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Books

Need a book? We can probably help you.

Marshall Worsham

09 Nov 2009

United Kingdom

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The Oxford University Press. What else could you ask for? How about Blackwell’s, a four-story bookshop with over three miles of shelves? Or the Bodleian Library, with nearly every manuscript that’s ever been printed in the English language? If you can name it, Oxford’s probably got it. For books about Oxford, look for "The Cheeky Guide to Oxford." For books not about Oxford, the OUP’s "Very Short Introduction" series is excellent. It’s a 250-volume collection of short treatises on pretty much everything – Anglicanism, Logic, Molecules, the Normans, The Russian Revolution, Zoology, to name a few – written by top scholars in each field. Guaranteed to make you smarter!

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Getting Around

Fly on the cheap

Stephanie Schmitt

25 Aug 2009

United Kingdom

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When flying to other cities in the UK or to other European countries, fly cheap! Here are the top airlines to look into for inexpensive (and readily available) flights: Jet2, Easy Jet, and Ryan Air. Bon voyage!

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Festivals & Events

Remember, remember the fifth of November

Marshall Worsham

09 Nov 2009

United Kingdom

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Call it what you will – Bonfire Night, Guy Fawkes’ Day, 5-Nov – the fifth of November is undoubtedly one of the most raucous nights of the British year. The festival commemorates the discovery of Guy Fawkes’ 1605 plot to blow up Parliament. Most of England echoes with fireworks for several days around the fifth, and the celebration culminates with bonfires and the burning of effigies of Guy Fawkes. The best places to get in on the action are London’s Battersea Park and Oxford’s South Parks, where this year a 25-foot wicker effigy was engulfed in flames.

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Culture Shock

Look the other way

Ann Clark

06 Feb 2009

United Kingdom

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My biggest mistake was not expecting culture shock! I figured London would be just like New York City, only with fancier accents. Since they drive on the opposite side of the road, it's difficult adjusting to crossing streets. It sounds stupid, but you actually have to focus on looking right first, then left.

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Must Do

Get on the beaten path

Marshall Worsham

07 Jan 2010

United Kingdom

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The United Kingdom has several thousand miles of public right-of-way, thanks to some archaic land protection laws. Closed to vehicle traffic, they welcome hikers, cyclists, and horseback riders. Many of the paths run through world natural heritage sites and “Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty,” and they can range in difficulty from idyllic perambulation to rugged cliff-clinging. Particularly breathtaking are the 630-mile South West Coast Path and the Peak District’s Pennine Way, both of which run through scores of captivating English villages. Stop in along your way and enjoy a pint or a cozy night in a bed and breakfast. If you want to see rural England, this is the way to do it.

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Etiquette

Keep your feet off the grass!

Vanessa Quirk

03 Feb 2009

United Kingdom

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Every college at Oxford has its own unique quirks and idiosyncrasies that weed out the tourist from the genuine student. But, here's a general rule of thumb: don't walk on the grass. Every college has its own rules about its spots of green, or quads. Some can never be walked on (not just for fear of incurring the wrath of the spirits of Oxford scholars past, but also the wrath of the burly porters who manage the college grounds); some require you to proceed in a clockwise direction; others can be walked all over and even used for picnics or to play croquet - but only after the summer term has begun. So in short, to avoid a lawn faux pas, just avoid all greenery until you get the low-down from someone in the know.

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Food

5 Tips for Grocery Shopping

Aidan Bauernschmidt

22 Mar 2009

United Kingdom

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1) Don't bother looking for eggs in the refrigerated section; they're kept room-temperature on the shelves, usually by the bread. And if the eggs have bits of feather on them, don't be alarmed; there won't be any baby chicks inside. 2) Most cookies as Americans know them are called "biscuits." Only a soft, chewy type earns the title of "cookie." 3) If you ask for a popsicle, no one will know what you are talking about. The correct term is "ice lolly." A lollipop, of course, is the original lolly. 4) Don't forget the distinction between crisps (potato chips) and chips (fries). 5) If you are looking for plastic wrap, you will find it under the name "cling film." Happy shopping!

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Film

Forget the movies, see a play

Ann Clark

06 Feb 2009

United Kingdom

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If you're in England and seeing movies, Shakespeare would be ashamed. Go to the Royal Court Theatre near Sloane Square. The venue hosts a variety of progressive and experimental English plays, and according to the New York Times, is "the most important theatre in Europe." I saw an incredible production about American politics called Now or Later. Book far enough in advance, and you can see shows on Monday night for 10 pounds--but be quick, seats sell out quickly.

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Packing

Antidepressants, anyone?

Marshall Worsham

06 Jan 2010

United Kingdom

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The cliché suggestion would be to bring an umbrella. But, it doesn’t actually rain here as much as you’d think – little more than one in three days. Instead, the bigger problem, at least in winter, is the lack of sunlight. If you plan on spending more than a couple weeks in the UK between October and April, bring along some Vitamin D and St John’s Wort. Both can help a lot with the grayness-related blues.

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Religion

Churches harder to come by

Ann Clark

06 Feb 2009

United Kingdom

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Because Henry VIII broke from Catholicism in the 1500s and created the Church of England, London's not really a hub for Catholics. Not surprisingly, I found it MUCH more difficult to find a nearby church than in Spain, but ended up attending a service at St. Paul's Cathedral. I wouldn't say religious people or services are as ubiquitous as in the U.S.

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Politics

Be ready to talk American politics

Ann Clark

06 Feb 2009

United Kingdom

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The English are very involved in politics--especially American politics. Obama's election made front page news on all the papers, and anyone who knew I was American wanted to talk to me about the candidates throughout the election.

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Music

Looking for the underground? Yeah, it's right here

Marshall Worsham

09 Nov 2009

United Kingdom

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For big-name acts, head to London. But if you’re looking for young bands trying to make it, Oxford is Mecca. If you spend more than a few weeks here, you’re likely to see at least someone who goes on to top the charts a few months later. Take Radiohead, for example. When you’re old, or maybe just in three months, you can say, “Yeah, I knew about X when they were still underground.” And your friends will think you’re awesome for that. The best places to go for live music are the O2 Academy on Cowley Road, the Jericho Tavern on Walton Street, and Freud, also on Walton. Several pubs around town also have weekly acts, which are usually a treat.

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Sports

Nothing like a Saturday soccer game

William Hardy

12 Aug 2009

United Kingdom

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There is nothing like a watching a "football" (soccer) game on a Saturday. If you think the turnout is big for Patriots' games against the Jets, wait until you see the turnout for an average British football game. The fans are die-hard and love a good rowdy time. Be prepared to come home with no voice, spilt beer on your clothes and the name of your team in colored paint across your chest!

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TV

X Factor fever

Ann Clark

06 Feb 2009

United Kingdom

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The Brits absolutely LOVE the X Factor (the show that inspired American Idol). Some people actually stay in on Saturday nights to watch the show live!

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Fashion

Plaid is for tourists

Ann Clark

06 Feb 2009

United Kingdom

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Unless it's lining a trench coat, only tourists wear the Burberry plaid.

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Dating

Don't expect a horse and carriage ride

Ann Clark

06 Feb 2009

United Kingdom

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Unless you've taken his seat, don't expect an English man to approach you in a pub. I find they generally gather enough courage only very late in the evening--at which point the accents are even more difficult to decipher!

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Health

Forget the bill, it's free!

Ann Clark

06 Feb 2009

United Kingdom

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Because health care is publicly-funded in London, trips to the emergency room are free--as my friends & I so bittersweetly discovered the night we got caught up in a bar fight. Not as exciting as it sounds: two guys were brawling & one threw a glass that hit my friend in the head....lots of blood and a taxi later, she got stitched up in the E.R. To our surprise, the visit was completely free.

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Slang

A few key words

Ann Clark

06 Feb 2009

United Kingdom

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I never knew you could be bilingual in one language. If someone loves wife beaters, they're talking about beer. "Rahs" (adapted from "hoorah!") are preppy guys. And cigarettes have ends, not butts.

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Nightlife

London's no Río, but...

Marshall Worsham

06 Jan 2010

United Kingdom

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Most pubs are required by law to close down at midnight or earlier, and good clubs (which stay open later) are hard to come by. Unless you get invited along on a weekend of ultra-cool underground house parties of the camp-burlesque variety, expect early nights. One notable exception, however, is the gay district in Central London, primarily around Soho. Word on the street is that a handful of clubs, including G-A-Y and the Green Carnation, consistently have the best music and most interesting late-night parties anywhere in London. Those two in particular are known to be quite straight-friendly too.

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Being an American

Beware of taller bathtubs

Samantha Collins

22 Jan 2010

United Kingdom

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Perhaps it was only in the few bathrooms that I saw, but it seems the bathtubs in Edinburgh (or generally in the UK?) are at least a foot higher than those in America. I didn't realize how high up they were until I shamefully fell out of one and hit my ear on the door. The edge is high and the bottom is shallow, so be wary of possible crashing incidents. Neighbors don't like when you keep falling on their ceiling.

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