Leisure

For people from the middle class and working class, weekends are usually family time or time to catch up on household chores. Common activities out of the house are shopping, gardening, watching or playing sport, going to a pub or restaurant, going for walk, or visiting relatives or friends.

For the upper-middle class and upper class, weekends are usually more social. They might stay with friends ‘in the country’ (rural areas), take part in country sports or go abroad. Sometimes this will be with children, but often it is without. Many people from these classes send their children away to boarding school.

If you don’t have family nearby, it can be difficult to find people to do things with at weekends. To meet people, many people in Britain volunteer with a charity. Others support a local sports team or join a local activity group.

The most popular leisure activity in Britain is watching TV. But out of the house, people enjoy ‘going for a walk’ (often with a dog), eating in cafes and restaurants, and visiting places.

These activities are so popular, it is unusual to find public open spaces without some type of café, even if it is just a small area of woodland.

• Read more about places to walk on our blog page.

Volunteering is a really good way to meet people and make friends, as well as helping others. Data from 2017/18 shows that over 30% of the British population volunteer at least once a month, while millions more do it less often.

Most people volunteer in sports groups, but there are many other options. Examples are helping with conservation work, visiting the elderly, driving people to shops or hospitals, helping in schools, helping at cultural sites or making drinks at community events.

While most people are allowed to volunteer, be aware that if you have a role with a contract or which is a key part of a charity’s purpose, this would usually be classed as ‘voluntary work’ and subject to the same visa restrictions as paid work. There might also be restrictions if you receive government benefits (state support payments). Voluntary work can include fundraising or helping in a charity shop.

• The Do It website lists many roles. If are an expert in a particular subject (for example, medicine, IT, finance, law, climbing or sailing), you may be able to help beyond practical tasks.
• It is also possible to exercise and volunteer at the same time! See the Goodgym website.

There are so many exciting things to do in Britain, including music, theatre, art, sport and many indoor or outdoor activities.

• For general ideas, try the TripAdvisor website.
• In London, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds or Manchester, go to the TimeOut website for ideas.
• If you have children, try the website Day Out With The Kids.
• For discounted visits to nearby places and restaurants, try the Groupon website.

There are about 42,000 church buildings in Britain. Some are over 1,000 years old.

St Paul’s Cathedral in London is the most famous cathedral in Britain, but there are many others that are just as interesting, including Durham, Lincoln, Gloucester, Canterbury and York. You might have to pay to go inside (it is free to go to services).

Many churches are open during the day and welcome visitors. For information about some of the most interesting churches, see the National Churches Trust website.

MORE INFORMATION: Every year in September, there is a sponsored event called ‘Ride & Stride’ where people walk or cycle between different churches in an area to raise money for them. It’s a fun way to see lots of churches and meet people. See the Ride & Stride website.

Britain is covered with historic houses and sites. Some charge an entrance fee, but some are free. Read our blog posts about country houses and castles to find out more about their history.

There are many different organisations that run historic properties. This list is a good place to start.

• One of the main organisations is the National Trust. It is a charity in England, Wales and Northern Ireland that looks after a lot of our history. Today it owns over 300 historic buildings, including some of the places used in Game of Thrones and films like The Dark Knight Rises. It also owns hundreds of beautiful gardens, 775 miles of coastline and 618,000 acres of land. Go to the National Trust website.
• In Scotland there is a similar charity, called the National Trust for Scotland. Go to the National Trust for Scotland website.
• Another charity is English Heritage, which owns over 400, houses, castles and historic sites (like Stonehenge or Roman ruins). Go to the English Heritage website.
• In Scotland, Historic Environment Scotland owns many interesting places. Go to the Historic Environment Scotland website.
• In Wales, the heritage service is called Cadw. Go to the Cadw website.

• Over 300 privately-owned houses, castles and gardens are part of the Historic Houses Association and are available to visit. This includes Alnwick Castle in Northumberland (Hogwarts in Harry Potter). Go to the Historic Houses website.
• For a few days each September, you can visit many buildings that are not usually open to the public as part of the Heritage Open Days festival. To find places near you, see the Heritage Open Days website.

Britain is the country where steam trains were first invented. 100 years ago, Britain had a much bigger railway network than it does today. There were also over 1,000 special narrow train lines for carrying items like coal, sand or slate.

Today, volunteers run some of these ‘heritage trains’ and they are a fun place to visit. Over 8 million people visit these railways each year. Some railways use diesel engines, others have steam engines.

Heritage Railways is useful website shows all 181 heritage railways and trams in the UK. It also gives information about events. Go the to Heritage Railways website.

There are also special steam train days out, using the national rail network. Many are themed or include restaurant meals in vintage carriages. The Railway Touring website gives details.

There are many events and museums that focus on classic and vintage cars. If you are interested in cars, it is a good way to make friends and perhaps find cars to buy! Be aware that it is not legal to drive some types of vintage/classic cars on a public road.

Events:

• Goodwood Revival: Race meeting held in period clothing from the 1940s-60s.
• The Classic Car Events website has a list of other events around the UK.

Museums:

• National Motor Museum, Beaulieu, Hampshire
• Lakeland Motor Museum, Ulverston, Cumbria
• British Motor Museum, Gaydon, Warwickshire

If you need very easy flat places to visit because you use a mobility scooter or wheelchair, try the Tourism For All website. It has a list of places and hotels that you can search to fit your exact needs.

For more general visits, try the Accessible Countryside for Everyone website. It has a list of public footpaths and other public places that should be suitable.

If you want to join other walkers or hikers, a charity called Ramblers is good. Go to the Ramblers website for more information.

If you are interested in really long walks, the Long Distance Walking Association website offers social walks. Its website also has lists of long trails. Some are more than 500km (343 miles) long.

If you need very easy flat places because you use a mobility scooter or wheelchair, the website Accessible Countryside for Everyone can help. It has a list of public footpaths and other public places that should be suitable.

National Parks

The UK has 15 National Parks, including Dartmoor, the Cairngorms and Snowdonia. They cover 10% of the UK and are free to visit. National Parks are protected landscapes with special cultural or environmental importance. Many people and rare animals live within their boundaries. See the National Parks website for more information.

Nature Reserves

Nature reserves are sites where wildlife is protected. Some are privately owned, others are owned by charities or local councils. There are also some National Nature Reserves (NNRs).

• NNRs in England and Wales: Go to the main government website.
• NNRs in Scotland: Go to the Scottish NNR website.

You can also find nature reserves managed by these organisations:

• Wildlife Trusts website
• RSPB website (Royal Society for Protection of Birds)

As a general rule, it is against the law to have an open fire or barbecue (BBQ) in any area of the countryside, woodland, parks or open spaces. However, some parks and national parks do have special areas where fires and BBQs are allowed (look for signs).

The rule is because many parts of the UK are surprisingly dry, so wildfires can start easily, even in colder months. It also helps to keep the countryside beautiful for everyone.

Many areas of Britain are brightly lit at night so it is difficult to see the stars. There are areas that are still very dark at night and where it is possible to see the Milky Way.

Of the world’s 21 International Dark Sky Reserves in 2023, 7 were in Britain – the Brecon Beacons, Exmoor, Cranborne Chase, North York Moors, Yorkshire Dales, Snowdonia and the South Downs. Read more on the National Parks website.

There are 6 International Dark Sky Parks (West Penwith, Galloway, Bodmin Moor, Elan Valley, Northumberland and Tomintoul & Glenlivet). Northumberland has the largest area of protected night sky in Europe, 1,483 sq km (572 sq miles). See the Northumberland National Park website for more information.

There is also a Dark Sky Sanctuary (the highest category) at Ynys Enlli, a tiny island off the coast of Wales.

AONB means ‘Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’. These are protected areas in England and Wales, similar to national parks. In Scotland, they are called National Scenic Areas.

To find AONB or National Scenic Areas, see these websites:

• England & Wales: the National Association of AONB
• Scotland: The main Scottish government website.

Sometimes you will see ‘SSSI’ talked about or marked on a map. An SSSI is a Site of Specific Scientific Interest – it is a place protected by law because of its special animals, plants or rocks.

Call 999 or 112 on your phone. You will need to explain what has gone wrong and where you are. The right emergency team will be sent out to help you. If you are in the mountains, you can ask for Mountain Rescue. If you are in a cave or mine, you can ask for Cave Rescue.

Many specialist emergency services are charities and rely on money from donations. This includes emergency helicopters, Mountain Rescue, Cave Rescue and the RNLI (the lifeboat service). Many are staffed by volunteers.

It does not cost anything to have emergency help, but it is against the law to call for help if you do not need it.

MORE INFORMATION: If you are going into an unfamiliar place, consider downloading the what3words app. This is a simple way of explaining your exact coordinates so people can find you in an emergency.

Britain has lots of different kinds of beach. Some have golden sand. Others have lots of small stones (‘pebbles’). Some have big cliffs. Some have big rocks. Some have lots of fossils. Sometimes one beach is very different from the beach next to it! Different people prefer different kinds of beach, depending on what they like to do.

If you plan to swim, look for Blue Flag beaches. This means the water is clean and there are toilets and lifeguards. This website shows which beaches are Blue Flag beaches.

• The Blue Flag website lists Blue Flag beaches across Britain.
• The Beach Guide website has a guide to British beaches.
• You can check water quality on the main government website.

On most British beaches, the sea water is clean, but even on clean beaches be aware that sewage can flood into the sea after very heavy rainfall.

Even clean water can be dangerous around Britain. This is because it may be very cold or deep. There can also be rip tides that pull swimmers out to sea. The best beaches have a lifeguard on duty.

Sometimes it is difficult to swim because of the wind. Do not go into the water if it is very windy. Never swim if you see a red flag. In 2016, 12 people drowned at the beach during one week in August.

The water level on Britain’s beaches changes throughout the day, getting higher and lower. This makes the beach partly or completely disappear under water. It is caused by the tides.

There are two ‘high tides’ (where the water is at its highest) and two ‘low tides’.

The water level can change very quickly on some beaches. You can die by becoming trapped against cliffs or pulled out to sea by the water.

Tide times change every day and depend on the beach you are visiting. Tide timetables are available on the Tide Times website.

‘Rip currents’ or ‘rip tides’ are narrow streams of water that flow faster than the water around them. They can take people out to sea, where they might drown.

Do not to try to swim against a rip current because you will get too tired. Instead try to stand, or swim with the shore on one side until you don’t feel the current pulling you any more.

When the sea level is unusually high it is called a ‘spring tide’, which may also cause flooding. When the water is unusually low it is called a ‘neap tide’. Spring tides and neap tides happen about once a month, depending on the position of the moon.

Tide times change every day and depend on the beach you are visiting. Tide timetables are available on the Tide Times website.

There are some dangerous animals and fish in the UK, but it is rare for people to be hurt. The biggest danger in British water is drowning, not animals.

• The most common stings are from jellyfish (though the Moon Jellyfish (Aurita aurita) is harmless).
• It is a good idea to wear shoes on the beach because of the Weever fish (Echiichthys vipera). It hides in sand and if you tread on its spikes in bare feet, it is very, very painful. Sometimes the sting can get infected or you might have an allergic reaction. Go to a doctor.
• If you are stung by the Common Sting Ray (Dasyatis pastinaca) it is more dangerous. You should ring the emergency number 999 and ask for an ambulance.
• You won’t find any dangerous sharks if you swim near the beach.

There is no charge to ring the 999 emergency number and no charge for emergency medical treatment.

Over the age of 10, it is rare to see anyone topless or naked on the beach. Women might remove their top while they are lying face down, but it is unusual to see a woman with exposed breasts.

Being naked could be considered illegal on most beaches. If you like to be naked, there are special nudist (also known as ‘naturist’) beaches around the country.

MORE INFORMATION: Don’t get ‘naturist’ (another word for nudist) confused with ‘naturalist’ (a word for people who study wildlife).

Yes. A fun way is to pay to go on a fishing trip (mackerel fishing is always good). You can also fish from the beach or a pier in most parts of the country.

Be aware that you can only keep 1 bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) a day. Bass shorter than 42cm must be put back alive. Eels (Anguilla anguilla) and two types of shad (Alosa alosa and Alosa fallax) must be put back in the water alive.

See the Seafishing website for more information about sea fishing.

Call 999 or 112 on your phone. If the emergency is on land (beach, cliffs or mud), ask for the Coastguard. If it is in the water, ask for the Lifeboats (RNLI). You can ask for police, ambulances and/or fire engines too.

It does not cost anything to have emergency help, but it is against the law to call for help if you do not need it.

The RNLI is a charity and does not get money from the government. It uses volunteers and donations from the public instead.

If you are going into an unfamiliar place, consider downloading the What3words app. This is a simple way of explaining your exact coordinates so people can find you in an emergency.

Do not touch it. If it is alive, stay away from the tail because it could hit you. There is a special emergency telephone number, 0800 652 0333. You will need to provide information about where you are.

These are most important national calendar dates across the year. Many come from Christian festivals.

Many communities also celebrate non-Christian festivals like Chinese New Year, Diwali, Hannukah, Eid al-Fitr, Eid ul Adha and Vaisakhi.

January 1: New Year’s Day: a public holiday

January 2: public holiday in Scotland

February/March (date moves each year): Pancake Day. Officially known as Shrove Tuesday, it is the last day before Lent (a Christian time of fasting)

February 14: St Valentine’s Day. People send cards (and maybe flowers) to their partners. They might also arrange a romantic evening with them

March (Sunday; date moves each year): Mothering Sunday, also known as Mothers’ Day. A time to do nice things for your mother. For Christians, a time to celebrate their ‘Mother Church’. Be aware this is different to Mothers’ Day in most other countries, which is held in May.

March 1: St David’s Day, patron saint of Wales. Celebrated by Welsh communities

March 17: St Patrick’s Day, patron saint of Ireland. Celebrated by Irish communities (and many others)

March/April (Sunday; date moves each year): Easter. People celebrate with spring-themed decorations and chocolate eggs. Some people go to church to remember Jesus Christ being killed and rising from the dead. There are two public holidays: Good Friday and Easter Monday

April 1: April Fool’s Day. There is a tradition of playing silly jokes on your friends (but only before 12pm). Newspapers often publish a joke story.

April 23: St George’s Day. English patron saint. Rarely celebrated

May (first Monday): Early May Bank Holiday: a public holiday

May (last Monday): Spring Bank Holiday: a public holiday

June (Sunday; date moves each year): Fathers’ Day. A time to do nice things for your father

August (first Monday): Summer Bank Holiday (Scotland): public holiday in Scotland

August (last Monday): Summer Bank Holiday (England): A public holiday in England

October 31: Hallowe’en. Originally a Celtic festival marking the start of winter, today people celebrate with spooky costumes and sweets.

November 5: Fireworks Night or Bonfire Night. People remember when a man called Guy Fawkes tried (and failed) to blow up the Houses of Parliament in 1605. People celebrate with bonfires and fireworks, or they go to an organised fireworks display.

November 11: Remembrance Day or Armistice Day. People wear poppies to remember those killed by war. The second Sunday of the month is called Remembrance Sunday and there are events across the country

November 30: St Andrew’s Day, patron saint of Scotland. A public holiday in Scotland

December 25: Christmas Day. A public holiday. People give each other presents.

December 26: Boxing Day: A public holiday. Many people go shopping because there are lots of discounts.

December 31: New Year’s Eve (called Hogmanay in Scotland): a night of celebrations and fireworks for the coming of the new year. Edinburgh and London have the biggest celebrations.

Bank holidays are the name given to many public holidays because they are days when the banks are shut. If a public holiday (for example Christmas Day) falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the following Monday becomes a bank holiday.

Each year there are usually here are 8 public holidays in England and Wales. There are 9 in Scotland.

See a list of bank holidays on the main government website.

At Halloween (October 31), children go out and knock on doors in the neighbourhood and say ‘Trick or Treat’ (meaning ‘please give something nice or something bad will happen’).

In most places, it is a gentle community event. Between about 17.00 and 20.00, local young children go out in costumes. People leave a carved, lit pumpkin outside their house as a symbol of welcome. Children know to knock at these houses.

In some areas, it is not so much fun and some people throw flour or eggs at houses. This is becoming less common.

If you don’t want to take part, don’t have any Halloween decorations on show, keep your house dark and don’t answer the door.

A fete (pronounced ‘fayt’) is a traditional community event. Most villages have one each year, usually in summer. This includes villages that are now part of a city – Kennington in London, for example. Money raised is given to a charity or used within the village.

Good village fetes have a variety of traditional foods and stalls selling plants, cakes, jams, old books and second-hand items (often called ‘bric-a-brac’ or ‘white elephant’); local crafts; dancing; some games; a raffle; and a tombola (a game where you win a small prize if you choose a number ending in 0 or 5).

Sometimes churches or hospitals organize a fete to raise money. Christmas fetes are also common.

There is a subtle difference between a fayre and a fair.

Fayres are usually something quite traditional, probably lasting a few hours or maybe a day. It can be the same as a fete – like a village fayre or church fayre.

Fairs are usually bigger events that usually go on for more than one day. To make things more confusing, some people use the word ‘show’!

Most are interesting for the whole family. Of course, some are better than others.

• A May Fayre (a traditional spring festival) is usually a mix of games, funfair and stalls. Sometimes there is traditional dancing too. It probably lasts for 1 day, at most.
• A County Fair (or County Show) is a big annual agricultural event focusing on farming in the county. It often runs for several days.
• A Game Fair is focused on countryside sports (hunting/shooting/fishing).
• A Country Fair is an event that highlights many traditional crafts and products.
• A Craft Fayre is usually a way to buy homemade things from local people (like cards, jam, knitted objects, wooden objects etc).
• A Funfair has rides and stalls. It is often a travelling attraction.

Most towns in Britain have a carnival – a procession of people in costume and decorated vehicles (called ‘floats’). There will usually also be a funfair, stalls and games in the town centre. Sometimes the events take place over a whole weekend. Carnivals are usually held in the summer months.

The most famous carnival is the Notting Hill Carnival in London. It is held every year at the end of August.

A ‘coffee morning’ is an informal community event that raises money for a charity. You can buy tea, coffee and homemade cake. Sometimes you can also buy plants or small second-hand items. Coffee mornings are a good way to meet local people.

A barn dance is a traditional folk dancing event, but it is rare for it to be in a barn! Barn dances are a lot of fun.

It does not matter if you don’t know the dances, because many British people do not know them either. A ‘caller’ shouts instructions, or you can copy others. Most people get the dance moves wrong, but this is part of the fun. There will be drinks for sale and sometimes food is served.

A Ceilidh (pronounced ‘kay-lee’) is a Scottish social event with traditional dances and a caller, similar to a barn dance. They are very popular in Scotland and sometimes can be found in other parts of the country as well. New people are always welcome.

In winter, most theatres do a pantomime, sometimes simply called a ‘panto’.

A pantomime is a play based on a traditional folk tale or fairy tale (like ‘Dick Whittington’ or ‘Sleeping Beauty’). There will be crazy costumes, songs, stupid jokes, dancing and probably sprayed water as well!

There are some traditions that all pantomimes have. For example, the male main character will be played by a young woman. There will also be an older female character played by a man wearing a series of bright and silly costumes. The audience is also expected to join in, shouting out “it’s behind you!” and “oh no it isn’t!” at certain times.

As a guide, the price you see is the price you pay. However, there are some situations when it is socially acceptable to haggle. These are mostly in places selling second-hand items, for example antique shops, markets or car boot sales (but not charity shops). The way to do this is to say: “what’s your best price?”.

You could also try to get a deal if you are buying something very expensive, for example a new car, kitchen or holiday.

You should definitely ask for a discount when buying services like insurance, mobile phone contracts or car breakdown cover.

It is common for people to look round shops quietly. This is usually because if we start talking to the shop assistant, it could make us feel we had to buy something.

This is especially true in a small gift shop or clothes shop.

It is fine to say hello if you want to, but it is also OK to say nothing.

Many town centres and shopping centres offer wheelchair hire and sometimes mobility scooter hire. It is often free. You usually need to book in advance.

This is a useful service not just for disabled or elderly people, but also anyone who is having trouble walking (for example after an operation or because of an injured leg). Search online for ‘shopmobility’ near you.

If you need help travelling to the shops because you can’t use public transport and don’t have a car, search the internet for ‘Dial-a-Ride’ services near you. These services offer door-to-door transport.

Trading laws only allow big stores to sell items for up to 6 hours on Sundays. Some stores open longer by having ‘browsing time’ in the morning when you can look, but not buy.

Big stores are not allowed to open on Easter Sunday or Christmas Day.

Most online shops have a review section, which can be very useful. But if you want a product that has been properly tested, try the website called Which? It is an independent organisation that helps people make the right choice. To get access to product reviews and its magazine, you need to join (which costs about £10 a month). Sometimes there are special offers for the first month. The Consumer Rights section is free.

These are the basic rights you have by law when you buy a product or service. These include the quality of the product or service, the right to compensation if you get injured by it, and the kind of information you should get when you buy something.

Be aware that if you pay on a credit card, you have extra protection if you need to get your money back for something. If a seller or trader has gone bankrupt (or they won’t answer you) you can claim the money back from your credit card company instead.

The independent organization called Which? has a free Consumer Rights section, which explains all your rights in more detail. Go to the Which? website.

It is rare to see a £50 note in Britain. In fact, many people have never seen one! £50 notes are only really used by foreign visitors (who have changed their money abroad) or people using a lot of cash (possible criminals). There are also many fake £50 notes.

The link with criminals means that a lot of shops will not take them.

If you have £50 notes, it is best to get them changed at a bank into smaller notes.