The history and society of England

Pre-history
Archaeological evidence found in Norfolk and Suffolk show that Homo erectus lived in what is now England over 700,000 years ago.  England was linked to mainland Europe by a large land bridge and the English Channel was a mere river fed by tributaries that would later become the Thames and Seine.

Early history of EnglandHunter-gatherers were the first people to arrive in England and they came from Europe around 8,000 BC.  People from southern Europe arrived in 4,000 BC and were later followed by Belgae, Celts and Gauls, which started the trend for the multi-cultural Britain of today.  By the time the Romans invaded in 43 AD they found a highly developed tribal-based culture, but they had to abandon the land to protect their empire.  The Anglo-Saxons arrived next, followed by the Vikings, and in 1066 the Normans came along.

Middle Ages
The middle ages brought war with France, political and religious unrest and the deathly Plague.  The Tudor family gained control of the monarchy towards the end of the Middle Ages, beginning a dynasty that ended with the 45-year reign of Elizabeth I.  England expanded around the globe and reached the height of its power during the reign of Queen Victoria in the 19th century.

20th century
20th century English history brought two costly wars and the loss of the empire.  There is a closer integration with continental Europe but at the same time increased autonomy for Scotland and Wales inspiring further changes.

Culture and society of England

England has a rich cultural mix thanks to the invaders, settlers and migrants who have made the country their home over the centuries.  Similarly, English culture is shared throughout the world by countries that were once part of the British Empire.

Major contributions made by the English are in the realms of theater, literature and architecture.  Names like Shakespeare, Chaucer and Dickens will be remembered by many from their days in the English classroom.  Modern and innovative structures like the Tate Modern and Millenium Bridge are springing up, while castles and cathedrals of old awe travelers year after year.  Art and sculpture from every age and continent is scattered across the country-side or sits in museums.

The English language is one that has spread around the world, developing huge variations in regional accents from the Aussie twang to the famous Cockney accent found in London.

The cuisine is certainly not famous for its quality or health attributes but the English have borrowed the best bits from other cuisines in order to vary their palates and in turn the quality of food is looking up.  The English favorite still remain however – fish ‘n’ chips, bacon ‘n’ eggs and bangers ‘n’ mash.  Careful not to overdose!

Religion

The predominant religion is Christianity although all other religions are freely practised including Hinduism, Judaism, Islam and Sikhism.  Nearly a quarter of people practise no religion.

Culture Corner

CITY OVERVIEW

POINTS OF INTEREST

CULTURAL HIGHLIGHTS

TRANSPORTATION

MONEY MATTERS

ENGLISH CULTURE

The country of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (the UK for short) is made up of four separate and distinct countries: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

The UK is different from Great Britain, which is made up of England, Scotland, and Wales. Sometimes people say Britain when they mean Great Britain. Britain only refers to England and Wales. Both the island of Great Britain and the island of Ireland, which includes Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, make up the British Isles along with a few smaller surrounding islands. Confused yet?!

The English often refer to themselves as British, whereas someone from Scotland or Wales will generally refer to themselves as Scottish or Welsh respectively.

English is the main language spoken throughout the country though in Wales, Welsh is the official Celtic language spoken and in Scotland, there are two additional official languages- Gaelic & Scots. It is not uncommon to hear a variety of local accents. Distinct accents are a way of distinguishing a geographic location; For example, Geordies are in north England vs Cockneys who reside in London.

Social Etiquette
A considerable amount of value is placed on punctuality, thus it is important to arrive on time to meetings, class, etc. Standing in line, or queuing, is a common occurrence as it adhered to as people patiently wait for their turn. When riding escalators stand still on the right so others may pass on the left. Basic politeness, things such as using please, thank you, excuse me, and shaking hands upon greeting is expected. Avoid drawing attention to yourself by being loud and obnoxious in public, especially when using public transportation.

Food and Drink
The pub, or public house, is an important part of British life. The pub is where the community gathers to eat, drink, and gather. It is typical to order both food and drink directly at the bar, as most pubs do not offer table service. The combination of cultures throughout Britain has led to an increase in the culinary culture. The typical British dish no longer consists of meat and vegetables or the infamous fish and chips, but has come to include, the growing in popularity, curry.

Sport
The most popular sport in the U.K. is football (soccer). Other popular sports include rugby, rowing, horse racing, cricket, tennis and golf all of which originated or were largely developed in the U.K. In international competitions there is usually a team to represent each England, Scotland and Wales instead of them being cobined as one Great Britain team. Some major competitions held each year in the U.K. within their respective sports are the Premier League Championships, Six Nations Champtionship, Oxford vs Cambridge boat race, the Grand National and Royal Ascot, the Ashes, Wimbledon and The Open golf tournament.

MONUMENTS & MUST-SEES

London is full of endless monuments and places to visit that it is hard to narrow the list down to just a few. The following is just a brief list of a few must-sees during your time in London:

• Buckingham Palace, the official residence of the Queen, is open to visitors when the Queen is on vacation. The Palace is also the home of the infamous Changing of the Guard. Arrive early to watch the new soldiers replace the old soldiers in the forecourt of the Palace in their bright red uniforms and bearskin hats.

• You can't miss the London Eye as the world's largest sightseeing wheel towers over the city along the River Thames. The ride is 30 minutes and offers views of all of the famous London sights, including picture perfect scenes of Big Ben and Parliament.

• The clock tower of Big Ben is probably the most famous landmark in London. Big Ben is attached to the Houses of Parliament. The Houses of Parliament are comprised of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, and is where all the country's legislative decisions are discussed. Tours of Parliament are offered almost daily when they are not in session.

• Listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Tower of London is a must see during your time abroad. A former royal residence, the Tower became famous when Henry VIII moved his prison to the site in 1529. The Tudor-garbed Beefeaters still guard the Tower and offer tours throughout the year.

• Built after the Great Fire of 1666 and surviving the Blitz of WWII, St. Paul's Cathedral has been dominating the city skyline for quite some time. After taking in the majesty and size of the building extend your view of London by climbing the 530 steps to the top of the dome.

CULTURAL ACTIVITIES

London has endless activities for visitors to enjoy. Listed below are some different cultural activities to do while in London. You can do many of these activities on your own, with friends, or they may be sponsored by ISA. Upon arrival to London, different sponsored cultural activities will be announced throughout your program abroad.

Theatre
Join your fellow classmates as you head out for a night on the town to enjoy a popular theatre production in the West End. London is world-renowned for its theatres and productions and maintains a very full and active schedule year round. During the summer be sure to catch a traditional Shakespearean play at the replicated Globe Theatre.

Museums
London is packed with great museums, from art to history. The best part about exploring this plethora of information is that most museums in London are free of charge. A few favorites include: Victoria and Albert Museum, National Gallery, Tate Modern, Natural History and British Museum.

Afternoon Tea
Experience what this long standing tradition is all about. Afternoon Tea was taken up by the British during the reign of Queen Victoria to bring you up between breakfast and dinner. A typical afternoon tea consists of sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and jam, sweet pastries, cakes and of course a pot of tea!

Shopping
Wander the many markets to buy fresh produce, find your favorite local goods or simply window shop the boutiques. Popular areas include: Covent Garden, Portabello Roadand Camden Market. Or you can pick up the latest fashions at all the stores on Oxford Street such as H&M, Dorothy Perkins or Top Shop.

Outdoors
Spend an afternoon studying, exploring, people watching or playing sports in one of the many parks or squares London has to offer. Parks include: Hyde Park, St. James's Park, Regents Park. Or take river cruise down the Thames and spend your day at Greenwich park where the Royal Observatory and Prime Meridian reside.

Sports
Whether it's cricket, football, horse racing, rugby or tennis, London hosts a wide array of sporting events year round. Check the local papers for the current sporting events and local teams. Some popular stadiums to attend a match or take a tour of are Wimbley Stadium, Wimbledon Park, the Lords Cricket Ground, or Ascot.

CULTURAL IMMERSION

Internships
The University of Westminster, King's College London and Roehampton University offers students the opportunity to participate in an internship program during their semester/academic year in London. The goal of the internship is to gain international experience and to develop your interncultural competenices. The internship is taken in place of one of the academic courses and complement the student's academic background with participation in a professional environment. To learn more about the London Internships, please click here.

In order to participate in an internship, special visa requirements apply. Please see the Student Visa and Embassy page for more information.

ISA Student Blog

Stay connected while you're abroad and share your experience with your peers back home! Each summer and semester the ISA Student Blog features ISA students as bloggers, photo bloggers and video bloggers who document their time abroad to share with their friends, family, prospective students and more. If sharing your study abroad experience through blog posts, photos, videos and other media while receiving professional guidance and feedback appeals to you, consider applying to be an ISA Featured Blogger, Photo Blogger or Video Blogger. The Site Specialist for your program will email all accepted students to notify you when ISA is accepting applications for the ISA Featured Blogger programs.

Cultural Blogs:
We also suggest you check out the plethora of other cultural blogs available on the web to learn more about others' experiences in London, cultural happenings, and expat lives.