Tips and Tricks

My basics to living in London

One of the things you don’t exactly think about when studying abroad is the fact that you won’t recognize the shops and brands that are staples in that countries everyday life. I had no idea what a digestive was, if cocktail flavored crisps were actual seafood, or even where to buy shampoo. While I’m not exactly saying that after 6 weeks here I am now a Londoner extraordinaire, I have learned to successfully navigate the everyday here in London and the UK. Here’s some of what you need to know about daily life in the here:

1. Sainsbury, Testco, and Waitrose: These are your grocery chains here in the UK! One of the interesting things about living in London vs. a US city (or even College Park) is that food desert scenarios have been avoided by placing mini grocery stores on just about every street. While they’re smaller and carry a smaller selection, they have just about everything you need. I typically find that if you cannot find something in particular in one store, you can just head down a few blocks to another store and find what you were looking for! However it’s important to note that here in the UK, in order to cut down on the environmental footprint of the country, plastic bags cost 5 pence each. Instead of buying a new bag every time I go shopping, I choose to invest in 2 bags and then reuse them every time I go.
2. Digestive Biscuits: Slightly misleading in name, nothing in these biscuits is going to help your digestive track. This is actually just a wheat cookie typically with a layer of chocolate overtop, but there are a few variations with fruit or oats. Simple in creation, addictive in consumption. I’ve likely been through 7 rolls of these during my time abroad, and I’m not likely to stop anytime soon!
3. Pubs: Going out for dinner? You can bet that the best place to get a taste of British culture is a pub! There’s practically one around every corner, so finding one is certainly no challenge. Here you can try classics like fish and chips, bangers and mash, and Yorkshire pudding. Some days are better than others to go to the pub, so check the football and rugby schedules before you go to see what’s on!
4. Oyster Card: Specific to London, this is your ticket to the entire public transport system. Similar to a Smarttrip card back in D.C., this card works on a contactless system where you load it up with money and it’s then deducted each time you use a mode of transportation. It’s cheapest to take the bus at £50, while the tube is £2.50 but allows you to switch lines for no additional charge. In order to most efficiently use the London transport system, make sure you download the CityMapper app. CityMapper lets you put in where you’re going and then responds with all of the routes to get you wehre you want to go. HUGE time saver!
5. Prawn Cocktail Crisps: After running across this flavor of chip in the grocery store several times, curiosity finally got the best of me. The packaging alludes to the idea of shrimp cocktail, however the actual taste is comparable to salsa. It seems to be the British twist on the Maryland obsession with Old Bay, but their still tasty and worth a try!
6. “Cheers”: It’s not just for celebrations! Here in the UK, “Cheers” to a common replacement for “Thank you”, “Enjoy”, or “Good bye”. It’s definitely more common in the countryside than in London, but it all depends who you interact with. Should someone say it to you, just respond with “Cheers”, you’ll blend in with the locals (as long as you don’t factor in the accent.) Here’s a great example of how to use it: I hope after reading this post you’ve gotten a better idea of what to expect if you visit London, Cheers!