
Climate —
You know you're in a damp country when the merest hint of sunshine is front page news. Britain has four seasons, and while the transitions between them can be pleasant, each is typically as wet, gray and cold as the last. All are considered by Brits to be "ice cream weather." Whatever the climate throws at you, be prepared for endless conversations about it.

Royalty —
Britain has come a long way since the days when ordinary folk were awestruck by aristocracy. But British people are is in thrall to their royal family as you are. And they're willing to sell you a Wills 'n' Kate souvenir tea towel with matching oven mitts to prove it.

Getting around —
Driving distances of more than 20 miles in Britain can be epic undertakings on Britain's congested highways, but the misery of gridlocked traffic will be more than compensated for by road signs pointing to places with names like Ramsbottom, Throcking and Goole. Alternatively, Britain has an extensive and efficient rail network, which only ever grinds to a halt when the weather turns hot, cold, wet or dry.

History —
Britain has so many ancient attractions, it's hard to know where to start. The northern city of York, where you can wallow in 2,000 years of British history in one location, is an option. And since some Brits are only aware of two key dates -- a French invasion in 1066 and an England soccer World Cup victory 900 years later -- you don't need to try too hard to catch up.

Tea —
Britain is resolutely a tea-drinking nation. Vast lakes of insipid infusions are consumed on a daily basis. When preparing tea, there are rituals to be observed.Use boiling water and, if you must resort to tea bags, always add the milk last. Failure to do so will result in such distress that it may take another cup of tea, and perhaps a biscuit, to calm everyone down again.

Language —
Regional dialects vary extensively in the space of a few miles, resulting in bafflement even among locals. If you can't understand what a British person is saying, it's fairly safe to assume it's either a). something about the weather, or b). an apology. British people love apologizing, even when it's not even their fault.

Cuisine —
Britain's bland national diet has been revolutionized by South Asian migrants whose spicy concoctions are now firm favorites sold on every high street. But don't be fooled. Many Brits still prefer to fill their faces with offal and saturated fat. Few journeys are made within the United Kingdom that aren't catered with sausage rolls, Cornish pasties and Scotch eggs.

Television —
Where British TV excels is in its celebration of the lives of ordinary, dare we say boring, citizens. The UK's three most popular soaps focus not on the beautiful or the damned, but on normal folk engaged in humdrum tasks like buying cheese, arguing about pottery or tending to their farms.


