Student life in the UK: A guide to British festivals

PTE Author
PTE Author
Image- sparklers
Reading time: 6 minutes

Studying in the UK provides a great opportunity to immerse yourself in British culture and traditions. Not only can you meet new people, try new food and explore different cities, you can also experience a range of different festivals that you might not celebrate in your own country.  

While there are many British traditions and festivals, here are some of the oldest and most widely celebrated festivals that you can get involved in while you’re studying in the UK: 

The top 5 British festivals

1. Halloween

So what is Halloween? Also known as All Saints’ Eve, Halloween is a celebration in many countries on 31st October, which honours religious Saints and the dead.

The tradition dates back to an ancient Celtic festival held on this day, where people would light bonfires and wear costumes to frighten away spirits. Later, in the 8th century, Pope Gregory III chose November 1st as a time to honour the saints.

While it remained a religious festival for many years, in the last century it has turned into a fun, yet spooky, holiday to celebrate. Children and young adults particularly enjoy Halloween and take part in a number of activities.

These include trick-or-treating where they knock on neighbours’ doors and ask for sweets, carving faces into pumpkins and watching horror movies. Let’s not forget dressing up in scary costumes, like a vampire, witch or zombie, and attending a fancy dress party!

There are lots of different ways to take part in this festival as a university student. In the UK, most universities normally organize Halloween parties on October 31st. And if you don’t like dressing up, it’s also a common tradition for cinemas to show horror films as an alternative Halloween celebration.

2. Bonfire Night

Also known as Guy Fawkes’ Night, Bonfire Night is a British festival that takes place on November 5th each year. So why do people celebrate bonfire night? It is a day that commemorates the anniversary of the Gunpowder Plot of 1605.

Guy Fawkes was a Catholic who didn’t agree with the King’s persecution of Catholics at the time. So, he developed a plan to blow up Westminster Palace in London while King James I and the members of parliament were inside. However, the plot was unsuccessful and he was sentenced to death.

When the people of London realized that the king had escaped assassination, they lit bonfires to celebrate. After this, King James I declared that November the 5th would be a public day of thanksgiving for the plot's failure. Nowadays, people celebrate this night with bonfires, fireworks, sparklers and toffee apples.

If you’d like to experience Bonfire Night, you’ll be able to attend organized outdoor gatherings with bonfires and fireworks displays around cities and in public spaces. Make sure to wrap up warm, as it gets cold during November evenings in the UK!

3. Christmas

Christmas is an annual religious festival celebrating the birth of Jesus on December 25th. However, both religious and non-religious people across the country celebrate this holiday. Although Christmas Day on December 25th is the main event, British people also celebrate Christmas Eve on December 24th and Boxing Day on December 26th.

There are a number of British Christmas traditions associated with this holiday. For instance, people eat turkey, hang up decorations and stockings, pull crackers, eat mince pies, give each other presents and even watch the Queen give a televised speech on Christmas Day.

If this is something that you’d like to experience you’ll have plenty of options in the UK. Many pubs and restaurants allow you to book a traditional Christmas meal. Moreover, many cities have a Christmas market in December where you can try mulled wine and buy gifts. It’s truly a magical time of year!  

4. New Year's Eve

Shortly after Christmas, people in the UK and other countries around the world celebrate New Year's Eve on December 31st. It is the last day of the year before New Year’s Day, which marks the start of a new calendar year.

A festival that has been celebrated for centuries, British people recognise it as a night where they can welcome in a new year. At midnight on New Year’s Eve, it is tradition to set off fireworks and firecrackers, as well as celebrate with food and drink. Some families dance to Auld Lang Syne, a Scottish folk song which means ‘long long ago’ and is traditionally sung to farewell the old year.

Cities and towns around the country hold fireworks displays, parties and other events to celebrate this festival. If you’d like to join in you’ll be able to search for an event near you. Similarly, you can watch the BBC or another major television channel from your home - each year they broadcast live performances, interviews with celebrities and the countdown to midnight.

5. Easter

The end of winter and beginning of spring is celebrated in many countries across the world, and Britain is no different. In the UK, Easter heralds a week of celebrations for those who are both religious and non-religious.

Easter begins with Palm Sunday, which marks the beginning of Holy Week. This week includes Good Friday, a public holiday, Easter Sunday and ends with Easter Monday, also a public holiday. The date of Easter Sunday varies from year to year - in 2022 it will be on April 17th.

Nowadays, this festival offers an opportunity for families to get together and eat a traditional roast dinner. Some people decorate the dinner table with painted eggs, little yellow chicks, bunnies and spring flowers like daffodils, white lilies and tulips. It’s also tradition to buy family and friends chocolate eggs from supermarkets or chocolatiers.

If you’re interested in celebrating Easter in the UK, you’ll be able to book an Easter roast dinner at most pubs and restaurants, as well as buy chocolate eggs. There are also a number of Easter egg hunts that you can try. In London, for example,  there’s an event where you have to search for chocolate eggs around the city. You can check your local area to see what they have organized.  

Study in the UK

The opportunity to study in another country is an invaluable experience. If you choose the UK as a study destination, not only will you improve your English, you’ll also learn about UK culture, celebrate British traditions, and make some memories that will last a lifetime!

If you’re interested in experiencing life as a student in the UK, PTE Academic may just be what you need. This test is recognized as an official language certificate that can be used for UK visas to access 99% of British universities.

Discover how PTE Academic can help you achieve your goals.

Related Content

  • Image- At cafe
    Speaking: Self-Improvement Part 1
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 3 minutes

    In Part 1 of PTE Academic, you will require many core English skills to pass. It is very important that you prepare and look at ways you can maximize your score.

    We’ve put together some tips to help based on each question type.

    Read aloud

    In the Read Aloud question type, you will be scored based on content, oral fluency and pronunciation.

    As part of this question type, you will need to speak aloud and say all the words in the correct order.

    Here are some tips to help maximize your chances of receiving points:

    • Make sure you do not replace any words, leave any words out or add any. If you make a mistake and try to correct it, it will be counted as added words.

    • Once prompted, you must speak into the microphone right away and read with a smooth, easy natural speed. Try not to speak too fast or too slow.

    • Use English rhythm with chunking and sentence stress used correctly.

    • Try not to hesitate or repeat words as you will lose points.

    Repeat sentence

    The Repeat Sentence question type is scored based on the same elements as the Read Aloud question type: content, oral fluency and pronunciation.

    Here are some tips to help gain points in this question type:

    • Say all of the words in the exact same order. Do not rush.

    • Do not use the Erasable Noteboard Booklet, keep the sentence in your head.

    • It’s easier to keep the sentence in your mind if you understand the meaning. Try to understand the meaning.

    • If unsure of a word the speaker used, say what you think you heard.

    • Do not speak too fast or slow.

    • Similar to read aloud, use English rhythm with chunking and sentence stress. You will also lose points in this question type if you hesitate, repeat words or stumble to start.

    • Speak with the sounds of an English speaker and copy the intonation pattern of the speaker, but do not change your accent.

    Describe image

    In the Describe Image question type, you will be scored based on content, oral fluency and pronunciation.

    To be able to describe the image, you will need to understand it as it could be a graph, picture, map, chart or table. Always read the title and make sure you understand the parts that make up the image.

    Some extra tips include:

    • Use the Erasable Noteboard Booklet to take notes about the image, which you can use in your answer. For example, if the image is a graph, chart or table, is there a trend you can comment on? If it’s a map or picture, what are the important features?

    • Include all aspects and elements of the image in your answer.

    • Start with a general statement about the image then summarize the most important points.

    • If there are words on the image you want to use but are unsure how to pronounce them, don’t worry, just say them how you think they should be said.

    • Try using connector words to link the information you give. For example, use words such as: also, however, as or besides.

    You can receive up to 5 points based on your content. In order to score above 1, you will need to include the relationships between parts of the image, possible developments and conclusions or implications of the information in the image.

    Don’t forget to talk with a smooth, natural speed at all times during the speaking test.

    In total, there are five speaking sections of Part 1: Speaking and Writing.

    We recommend that you read more about the other question types such as Re-tell Lecture and Short Answer Question types and learn how to pick up points for these.

    Want to learn more about the smart way to prepare for PTE?

    Smart Prep brings all our free and paid preparation into one convenient place, so you can mix and match to fit your unique needs.

    • Smart Prep provides a clear path to test day, guiding you through the official paid and free resources available for your test

    • It can be accessed whether you’ve booked a test or not – just create, or sign in to your myPTE account

    • Preparation materials include guided practice tests, introductory videos, video courses and test tips.

  • Image- study group, 750px
    Why fluent English speakers don’t always get a perfect score
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 2 minutes

    Being an experienced English speaker does not guarantee you a high score

    It can come as a surprise to test takers, who consider themselves to be fluent in English, that they can score less well in an English test than they expect.

    Dr. Alistair Van Moere, a member of Pearson’s Technical Advisory Group, explains that it’s not unusual for people who have recently learned English to score higher than those that have spoken English for a long time. This happens on all high-stakes tests, not just on PTE Academic, as fluent speakers are often not prepared to do the test. PTE Academic contains question types that a fluent English speaker may not have done for a long time, for example, writing an essay.

    This is why all test takers, including fluent English speakers, should prepare before test day.

  • Image - 2 Asian students - 800x600px
    Sitting PTE Academic for the first time
    By PTE Author
    Reading time: 3 minutes

    Choosing to study or migrate abroad is a big decision and may require you to demonstrate your skills in English.

    The Pearson Test of English Academic (PTE Academic) is widely trusted by universities, colleges, and governments around the world. Taking PTE Academic can create opportunities for you around the world.

    If you are taking the test for the first time, study each part of the test thoroughly to demonstrate your English skills as best you can.

    Even people that consider themselves to be fluent in English need to prepare as they can sometimes score fewer points than they should have as they have not prepared.

    We can help you achieve your best!

    What should I expect on test day?