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Climate The British weather is quite moderate.  In general the summers are not too hot, and the winters not too cold.  Days are short in the middle of winter; it gets dark before 4pm in December. In the middle of summer the days are much longer as it remains light until after 10pm in June.  There is usually more rain in the west of the country, and more sunshine in the south.  The weather is pleasant enough for studying or working especially between the spring and autumn. Visitors to Britain will rarely experience severe weather for long and they should be prepared for rapid changes of weather at all seasons, and recognize that there is good reason for weather being a major talking point! A word of advice is to always carry an umbrella! Culture Diversity: There is a wide mix of cultures in the UK.  In London there are communities from most parts of the world. Tolerance: British people are tolerant to different nationalities, and respect the freedom to have different opinions and beliefs. Freedom: People usually feel free the express their own opinions and wear what they want. Don’t expect people to agree with you all of the time. Humour: British people have a strong sense of humour, but it can be hard for people of other nationalities to understand when someone is joking. Cautiousness: People often avoid talking to strangers until they have been introduced partly to avoid any possible embarrassment. Creativity: Individual ideas are encouraged.  Arts and music are creative. British people are often not as good at working as a group. Modesty: People are quite modest.  They do not like to complain directly: life is peaceful, but when there is poor service it is not challenged and changed! Travel Agents http://www.enjoyengland.com There are 560 Tourist Information Centres operating throughout England. They are staffed by local people who understand visitors’ needs and expectations. They can give information and advice on places to visit, events, accommodation and local transport systems. Acommodation Many colleges or universities rent out student rooms during student holiday, especially during the Easter, summer and winter holidays.   http://www.accommodationforstudents.com There are also letting agencies located in most towns and cities that will help with long term leases and lets for a stay of 6 months or more. http://www.upmystreet.com Hostels are situated in many towns were it can be quite cheap to rent a room. http://www.yha.org.uk Generally the cost of accommodation and food in the UK can be quite high. Public Transport You can travel around the UK easily by train, http://www.thetrainline.com and bus http://www.nationalexpress.com  & http://www.megabus.com although the services are not always very efficient.  It is usually not necessary to have a car as the county is quite small; it is easy to access other parts of the UK. The UK is close to the many different countries of continental Europe. It is possible to fly, for a reasonable price from the main London airports to other areas in the UK. http://www3.flybe.com Insurance You can have free treatment from the National Health Service if you are from the European Economic area or Switzerland, or if you are from a country which has a ‘bilateral healthcare agreement’ with the UK, a list of the countries covered by these agreements is available on http://www.dh.gov.uk  To be able to obtain free NHS treatment, you need to register with a doctor.  You can then register with a dentist who accepts NHS patients, (check ups and treatment are not free but cheaper than if you are accepted as a private patient) Eye check-ups are also charged for.  Even if you obtain free treatment from the NHS, you will still have to pay for medicines. (Prescription charges) If you cannot receive free treatment from the NHS, then you should buy health insurance before you arrive in the UK. Important telephone numbers The police, ambulance service, fire department and the coastguard can all be reached by dialling 999. The UK is a relatively safe country. The police do not usually carry guns, and there are strict controls on the ownership of weapons.  There are not many insects, snakes or dangerous animals in the UK.  There is very little risk of earthquakes, hurricanes or other natural disasters, although flooding sometimes occurs in low areas.  To call the UK from abroad the dialling code is +44. Language Courses Before going to England you might want to take some language courses. You could also decide to take an evening course during your internship. Whichever option you choose, we advise you to ask your employer what he can do for you. It is also recommendable to contact the nearest university. Universities always have language courses for their exchange students.   You can find more useful information about language schools on the following websites: http://www.englishinbritain.co.uk/ http://www.londonac.co.uk/ http://www.kings-group.co.uk/