Discover England

There’s no better place to practice your English! From its cozy countryside to its cool cities – whether you’re into music, football, comfort food, or just exploring new places – England has got something for you!

About England

England is only one of the countries that make up the United Kingdom, or Britain. The others are Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.
English is the third largest language in terms of native speakers in the world, after Mandarin Chinese and Spanish. However, it’s the largest lingua franca in the world, with an estimated 1.5 billion total speakers.
With its incredible music scene, England gave the world The Beatles, Elton John, Queen, Adele, Ed Sheeran, and Harry Styles, just to name a few.
The modern version of football was ‘invented’ in England in the 19th century, when they standardised the rules to separate it from rugby.
The British (which is not just the English as we saw) consume over 100 million cups of tea per day, and only come third behind Turkey and Ireland when it comes to highest tea consumption in the world.
One of the most famous prehistoric structures in the world, Stonehenge, can be found in the south of England and is around 4 to 5 thousand years old.

Population: 56 million

Language: English

Capital: London

Currency: British Pound

Food

Fish and chips

A classic British dish of battered and deep-fried white fish (usually cod or haddock) served with fries and often with mushy peas.

Full English breakfast

A hearty breakfast you can find in hotels around the world. With eggs, bacon, sausages, baked beans, grilled tomatoes, mushrooms, toast, and sometimes black pudding.

Shepherd’s pie

True comfort food! Made with minced lamb and vegetables in gravy, topped with creamy mashed potatoes and baked until golden.

Festivals

Glastonbury Festival

One of the world’s most famous music festivals, held in Somerset. It features a mix of music, performing arts, and alternative culture.

Bonfire (or Guy Fawkes) Night

Celebrated on November 5th to mark a failed plot to blow up the houses of parliament. At night, the English light fireworks, bonfires, and large figures of Guy Fawkes, one of the plotters.

Wimbledon

The world’s oldest and most prestigious tennis tournament, held each year in London. It’s also a cultural event with traditions like eating strawberries and cream.

Famous for

Pubs

In England, the pub (short for “public house”) isn’t just about drinks. Plenty of pubs are cozy, social places where people gather to chat, eat, play games, and even bring their kids or dogs.

Humour

English humour—known for its sarcasm, understatement, and awkward situations—is famous across the western world. Shows like Mr. Bean, The Office, and Monty Python are great examples worth checking out.

The Queen

Queen Elizabeth II had reigned for 70 years when she passed away in 2022, making her the longest reigning monarch in British history. Known throughout the world, she was a symbol of tradition, duty, and calm leadership.

Tips for exchange students going to England

If your exchange is during school time, you might need a uniform. Most English students wear uniforms to school every day, with each school having its own unique style and colors.
If you’re from France, you’ll be pleasantly surprised by how early school finishes, with most English schools finishing around 3:00 or 3:30 PM. That leaves plenty of time for after-school clubs, sports, or hanging out with friends.
Like most countries, England is full of different accents. This might take some getting used to at first, but you’ll likely remember it as a fun and unique feature of your exchange!

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Discover England

About England

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