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Food & Drink
Good English cooking is superb and there are some restaurants specialising in old English dishes. In general, the north of the country tends to offer more substantial and traditional food, at more reasonable prices than the south. Every region, however, will have its own speciality; these include roast beef and Yorkshire pudding, game or venison pies, rack of lamb and many fish dishes. Britain is still the home of puddings: apple crumble (slices of cooked apple with sweet crumble); spotted dick (suet pudding with currants and raisins); and syllabub (a Medieval dish consisting of double cream, white wine and lemon juice). The English cream tea is still served in tea rooms, particularly in south-coast seaside resorts. It generally consists of scones, jam, butter, clotted or double cream and, of course, tea. There are many regional varieties in baking: the flat pancake-type scones of the North of England and Scotland; Scottish black bun, a fruit cake on a pastry base; Bakewell tart, a pastry base covered with jam, almond filling and topped with icing; and breads of all description. For those who want variety, London and the larger cities offer every type of ethnic food imaginable, Chinese and Indian being particularly popular and good value for money. Cheddar and Stilton are the most famous British cheeses. Tipping is not compulsory and it is up to the individual whether to pay the 10 to 12 per cent service charge often added automatically to bills. Table service is usual but there are self-service snack bars. Set-price lunches, especially on Sundays, with a choice of about three dishes, are particularly good value, as is pub food.
The British pub is nothing short of a national institution and even the smallest village in the remotest corner of the country will usually have at least one. There are about as many beers in England as there are cheeses in France and the recent revival of real ale has greatly improved the range and qualities of brews available. Look out for the sign ‘Free House’ outside a pub, meaning that beer from more than one brewery will be sold there. Bitter and lager are the most popular beers, but stout, pale ale, brown ale and cider are also widely drunk. Wine bars and cocktail bars are now common in the larger cities and towns, and the latter will often have a ‘happy hour’ (when prices are reduced) in the early evening. Under 18s will not be served alcohol and children under 16 are not generally allowed into pubs, although they may sit in the garden. Licensing hours vary between towns, but many pubs, especially in main centres, are open typically 1100-2300; the visitor should not be surprised, however, if they find a pub closing for a period in the afternoon. On Sunday, hours are 1200-2230. Private clubs often have an extension into the early hours.

Nightlife
The main cities, London in particular, have a vast range to choose from: theatre (including open-air in the summer), opera, ballet, concerts, films, restaurants, nightclubs and discos, as well as, of course, pubs. The weekly magazine, Time Out, publishes a comprehensive guide to events in the capital.

Shopping
Woollen and woven goods such as Harris Tweeds are famous. Printed cottons and silks are to be found, as well as fashionable ready-made clothes. China and porcelain Wedgwood, Crown Derby, Royal Doulton and Royal Worcester are good buys, as are luxury food and chocolates. Antiques are to be found all over the country. In London, Charing Cross Road is famous for bookshops, and there are several street markets: Petticoat Lane for clothes and Bermondsey for antiques, to name just two. Tax-Free Shopping: Many shops throughout the country now operate a tax-free shopping scheme for overseas visitors. The store will provide a form that should be completed at the time of purchase. Upon arrival at Customs, present the goods and the forms (within three months) to the Customs Officer, who will stamp the vouchers certifying that the goods are being exported, and that you will be entitled to a refund of Value Added Tax (VAT). For further information, contact the British Tourist Office which will be able to supply details. Shopping hours: In major cities, Mon-Sat 0900-1730; in London’s West End and other large shopping centres, shops stay open to 2000. Many local shops stay open to 1900 or 2000 and some even later; many of these are open on Sunday morning or all day. Larger shops will open Sun 1000-1600. Some towns and areas of cities may have early closing one day a week, usually Wednesday or Thursday.

Special Events
For a complete list, contact the British Tourist Board. The following is a selection of special events occurring in England in 2005:
Jan 6-16 London International Boat Show, London. Jan 13-16 West London Antiques and Fine Arts Fair, Kensington, London. Jan 15-16 Motorbike 2005 (motorbike show), Spalding, Lincolnshire. Feb 11-20 Comedy Festival 2005, Leicester. Feb 13-17 London Fashion Week. Mar 10-13 Crufts 2005 (dog show), Birmingham. Mar 14-16 London Book Fair, Hammersmith, London. Mar 28 Easter Egg Roll, Hampshire; Head of the River Race (Oxford and Cambridge Boat Race), London. Apr 17 Flora London Marathon. May 1 May Day Celebrations (traditional event), Lustleigh, Devon. May 7-29 Brighton Festival (the largest arts festival in England). May 12-15 Royal Windsor Horse Show, Windsor. May 24-28 Chelsea Flower Show, London. Jun 3-4 Keswick Beer Festival, Keswick, Cumbria. Jun 3-5 Dickens Festival, Rochester. Jun 11 Trooping the Colour (official birthday parade of the Queen), London. Jun 20-Jul 3 Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships, London. Jun 22-26 Glastonbury Festival (open-air music festival), Glastonbury. Jun 27-Jul 13 City of London Festival. Jul 5-10 Hampton Court Palace Flower Show, Greater London. Jul 30-Aug 6 Cowes Week 2005 (yacht-racing regatta on The Solent), Isle of Wight. Aug 29-Sep 1 International Beatles Festival, Liverpool. Aug 28-29 Notting Hill Carnival (West Indian street carnival), London. Nov 5 Guy Fawkes (bonfires and fireworks), nationwide. Nov 12 Lord Mayor’s Show (parade), London. Dec 3-4 City of Durham Christmas Festival. Dec 31 New Year’s Eve Celebrations, nationwide.