United Kingdom | Revealing 10+ unique features about the country and its people.

You probably imagine a beautiful United Kingdom in your mind. This is one of the most recognizable countries in the world and its influence is globally acknowledged. The United Kingdom includes England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Therefore, you can travel from the Shetland Islands off the coast of northern Scotland, to the Isles of Scilly in Southwest England, and then across the sea to Northern Ireland – all while remaining completely within the UK.

Approximately 68 million people consider the UK as home, the majority of whom live in England. The capital of the United Kingdom and of England – the city of London – is by far the largest city in the country. Like the rest of the UK, the city of London prides itself on being multicultural and multi-religious. You have to respect others' religion as well as they respect your religion.

English is the official language of the United Kingdom, but not the only native language. You'll also likely hear Welsh in Wales, Gaelic and Scottish in Scotland, Irish Gaelic in Northern Ireland and Cornish in Cornwall. However, your English skills are adequate to help you in daily activities because people all over the country speak this language fluently.

England is the ideal destination for many Vietnamese international students.

1. Introduction to the UK

Below is basic information to help you learn about England:

2. Geography and Climate

England has the following unique topographic and climate:

2.1 - Geography: 

Central and southern England are mainly low hills and plains. The most prominent place is the vast Salisbury Plain with famous archaeological sites such as Stonehenge. The highlands are often located in the north and southwest, especially the rugged Cambrian Mountains with many beautiful lakes.

2.2 - Climate:

 England has a temperate oceanic climate, the temperature does not significantly  drop compared to 0°C in winter and is not much higher than 32°C in summer:

• Summer (from June to August): This is the right time to travel to England because of the warm air, clear blue sky with gentle sunshine, or romantic drizzles of rain.
   

• Autumn (from September to November): The weather in the UK in autumn can change erratically. The temperature begins to drop and it is cool, dry, and windy. This is the time when England is filled with the yellow and red colors of the forests changing leaves.
   

• Winter (from December to February): British winters are often wet and windy. The temperature drops to minus in a few days. Therefore, there can be snowfall plus dense fog.
   

• Spring (from March to May): Spring mornings are warmer. The sky is clear and shiny. People usually enjoy the weather through outdoor activities such as swimming, cycling, climbing mountains or walking in colorful flower parks.

The UK time zone is GMT+0, so the UK time zone is 7 hours different from the Vietnam time zone in winter. The time zone difference will be 6 hours in summer (GMT+1), usually starting from the last Sunday of March, lasting until the last Sunday of October.

3. Politics and government

Many people believe that the ruler of Great Britain is the King. In reality, the Royal Family mainly plays a ceremonial role. Political activities are under the management and control by the Government, directly elected by the public in the form of general elections held every 5 years.

The head of the Government is the Prime Minister (currently Prime Minister Rishi Sunak) with the help of Ministers and Cabinet - senior members of the Government. The issued policies are managed and responsible by separate ministries and government agencies. Local government councils directly make policy decisions about local services.

In addition, when introducing England in the field of politics and government, there is also the Parliament - formed from the House of Representatives and the Senate, which is a separate body from the Government. The Parliament is responsible for supervising the Government's activities, discussing and passing new laws, as well as setting taxes.

4. Economy

According to ONS statistics, GDP per capita is 51,300 USD (equivalent to about 1,231,200,000 VND/year) in 2023. That is why England is one of the leading developed countries in the world.

The most outstanding fields in the UK include chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and important technical industries such as aerospace, the weapons industry, and software production.

5. Language

The most common language in England is English. Therefore, if you intend to study abroad, settle down, or apply for a job in the UK, you need to prepare yourself with a solid English foundation that helps you easily communicate every day. In addition, you need to proactively cultivate not to miss any information, knowledge, and opportunities around you.

6. Transportation

There is indispensable transportation in the UK:

• Walking: Walking is a popular form of transportation in the UK. Many city centers in the UK are only for pedestrians. If you decide to visit places in the UK on foot, you can visit a tourist information center near the train station or in the city center. This is a place that provides tourist maps and staff to help find accommodation as well as free sightseeing guides.
   

• By train: Taking the train from one city to another is an economical form of transportation. You can buy one-way, two-way or year-long tickets depending on your needs. International students often receive discounts on train tickets.
   

• Taking the bus: An impressive feature in England is the double-decker bus that not only helps you admire the ancient surroundings but also saves money. Many smart applications such as UK Bus Checker, and City Mapper... help you easily look up the route and bus you take as well as ticket prices. Note: In London, you need an Oyster card or credit card to pay for the bus as cash is not accepted.
   

• Bicycle: Bicycles are recommended in the UK due to their low cost and eco-friendliness. Many cities in the UK have dedicated cycling routes.
   

• Car: You need a driver's license and pay taxes, insurance, and have the car inspected after 3 years of use to ensure the car's safety. Unlike cars in Vietnam that move on the right and the steering wheel on the left, cars in England move on the left and the steering wheel on the right. This may be difficult for you at first.

7. Education

The British compulsory education system is divided into 4 main stages:

• Foundation stage - preschool program: Children aged 3 - 4 years old going to kindergarten classes are taught in a number of areas such as language and communication, physical development, emotions, and other activities.
   

• Primary education: Educational program for children from 5 - 11 years old to begin to familiarize themselves with and acquire knowledge of subjects such as Mathematics, English, History, geography…
   

• Secondary education: Students 11 - 16 years old can attend secondary school with compulsory subjects such as Mathematics, Literature, Informatics, Science... In addition, they can register for a number of non-compulsory subjects depending on each school such as Home Economics, Journalism, Digital Technology... At the end of grade 11 (15 or 16 years old), students take the national assessment exam to obtain a GCSE certificate or other qualification or other Level 1 and Level 2 certificates.
   

• Post-secondary education: Students 16 - 17 can study and take the A level or IB (International Baccalaureate) certificate depending on their abilities and orientation.

Britons aged 18 and over can apply for optional education programs such as:

• University preparatory program: The course usually lasts 1 year to equip additional English knowledge, exchange learning methods, and basic subjects related to majors at the university level... International students often choose this educational program to prepare better when entering universities.
   

• College or vocational education programs: Students register for colleges or vocational schools lasting from 6 months to 2 years and receive several types of qualifications such as BTEC diploma, NVOs, CACHE…
   

• University and post-graduate education programs: University average study time can last 3 - 4 years, or 5 - 7 years for Law, Medicine, Architecture... Studying for a master's degree usually takes 1 year and it is 3 - 5 years for a doctorate. Many long-standing universities in the UK not only attract students nationwide but are also the dream of foreign students. Each university has its own outstanding fields such as: the University of Cambridge (Economics, Science, Law), the University of Oxford (MBA, Humanities, Law), Imperial College London (Medicine, Science, Engineering) Engineering), Loughborough University (Business, Sports, Engineering)...

8. Culture

England is an interesting destination because of its impressive culture in cuisine, architecture, art, cinema, etc... attracting millions of tourists who love to explore and learn about culture of Uk

8.1. Architecture

England preserves numerous ancient architectures with long historical value. 

• Ancient monuments built in prehistoric times are made of stone slabs such as the Stonehenge complex located north of Salisbury, Devil's Arrows near the towns of Boroughbridge and Harrogate, and Rudston Monolith in the churchyard of Rudston village... Many researchers have proposed The theory involving tablets, but no one has yet proven the true value behind them.
   

• The ancient beauty of massive Roman architectural works such as the basilica, Roman Bath, Roman road, Hadrian's Wall... Roman imprints are also clearly shown in ancient cities such as London, York, Bath, Chester…
   

• Many different schools of architecture such as Medieval architecture with the Tower of London, Durham Castle, Warwick Castle..., English Gothic architecture such as Westminster Abbey, York Cathedral...

8.2. Cuisine

The most prominent traditional dish in British culture is the Sunday roast, usually made with lamb, beef, pork, or chicken combined with sauce, Yorkshire pudding, and many vegetables. In addition, you can enjoy Cornish Pasty, cottage pie, steak and kidney pie... and drink wine, cider, and beer. bitter, brown beer…

British dishes are rich in fat so they are often difficult to digest, but the flavor is extremely appealing due to the harmonious combination of many different spices such as curry, and mustard...

8.3. Art

England preserves many different schools of art such as busts and glass of Roman culture preserved in Lullingstone and Aldborough; Intricate early medieval designs such as crosses, manuscript paintings, and gold and enamel jewelry were buried in Staffordshire...

One of the most outstanding artists in England is John Constable with bright, lively, gentle works such as Wivenhoe Park, The Hay Wain... In addition, Joseph Mallord William Turner is also a talented painter who is famous for his works. Impressive oil paintings such as Dawn after the Wreck, The Slave Ship...

If you have a passion for literature, you cannot help but know classic works such as "Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog)" by Jerome K. Jerome, "The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling” by Henry Fielding, “The wind in the willows” by Kenneth Grahame…

In the field of British music, surely everyone knows the band The Beatles with immortal songs such as: Come Together, Hey Jude, A Day in the Life... Or the girl group Spice Girls is popular with young people all over the world by the songs: Wannabe, 2 Become 1, Spice up your life…

8.4. Film

England is the cradle of many talented filmmakers and actors. Among them, Hitchcock is the most highly regarded filmmaker with his first work The Lodger: A Story of The London Fog (1926) and Blackmail (1929) - the first British sound film.

When talking about modern British cinema, people cannot help but mention two legendary films, Harry Potter and James Bond, which have achieved the highest revenue and many prestigious awards. Actors like Emma Watson, Tom Hardy, and Daniel Craig... are talented actors who are sought after by filmmakers and receive a lot of love from fans.

8.5. Museums, libraries

England has many museums, but perhaps the most famous and historically valuable is the British Museum located in the Bloomsbury area of London. The British Museum holds more than 7 million artifacts from around the world. This is one of the largest and most comprehensive collections, illustrating many human cultural stories from ancient times to the present.

Coming to England, you cannot miss the British Library located in London. This is a national library with massive, magnificent architecture, storing 25 million books with more than 150 million items in all languages and paper sizes.

8.8. Sport

Many famous sports today originate from England such as football, tennis, boxing, hockey, and cricket... Football fans cannot help but know about the English Premier League and its teams. has made names such as: "The Citizens" Manchester City, "Royal Cavalry" Chelsea, "Red Brigade" Liverpool, "Gunners of London" Arsenal...

9. Notes for Vietnamese international students when studying abroad in UK

Vietnamese international students coming to the UK need to pay attention to the following issues:

• Provide information and contact the Vietnamese Embassy in the UK: As soon as you apply for a visa, you need to fill in all the information and contact methods so that the Vietnamese Embassy in the UK can support you in these cases. This is reasonable regardless.
   

• Join the university's Facebook groups: This is a place to help you interact with classmates, and consult the experiences of upperclassmen, and the Vietnamese international student community in the UK to get more information about school, subject, or accommodation.
   

• Bring cash: When you first arrive in the UK, you should bring with you a minimum of 500 - 1,000 pounds to pay for transfers, communications, phone calls... and shopping for initial items. To ensure safety, divide your money into parts in your carry-on luggage and carry it with you. You can put it in a pocket on the inside of your clothes and not reveal to those around you how much money you have.
   

• Prepare a laptop: Computers do not only support studying but are still an economical method of communication for users and friends. If you bring a personal computer, be sure to prepare a suitable adapter.
   

• Find accommodation: Many schools in the UK have affordable dormitories. In addition, you can choose to stay in a homestay with local people to better understand the lifestyle and culture. If you have been in the UK for a long time, renting an apartment with friends will help you feel more comfortable, but the cost is expensive. To find the desired accommodation when studying abroad in the UK as soon as possible, contact the

10. Facts about England that you didn't know

Below are interesting facts when setting foot in ancient England:

1 - Being late for the train is normal: Delays in trains during rush hours in the UK often happen. Therefore, you should calculate the worst case scenario if you live far from school and do not want to study late.

2 - The weather changes continuously during the day: England is famous for sudden rains, and soon after that there can be bright sunshine. Therefore, do not forget to prepare an umbrella before going out every day!

3 - Local accent: The main language in the UK is English, but each region has a different accent. Therefore, before studying abroad, you should learn about the locality where you live and gradually become familiar with the accent of the people.

4 - Heavy fine for killing white swans: In England, people believe that white swans are the symbol of the noble King. Therefore, the state has banned the practice of killing white swans since the late 1980s.

5 - You cannot stick the King's image upside down: Sticking the Queen's stamp upside down is an insult to the Royal Family which is considered treason and can result in life imprisonment.

6 - Tea culture in the UK is very popular: Enjoying tea has become a special custom of England. Each individual, family, agency or group has a certain time to drink tea, called "tea time".

Learn about the British education system with IDP

For those who are cherishing the dream of studying abroad in the UK, experts at IDP are always willing to advise on studying in the UK with all information about schools, majors that attract human resources and bring high settlement demand as well as opportunities for post-graduation jobs. You can also learn in detail about the process of preparing your study abroad application and living expenses during your study period in this country.

IDP also provides essential support services for international students through finding accommodation, booking airline tickets with preferential offers, free phone SIM (UK), and skill equipment before departure. (Class before departure).

To update the latest information on international study abroad trends, you can access and follow the live stream, and information update dates at IDP Study Abroad FanPage and other IDP social platforms such as Youtube IDP Study Abroad or Tiktok IDP Study Abroad.

Contact IDP for study abroad consultation today!