1) Experience the 'Big Smoke' spend some time in London
Nearest universities: University College London; Imperial College London; King's College London; London School of Economics; Queen Mary, University of London; SOAS; Royal Holloway University of London; Brunel University; Goldsmiths, University of London; City University London
Whether you're spending a weekend checking out the sights, or an entire undergraduate course at one of the city's many top universities, the colossal variety of London's cultural scene means you will never stop discovering new things to see and do.
If you're in tourist mode, head for the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben, the London Eye, the Horse Guards and Buckingham Palace. If it's a bit of culture you're after, browse the Tate Modern, take a stroll on South Bank and check out the British Film Institute, marvel at the British Museum, Natural History Museum and Science Museum, catch a show in the West End, or head out to one of the city's thousands of pubs, bars, restaurants, clubs and gig venues.
If you're in London for longer and want to get a feel for the city, then branching out from the centre to areas such as Camden Town, Shoreditch and the East End, Notting Hill or Brixton will give you a more authentic glimpse of life in London slightly further off the tourist trail. At the weekends, head to one of the city's bustling independent markets - Spitalfields, Borough, Portobello, Greenwich or Columbia Road Flower Market, to name just a few.
2) Follow in the footsteps of Wordsworth and Coleridge, Robert Burns and Dylan Thomas... explore the Great British countryside
The lush verdure of the English countryside, the remote expanses of the Scottish Highlands, and the rolling valleys of rural Wales have inspired countless famous poetic meditations over the course of history. In England, the dramatic scenery of the Lake District, the Peak District and the Yorkshire Moors will transport you back to the time of Wordsworth, Coleridge and Clare. In Scotland, retread the rural footsteps of Robert Burns and stop of for a nip of famous Scotch Whiskey. In Wales, get lost in the valleys that inspired Dylan Thomas. While in Northern Ireland, get your 'Wellies' on and explore the boggy farmland of Seamus Heaney. Pack a picnic, but don't forget your umbrella!
3) Get to know the up-and-coming university cities of the North Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Newcastle
Nearest universities: University of Manchester;University of Sheffield;University of Leeds; Newcastle University
In days gone by the North of England was stereotyped by Southerners as a grim land of cold and poverty, whereas the South was stereotyped by Northerners as a land of sheltered snobs. Nowadays, following massive regeneration projects, many Northern cities are fast turning into major cultural and economic hubs, with universities that attract thousands of applicants from all over the world every year. The UK's second city, Manchester is earning a growing reputation for its stylish city centre and trendy nightlife. Leeds, Sheffield and Newcastle are also attracting ever more students. Each has a unique character and history that any visitor to the UK should take time to explore.
4) Go punting in Oxford and Cambridge
Nearest Universities: University of Oxford, University of Cambridge
The two oldest universities in the English-speaking world, and still operating at the cutting edge of academic research, Oxford and Cambridge attract many thousands of visitors every year. The two have a historic rivalry, but share a common mystique, sense of superiority, and love of bizarre, archaic traditions. Even if you're not studying at an 'Oxbridge' college, some of the idyllic grounds and lavish architecture have to be seen to be believed. Punting on the cities' rivers the Cherwell and Isis in Oxford and the Cam in Cambridge is a perfect induction into the traditional lifestyle of an Oxbridge student. Recommended accessories include a boater hat, Pimms and lemonade, and the most extravagantly pretentious book you can lay hands on (for purely ornamental purposes, of course).
5) Go to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival
Nearest universities: University of Edinburgh; University of Glasgow; Herriot-Watt University;
No matter where you happen to be studying, there are plenty of good reasons to spend some time north of the English border during your stay in the UK. Walk Edinburgh's Royal Mile, take in the view from Arthur's Seat, check out the beautiful architecture of this historical university, and explore the 'haunted' vaults that run underneath the city - not to mention letting your hair down at the legendary Hogmanay (New Year's Eve) party.
Every summer in August, Edinburgh hosts a unique array of arts and cultural festivals known collectively as the Edinburgh Festival, attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world. The two oldest festivals are the Edinburgh International Festival and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The Edinburgh Fringe Festival is the world's largest arts festival. Over three weeks, the streets are filled with a massive array of theatre, comedy, music and dance performances, creating a party atmosphere that makes a visit to the Fringe an essential part of your study abroad experience in the UK.
6) Go on a Beatles pilgrimage in Liverpool
Nearest universities: University of Liverpool; University of Manchester
British bands have traditionally taken centre stage in UK popular culture, from the Rolling Stones to The Who, Led Zeppelin to Oasis, Blur to Radiohead. But the UK band that has left the largest legacy is Liverpool's 'fab four' John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr better known as The Beatles.
In Liverpool, 'Beatle-mania' is still going strong, with a local industry devoted to providing merchandise, tours and semi-fictitious anecdotes for the thousands of fanatics who make their pilgrimage each year. Visit some of the many bars that claim to have hosted the Beatles' 'first ever' gig, stroll around the docks and take in the famous 'Scouse' culture. Liverpool still has a thriving music scene, so make sure you take time to check out some of the latest local bands to have been crowned the 'new Beatles'
7) Go to the Notting Hill Carnival, London
Nearest Universities:see above
Every August, around one million people flock to the two-day Notting Hill Carnival in London to take part in one of the world's largest street parties. A celebration of Caribbean culture, the carnival isn't for the shy and retiring - hundreds of sparingly attired dancers and performers get their groove on to booming reggae, dub, hip hop, grime, dubstep and drum 'n bass music, played through huge sound-systems. For those willing to go with the flow, the energy and exuberance of the carnival make it a one-off experience that will open your eyes to a very different side of UK culture than that on display in museums.
8) Climb the three peaks: Mount Snowdon, Ben Nevis and Scafell Pike
Location: North Wales, Scottish Highlands, Cumbria
The UK is renowned for fitting a large amount of human activity into a small geographical space (England is the most densely populated major country in Europe and third in the world). But it still retains natural spaces that can feel, at least in comparison to London, as remote as the Himalayas. Though they're not exactly in the league of Mount Everest, Mount Snowdon in Wales, Ben Nevis in Scotland and Scafell Pike in the English Lake District offer at least some of the benefits of serious mountaineering - the stunning views and a moderate sense of personal achievement - and will cost you far less in time, effort, danger and inconvenience.
9) Go to Glastonbury or one of the UK's many other music festivals...
Location: Glastonbury is in Somerset in South-West England but there are many festivals of all sizes in all four corners of the UK.
Glastonbury Festival has come a long way since organizer Michael Evis first booked a few blues bands to play on a small stage on his farm to 1,500 people in the summer of 1970 . Glastonbury started out as a hippie festival, but has since embraced the powers of capitalism with open arms. Nowadays Glastonbury is the largest outdoor music festival in the world, with upwards of 170,000 people cramming into a 900-acre enclosure to watch over 385 live performances ranging from new up-and-coming bands and DJs to mega-star headliners that in recent years have included the likes of U2, Stevie Wonder and Jay-Z.
For its size, the UK has more music festivals than any other nation, and for many young Brits camping out, catching live music and partying, while dealing with the inevitable mud and rain, are a keenly anticipated yearly tradition. During the summer there are festivals of every size and character to suit all music tastes from massive extravaganzas like Glastonbury, Reading, V and T in the Park, to smaller, quirkier festivals catering for more particular tastes, such as Loveboxx, Glade, Secret Garden Party, ATP and Bestival.
10) Go and see a football or rugby match
Location: Everywhere. Many of the top English teams are from London (Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Fulham, West Ham), Manchester (Manchester United and Manchester City) and Liverpool (Liverpool FC and Everton), and the top two Scottish teams are from Glasgow (Rangers and Celtic). The top Welsh team is Cardiff City, based in Cardiff.
In the 1970s, British football was known as much for the raucousness of the fans as the skills of the players. Nowadays, the English Premier League is the most widely watched league in the world, showcasing the talents of the world's finest footballers to millions of viewers worldwide each week. For those who watch satellite television while in the UK, football will soon start to feel strangely ubiquitous, but there is still nothing like soaking up the atmosphere of a game first-hand.
These days, tickets to watch the top Premier League teams like Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United and Liverpool - are expensive and hard to come by. But if you can't get hold of a ticket to see the top teams, there are hundreds of other teams all over the country, and tickets will be far easier on the pocket. Though smaller teams may not have the skills of Rooney, Ronaldo and Messi, going to a local match will take you closer to the community roots of the game. Ask for an explanation of the offside rule and you will be sure to experience an interesting cultural exchange!
Once you've finished those:
- Spend an afternoon with a pint of ale and a plate of fish and chips in one of the UK's cosy, traditional pubs
- Go body-boarding in Cornwall
- Visit the Giant's Causeway in Northern Ireland
- Go on the Robin Hood trail in Nottinghamshire
- Check out Hadrian's Wall
UK's top universities by region
1) East Midlands: University of Nottingham; University of Leicester; Loughborough University
2) East of England: University of Cambridge; University of Essex; University of East Anglia
3) Greater London: University College London; Imperial College London; King's College London; London School of Economics; Queen Mary, University of London; SOAS; Royal Holloway University of London; Brunel University; Goldsmiths, University of London; City University London
4) North East England: University of Durham; Newcastle University
5) North West England: University of Manchester; University of Liverpool; Lancaster University
6) South East England: University of Oxford; University of Southampton; University of Sussex; University of Reading; University of Surrey; The Open University; University of Kent
7) South West England: University of Bristol; University of Bath; University of Exeter
8) West Midlands: University of Warwick; University of Birmingham;Aston University
9) Yorkshire and Humber: University of York; University of Sheffield; University of Leeds; University of Bradford; University of Hull
A) Scotland: University of Edinburgh; University of Glagow; University of St Andrews; University of Aberdeen; University of Dundee; University of Strathclyde; Herriot-Watt University
B) Wales: Cardiff University; Swansea University; Aberystwyth University; Bangor University
C) Northern Ireland: Queen's University of Belfast
