Essentials Guide to London - Practicalities January 1 - New Year's Day Mar/Apr - Good Friday Mar/Apr - Easter Monday First Monday in May - May Day Bank Holiday Last Monday in May - Spring Bank Holiday Last Monday in August - Summer Bank Holiday Dec 25 - Christmas Day Dec 26 - Boxing Day Almost all attractions close on Christmas Day. On other holidays some attractions open, often with reduced hours. National Holidays are called Bank Holidays. Find out the dates for this year Find out about our National Days Festivals and other Special Days Pounds Sterling Find out more The United Kingdom has not yet joined the Euro but some stores do accept it, and there is a large number of banks and bureau de change outlets in London where you can cash travellers cheques and change currency. Cash points (ATMs) are widely available You can ask for 'Cashback' when making purchases with a debit card at supermarkets. Banking hours officially 09:30-15:30, but most banks open usually till about 17:00. Changing Money English is spoken everywhere. Hotels Taxis
Stereotypes of the English Definition: A stereotype is "...a fixed, over generalised belief about a particular group or class of people.” (Cardwell, 1996). In other words stereotyping is believing that people of a certain group, race or religion all have the same characteristics when they don't. Learning from the media and talking to older people, we pick up a lot of stereotypes about other nations. In every country there are plenty of stereotypes about residents, some maybe true but most of them are untrue and very wrongful. This page looks at stereotypes of the English and what people around the world see as the stereotypes of the English. Mine are fish and chips, rolling hills and sarcasm (click here for a definition of sarcasm) The most common image people have of a typical Englishman is a man wearing a bowler hat and reading the Times newspaper. "Men wearing bowler hats, a pin striped suit, a newspaper under the arm and carrying a long unopen umbrella." Bowler hats are very rarely seen in England today.