There’s definitely more to tea and biscuits when defining the British culture.
For anyone visiting a foreign country, whether for a few weeks or a few years as to how it is for international students, knowing the basics is tantamount to enjoying or even surviving the adventure. Apart from the British Royal Family, England is known for its pub scene, football (soccer!), afternoon teas, and their unequivocal contribution to the arts, including the movie and music industry.
Pub Scene
The pub scene is deeply engrained in the British lifestyle and is especially essential for students. Pub, short for “public house”, is where people of all ages can commune over a pint of beer or cider, socialise, and unwind at any time of the day. Its typically relaxed environment is perfect for some downtime from school, work, and even conducive for official meetings. The Guinness World Record for the oldest pub in England is given to Ye Olde Fighting Cocks in St. Albans, Hertfordshire, which is established in an 11th-century structure on an 8th-century site.
Sunday Roast
The ultimate home-cooked meal for the Brits, Sunday Roast is a traditional meal normally served on Sundays (as the name suggests) comprised of well-roasted beef with gravy paired with mixed vegetables and Yorkshire pudding. Normally known as a family dinner, the Sunday Roast is also a common pub grub that can be paired with your favorite ale. Some of the best Sunday Roasts in the UK in 2021 named by food critics include Tom Kerridge’s Bull and Bear restaurant inside Manchester Stock Exchange, Michelin-starred 12:51, and The Wheatsheaf in Brigsteer, Cumbria.
The Beautiful Game of Football
The most famous sport in the UK, football is a way of life for Brits. It gathers or separates families, friends, or colleagues depending on the team they root for. There are more than 40,000 official football clubs in England of which the biggest teams belong to the Premier League, the top flight of England’s football pyramid. Premier League hosts 20 teams, including Manchester United, Liverpool Football Club, and Arsenal, battling a total of 380 matches for the English championship crown every August to May.
Afternoon Tea
What originated as a tea-ritual in the UK in the early 1840s has now evolved into a mini-meal comprised of dainty sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and preserves, sweet pastries, and cakes enjoyed a few hours before dinner at around 8 pm. A representation of British elegance back then, afternoon tea is also known as “high tea” outside Britain and can also be served during wedding celebrations, bridal showers, and graduation parties.
Britpop
British rock bands, widely influenced by the Beatles, topped music charts both in the UK and the US back in the mid-1990s. Contrary to the American grunge scene, Britpop is characterised by lighter sounding, melodic guitar hooks, and choruses from bands that emerged to the mainstream from the underground music scene. Oasis and Blur were the flag banners of Britpop and were also known as each other’s best rivals. Today, British pop music, not to be confused with Britpop in the 90s, continue to top the Spotify charts with music from artists like Adele, Sam Smith, Dua Lipa, and Ed Sheeran, to name a few.
These are just a few of the most beautiful Brit things you’ll experience when you set foot in the UK.
