Tips for Living in the UK

• The tap water is safe to drink unless explicitly stated otherwise.

• Don’t overload yourself on the way here - you’ll be able to get all the essentials (bedding, crockery, cutlery, towels etc.) in Durham.

• You should bring plenty of warm clothes and an umbrella! It gets quite cold and rains a lot in Durham.

• Voltage in the UK is 230-240V. The UK plug is a three-pronged BS 1363. You may need to bring voltage converters or plug adaptors.

• The most popular forms of social media in the UK are Instagram, WhatsApp and Facebook messenger.

• Britain has a culture of going for a drink at the pub to socialise and relax. It doesn’t require you to drink alcohol - there are plenty of soft drinks like lemonade or juice available. Going to the pub is a social activity for everyone. If you don’t feel comfortable going somewhere where people might be consuming alcohol, you can say this to your peers. Common Rooms and societies will usually host a number of non-pub events.

• The UK drinking age for alcohol is 18. This might be different from your home country. Be aware and pace yourself if you do want to drink, but there is absolutely no pressure if you’d rather not.

• British people say ‘please’, ‘thank you’ and ‘sorry’ in most interactions. People may expect you to use these words as well, particularly when purchasing items in shops or bars.

• There are regional differences across the UK, as with every country. Many regions have their own accent that might take some time to understand. It’s okay to ask people to repeat what they’ve said more slowly if you don’t understand the first time.

• British humour often involves sarcasm and irony, stating the opposite of what is meant. For example, if it is snowing outside, British people might remark on how lovely the weather is as a joke.

• Young people in Britain tend to dress quite casually. You might also notice people wearing clothing that reveals a lot of skin, especially when out dancing. This might be frowned upon in other cultures, but in the UK this is completely acceptable. No matter what someone is wearing, it is not okay to touch them without their consent.

Shopping in Durham

Clothes & Accessories:

• Pandora (jewellery)

• New Look (clothing)

• Clarks (shoes)

• St Cuthbert’s Hospice (charity shop - second-hand items)

• Monsoon & Accessorise (clothing)

• TJ Hughes (clothing)

• The Edinburgh Woollen Mill (clothing)

• Woven (clothing)

• The Mugwump (clothing)

• Rohan (clothing)

• Market Cross Jewellers

• Oxfam (charity shop - second-hand items)

• @Moon (jewellery)

• Parkins (clothing)

• Scope (charity shop - second-hand items)

• British Heart Foundation (charity shop - second-hand items)

• The Children’s Society (charity shop - second-hand items)