LIFE IN GREAT BRITAIN

1. LIFE IN GREAT BRITAIN

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a big country, geographical situated on an island north-west in Europe. The United Kingdom consists of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The capital of the UK and England is London with Heathrow one of the biggest airports in Europe. London has around 10 million inhabitants. London is well known for its red double-deckers and black taxis or black cabs.

Life in Great Britain is different from ours. People live differently and have a different mentality. Because they live on an island British people do not always regard themselves as Europeans. Citizens of the UK are divided into 3 classes: upper, middle and lower class. This division depends on how much money you have and your position in society.

Most people work form 9 to 5 o’clock in the evening and sometimes even later. In larger cities people can spend a lot of time travelling to and from work. As a result, people have little time to cook so they prefer microwave meals from supermarket or a takeaway. Children normally have their tea (dinner) at 6 o’clock and adults have their supper (dinner) later at 8 or 9pm.

During the weekend people enjoy having a typical English breakfast that consists of eggs, bacon, sausages, baked beans, toasted bread, black pudding with orange juice and English tea.

British people enjoy going out to a pub for a drink and eating in restaurants. Many pubs have a traditional wooden interior, a fire place with a main bar where people stand and talk whilst drinking. Most pubs close at 11pm and 10:30pm on Sunday’s. When the pubs are closed, young people enjoy going to clubs and discos, however, it is not uncommon for older people to go too. On some nights discos have special parties where people have to be dressed in funny clothes, for example school uniforms.

The British are big sport fans of football and rugby. When a football match is on and fans are not at the stadium, they go to their local pub where they can watch the game with friends.

Over the last 100 years many people from different cultures have immigrated to the UK bringing with them their religions and customs. The British culture has welcomed them but still keeps its national identity. Today the UK is viewed as one of the best countries for immigration as it is easy to integrate in the multicultural environment.