Learn English in United Kingdom

The choice of places to boost your English skills is insane. From cozy and Harry-Potter-like Cambridge, Oxford and Bath to bustling megapolises such as Leeds, Manchester, and London. You can choose which English course you need. A general course will help you work on your overall language skills, and a specialized one will meet specific needs. For example, business English, and IELTS preparation. Perhaps you want to study the language together with your family members. In this case, try a family English program.

General English courses are designed to teach students the correct pronunciation, obtain excellent grammar skills and expand their vocabulary. Any English level will do for such a course, and the academic load varies from 15 to 56 hours per week. Check out Oxford International, Greenwich if you want to dive into the atmosphere of eclectic London. The city is divided into 32 boroughs and 537 local areas. Every single one is unique. Shoreditch is chaotic and cool, Notting Hill — romantic and cozy, Camden — jovial and a bit eccentric, Kensington — majestic and traditional.

Are you up for something more, as they say, authentic? Choose smaller towns, such as Oxford as your language learning destination. You can easily get to London by bus or train. Take a look at Oxford International, Oxford or British Study Centres, Oxford. You’ll be walking down the roads that still remember the footsteps of Oscar Wilde, Indira Gandhi, Stephen Hawking, and other eminent people.

An intensive English course will make you speak the language within a very limited time. You will quickly be able to start up a conversation with English speakers. You can study as long as you want, and this will certainly expand your opportunities in future academic and professional activities. Check out Twin English Centre, London and EC, Cambridge.

IELTS preparation courses are for those who want to apply to a foreign college or university. Students do tests and practice effective reading and essay-writing skills. It’s better to choose a course lasting for four weeks and longer. See Oxford International, Brighton and British Study Centres, Manchester.

Business English courses are designed for developing language skills and effective communication in business circles, increasing the chances of employment and further expanding students’ career prospects in their home countries. Here students are taught the basics of marketing, finance and business negotiations in English. The required English proficiency level is B2 and beyond. Check out Frances King, London and Kaplan International, English Edinburgh.

There are three options of lodging available: stay with a host family, live in a school residence or find lodging independently.

Host family — stay with a local family, breakfast and dinner included. Be ready to follow certain house rules, e.g. eating at a particular time, no guests allowed.

School residence — stay in a student residence in a single or shared room. This is the cheapest option and will best suit those who want to mix a lot with international students at parties, events, etc.

Independent lodging — you can rent accommodation in any part of the city. We recommend the well-reputed service Airbnb where you can find suitable options regardless.

First things first. Head to a pub (one of many in any British town) and order a traditional English breakfast with eggs, bacon, beans, toast, butter, and jam. There are pub chains, such as Wetherspoons or Fullers and independent pubs. The latter can be more expensive but, according to the Brits, they have more soul. One more typically British thing to do is to have an afternoon tea. The tea is served usually in hotels at around 4 PM and includes the drink and a selection of tiny sandwiches and cakes. This treat will cost you around £ 20 and more.

If your destination of choice is Scotland, make sure to visit one of the whisky distilleries, such as Highland Park, Lagavulin, Glenkinchie or Laphroaig. And have a taste of haggis (a savoury meat pudding, it’s traditionally accompanied by mashed potatoes, turnips and a whisky sauce. Yum). When in Wales, try Bara Brith (a fruit loaf) and Cawl (stew). In Northern Ireland, order Ulster fry (bacon, sausage and egg with white and black pudding, soda bread and potato bread) and Barmbrack (a traditional sweetened bread with cinnamon and dried mixed fruit).

All the cities and towns in the UK have a well-developed system of transport including buses, trains, taxis, and Uber. Liverpool, Newcastle, Glasgow, and London also have undergrounds.

You can pay for one ride or buy a day or seasonal travel card (e.g., Oyster for London transport). One ride on a bus in London will cost you £1.50. On tube (London underground) — £2.90. Travelling on public transport to other cities is a bit cheaper. We recommend you to buy a day (approx. £4) or week pass (approx. £15 ) to save money. Long-distance buses are usually cheaper than trains but way slower. So think twice if you want to spend 2–3 odd hours on the road.

All the schools will provide you with a high-speed Internet connection, but you may not always have it outside the classroom so it’s better to buy a local SIM card to stay connected all the time. Top UK mobile connection providers are EE, Vodafone, O2 and Three. On average, calling abroad will cost £1.50. Data download — £2 per 50 MB, and then additional 10p for each MB.

Warm summers and cool winters in the UK mean that the average summer temperature is 23 °C. In winter — 5 °C. However, you may well expect occasional below-zero winters and +35 °C summers as well.

For two weeks in London, have with you around £400 to spend on food and lodging and £500 for excursions and shopping. If you’re staying in a smaller town, £700 will be enough for all that. Also, don’t forget that you’ll need a tourist visa (£93) and insurance (around £10).