a self-portrait by
Vincent Van Gogh which he knew only from 
photographs, as it had been destroyed by wartime
bombing. The painter seems solitary, while the
dark shadows introduce a sense of foreboding or
melancholy. Van Gogh epitomised the idea of the
misunderstood artist, set apart from mainstream
society.
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ART

Bacon might also have been stimulated by the

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film Lust for Life, starring Kirk Douglas as Van

BRITISH

Gogh, which had been released a year earlier. This

film reinforced the idea of Van Gogh as a lonely
genius.
Gallery label, September 2004

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Chris Ofili
No Woman, No Cry
1998

No Woman No Cry is a tribute to the London teenager

Stephen Lawrence who was murdered in a racially
motivated attack in 1993. A public inquiry into the
murder investigation concluded that the Metropolitan
police force was institutionally racist. In each of the
tears shed by the woman in the painting is a collaged
image of Stephen Lawrence’s face, while the words
‘R.I.P. Stephen Lawrence’ are just discernible beneath
the layers of paint. As well as this specific reference,
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the artist intended the painting to be read as a

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universal portrayal of melancholy and grief.

BRITISH

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Bridge Riley
Nataraja
1993

Riley often alludes to her impressions of foreign

cultures in her paintings. In 1981 she travelled to India.
Nataraja is a term from Hindu mythology meaning
‘Lord of the Dance’. It refers to the Hindu God Shiva in
his form as the cosmic dancer, who is usually depicted
with many arms. In this painting, vertical bands of
ART
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colour are cut across by diagonals, creating a sense of

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dynamic movement through intricate rhythm and

BRITISH

counter-rhythm.
Gallery label, October 2016

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Architecture
• The British architecture is unique with its own styles
and forms. 
BRITISH ARTCHITECTURE

• There are castles, monuments, and other

architectural buildings all across the country and
many of them are nowadays transformed into touristic
attractions. These objects combine perfectly with the
latest trend in modern architecture.
• During the sixth century, there were many Anglo-
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Saxon churches built in the UK.

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• On both sides of the Anglo-Scottish border, there are

still a number of stone castles left from the lasting
Scottish Independence War during the 14th century. 
• Old castles share also a proportion of architectural
heritage in the UK. 

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Windsor Castle
1070

Windsor Castle is a royal

residence at Windsor in the
English county of Berkshire. It is
BRITISH ARTCHITECTURE

notable for its long association

with the English and later British
royal family and for its
architecture. The original castle
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was built in the 11th century after

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the Norman invasion of England

by William the conqueror.

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Buckingham Palace
1703

Buckingham Palace is the

London residence and
administrative headquarters of
BRITISH ARTCHITECTURE

the monarch of the United

Kingdom. Located in the City of
Westminster, the palace is often
at the centre of state occasions
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and royal hospitality. It has been

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a focal point for the British

people at times of national
rejoicing and mourning.

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Houses of Parliament
1859

The House of Commons is the

lower house of the Parliament of
the United Kingdom. Like the
BRITISH ARTCHITECTURE

upper house, the House of Lords,

it meets in the Palace of
Westminster. Officially, the full
name of the house is the
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Honourable the Commons of the

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United Kingdom of Great Britain

and Northern Ireland in
Parliament assembled.

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The Gherkin
2003

30 St Mary Axe, informally

known as The Gherkin, is a
commercial skyscraper in
BRITISH ARTCHITECTURE

London's primary financial

district, the City of London. It
was completed in December
2003 and opened in April 2004.
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The Shard
2009

The Shard, also infrequently

referred to as the Shard of Glass,
Shard London Bridge and
BRITISH ARTCHITECTURE

formerly London Bridge Tower,

is a 95-story supertall skyscraper,
designed by the Italian architect
Renzo Piano, in Southwark,
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London, that forms part of the

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Shard Quarter development.

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Sports
In the UK

Sports are a very popular activity among

Brits. Clearly, the Football (or Soccer as
referred by Americans) is the British top
favourite sport. This normally would be
expected because the UK is where the modern
Football has begun.
The second most favourite sports of Brits is
Rugby. A long time ago this sport was
associated with the elite, but later it became
widespread. Today, there are two leagues of
BRITISH SPORTS

Rugby in UK.
Brits also like swimming, Cricket, Tennis,
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Boxing and so on.

Did you know that although most people
wrongly think that Tennis table originates from
Asian countries, the game was first invented in
UK?

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London Olympics
2012
BRITISH SPORTS
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Football
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BRITISH SPORTS

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Football
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Rugby
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Swimming
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Tennis
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British Food
Traditional

• The British food is a blending of four different rich cultures of countries

that comprise the UK. This explains why the British culinary traditions
are such diverse.
TRADITIONAL FOOD

• Far from home one of the things you’ll often miss is your native cuisine,
which you’re used to consuming it daily. In the UK you will still feel the
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same, however, the British food will undoubtedly be a perfect

replacement for it. Among a wide variety of dishes, you will certainly
find some that suit your taste.

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FISH & CHIPS

Perhaps the most typical
British food. The history of
this food in UK’s culture is so
long. It is thought that once in
the past an employer had to
hire a doorman to control the
queue of people waiting to
buy Fish and chips. The plate
contains a deep-fried fish and
potato chips (fries for
TRADITIONAL FOOD

American readers). British

people prefer the cod and
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Haddock over other sorts of

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fish. You can also prepare

some boiled peas mixed with
salt, pepper or other
ingredients.

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SUNDAY ROAST DINNER

One cannot talk about the British food

without mentioning the Sunday Roast
with Yorkshire pudding. Usually
served on Sundays afternoons,
however, you can eat during the week
also. You can ask for a roast dinner
with a chicken, turkey or whatever, but
TRADITIONAL FOOD

you definitely should not miss the

Yorkshire pudding. Commonly the
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Yorkshire pudding is accompanied

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with beef.

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FULL ENGLISH BREAKFAST

The typical English breakfast

is rich with ingredients
including bacon, sausages,
eggs, toast, mushrooms,
tomatoes and tea or coffee.
TRADITIONAL FOOD
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SHEPARDS PIE
The Shepherd pie is usually
cooked with meat (beef or
lamb more often) and mashed
with rind of potato. The name
of this food appeared for the
first time in 1877.
TRADITIONAL FOOD
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MEAT PIE
British Steak and Ale Pie is a
classic dish found in most
pubs around England. Tender
pieces of steak are cooked
with vegetables
and English ale, then wrapped
in a flaky buttery crust.
TRADITIONAL FOOD
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FESTIVALS & HOLIDAYS

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In the UK
Festivals & holidays
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January
• New Year's Day - January 1
FESTIVALS & HOLIDAYS

• Hogmanay (December 31 - January 2)I

• Twelfth Night and Epiphany - January 5 - 6

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FESTIVALS & HOLIDAYS

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1st January
New years
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Febuary
• Chinese new year - Varies
FESTIVALS & HOLIDAYS

• Valentine's Day - February 14

• Pancake day - Varies

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FESTIVALS & HOLIDAYS
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Chinese New Year

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FESTIVALS & HOLIDAYS

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Valentines
14th February
Day
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FESTIVALS & HOLIDAYS

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Varies each year

Pancake day
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March
• St Davids day - 1st March
FESTIVALS & HOLIDAYS

• St Patricks day - 17th March

• Mothers Day- Varies

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FESTIVALS & HOLIDAYS

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1st March
St David day
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FESTIVALS & HOLIDAYS

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17th march
St Patricks day
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FESTIVALS & HOLIDAYS

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Varies each year

Mothers day
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April
• April fools day - 1st April
FESTIVALS & HOLIDAYS

• Easter - Varies
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FESTIVALS & HOLIDAYS

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1st April
April fool day
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FESTIVALS & HOLIDAYS

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Varies
Easter
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May
• May day - Varies (First & Last Monday)
FESTIVALS & HOLIDAYS

• Birthdays- Varies
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FESTIVALS & HOLIDAYS

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Varies
May day
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FESTIVALS & HOLIDAYS

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All days of the year

Birthdays
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June
• Wimbledon – 1st – 14th July
FESTIVALS & HOLIDAYS

• Fathers day – 16th July

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FESTIVALS & HOLIDAYS

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1st -14th July

Wimbledon
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FESTIVALS & HOLIDAYS

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16th July
Fathers day
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FESTIVALS & HOLIDAYS

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July
• Eid - Varies each year
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ENGLAND TRAVEL

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Eid
Varies each year
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August
• Carnival -24th – 26th August
FESTIVALS & HOLIDAYS
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FESTIVALS & HOLIDAYS

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Carnival
24th -26th august
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September
• London Fashion week - Varies each year
FESTIVALS & HOLIDAYS
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FESTIVALS & HOLIDAYS
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London Fashion
Week
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October
• Black history month – All Month
FESTIVALS & HOLIDAYS

• Halloween -

• Dawli – Varies
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FESTIVALS & HOLIDAYS

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All month
Month
Black History
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FESTIVALS & HOLIDAYS

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31 October
Halloween
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FESTIVALS & HOLIDAYS

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Varies
Diwali
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November
• Bonfire night - 5th November
FESTIVALS & HOLIDAYS

• Remembrance day – 11th November

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FESTIVALS & HOLIDAYS

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5th November
Bonfire night
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FESTIVALS & HOLIDAYS

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11th November
Remembrance day
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December
• Christmas Eve – 24th December
FESTIVALS & HOLIDAYS

• Christmas Day – 25th December

• Boxing Day – 26th December

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FESTIVALS & HOLIDAYS

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24th December
Christmas Eve
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FESTIVALS & HOLIDAYS

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25th December
Christmas
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FESTIVALS & HOLIDAYS

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26th December
Boxing Day
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TRAVEL ENGLAND
Video
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MARGIE'S
QUESTIONS
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Questions?
Please put your hand up

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Michaela Washington-
Welch
MichaelaWelch
MARGIE'S
YOU

THANK YOU
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THANK

From Miss Welch

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