customs and traditions of the uk presentation

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Welcome to our Guide to British Culture, Business Practices & Etiquette

In a country where the favourite dish is an indian curry and the people drive on the wrong side of the road, you would be forgiven for getting a little confused about the uk, what will you learn in this guide.

You will gain a solid understanding of a number of key areas of British society including:

• Religion and beliefs
• Culture and society
• Social etiquette and customs
• Business culture and work practices

Make a Great Impression on the Brits!

If you're doing business with the British, relocating to the UK for work or visiting the UK for professional reasons, then ensure your success by enrolling on our e-Learning Course on British Business Culture.

Click here to learn more . Here's a quick peek at what's inside!

Skip to a section or scroll on...

• Facts and Statistics
• Overview of the UK
• Language in the UK
• British Culture & Society
• Social Customs & Etiquette
• Business Culture & Practice
• Take the Quiz
• Buy an In-depth Expert Report

STEREOTYPING

Remember this is only a very basic level introduction to UK culture and the people; it can not account for the diversity within British society and is not meant in any way to stereotype all British people you may meet!

FACTS AND STATISTICS

• Location:   Western Europe
• Capital:   London
• Flag: The national flag for the UK is known at The Union Jack and represents the three older nations of Great Britain with the red cross of St George (patron saint of England), the white saltire cross of St. Andrew (patron saint of Scotland), and the red saltire of St. Patrick (patron saint of Ireland -  Northern Ireland being part of the United Kingdom)
• National anthem: God Save the King is the patriotic song dedicated to the reigning monarch of The United Kingdom.
• Nationality: English, Irish, Scottish or Welsh (or just British which covers all of them)
• Ethnic Make-Up: white 87.2%, black/African/Caribbean/black British 3%, Asian British: Indian 2.3%, Asian/Asian British: Pakistani 1.9%, mixed 2%, other 3.7% (2011 census)
• Population: 66+million (est. 2019)
• Population growth rate: 0.8% annual change (2015)
• Climate: Temperate; moderated by prevailing southwest winds over the North Atlantic Current; more than one-half of the days are overcast.
• Time Zone: Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) Britain operates daylight saving time (DST) which begins on last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October and puts the clock ahead of GMT by one hour
• Currency: Pound Sterling, known as the Pound or Great British Pound (GBP)
• Government: parliamentary constitutional monarchy
• Business Culture: Ranked 12th in The Business Culture Complexity Index™

The Public House, known as 'The Pub', is a cornerstone of British life with every village, town and city having a 'local' at which they eat and drink. Pub names can teach you a lot about British history. See if you can think who the 'Virgin Queen' refers to? Photo by Samuel Regan-Asante on Unsplash

OVERVIEW OF THE UK

The United Kingdom includes England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Historically the country was a forerunner in the developing world and, at its peak during the 19th Century, had an empire that stretched across the globe.

They have led the way in science, literature and industry. However, the influence and power of Great Britain began to erode in the first half of the 20th Century with two world wars. This had its consequences in the gradual breakup of the Empire during the second half of the century since when, the UK has re modelled itself into a leading, wealthy European nation.

The UK is one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council which was created on 24th October 1945 and a founding member of NATO and the commonwealth. The UK takes a global stance in foreign policy.

Until June 2016, the UK played an active part in the European Parliament after joining in 1973 although they chose not to enter into the Economic and Monetary Union. Following a national referendum on June 23rd 2016, the UK narrowly voted to leave the EU (known as Brexit ) although this will not be complete for some years. 

It is largely thought the vote to leave was driven by perceived ‘bureaucracy’ in Brussels, the centre of the European Parliament and concerns regarding immigration.

LANGUAGE IN THE UK

English is the main language spoken by approximately 98% of the population in the UK with numerous dialects. Accents can vary tremendously from south to north, even occasionally confusing Brits themselves.

There are some regional language speakers including Scottish Gaelic, Irish Gaelic and Welsh. The latter is one of the most widely spoken regional languages.

As a multi-national country, the UK has a number of other languages spoken across the country. The second most spoken, non-native language in the UK is Polish. The next commonly spoken languages come from India and Pakistan : Punjabi, Bengali and Gujarati. These are followed by Arabic, Chinese, Portuguese and French.

In Wales it's a legal requirement for public signs to be in both English and Welsh. Photo by Still Epsilon on Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

BRITISH CULTURE & SOCIETY

Religion & beliefs.

• The official state-sanctioned religion in the UK is the Church of England which is of the Christian Protestant faith.
• However, there has been a huge decline in the role of the Church in Britain since the middle of the last Century with less than half the population attending Church services or believing in God.
• It is estimated that a third of the population have no religious connection.
• Thirty percent of the UK population affiliates to the official Church of England while ten percent identify with the Roman Catholic religion. Those who affiliate to the Christian religion outside of Protestantism and Catholicism accept other Protestant denominations: Presbyterian, Baptist and Methodist.
• Whilst Christianity is the dominant religion in the UK, minority religions include Islam , Hinduism , Sikhism , Judaism and Buddhism .    

Major Celebrations/Secular Celebrations

• Major celebrations in the UK calendar include: Christmas Day (25th December), Boxing Day (26th December), New Year’s Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, the Queen’s Birthday on the second Saturday in June.
• Other celebrations are known as Bank Holidays: May Day, celebrated on 1st May, the Spring Bank Holiday on the last weekend of May and the Summer Bank Holiday on the last weekend of August.
• Bank Holidays take place at the weekend with most other businesses and institutions closed on the following Monday.
• Until the middle of the 20th Century, marriage was the standard for British families which comprised two parents with the father as the head of the household.
• However, in the last few decades, there has been a rise in single parent families and many more couples are choosing to co-habit rather than to marry. 
• Half a century ago, living together would have been socially unacceptable and was known as ‘living in sin’.  
• Divorce at one time was also unthinkable but in the last few decades it has become more acceptable.
• Marriage too is changing with same sex couples now permitted to marry in law or enter into Civil Partnerships.
• Although in the last few decades, there has been some reported instability in family life regarding single motherhood and marital breakdown family relationships continue to be close with two thirds of the population living in close proximity to immediate family and extended family.
• There remains a commitment for younger family to take care of elderly relatives.
• Mobility in the workforce has changed in the last decade so that many younger people live some distance from close family but kinship relationships continue to be close with regular communication and family reunions.   

Social Stratification

• Historically, a class system has operated in the UK with the ‘Upper Class’ and ‘Aristocracy’ at the top of the pecking order.
• These are high ranking nobility who hold hereditary titles, wealth and privilege.
• The next strata are known as the ‘middle class’ and the ‘working class’.
• Traditionally the working classes defined themselves as hard working and with no social privilege, born into a family dependent upon unskilled labour.
• Historically, the working classes were unlikely to have access to higher education.
• Those who affiliate to the middle classes have been viewed as ‘white collar’ workers living in privately owned suburban homes and to have access to higher education.  
• However, in the past few decades, people from varied backgrounds have had greater access to higher education and business opportunities which is levelling wealth distribution and allowing for upward mobility.
• Hence the middle class and the working class at have become more homogeneous although there is still very much an elite and privileged class in Britain.

The British have a reputation for being 'cold' and 'unfriendly' held by many foreigners that spend time in the country.

Some say it's because of the miserable weather. Click here to find out the truth!

Gender Roles

• Until the middle of the 20th Century, gender roles were very much male dominated. The man was the head of the household. Many jobs were male oriented such as bus, train and lorry driving in working class culture and men were deemed more able to deal with finance working in banks and financial organisations.
• Although women were accepted in the military and the police force, their roles tended to be passive in contrast to their male counterparts. However, in the 1970s national debate began to materialise championing the employment rights of women in society.
• In the following decade, the ‘Feminist’ movement reflected the mood of women in the workforce and the part they played in the developing economy. The discussion regarding women during this period concentrated upon life balance between the workforce and family.
• It is estimated that more than fifty percent of women in the UK work, albeit half of those are part-time workers, much of this being in the service industry.
• Despite the changes made in the last few decades relating to women in the workforce and education there is still much debate regarding gender division in respect to status in the work-place and pay levels.
• In addition, three quarters of women who are working on a full-time basis, believe the household chores and evening meal should be shared. However, more than half of those women say they take on all responsibility for the running of the family home while working full time.

Socialization

• The mother is typically the primary carer of new born babies and small children.  Employment law enables them to take a year off work following childbirth to care for their new-born baby.
• Upon a mother’s return to work, although grandparents increasingly fill the gap to help care for their grandchildren, many others place their child in a nursery.
• Gender led toys and family life often mean that gender roles are formed at a fairly early age.  There is a popular expectation that girls will dress in pink, wear nice dresses and play with dolls while boys are often encouraged to dress in blue and play with toys such as tractors and cars.
• The Gross National Income in the UK increased from 492534 GBP million in the latter part of 2016 to 494149 GDP million in the first part of 2017.
• In January 2017, the UK national debt stood at over a trillion GBP which is equivalent to 86.5% of GDP.
• The UK imports a quarter of its food from the EU but with the collapse in the value of the Pound against the Dollar following the vote for Britain to leave the European Union, prices are set to rise dramatically.
• In 2015, Britain exported £18 billion worth of food and drink whilst spending around £38 billion on importing food and drink.  
• Even if British food has not got an exceptional reputation in the world, there are some traditional foods in the United Kingdom and traditional British beers.
• The English breakfast and fish and chips are the most iconic dishes in the UK.
• Traditional British foods typically centre around the concept of ‘meat and two veg’, which means in essence that the dish will contain a type of meat (usually beef, pork, lamb or chicken), two types of vegetable (typically root vegetables) and potatoes.  
• Furthermore, as it is a multicultural country, you can now enjoy food from all parts of the world in the UK.
• Curry is now the nation’s favourite dish, being brought over from the Indian sub-continent with migrants.

Arts, Humanities & Popular Culture

• The British people have traditionally enjoyed social interaction relating to popular culture throughout the centuries.
• The theatres have long been well supported with entertainment ranging from music to drama and to comedy.
• In the 19th Century, the Music Hall was the mainstay of entertainment offering all manner of acts from singing to acrobatics.
• The cinema is very popular as are the numerous social clubs across the country. Music too plays an important role in popular culture and has been the forerunner in exports.
• The UK is home to the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Adele, and many other artists who have made it to the world stage.
• Jungle, Dubstep, Grime and other modern forms of dance music also originate from the UK.
• Traditionally music and social gatherings have been the cement in isolated communities over the centuries with dancing and singing. The Scottish and Irish Ceilidh is a traditional social gathering involving Gaelic folk music and dancing either in a house or larger venue.
• The Welsh people are known for their singing voices and the Welsh Men’s Choir is renowned World Wide.
• Art and literature has also played a focal part in the history of UK culture. T
• here are many art galleries throughout the country and Britain is known for its history of authors such as Virginia Woolf, TS Eliot, Agatha Christie and Jane Austen.

Curry, not fish and chips, is now the UK's favourite food. Photo taken at Camden Docks in London, England by Karsten Seiferlin on Flickr (CC BY-SA 2.0)

BRITISH SOCIAL CUSTOMS & ETIQUETTE

Naming conventions.

• In the UK, the first name is also known as ‘the Christian name’, although this has little to do with religion today.
• This is traditionally followed by a middle name and then the family name which in the UK is known as the surname.
• In previous centuries children tended to be named after a member of the family or a religious figure. Catholic families, in particular, tend to name their children after saints.
• In modern times, children are often given names that are liked by the parents and which have no particular significance regarding family or religion.
• Some children are named after famous football stars, singers or film actors.
• Traditionally when couples marry the woman takes her husband’s name as her surname but some couple now choose to amalgamate their names which is referred to as a double-barrelled name.  

Meeting & Greeting

• Although the British may appear on the surface to be reserved and perhaps even aloof, they are in fact friendly people and welcoming to foreign visitors.
• The etiquette when greeting is to shake hands with all those present, even children.
• At social or business meetings, it is polite to also shake hands upon leaving. Hand-shakes should not be too hearty, just a light friendly touch.
• Last names should be used with the appropriate title unless specifically invited to use the first name.

Communication style

• The British have an interesting mix of communication styles encompassing both understatement and direct communication.
• Many older businesspeople or those from the 'upper class' rely heavily upon formal use of established protocol.
• Most British are masters of understatement and do not use effusive language. If anything, they have a marked tendency to use ‘qualifiers’ such as 'perhaps', ‘possibly’ or 'it could be'.
• When communicating with people they see as equal to themselves in rank or class, the British are direct, but modest. If communicating with someone they know well, their style may be more informal, although they will still be reserved.
• Written communication follows strict rules of protocol. How a letter is closed varies depending upon how well the writer knows the recipient.
• Written communication is always addressed using the person's title and their surname. First names are not generally used in written communication, unless you know the person well.
• E-mail is now much more widespread, however the communication style remains more formal, at least initially, than in many other countries.
• Most British will not use slang or abbreviations and will think negatively if your communication appears overly familiar.

The British communication style can be very confusing for some foreigners.

Click here to read about 8 things about the British communication style that drive foreigners 'bonkers'!

Gift Giving

• It is customary to take a small gift for the host if invited to their home. This is usually either a bottle of wine, flowers or chocolates.
• Some people may send flowers in advance of a dinner party but it is equally acceptable to take them on the day.
• Gifts are opened on receipt.
• It is not usual for gifts to be exchanged in a business setting.

Dining & Food

• Table manners are Continental, i.e. the fork is held in the left hand and the knife in the right while eating.
• The fork is held tines down so food is scooped on to the back of the fork. This is a skill that takes time to master.
• Remain standing until invited to sit down. You may be shown to a particular seat.
• Do not rest your elbows on the table.
• If you have not finished eating, cross your knife and fork on your plate with the fork over the knife.
• Indicate you have finished eating by laying your knife and fork together at the clock position of 6.30.
• Toasts are given at formal meals when the host will raise a glass (usually wine but a soft drink is acceptable) and will invite the guests to commemorate a person or event. The guests then raise their glass and repeat the toast before taking a sip of their drink.
• When in a pub, it is common practice to pay for a round of drinks for everyone in your group.
• If invited to a meal at a restaurant, the person extending the invitation usually pays. It is important to arrive on time. Do not argue about the check; simply reciprocate at a later time.
• Do not wave your hand or call out to summons a waiter if in a restaurant.

Visiting a home

• Unlike many European cultures, the British enjoy entertaining people in their homes.
• Although the British value punctuality, you may arrive 10-15 minutes later than invited to dinner.
• It is not always required to remove your shoes when entering a British home, but it is recommended that you ask upon entry whether or not shoes can be worn.

The British love their manners! As a result there are quite a few dos and dont's you need to know before visiting the country.

Click here to find out what are considered bad manners in the UK .

Taboos in the UK

• Do not stare.
• Do not be overly familiar with people you do not know well.
• Do not ask personal questions such as how much someone earns, who they voted for etc.
• Do not speak too loudly or cut into a conversation.

Politics can be a divisive issue in the UK especially since Brexit. It can be a bit of a taboo, especially with strangers and people you do not know well.

Photo by Alexander Andrews on Unsplash

BRITISH BUSINESS CULTURE & PRACTICES

What to wear.

• Although the rules on business wear have changed in the last decade and some professions are less formal, more conservative businesses still expect men to wear a suit and tie and women to dress smartly.
• This may involve a smart, unfussy dress and shoes but it is also acceptable for women to wear trousers, a smart blouse and jacket.
• In addition to formal professional titles, (such as doctor or professor), it is polite to refer to men with ‘Mr’ and women as ‘Mrs’ (if married) or ‘Miss’ (if unmarried).
• Formal titles should be used in business unless otherwise stated.  

Business cards

• These are usually given at the end of a meeting.
• There is no ceremony as to business card giving in the UK.
• Do not be surprised if someone writes on your business card.
• Meetings always have a clearly defined purpose, which may include an agenda.
• There will be a brief amount of small talk before getting down to the business at hand
• If you make a presentation, avoid making exaggerated claims.
• Make brief eye contact with the team members to encourage a feeling of inclusion.
• Make certain your presentation and any materials provided appear professional and well thought out.
• Be prepared to back up your claims with facts and figures.
• The British rely on facts, rather than emotions, to make decisions.
• Maintain a few feet of personal space.
• Always be on time to a meeting if not a bit early.
• If you have hosted the meeting then you should send an email summarizing what was decided and the next steps to be taken.
• Read more about business meetings in the UK .

Negotiating

• Major decisions are made from the top and will be passed down the chain of management.
• Any hard selling or confrontation is ill-advised.
• The style of management in the UK has been changing over the past few decades from what may be perceived to be stuffy, conservative values to a more open and progressive approach recognising the significant role played by the employees.     
• Where meetings are concerned, it is important to treat all people with respect and deference and that time should not be wasted.
• Always arrive promptly prepared for the discussions on the content of the business at hand.
• Although some organisations will appear to be hierarchical people within the company, whatever their position, play an important role in the decision-making process for the greater good of the company.
• Employees expect to be consulted on issues that affect their working environment and morale.
• Read more about British management styles .

View of Canary Wharf in East London, one of the city's main business districts. Photo by Tim Alex on Unsplash

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Customs and traditions of Great Britain

Published by Kevin Bryant Modified over 6 years ago

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British traditions and UK culture

By colm boyd, 19 nov 2019 - 08:23.

What comes to mind when you think of British culture? Probably quite differing traditional stereotypes. On the one hand, you might think of James Bond ordering a sophisticated Martini or of stylish celebs attending Wimbledon. While on the other, you might think of the eccentric capers of Mr. Bean. The UK is a multi-nation, multi-ethnic land of diversity and contrast. And yet you’ll find it hard to meet a Brit who doesn’t love a good cup of tea with a nice chocolate biscuit.

This blog post looks at some of the most characteristic customs shared by the British. I feel it necessary to point out that I myself am from southern Ireland and am therefore not a Brit, even though we share many quirks. I have, however, lived in the UK and now spend my days surrounded by many wonderful Brits at British Council Barcelona. In the interests of objectivity (and of course, to avoid controversy), I have consulted British friends and colleagues to ask them what customs they would define as specifically British, for better or worse. Read on for their eye-opening responses.

1. Awkward greetings

Our first respondent, Tamsin from Leicester, suggests that there are no strict rules for greeting somebody in the UK, the only essential element is that it’s awkward. In a country like Spain, the social rules for handshakes or giving two kisses are quite clear. In the UK, greetings can range from a formal handshake to a hug to a nod of the head or perhaps just a simple “Hello”. Such lack of guidance spells social disaster, as one person goes in for a hug while the other is offering a reserved head nod. The result is embarrassment for everybody, and thus a typical British interaction has begun! Try to minimise the awkwardness by at least having some greeting expressions up your sleeve. Click here for some typical expressions in English.

2. Tea (and biscuits, obviously)

It’s not just a stereotype. When asked about quintessentially British customs, almost all respondents to my question immediately mentioned drinking a nice cuppa. The word “cuppa” (/ˈkʌpə/) is a common way to refer to a cup of tea, as when you pronounce the expression “cup of tea”, it sounds more like “cuppa tea”. And it’s true that the humble cup of tea forms the basis of many British social interactions. Most Brits drink tea for breakfast, more tea during work breaks, tea before bed, tea when the neighbours visit, tea during a meeting, tea to help decide how to solve a crisis … you get the idea. And let’s not forget the great British art of “dunking”: this means dipping sugary biscuits into tea before eating them. In fact, one source of national debate is which brand of biscuit is best for dunking purposes .

3. Going to the pub

Like many other respondents, Simon from Essex says that the main British tradition for him is going to the pub. Many people have their “local”, meaning the pub that they go to most regularly and where they know the staff and the other customers. I remember working in an office in London and how our entire team of about 50 people had the fun habit of going to the pub together every Friday after work (sometimes on Thursdays too!). It’s not all about drinking though. A trip to the pub can involve playing darts, watching sports on TV, eating some “pub grub” (that’s the name for food served in a pub), or maybe even taking part in a challenging pub quiz. If you’re in the mood for a fun night out, keep an eye out (or Google) for a typical British pub quiz right here in Portugal.

4. Paying for drinks in rounds

Several respondents pointed out that if you decide to try out British pub culture, you need to be aware of the other British tradition of buying drinks in rounds . This means that rather than ordering your drink individually, it’s much more common to order (and pay) for the entire group. Your fellow drinkers will return the favour when they buy your next drink, and the next after that, depending on how many people are in the group. Just be careful: if you’re not as used to alcohol as your colleagues, going out with a big group could lead to a pretty bad hangover the following day! Or if you’ve had enough, you can feel free to go home. The people who owe you drinks will (usually) remember to buy you one the next time you’re in the pub together. Click here for more about British pub etiquette.

5. Saying sorry

Another custom which many respondents thought was particularly British was excessive apologising . Jane from London suggests that in any situation that goes wrong, it is the automatic reaction of most Brits to say sorry, regardless of whether they are at fault. Jane says that if she’s getting off the tube and a man bumps into her while he rushes into the carriage, her instinctive reaction is to exclaim “Oooh, sorry!”, even though she clearly hasn’t done anything wrong. Things get even more bizarre than that. People in office corridors walk past each other and whisper “sorry!” even when there is plenty of room for them both to pass; my ex-flatmate in London once unthinkingly apologised to a dog which had run into her leg.      

6. Identifying accent

A suggestion from various colleagues was the British custom of trying to place a person based on their accent. Of course, this tendency exists in every country but it’s true that the UK seems to have a particular wealth of distinguishable regional accents. So when one Londoner meets another, it’s quite possible that they will automatically know which general part of the city the other is from, just from accent. This phenomenon is not limited to big cities, with many rural areas having their own distinct accents. This means that Brits often talk about accents to break the ice in social gatherings, for example:

Jeff: So, would I be right in guessing that you’re from Cornwall, Harold? Harold: Oh, close enough. I’m actually from Devon.

7. Identifying class

In several responses to my question about British quirks, people mentioned the UK’s obsession with class. One important factor in this sphere is, again, accent. For example, if somebody has attended a public school (this is - confusingly - the name for an expensive private school in the UK), they have a very recognisable accent. I have had many conversations with British friends, along the lines of “Well, my grandparents were working class but they saved money to send one of their kids to public school so that he’d get a posh accent and become a lawyer”. Often, a person’s class is assumed by their accent or family connections rather than their actual bank balance. The British tend to speak about class quite openly and even consider certain supermarkets, newspapers, or social activities to be dictated by a person’s class. All of this means that silently guessing a person’s class is one of Brits’ favourite hobbies.

8. Sunbathing, wherever, whenever

A final custom, suggested by Sandra from London, is the British tendency to sunbathe at any sight of sun. Perhaps this is a biological necessity, a behaviour common to all people from sun-deprived nations. Any sunny day in the UK with a temperature of over 18 degrees leads to mass delirium. That means people unbuttoning their shirts, rolling up their trousers and stopping everything to sit in the sun, whether they’re in a park, in a city square, at a bus stop, literally anywhere outdoors. And who could blame them for making the most of the British sunshine? Perhaps less healthy is when Brits do the same while on holiday in a hot country like Spain and instead of a sun-kissed glow, end up with an unfortunate “gamba” red!

Thanks to all my British friends and colleagues for explaining just a few of their most representative customs. Of course, there are many more that we could add to the list. Any suggestions? Why not add them to the Facebook comments for this post? Don’t forget to click here for more blog posts about life in the UK. 

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Customs and traditions in the UK

... waistcoat and tweed jacket, stockings with garter flashes, brogue shoes ... costume, which consists of a tall black hat, white frilled cap and long dress. ... – powerpoint ppt presentation.

• The United Kingdom is a unitary state consisting of four countries England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. The head of state of the United Kingdom is Queen Elizabeth II, who has reigned as monarch since 1952. Each country
• has its own saint patron,
• flag and history.
• 23 April is the national day of England - St George's Day.

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British culture, customs and traditions

Customs and traditions

Jul 18, 2014

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Usola 2013. Customs and traditions. 6 from pupil Sungurov Maksim. England. About country.

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Usola 2013 Customs and traditions 6 from pupil SungurovMaksim

About country • England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom.It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, while the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separate it from continental Europe. Most of England comprises the central and southern part of the island of Great Britain in the North Atlantic. The country also includes over 100 smaller islands such as the Isles of Scilly and the Isle of Wight. Populationis 53,013,000

Cuisine Fish and chips is a widely consumed part of English cuisine. Since the Early Modern Period the food of England has historically been characterised by its simplicity of approach and a reliance on the high quality of natural produce. During the Middle Ages and through the Renaissance period, English cuisine enjoyed an excellent reputation, though a decline began during the Industrial Revolution with the move away from the land and increasing urbanisation of the populace. The cuisine of England has, however, recently undergone a revival, which has been recognised by the food critics with some good ratings in Restaurant's best restaurant in the world charts. An early book of English recipes is the Forme of Cury from the royal court of Richard II.

Apple pie has been consumed in England since the Middle Ages. Traditional examples of English food include the Sunday roast, featuring a roasted joint(usually beef, lamb, chicken or pork) served with assorted vegetables, Yorkshire pudding ,stuffing and gravy. Other prominent meals include fish and chips and the full English breakfast (generally consisting of bacon, sausages, grilled tomatoes, fried bread, black pudding, baked beans, mushrooms, and eggs). Various meat pies are consumed such assteak and kidney pie, steak and ale pie, cottage pie, pork pie (usually eaten cold)and the Cornish Pasty.

English houses The English country house is a large house or mansion in the English countryside. Such houses were often owned by individuals who also owned a London house. This allowed them to spend time in the country and in the city—hence, for these people, the term distinguished between town and country. However, the term also encompasses houses that were, and often still are, the full-time residence for the landed gentry. These people were central to the squire archy that ruled rural Britain until the Reform Act 1832. Frequently, the formal business of the counties was transacted in these country houses.

English Traditions Every nation and every country has its own customs and traditions. In Britain traditions play a more important part in the life of the people than in other countries.Englishmen are proud of their traditions and carefully keep them up. It has been the law for about three hundred years that all the theatres are closed on Sundays. No letters are delivered, only a few Sunday papers are published. To this day an English family prefers a house with a garden to a flat in a modern house with central heating. English people like gardens.

Holidays are especially rich in old traditions and are different in Scotland, Ireland, Wales and England. Christmas is a great English national holiday, and in Scotland it is not kept at all, except by clerks in banks; all the shops, mills and factories are working. But six days later, on New Years Eve the Scotch begin to enjoy themselves. All the shops, mills and factories are closed on New Years Day. People invite their friends to their houses and "sit the Old Year out and the New Year in". When the dock begins to strike twelve, the head of the family goes to the entrance door, opens it wide and holds it until the last stroke. Then he shuts the door. He has let the Old Year out and the New Year in.

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British culture is a beautiful and unique mix of four countries: England , Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. The mix of all these countries’ traditions is what makes the British culture very rich and diverse and what they like to call “cultural capital.” 

British people like to think of themselves as people with class and great taste, whether about food, clothing, music, or movies. 

Below you will find a detailed description of British culture and social norms:

Things to Know About the British Social Etiquette 

You may already know that British people share their love for tea and the British Royal family. However, there are many things you have yet to learn about British culture , customs, and traditions. 

Here are some of the basic social norms you should know about British people:

Although British people have a reputation for acting cold towards others, surprisingly, they like kisses on the cheek as a form of greeting. When greeting a good friend or family member in the UK, you do not simply shake their hand. If you are not a close friend or family member, the physical touch is perceived as odd, and a handshake or a smile can go a long way. 

Social Distance

The distant personality of the British stands out when they are conversing with someone —regardless of the relationship—as they like to keep a socially acceptable distance between them and those they are speaking to. While in the UK, you can be rude if you do not respect a person’s personal space when talking to them in any social situation. 

Punctuality

Brits are very strict when it comes to being punctual. If you are late once in the UK, you will likely not be late again. The British consider being late disrespectful and rude, especially at private dinner parties or someone’s home. If you cannot arrive on time at some place or event, make sure you let the host know beforehand. 

Respect the Queue

British people love to follow the rules, especially when it comes to waiting in a queue, whether at the supermarket or the cinema. Those who dare and jump the queue will most likely be called out. If you do jump the queue for whatever reason, be prepared to get yelled at or even kick you out of the queue altogether. 

Good Manners

Do you think Canadians are polite? Think again! Despite the reputation of the British people, they love to say sorry, thank you, and please. Regardless of who you are talking to, being polite is always appreciated among the Brits. 

100 Million Cups of Tea Daily

It is no secret that British people love to drink tea, and they usually admit that it is their favorite part of the day. You can find Brits drinking tea at any social gathering, whether at a birthday or coffee shop. What makes English Tea special is the milk. According to research done on this matter, English people drink around 36 billion cups of tea per year. 

Avoid Extended Eye Contact

British people find it uncomfortable to stare into someone’s eyes for a long period of time. Most of them feel intimidated by extended eye contact and would rather avoid it altogether. 

Love Drinking 

Brits are known to spend most of their pastimes in pubs and drinking with friends or colleagues. It is hard for them to say no to a drink or two (or ten), and they take turns buying a round of drinks. You cannot leave the pub without buying drinks for people you go out with. However, if you are one to cry when drunk, avoid binge drinking since Brits do not like emotional drinkers. 

Sarcasm Dominates British Humor

British humor is full of irony and sarcasm, so if you are sensitive and easily offended, be prepared when you hang out with a Brit. Their sarcasm is of high quality, so foreigners and visitors are usually confused about whether they are joking or not. British humor also involves making fun of celebrities or public figures.

Respect the Elderly and Disabled People

English people are very serious about respecting older people and love helping the disabled. Public transportation rules include giving up your seat for the elderly and the disabled. Chivalry is also a must among British people, setting an example for the rest of the world where men hold a door open for a lady or stand up when a lady walks into a room. 

Gifts for Every Occasion

Giving and receiving gifts is a tradition for British people, especially when someone invites you to their homes. A symbolic gift such as chocolate, flowers, or a bottle of wine is more than enough if you do not go empty-handed.

Brits Love to Complain

Complaints about bad weather or a bad day are part of any conversation between British people. However, they choose to complain mostly to their friends or family and not actual service workers in a restaurant or any other customer service workers simply because they do not want to be rude to them. If they do complain about poor service, they usually do it politely without causing any disruption. 

Gracious Losers

Brits can be a controversy when it comes to everyday life behavior. They love to complain, yet they are good losers, meaning they choose to lose with dignity. When losing a competition or a game in the UK, they usually choose to congratulate the winner and do not argue since it is considered rude and poor manners.

British Food

Traditional British food is popular internationally; many people claim to love English dishes. There are around seven main traditional dishes in the UK that the Brits never get tired of. You may already be familiar with some English dishes that you may have seen in the movies or even tried yourself. However, British food has its own spotlight when it comes to British culture. 

Here are the popular dishes in English cuisine that you must try at least once:

• Beef Wellington. The beef wellington dish is considered to be one of the hardest dishes to cook in the UK. The beef wellington is basically a beef fillet, and the challenging part is to cook it just right since it is served medium rare, which is difficult to achieve.
• Fish and Chips. One of the most popular dishes among tourists in England, and it can be found almost everywhere in the UK. However, the Brits recommend trying fish and chips in restaurants near the sea for the most delicious version. As the name suggests, this dish is either served with a single fish or fish sticks with fries on the side.
• Chicken Tikka Masala. Initially cooked by a chef in Glasgow with Bangladeshi origins, this dish is one of the most popular home-cooked meals in the UK. 
• English Breakfast. Brits take the expression “breakfast is the most important meal of the day” seriously. The full English breakfast is popular all over the UK, especially on weekends. This popular breakfast dish includes bacon, eggs, sausages, beans, toasted bread, and various vegetables, depending on your personal preference.
• Yorkshire Pudding. The Yorkshire pudding is usually served as a side dish and is served in different ways depending on the place and customer preferences. The name may fool you since it is not actual pudding, on the contrary, it is made of eggs, flour, milk, and fat. 
• Pie and Mash (Also known as Bangers and Mash). If you are a carbs fan, this is the best dish to try in the UK. As with many traditional English dishes, the pie and mash dish includes sausages and mashed potatoes. They often serve it with peas and gravy on top. 
• Black Pudding. Once again, the UK dishes confuse the rest of the world with their food names. To everyone’s surprise, the black pudding is a sausage out of beef or pork blood. Yes, you read it correctly. Even though it sounds bad, it is one of the most delicious dishes in the UK. 
• Toad in the Hole. Another dish with sausages. It is very easy to make, and all you have to do is add sausages to the Yorkshire pudding and serve it with gravy and vegetables. 
• Shepherd’s Pie or Cottage Pie. The recipe is the same for both these pies with only one difference: use lamb meat for shepherd’s pie and beef for cottage pie. 
• Sausage Roll or Scotch Egg. More sausages —in this case— wrapped in an egg and other added ingredients that make it a savory pastry snack popular among all English people.
• Jellied Eels. Maybe one of the most unappetizing dishes you have ever seen or tasted. This traditional food is made of chopped boiled eels which they firstly allow to cool and serve cold. 
• Trifle. This traditional English dessert is made by adding layers of pudding on top of one another —no beef included unless you are Joey from the “Friends” series. Brits like to top it with whipped cream and other toppings of their choice and serve it in a glass dish.
• Jam Roly Poly. Another traditional British dessert served as a cake, filled with any type of jam. 
• Steak and Kidney Pudding or Pie. This pudding or pie, however you want to call it, is a must when you visit the UK. It is typically covered in pastry or potatoes.
• Scones. After Brexit, the UK’s biggest debate is whether to put the cream or jam on the scone first. You can try both and decide for yourself what you like more. 
• Roast Dinner or Sunday Roast. It has been established that the British love to include Yorkshire pudding in almost every meal. The roast dinner is one of them. The roast dinner also includes roasted meat (of choice), roasted potatoes, stuffing, and vegetables.
• Eton Mess. A traditional English dessert made with strawberries or other berries of your liking, meringue, and whipped cream. A perfect refreshing dish for the lingering summer heat.

British Languages

The United Kingdom holds the reputation of having several official languages. Although 98% of the population speaks English as their first language, the rest speak other native languages. 

Here are the languages spoken across the UK:

• Scots. Around 1.5 million people in the UK speak Scots, and it is the most spoken language after English. Scottish is mostly spoken in Scotland. Gaelic is also spoken in Scotland, and it is one of the founding languages. 
• Welsh. After Scots, Welsh is also widely spoken in the UK, with around 600,000 speakers. Welsh is the official language in Wales, where they also speak English.
• Polish. With more than 500,000 speakers, Polish is spoken by 1% of the UK population. In the last decade, more than half a million Polish people have migrated to the UK. 
• Less spoken languages. Other languages that are spoken less in the UK include Punjabi, Urdu, Bengali, and Gujarati. Each of these languages has around 250,000 speakers left in the UK. Knowing the influence of India in the UK between the 19th and 20th Centuries, many people from India and Pakistan immigrated to the UK. Although these languages are slowly starting to fade, especially from the younger generation, they still speak the traditional languages in their communities back home.
• Other. There is also a number of foreign languages spoken in the UK, such as Arabic, Spanish, French, and Portuguese. These languages are mainly spoken in tourist and large cities of the UK, including London, Manchester, and Brighton. 

What are the Differences Between British and American Spelling?

As most of you may know, British English has a very different spelling than American. The main reason for this is that the UK has incorporated many word spellings from the French and German languages. Furthermore, British English uses more formal words, whereas American English typically uses more informal words. 

Here are some examples of British and American spelling:

Popular British Expressions and Idioms

British people are known for having unique expressions, and the rest of the world usually uses them when describing British people. Brits incorporate many idioms and everyday informal expressions in their daily conversations. 

Here are some of the favorite and most popular English expressions and their meaning: 

Things You Should Never Say to a British Person

Here are a few things you should avoid when speaking to a British person:

• Generalize the UK Accents.

As mentioned above in this article, there are a number of accents spoken across the UK. Each region has a distinctive accent, and Brits find it offensive and disrespectful to assume that the “British accent” is the only accent in the UK. 

Another foreign habit Brits find annoying is saying you can do a great British accent. As previously mentioned, according to the British people, there is no British accent. Secondly, those who claim that they do a great British accent are usually the ones who are not as good as they believe. 

• Saying, “Cheers, mate!”.

British people hate it when tourists or foreigners greet them with the saying, “cheers, mate!”. The reason it is considered disrespectful is that they do it too often, and it is no longer welcomed as a pleasantry. 

• Tell them you think British people live in Europe. 

People from the UK take every chance they get to explain that they do not consider themselves as part of Europe. Brits like to establish that the UK is an island separate from Europe and wish to be called British instead of European. 

• Assume every British person lives in a castle.

If you are planning on visiting the UK anytime in the near future, please restrict yourself from asking British people if they live in a castle. Brits are not part of an old kingdom movie, so the answer to this question will be “no,” at least 99% of the time.

Clothing in UK

The Western influence is very distinctive among British people, especially in how they dress. Moreover, Brits love to follow fashion trends and fit in with modern society’s latest clothing movements. However, Brits can still be very casual in their day-to-day lives, where you can see many people wearing jeans and t-shirts with a trench coat on a rainy day (which is almost every day).

Here are some of the most popular clothing items in Great Britain:

• Trench Coats. As you may already know, the trench coat is a must for Brits and everyone who lives or visits the UK. Aside from the obvious reason for the rainy weather, they started wearing trench coats way back in the 19th Century during the First World War. They started wearing trench coats only as part of the military uniform, and now it is part of the standard wardrobe in the UK.
• Tweed Jackets. It first started as a form of protection from harsh elements, and it is now peak fashion among the Brits. Both men and women wear them and you can wear them up or down depending on the event, whether on a fancy night out or a smart-casual event during the day. 
• Jeans. Jeans are the most worn clothing item among Brits. You can see men and women wearing jeans and pairing them with all sorts of clothing pieces. Jeans are also a good item to wear up or down. However, most British people like to wear jeans as part of a casual outfit. 
• Leggings. Leggings are considered to be a guilty pleasure clothing item among women in the UK. However, they mostly wear leggings in the gym or as part of a casual outfit. Pair leggings with an oversized sweater and your favorite trainers, and you become a true Brit. 
• Trainers (Sneakers). British people claim to have a love affair with sneakers. They are always looking for a great pair of sneakers, and women are always in with the latest sneaker trend. You can always find British people wearing the most popular sneaker brand. 
• Bodycon Dresses. Regardless of the weather, British women love wearing a bodycon dress on a night out, especially at the club. Furthermore, women in the UK like to show off their clubbing outfits, and they refuse to wear a coat to cover their outfits. 
• Suits. British men, on the other hand, will always find a reason to wear suits. Classic suits are always in fashion among the Brits, and they like to pair them with a pair of jeans for a more casual look. 
• Grey Joggers (Sweatpants). Brits love to be comfortable, and they never try to hide this fact. Aside from the casual Sunday, they wear sweatpants when hanging out with their friends or even at the pub, if you are bold enough. 
• Umbrella. You cannot leave the house without an umbrella in the UK. Considering it is almost always raining, the umbrella has become a part of the Brit’s everyday outfits. Therefore, British people usually try and match their umbrellas with their outfits.

Music in UK

People often assume that the classical jazz genre of music dominates the music culture in the UK. However, this is no longer the case. You may recognize a lot of popular British musicians such as The Beatles, Elton John, Pink Floyd, The Spice Girls, and many more. However, nowadays, the music industry has changed a lot in the UK. 

Here is what music genre is popular among the Brits today:

And here are the most popular British music artists lately:

• Harry Styles
• Ed Sheeran 
• Billie Eilish
• Calvin Harris 
• Lewis Capaldi

Architecture in UK

British architecture is one of the most unique in the world . It is highly influenced by the 15th century and is home to some of the most historic building styles in the world. Below are some of these architectural styles that dominate British architecture and add to the British appeal. 

The name Tudor is derived from the period in which these buildings were built. It started between the 15th and 17th centuries during the Medieval period of architecture. The features of this architectural style include a low arch, angled roof, grouped windows, and masonry chimneys. 

Elizabethan Architecture

The Elizabethan architectural style derives from the period of Elizabeth’s reign when many houses were built in this style, and only the wealthier people lived in it. The glass design dominates the exterior as a way of filling the house with natural light. 

Baroque architectural design is mostly influenced by Italian architecture, and Italian designers started to build them way back in the 17th century. Examples of such architecture include St Paul’s Cathedral and Greenwich Hospital. The Baroque architectural style was mostly adapted by English churches. 

Roman architecture was the greatest influence during the Georgian era, around 1780 and 1820. The classical exterior architecture is what makes the Georgian period unique, along with a detailed interior design. What makes the Georgian design special are the high sectioned ceilings with characteristic colors such as lavender, pink, pea green, and light blue. 

The post-war period in the architecture of British buildings set a new era of architecture by moving on from older building styles but incorporating some bits and pieces of vintage architecture. Some old buildings were renovated and embodied modernism along with international style.

Old castles also share a proportion of architectural heritage in the UK. Among many of them, some of the most beautiful and most visited by tourists are Windsor Castle, Edinburgh Castle, Leeds Castle, Alnwick Castle, Cardiff Castle, Bodiam Castle, Stirling Castle, Caernarfon Castle, Warwick Castle, Bamburgh Castle, etc.

Sport in UK

Playing and watching all kinds of sports is Brits’ favorite thing to do , especially football. There is a range of popular sports in the UK, which foreigners also recognize as British sports. 

Here are some of the most popular sports in the United Kingdom:

• Football. Football is among the most popular sports in the UK and the world. Some of the most popular football teams and players are from the UK, and there is the Premier League which includes the top 20 teams from across the UK. Some of the most popular teams in the UK are Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester United, etc. 
• Cricket. Cricket is one of the oldest and most popular sports in the UK, going back as early as the 17th century. There are 18 cricket clubs in total named after all historic counties of the UK. Every year there is a First Class County Championship held over a period of four days. 
• Rugby. Another very popular British sport is divided into Rugby Union and Rugby League. These two different championships differ in the number of players and some game rules. 
• Badminton. Badminton is continuously becoming one of the most popular sports in UK history. British people and other badminton fans call it Badminton England, and it is a member of the International Badminton Federation. 
• Tennis. Sports tournaments are one of the most favorite entertainment ideas among the British people. The most popular tournament in the UK is called Wimbledon, which started way back in 1877.

Art is an important part of British history and culture. Many British artists created irreplaceable artwork whose appeal influenced artists from around the globe.

The religious theme dominated British art during the middle ages, which was displayed and best illustrated through wall paintings in churches and religious books. Even in the modern days, the works by famous British artists are shown in famous galleries across the United Kingdom.

These famous galleries in the UK include some of the following:

• The National Gallery
• Tate Britain 
• Tate Modern in London
• National Museum in Cardiff
• National Gallery of Scotland in Edinburgh

Most of these galleries display contemporary art.

Traces of British art development take us back to the pre-historical periods. Stonehenge , built around 2600 BC, is among the oldest British artwork we know until now . The influence of the Roman conquerors and other preceding historical ages is still present in the UK. Old churches and cathedrals have the same illuminated manuscript and sculptures as when they were built centuries ago.

Famous Names in British Art

Throughout art history, the UK produced some of the greatest artists ever. Names like William Blake, J.M.W. Turner, John Constable, Samuel Palmer, and so forth made a strong basis for artists that would come later.

The 18th century also saw a number of brilliant British artists best represented by the names of Hans Holbein, Anthony van Dyck, Nicholas Hilliard, Robert Peake, William Larkin, William Dobson, and John Michael Wright.

During the second part of the 18th century , the art movements that took place in the UK resulted in the expansion of distinguished artists like Sir Joshua Reynold, George Stubbs, Thomas Gainsborough, and Joseph Wright of Derby.

Artists like Joseph Wright, James Wright, Samuel Palmer, Richard Parkes Bonnington, and so on, were some of the best during the 19th century, or the Romantic period as it is known. 

During the 20th century, artists like John Singer Sargent, Sir Jacob Epstein, David Bomberg, Lawrence Atkinson, Dora Carrington, and others climbed the elite of artists in the UK.

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United Kingdom Presentation templates

It’s 4pm, do you know what it means tea time taste a delicious cuppa tea while editing one of our templates about the united kingdom. england, scotland, wales or northern ireland, we cover them all download this set of google slides and powerpoint templates and use them to speak about the interesting peculiarities of these countries that form the united kingdom..

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Limerick Day

A Limerick is a humorous poem composed of five verses. Did you know that its name comes from an Irish city? In addition, Limerick Day, which is celebrated on May 12, commemorates the birth of the writer Edward Lear, who made these poems popular. With this presentation we have prepared...

England's Typical Traditions

There’s lots of things that you shouldn’t miss when travelling to the UK, this land is very rich in culture, food, landscapes and beautiful people! Speak about the most common traditions that people should take into account about England with this cute template that looks like a postcard from this...

History of England Class

How do you make a class on the history of England interesting? With this template, that’s how! With the look of papyrus, it contains charming illustrations of English icons that help you set the scene and give a visual sense of the country through the centuries. You can also add...

British English School Center

Do you have plans for this summer? It can be the perfect opportunity to visit England and learn to improve your English language skills! If you work at a British English School center, why don't you promote the center and recruit new students? Here, this template has everything that you...

Map of the UK Infographics

These slides contain many maps of the UK. Do you need to create some infographics related to this part of the world? Cool! We have added some circle charts, text blocks, flags, icons and different colors for you to include everything you need. God save the Queen!

The Prince of Wales Coronation - Minitheme

The heir to the throne of England is recognized by the title of Prince of Wales, a recognition with a history of more than five centuries. When a new monarch takes the throne of the United Kingdom, a new Prince of Wales consequently emerges. Of course, this royal moment has...

Irish Pub Business Plan

Download the "Irish Pub Business Plan" presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides. Conveying your business plan accurately and effectively is the cornerstone of any successful venture. This template allows you to pinpoint essential elements of your operation while your audience will appreciate the clear and concise presentation, eliminating any potential...

England History Subject for High School: Wales Lady

She was quite a personality. Her naturalness charmed practically everyone she dealt with. Diana Spencer, better known by the monarchical titles she held, was a revolution in the history of the British Royal House. She was the protagonist of numerous historical events both directly and indirectly, so it might be...

The Queen of England - Minitheme

With much love, admiration and respect, we have designed a template about one of the most recognized personalities in every corner of the planet. She is the Queen of England, whose reign took place between 1952 and 2022, one of the longest reigns in history. 70 years of authentic service...

Elementary Activities to Celebrate St Andrew's Day

Saint Andrew is the patron saint of Scotland and his day is celebrated on November 30th. We wanted to join this celebration by designing this spectacular template with representative illustrations of Scotland, with which you can plan fun activities for your elementary students. Download it now and discover the necessary...

Saturated Fats Breakthrough to Raise Awareness on UK National Cholesterol Month

Would you consider yourself a healthy person? Do you have a balanced diet and not go overboard on saturated fats? Saturated fats help increase blood cholesterol, so in order to help raise awareness about this, we have designed the perfect template for National Cholesterol Month. If you want to present...

Winston Churchill Day

Download the "Winston Churchill Day" presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides. The education sector constantly demands dynamic and effective ways to present information. This template is created with that very purpose in mind. Offering the best resources, it allows educators or students to efficiently manage their presentations and engage audiences....

Winston Churchill History Lesson for Middle School

Download the "Winston Churchill History Lesson for Middle School" presentation for PowerPoint or Google Slides. If you’re looking for a way to motivate and engage students who are undergoing significant physical, social, and emotional development, then you can’t go wrong with an educational template designed for Middle School by Slidesgo!...

British Regency Era Themed Banquet Menu

"Welcome to the banquet. Please have a seat, the food will be served soon. Would you like something to drink? This? Oh, it's just the Regency Era, my dear..." We hope you won't tell your waiters to act as if they were in the Regency Era again. It's just the...

UK Afternoon Tea Week Minitheme

It’s almost 4pm, are you ready to have an afternoon tea? Maybe even a piece of cake! For English people, this is a very important moment of the day where they relax and enjoy a great snack. Having an afternoon tea is such an important thing that it even has...

Social Studies Subject for Middle School: United Kingdom Royalty

The British royal family is certainly a source of fascination and intrigue around the world. From Queen Elizabeth II's longevity on the throne, to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's fairytale wedding, the dynasty carries with it an almost mythical quality. But what are the actual origins of the British royal...

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NEWS... BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

13 hectic pictures that prove pop culture was at its best in the 2000s

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The first decade of this century saw the advent of social media, the birth of cult classics… and plenty of celebrity drama.

Pop culture in the noughties was truly a sight to behold. It was the era of mega-star mania, tabloid supremacy and totally unfiltered and utterly bizarre reality TV shows for the masses to consume.

It’s hard to believe there was a time when British reality shows were in their (truly unhinged) heyday, the Kardashians were yet to make their name and Britney was releasing banger after banger.

It was the decade that brought us endlessly quotable classics like Mean Girls , The Devil Wears Prada and Freaky Friday and got the British public hooked to their TV sets with the thoroughly chaotic Big Brother .

In short, where would we be today without the naughty noughties?

As we inch further and further away from the turn of the century, 00s nostalgia has never felt so good. So sift out those low-rise baggy jeans, flip open your razor phone and come with us as we go back in time.

Kylie Minogue kicking the decade off with a bang

Picture this. It’s the year 2000, the general public has left the 1900s behind and is looking towards a bright, bright future. In comes Australian pop legend Kylie , and casually drops the ultimate feel-good anthem – Spinning Around.

The song became her first number one in a decade and she spun everyone right round like a record on the Top of the Pops (rip) stage for a crowd-pleasing live performance dressed in a glistening crop top and black pants.

The Comeback Queen.

Kate Moss at Glastonbury – that’s all

Nothing will humanise the biggest and most glamourous models in the world than shipping them off to Glastonbury musical festival to battle against the miserable British weather.

Still, back in 2005, Kate bravely rose to the occasion and somehow managed to pull off a badass ‘I don’t care’ demeanor as she traipsed through the dirt in her wellies with a lit cigarette in her mouth.

Supermodel prowess stops for no muddy bog.

Britney and Madonna’s VMA kiss

There are a handful of pop culture moments that instantly make it into the hall of fame. Britney and Madonna locking lips at the 2003 VMAs is definitely one of them.

They were the two biggest pop stars in the world at the time. Britney had broken up with Justin Timberlake. Madonna had just dropped her overlooked ninth album, American Life. They had one moment to make headlines and shock the world.

Artful mastery over tabloid gossip.

Katie Price and Peter Andre finding love on live TV

Over the course of the 2004 season of I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Here, the public watched with bated breath as a new reality power couple was born: Katie Price and Peter Andre .

The former glamour model captured the Flava hitmaker’s heart as they both got cosy in the jungle. And in a plot twist seldom seen these days, merely a year later the couple tied the knot.

You just had to be there!

Lindsay Lohan just doing.. whatever she wanted

The Parent Trap actor was a mainstay of celebrity gossip in the 2000s as she made the leap from child star to fully-fledged actress.

She shot to global stardom as Cady Heron in Mean Girls in 2004 and soon saw herself flung to the very height of her fame. So naturally, when she landed the main hosting gig at the MTV VMAs she put on a hosting gig to remember.

A niche but treasured moment in Lohan-lore, this image of her breakdancing with an entourage is peak 00s-core.

Victoria Beckham freaking everyone out with a lip ring

At the turn of the century, Posh had it all . Model, WAG, beloved girl group singer with an adoring fanbase to boot. So when she climbed on stage with a massive lip ring, it sent shockwaves.

Her fashion influence had people writing think-pieces about copycat piercings and outraged groupies proclaiming it a fashion disaster. but the joke was on us in the end when it turned out it was a clip-on all along.

Brokeback Mountain saying gay rights

The brain chemistry of baby gays everywhere was irreversibly changed in 2005 when Hollywood icons Heath and Jake struck up a forbidden affair in popular Western movie Brokeback Mountain.

It was not only the film that launched a thousand memes but its place in the queer cultural corpus cannot be underestimated. A mainstream gay blockbuster, with two handsome male cowboys at the helm? What more could we ask for.

Girls Aloud being let loose in a haunted house

There are simply not enough TV shows nowadays that put celebrities into the most random scenarios and simply… see what happens. But without a doubt, 2006 TV special Ghost Hunting with Girls Aloud was the blueprint.

The episode sees girl band icons Cheryl, Nadine Coyle, Sarah Harding, Nicola Roberts and Kimberley Walsh sent into various haunted locations to see if they can pick up on any ghostly vibes. For many, the night-cam footage is still etched into our memory.

Kim Kardashian’s days of yore

It almost feels like stepping into a parallel universe to see reality megastar and business tycoon Kim trailing on supermodel Paris Hilton’s heels. But for some of the younger Gen Z among us it’s true. There was a time when Kim K was merely second-in-command.

A snapshot of Kim’s humble beginnings is a stark reminder of just how quickly the tables can turn, and the bleak cultural capital leaked sex tapes had on the world in the early 2000s.

George Galloway’s feline tendencies

The 69-year-old media personality may be a sitting member of parliament now, but back in the day he spent his time cosplaying as a cat. Well, kind of.

In the fourth series of Celebrity Big Brother, George stunned viewers after he knelt down and started acting like a cat with fellow housmate and Coronation Street star Rula Lenska. Needless to say, it got weird.

For years, this became George’s defining moment and honestly? He still hasn’t outrun the past.

Susan Boyle uniting the nation with her glorious vocals

Reality competition shows were thriving in the late 2000s and nowhere is this proven more than with Susan Boyle’s viral audition.

The singer blew the nation away with her ethereal rendition of Les Miserables’ I Dreamed A Dream. At the time the audition totted up 120 million views, crowning it the most watched YouTube video of the year. No small feat.

This moment also saw her record-breaking album (titled I Dreamed a Dream) knock Leona Lewis out the top spot for fastest-selling debut. An unconventional success story unlikely to repeat itself today.

Kanye West interrupting Taylor Swift at the VMAs

And we’re rounding this off with a moment so ingrained in pop culture history that no one has shut up about it in 15 years. You guessed it, Kanye storming the stage at the 2009 MTV VMAs while Taylor collected her best video award.

‘Imma let you finish’ Kanye notoriously announced before turning his praise to Beyonce.

The scandal has had many repercussions, not least inspiring Taylor’s latest Tortured Poet Department album track thanK you aIMee – a not so subtle nod to Kanye’s ex-wife Kim K.

Got a story?

If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us [email protected], calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.

MORE : You didn’t realise this 00s band is the soundtrack to your life

MORE : Millennials devastated after discovering what happened to iconic 00s sitcom house

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38 Of The Best True Crime Documentaries To Watch Right Now

Our top true crime documentary picks on Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime and more...

True crime documentaries provide viewers with an inside look into some of the most extreme aspects of society. We love them because they're fraught with palpable tension, nail-biting plot twists and the ability to turn a Sunday night window into an endless Google Search deep dive.

Documentaries such as Night Stalker, Daughters Of The Cult and The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard have allowed us to get an in-depth account of some of the most notorious crime cases.

Aside from prompting catchy songs and memes based on their various mind-blowing revelations, the best true crime documentaries can also catalyse much-needed debates and calls for action. For example, Athlete A has become a powerful cornerstone of the #MeToo movement , allowing the survivors to reclaim their voice and space. Spike Lee's Four Little Girls is a chilling, yet timely reminder of the impact and legacy of the violent reality of both systemic and systematic racism.

For a genre that is constantly adding more options to its roster, we filtered through to bring you the very best true crime documentaries, from the bizarre to the heartbreaking, that will ensure you're glued to the sofa all weekend long.

Daughters Of The Cult

The daughters of Evril LeBaron, a leader of a religious fundamental group recount their experiences of torment whilst living under the control of his cult.

LeBaron was finally sentenced to life in prison in 1980 for his crimes, but prior to this, he ordered the murders of his opponents, as told by his former cult members and his children.

The Prison Confessions of Gypsy Rose Blanchard

Most of us have surely heard about the case of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, the woman who killer her mother with her then-boyfriend Nicholas Godejohn, was also convicted for carrying out the attack.

Now nine years later, after committing murder when she was 23 years old, she tells her side of the story from prison and explains what transpired.

The Imposter

The Imposter is a documentary that feels so widely far-fetched you’d be forgiven for assuming that it couldn’t possibly be based on reality — but it is. The documentary follows the 1997 case of a French conman named Frédéric Bourdin, who infiltrated a Texas family at the age of 23 by pretending to be their son, Nicholas Barclay, who had disappeared three years earlier at the age of 13. Prepare for your jaw to hit the floor.

OJ: Made In America

One of the most notorious murder cases in modern history gets re-examined in this five-part series. It deftly interrogates Simpson’s rise to fame and subsequent acquittal through the lens of the racial politics of the age, as well as focussing on the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman.

Watch on Disney+

Last Call: When A Serial Killer Stalked Queer New York

Based on Elon Green’s nonfiction book of the same name, HBO's new four-part series highlights the terror inflicted upon LGBTQ nightlife in New York City by a serial killer during the 1990s. It delves into the systemic oppression prevalent during the period of the AIDS crisis and the efforts made by queer activists to seek justice for the victims.

Watch on HBO Max

The Keepers

The Keepers , which was released on Netflix in 2017, follows the unsolved murder of nun Catherine Cesnik who was killed in 1969 under the belief that she'd uncovered sexual abuse by one of the priests, Joseph Maskell, at a Baltimore school. The documentary follows two of Cesnik’s former students, Gemma Hoskins and Abbie Schaub, as they set out to uncover who killed her — and, more importantly, what their motive was.

Watch on Netflix

The Jinx: The Lifes and Deaths of Robert Durst

This six-part series, which debuted in 2015, followed the investigation into Robert Durst, a prominent New York real estate scion tangled up in the unsolved murders of his wife, a novelist and his neighbour.

The day before the finale of the series aired, Durst was arrested in New Orleans on a charge of first-degree murder of his friend, Susan Berman. After a five month-long trial, in September 2021, Durst was found guilty of murdering Berman in 2000 and was sentenced to life imprisonment without possibility of parole.

Watch on NOW TV

Making A Murderer

Millions of us tuned in to the first season of Making A Murderer , which debuted in 2015. The 10-episode series chronicled the convictions of Steven Avery and Brendan Dassey after they were accused of the 2005 murder of Teresa Halbach in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin.

Details of the crime and the potentially corrupt way the police handled the investigation whipped viewers into a frenzy, which encouraged Netflix to commission two more series on similar ‘re-investigations’.

Madoff: The Monster of Wall Street

As far as financial thrillers go, this gripping four-part series is up there with the most shocking. It tells the story of American financier Bernie Madoff, who executed a $64bn Ponzi scheme, and those who protected him. You'll be at the edge of your seat while uncovering the conspiracy that flourished for decades.

MH370: The Plane That Disappeared

March 8, 2014 was a devastating time for the loved ones of passengers who boarded Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 that mysteriously disappeared. After the flight, which saw 239 people go missing, a global investigation followed, yet despite official reports, theories and searches for evidence, the aviation enigma remains unsolved. Directed by Louise Malkinson, this British docuseries searches for answers.

The Hatchet Wielding Hitchhiker

Kai (whose real name is Caleb Lawrence McGillvary) went viral following a 2013 news report in which he claimed to save a woman by hitting her attacker with a hatchet. But, things soon took a dark turn for this easy-going nomad when he was served a prison sentence for murdering lawyer Joseph Galfy. This scandalous documentary takes a close look at how things spiralled.

Celebrity restaurateur Sarma Melngailis transitioned from being the queen of vegan cuisine to a ridiculed 'Vegan Fugitive' after falling for a man who promised to make her dreams come true. This four-part documentary shows how millions of dollars, immortal dogs, meat suits and deception leads to her life veering into turmoil.

Disappearance of Madeleine McCann

The mystery of Madeleine McCann's disappearance continues, since she went missing on the evening of May 3, 2007 while at a resort in Praia da Luz, in Algarve, Portugal with her family. This documentary gives a detailed look into the story.

Catching Killers

Infamous serial killer cases are the focus of this crime documentary. It sees investigators reveal harrowing details of their remarkable efforts when it came to cracking down on notorious criminals. Full of investigative insights and plenty of suspense, it's bound to have you at the edge of your seat.

The Staircase

American novelist Michael Peterson became the prime suspect of his wife's mysterious death, and, after being closely inspected, was later convicted. Was it an accident or murder? That was the lingering question. This series documents the commotion.

Worst Roommate Ever

Dangerous con artists and killers lacking remorse are at the centre of chilling true stories documented in this limited series.

They represent some of the most notorious and menacing cohabiting experiences imaginable.

Episode one kicks off with a woman known as Dorothea Puente, who runs a boarding school for those less fortunate, but while seemingly gracious, her motives are more sinister.

House of Maxwell

Based on 50 years of scandal concerning one family, House of Maxwell unravels the rise and fall of a media mogul and his deeply disturbed family. It's an astonishing tale of money, sex, privacy, power and notoriety.

Watch on BBC iPlayer

Unsolved Mystery

Mysterious disappearances, shocking murders and perplexing encounters make up this revival of an iconic documentary series. Brought to you by the original creators of Unsolved Mysteries and the producers of Stranger Things , it invites you to follow the clues and get a sense of solving the cases.

Night Stalker

Amongst the glamours LA sunshine lurked one of the most notorious killers in American history. This documentary allows you to witness the shocking story of a persistently violent serial killer, dubbed 'a real-life boogeyman', and see the investigation which saw two police detectives adamant to catch him.

Crime Scene: The Times Square Killer

This three-part documentary delves into a police investigation surrounding a serial killer who exploited sex workers around Time Square. It shows how such danger and perversion in the late 1970s and 1980s was able to occur in a chaotic area, where drugs and sex work were widespread at the time.

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6 alternative and arty ways to discover Mexico City culture

Amid art deco architecture and Frida Kahlo’s creations, find Mexico City’s pre-Hispanic traditions and an Indigenous crafts scene.

Mexico’s sprawling capital is a gateway to the country’s Maya ruins, miles of beaches, rocky canyons and traditional Indigenous villages. But many travellers find the metropolis has an allure all of its own, and a handful of days can be well spent touring its neighbourhoods and historic centre. Mexico’s best museums are here, and its many galleries and markets help facilitate one of the strongest creative scenes in Latin America. Dig a little deeper to find the city’s pre-Hispanic roots, and discover how many customs are linked to the ancient Aztec and Maya civilisations.

1. Kayak the ancient canals of Xochimilco

Before the Spanish conquest in 1521, Mexico City, then called Tenochtitlán, was built on two small islands inside Lake Texcoco. The Aztecs built canals and floating farms called chinampas to feed its growing population. Today, all that remains of these ancient waterways are in Tláhuac and Xochimilco, a neighbourhood 15 miles south of Mexico City’s Centro Histórico. Flat-bottomed party boats called trajineras cruise Xochimilco’s canals daily, but a guided kayaking trip provides a more tranquil — and environmentally friendly — visit. Tours offer the chance to spot Xochimilco’s wildlife, including the critically endangered axolotl salamander and more than 200 bird species, while learning about the history and science behind chinampas, which still provide food for Mexico City residents.

2. Browse the Museo de Arte Popular

In the historic centre of Mexico City is the Museo de Arte Popular , a beautifully designed handicraft museum housed inside a 1920s art deco building. The museum, which once served as Mexico City’s fire department headquarters, celebrates traditional Mexican craft in all its forms, from textiles and pottery to children’s toys, furniture and giant alebrijes — mythical creatures made from wood or papier-mache. High-quality crafts from almost every Mexican state are displayed thematically over several floors, including ceramics from Jalisco, piñatas from Puebla and ceremonial masks from Chiapas. Particularly striking are the small but impressive Day of the Dead craft collection and the á rbol de la vida (tree of life) pieces – colourful, intricate clay sculptures depicting the creation of life.

3. Sip on pulque, the drink of the Aztec gods

Pulque is a drink made from the fermented sap of agave, the same plant used to make tequila and mezcal. It has been drunk for more than 2,000 years, making it Mexico’s oldest alcoholic beverage. During the Aztec empire, pulque was considered a sacred drink, reserved for gods, emperors and ceremonial events. The introduction of beer and distilled spirits by the Spanish in the 16th century marked the beginning of the end for pulque, with many of Mexico City’s pulquerias — taverns specialising in the drink — closing between the early 20th and 21st centuries. But a recent resurgence has seen several reopen across the city, making it one of the best places in Mexico to try the tipple. La Canica — a pulqueria in the Tabacalera neighbourhood run by a family that has been in the pulque business for five generations — takes a modern approach to the ancient drink, infusing freshly made pulque with dozens of seasonal flavours, from guava and mandarin to marzipan and toasted oats.

4. Try Mexico City’s ancient caviar

Ahuautle — which loosely translates to ‘seeds of joy’ in the ancient Nahuatl language and are also known as ‘water fly eggs’ — were sacred to the Aztecs. During the rainy season, a type of water fly called axayácatl would lay its eggs in Lake Texcoco. These were harvested for Aztec emperors and used as offerings to the gods. Montezuma, one of the last emperors of the Aztec empire, is said to have eaten them every morning to improve his strength. Hard to get hold of and up to four times more expensive a kilogram than beef, the eggs have been dubbed ahuautle , the ‘caviar’ of Mexico, by the capital’s chefs. Only a handful of restaurants in the capital still serve ahuautle, one of which is Ayluardo’s — in the Iztapalapa neighbourhood, in the east of Mexico City. It serves the water fly eggs — which taste intensely fishy, similar to dried shrimp — in pancakes with tomatillo (a bright green, acidic fruit native to Mexico) and serrano chilli sauce.

5. Support indigenous crafts at Mercado de Artesanías de la Ciudadela

Just a few minutes’ walk from Museo de Arte Popular is this hub for artisans, Mexico City’s largest and best arts and crafts market. It is home to 350 stands selling a huge variety of crafts, or artesanias in Spanish, from all over Mexico, including handblown glass from Jalisco, silver jewellery from Guerrero and patterned chaquira beadwork from Jalisco, crafted by the indigenous Huichol people. For beautiful ceremonial Mayan masks made of wood and obsidian, head to stand 104, where you’ll often see the craftspeople at work. Also seek out the artisans selling amate — colourful works painted on to paper made from the pulp of fig and mulberry trees; the same type of paper was once used by the ancient Aztecs and Mayas to produce manuscripts.

6. Experience Mexican folk dance at El Ballet Folklórico de México

Founded in 1952 by choreographer and dancer Amalia Hernández, Ballet Folklórico celebrates Mexico’s diverse folklore traditions through dance, music and traditional dress. The performances take audiences from Mexico’s ancient past up to the revolution in 1910, travelling through the states of Oaxaca, Jalisco, Sonora, Zacatecas, Guerrero and more. Many of the dances take inspiration from Mexico’s Indigenous cultures, such as the Deer Dance (a contemporary piece that depicts a pre-hunting ritual practised by the Indigenous people of Sonora and Sinaloa) and the Guelaguetza, a folkloric ballet inspired by the ceremonial dances of the Mixtec and Zapotec people of Oaxaca. Performances are held at the Palacio de Bellas Artes — a white-marbled, art nouveau palace commissioned by President Porfirio Díaz in 1905 — on Wednesdays at 8.30pm and Sundays at 9.30am and 8.30pm.

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UK celebrates 1st class of Ph.D. grads in arts administration

LEXINGTON, Ky. (May 2, 2024) — Tomorrow, the University of Kentucky will celebrate an inaugural cohort of five graduates from its doctoral program in arts administration — the first of its kind at UK and in the nation.

Launched in 2020 , the 46-hour graduate degree prepares students for careers in the arts and cultural sector, including state and local arts councils; federal, state and local government agencies; academic institutions; large arts organizations; economic and community development organizations; and thinktanks.

The online program offers the flexibility necessary for arts scholars to study in a rigorous degree program focused on field competencies and research methodologies. Rachel Shane , chair of the UK Department of Arts Administration in the College of Fine Arts, says the program also meets the needs of the growing arts and cultural sector which contributes over $1.1 trillion annually to the U.S. economy.

"I am overwhelmed with pride for the success of our first Ph.D. in arts administration graduates,” Shane said. “It's equally thrilling to see the culmination of eight years of tireless effort by our faculty in bringing this program to life. We meticulously designed the curriculum to provide the perfect balance of coursework on advanced arts and culture research and research methodologies. The decision to offer it entirely online has demonstrably increased accessibility for students across the country. This is a momentous occasion for the UK Department of Arts Administration, and I eagerly anticipate the future accomplishments of both this graduating class and those who follow." 

The first graduates of the program are all working professionals whose diverse backgrounds and experiences speak to the program’s ability to cater to a wide range of aspiring arts and culture researchers.

“I have no doubt our graduates will become leading voices in arts administration research,” Shane said. “Their work has the potential to unlock a deeper understanding of the arts' immense impact on our communities, and by extension, the economic fabric of our nation.”

Heather McDonald, one of the graduates, is an instructor of arts management and director of the music industry concentration at College of Charleston in South Carolina. She says the UK program offered everything she was looking for, with the bonus of being online.

“My goal was career advancement, but I found so much more,” McDonald said. “I quickly felt like I was part of this incredibly supportive community of scholarship with my peers and faculty mentors that respected my work and that actually challenged me to respect my own work — something I hadn't realized was a struggle for me. I can't wait to continue our work in the field for years to come. The impact the arts admin faculty has had on me has been life changing.”

Graduate Travis Newton, associate professor and chair of arts administration at Le Moyne College in Syracuse, New York, says it is an “absolute honor” to be part of this inaugural class.

“As a faculty member and department chair, this degree will provide me both theoretical and practical support as I continue my work as a leader, teacher and scholar,” he said.

Graduate Rebecca Ferrell, an assistant professor of arts management at College of Charleston, says the current state of arts administration in the U.S. often has artists working in administrative positions by “infrastructural default” — but this new degree is changing that.

“As someone who has lived this experience, the prospect of pursuing a more developed skill set outside of the self-taught model was beyond exciting,” she said. “Aside from the personal accomplishment I feel, this is also a milestone for the field itself, marking the recognition of arts administration as a stand-alone and important area of study worthy of doctoral-level inquiry. The research being conducted in the UK is paving the way for future scholars and practitioners in the arts and culture sector.”

And while they may be online students who live outside of Lexington, McDonald, Newton and Ferrell, along with Tiffini Bowers (assistant director of Special Collections for Art and Exhibitions at Brown University) and Toni Hobbs (director of digital and brand strategy at Morehead State University), are making the trip to Central Kentucky this week to receive their diplomas and be formally hooded as Doctors of Philosophy at UK’s May Commencement Ceremonies.

“I feel a blend of accomplishment and gratitude,” Ferrell said. “Being part of this inaugural cohort has been the highlight of my academic career, as I've had the opportunity to learn from the best scholars in arts administration, including both the professors at UK and my peers within the Ph.D. program.”

The UK Department of Arts Administration has a long history of pioneering online arts administration education. In 2013, the department was the first public university to launch a Master of Arts Administration entirely online. Shane says the Ph.D. is the latest step in their unwavering commitment to provide accessible, high-quality education for arts leaders.

“We believe this Ph.D. program fills a critical research gap within the academia, government, and arts and cultural industries,” she said. “We're excited to see how it shapes the future of arts administration."

Learn more about the program at https://finearts.uky.edu/arts-administration/arts-administration-phd .

Founded in 1987, the Department of Arts Administration at  UK College of Fine Arts  offers one of the most comprehensive curricula in the country. Dynamic and innovative, the department leads national and international initiatives in teaching, research, professional and community service to educate and inspire responsible arts leaders, artists and entrepreneurs.

As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.   

In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.   

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