British humour - it can be hard to understand, even to other native speakers. But fear not, once you get used to it Brits are really funny. Honestly! Brits never take themselves too seriously, and will often joke about themselves. Humour is often delivered sarcastically and in a deadpan manner, which may initially leave you wondering whether something was a joke or not. Don’t worry though, sarcasm is used so much in the UK that you’ll soon be an expert. Check out comedians like Jack Dee and David Mitchell to see the full force of British sarcasm.
Most Brits are not particularly religious, and a traditional Sunday involves a family get-together and a large ‘Sunday Roast’. A roast is normally chicken, beef or lamb, with lots of roast vegetables. The key is taking your time, you can’t rush a roast. Enjoy great food, a lazy Sunday and good company. Lots of pubs will offer Sunday Roasts, and these can be great and might be an easy alternative when you study in the UK, but it’s not the same as cooking and eating as a family or group of friends.
Tea is a central part of British culture, so much so that many foreigners mistakenly assume tea is grown there! If you go to a British person’s house, expect to be asked “shall I put the kettle on?” or “do you fancy a cuppa?” – these are both very British ways of asking if you would like a cup of tea. Do not underestimate how much tea Brits drink – many drink more tea than water!
Talking about the weather – if you make a new British friend or meet an old one, one thing is certain, you will talk about the weather. If you’re not sure what to talk about with a Brit, just moan about the weather!
The UK is now an incredibly ethnically diverse country, many years of immigration from all over the world have led to a multicultural society where the most popular restaurant is Indian and supermarkets are stocked with produce from all over the world. You’ll never get homesick in the UK as you can always find a little piece of home.