NEWSPAPERS AND MAGAZINES

Newspapers

Newspapers in Britain cater for a wide variety of interests. The broadsheets report world news with commentary and analysis. Some broadsheets are also now printed in tabloid format. The tabloids generally present news in an eye-catching format and offer sensational stories. Among the serious national broadsheets, are the Times (owned by Rupert Murdoch), The Daily Telegraph the Guardian and The Independent. The Financial Times is the paper for business news. Popular tabloid papers are The Sun (again owned by Rupert Murdoch), the Daily Mail, the Daily Express, the Mirror, and the Daily Star. Most regions have their own dailies, evening newspapers and a weekly newspaper providing local news. The Yorkshire Post and Manchester Evening News are popular in the North of England. In Scotland, there are three regional dailies: The Scotsman, The Herald and The Aberdeen Press and Journal.

Competition for readership among different newspapers is intensifying and their prices, as a consequence, are falling. Price of a typical national broadsheet paper is around 50p on weekdays and around £1.50 during weekends. Tabloids cost around 40p daily.

To boost circulation among students, most newspapers have cut their prices for students. During term-time newspapers in the Students’ Union shops are sold for as little as 20p.

You can also buy foreign newspapers in the Students’ Union shops and in most of the newsagents around town.

Magazines

Like newspapers, magazines in Britain cater for a wide variety of interests. Students can benefit from reduced subscription rates (up to 70 per cent) from the publishers. Check online at www.studentlife.com.uk for further details.

Maps

An A–Z street atlas of your town or city (published by A–Z Map Company) is useful to have. There are street atlases for almost all the major towns and cities in Britain and these cost around £4. They are a good source of reference to help you get around the town during your stay in the UK.

Ordnance Survey Land Ranger Series Maps are also full of information to help you to get to know your local area. The maps cost around £5 and show all the tourist information, footpaths, parks, camping sites, lakes and marshes, etc.

If you are planning to drive around Britain then it is worth getting a road atlas which costs about £5. Maps and atlases can be purchased from most Students’ Union Shops, newsagents and bookshops.

EATING OUT

The UK was once ridiculed for its lack of variety in food, but the range of restaurants available has increased greatly in recent years. Today, you will find cuisines from almost every corner of the world. But remember if you are a student on a budget, eating out repeatedly can be very expensive.

Fish and chips is a traditional British meal that can be bought cheaply (from around £2.50). Harry Ramsden’s is a renowned restaurant chain that specialises in upmarket fish and chips. The lower end of the market is dominated by burger chains (such as McDonalds, Burger King and KFC, where a meal costs around £3–4. There are also medium-priced restaurants that offer good Indian, Chinese, Italian, Thai and English cuisine.

There are numerous chains of restaurants that offer good value for money. These include pizzerias (like Pizza Express), traditional Chinese and Thai (like Yellow River Cafe) and family restaurants (like TGI Fridays, Beefeaters and Harvesters). You should expect to pay around £10–15 (more if you order alcohol) for a decent meal. Some restaurants offer 10 20 per cent student discounts on production of a valid NUS or Student card.

At the other end of the culinary spectrum is fine dining in elegant, gourmet restaurants where a three course meal can cost around £50–75. Vegetarians should not have a problem as most restaurants have a vegetarian menu or vegetarian options. There are usually a couple of vegetarian restaurants in every town and city. Many restaurants also serve Halal food.

ENTERTAINMENT

The core of student entertainment can be found at your Students’ Union where a variety of events are held, from live bands to comedy to dance nights. Most students use the Students’ Union because it is often less expensive (in terms of admission and alcohol prices) compared to bars and clubs in town. An events calendar is usually published at the beginning of every term.

Towns and cities have clubs offering diverse events during the week, although these can be expensive if they’re not designated student nights. Clubs in town will have a stricter dress code and trainers and jeans are usually not allowed. The best way to find out what’s going on in your town is by looking in your local newspapers, local entertainment guides and by keeping an eye out for posters around your town and university campus.

Most towns now have a multiplex cinema screening the latest movies. Almost all offer student discounts on production of a valid student ID card. Odeon, UCI and Vue Cinemas are now found in almost all university towns and cities in the UK. Independent cinemas also operate around the UK screening films from around the world. These are usually listed in the Yellow Pages.

The main focus of social life in Britain is the pub, where most people meet to talk and drink. Pubs serve a wide variety of beers, local ales, spirits, coffee, tea and food. Pubs are open from 11.00am to 11.00pm (Monday to Saturday) with last orders served at 10.45pm. On Sundays pubs are open until 10.30pm.

Gay and lesbian life

Gay and lesbian life in Britain is diverse and vibrant. Universities in Britain are very tolerant towards homosexuality and almost every university has a Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Society (LGB). Check out their stalls during the freshers fair. Almost every town has gay pubs, clubs, groups and community support. Gay Times, Boyz and Diva are popular publications for the lesbian and gay community and are available from newsagents. London, Manchester, Brighton and Edinburgh have particularly vibrant gay scenes.

Festivals and events in the UK

Throughout the year, a variety of exciting festivals and events take place all around the UK. Some the events like Gay Pride and Notting Hill Carnival are free, while others can cost up to £250. Some festival dates are listed below for 2006. further information can also be found online at www.efestivals.co.uk

Festivals and events in the UK

Cheltenham Folk Festival
10–12 February 2006
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire

Oxford Folk Festival
May 2006
Oxford

Isle of Wight Festival
9–11 June 2006
Newport, Isle of Wight

Wimbledon (Tennis)
26 June–9 July 2006
Wimbledon, London

Cambridge Folk Festival
July 2006
Cambridge, Cambridgeshire

Henley Regatta
28 June–2 July 2006
Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire

WOMAD (World Music and Dance)
July 2006
Reading, Berkshire

Edinburgh International Festival
13 August–2 September 2006
Edinburgh, Scotland

Edinburgh Festival Fringe
6–28 August 2006
Edinburgh, Scotland

Notting Hill Carnival
August 2006
Notting Hill, London

Hogmanay Celebrations
Friday 29 December 2005 until Monday 1 January 2006
Edinburgh

WEATHER

The weather is a favourite topic of conversation nationwide and you will probably hear it mentioned several times a day. The weather is very unpredictable – it can rain and be cold in summer and there are sometimes pleasant days in winter. January and February are usually the coldest months with temperatures falling to zero and snowfall common in Scotland and Northern England. In summer, temperatures can rise to 30°C. When you visit the UK, come prepared for the changing weather patterns – some warm clothes and an umbrella are essential.

RELIGION

Britain is predominantly Christian but most of the world’s religions are represented in the country. The two established churches in Britain are the Anglican Church of England and the Presbyterian Church of Scotland. The Monarch is the ‘Supreme Governor’ of the Church of England. However, not everyone participates in religion. According to a recent survey almost half of all adults in the UK expressed no religious affiliation.

Other religions in Britain are Hinduism, Judaism, Islam and Sikhism, Bahai Buddhism, Jainism and Zoroastrianism. Besides these, you’ll also find followers of new religious movements, pagans and atheists.

BANK HOLIDAYS

Bank holidays are national (public) holidays in the UK. Bank holidays vary between England and Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland. Most shops, restaurants and supermarkets are now open on bank holidays (although some for only a limited time).

Bank holidays for 2006

DRUGS

Use of all hallucinogenic drugs is strictly forbidden by law in the UK. Possession of and supply of drugs will result in a criminal conviction.

WEAPONS

Possession of weapons, including replica weapons, knives and CS spray is prohibited in the UK. Sentences are usually harsh and anyone found possessing a weapon can be jailed for a minimum of five years.