Culture of England

England is the most populous and significant country of the United Kingdom with over 51 million residents. It includes over 100 smaller islands, such as the Isle of Wight, in addition to its mainland. 

Architecture

England’s history is a long and complex one. This heritage is perpetuated as we consider the architecture through the ages, much of which remains as a testimony to the people and events that moulded the nation’s rich heritage. There are remnants of this architecture from ancient Druidic times (e.g. Stonehenge) and Roman occupation (e.g. the Roman Baths), right through the Victorian  and Early English phases to the modern look and feel of the 21st century. Each design era exudes its own signature styles and an undeniable air of intrigue, despite being very different from one another.

    Stonehenge

     the Roman Baths

    Early morning lights up the top of Big Ben across the Thames River.

     London Bridge 

   London Eye

      Wells Cathedral 

Cuisine

Modern English cuisine is difficult to differentiate fro  British cuisine as a whole. However, there are some forms of cuisine considered distinctively English. The Full English Breakfast is a variant  of the traditional British fried breakfast. Besides that, tea and beer are typical and rather iconic drinks in England.Traditionally, High Tea would be had as a separate meal. Moreover, roast beef is a food traditionally associated with the English. 

A full English breakfast with scrambled eggs, sausage, black pudding, bacon, mushrooms, baked beans, hash browns, and half a tomato.

High tea set

Roast beef

Sport

Popular team sports in England are association football, cricket, rugby union and rugby league. Major individual sports include badminton, tennis, athletics, golf and horse racing.

Football

Cricket

Rugby

Horse racing

Language

English people traditionally speak the English language, a member of the West Germanic language family. The modern English language evolved from Old English, with lexical influence from Norman-French, Latin, and Old Norse.

Language resources in England:

 Helpful Phrases

Bloody: a swear word, similar to the American 'damn' but a bit stronger. *
Bugger: similar to the American 'damn!' Can also be used as 'bugger all' meaning 'nothing'.
Chat Up: flirt with, come on to.
Coach: bus.
Crisps: potato chips.
Fag: cigarette.
Fanny: in the UK 'fanny' refers to female genitalia. *
Football: soccer. Football is called 'American football.'
Jumper: sweater.
Knackered: tired, worn out.
Knickers: women's underwear.
Lorry: truck/18 wheeler.
Nutter: crazy person. Ex. "He's acting like a nutter!"
Pants: in the UK, 'pants' refer to underwear. So be wary of using 'pants' to describe your 'trousers'.
Petrol: gasoline.
Pissed: drunk.
Quid: a pound (£) in currency.
Smart: fashionable/chic.
Snog: to kiss.
Sod Off: get lost.
Uni: university.
Wanker: jerk.*
*You shouldn't use those marked "*" with people you don't know!

Prepared by : Choo Jwo Yin