Guide to english culture

Shop Opening times* –
Shops open between 9-10am 
Shops close between 5:30-6pm 
Shops in England are open all day; they do not close for lunch. 
Late night shopping: 
On Thursdays, most large shops are open until at least 8pm. 
Sunday opening: 
Most large shops open on Sundays. They are allowed to open for 6 
hours but opening and closing times vary. Supermarkets often 
close at 4pm on Sundays. 
Bank and Post Office Opening times* –
Monday – Friday 9am-4: 30pm 
Saturday – 9-12 (some banks do not open on Saturday) 
Sunday – closed 
* This is only an indication. Times may vary according to location. 
 
Electricity – 
Standard voltage in the UK is 240volts. Our plugs have three pins.
Please bring adaptors with you if you wish to use electronic 
equipment from your own country. 
Clothing –
Students tend to dress casually during the daytime at school.
You may wish to bring special clothes for going out in the evening 
and some bars and clubs will not allow you to enter if you’re 
wearing jeans or casual trainers. The climate in England is very 
changeable so it is a good idea to bring warm, waterproof clothing if 
you are arriving during the autumn and winter months. Even in 
mid-summer, it is not unusual to have windy or rainy weather in 
England. 
If you are staying with a host family, you should ensure that you 
are decently dressed at all times. It may cause offence if you are 
not dressed before you go to breakfast for example, but it is a good 

---

idea to follow the example of the hosts in regards to what is 
acceptable. 
 
On the road – 
In England we drive on the left! If you are accustomed to driving 
on the right, remember to look in the other direction when you’re 
crossing the road. 
Zebra crossings - If there is a black and white crossing marked on 
the road, cars are obliged to stop and let you cross the road. You 
should be cautious though, sometimes drivers don’t see you waiting 
by the side of the road! 
Speed limits –
In residential areas - 30mph (unless indicated otherwise) 
On main roads – 60mph (unless indicated otherwise) 
On motorways and dual carriageways) – 70mph (unless indicated 
otherwise)