Chapter 4: A Modern, Thriving Society

Leisure

अंतिम जाँच: 15 July 2026

• 1Gardening is a very popular UK pastime; many homes have gardens, and people can rent allotments to grow fruit and vegetables.
• 2Famous gardens to visit include Kew Gardens and Sissinghurst in England, Crathes Castle in Scotland and Bodnant Garden in Wales.
• 3The national flowers/plants: the rose (England), the thistle (Scotland), the daffodil (Wales) and the shamrock (Northern Ireland).
• 4Shopping: most towns have a central shopping area (the high street) plus out-of-town shopping centres; many shops open seven days a week, with shorter hours on Sundays.
• 5Traditional foods — England: roast beef with Yorkshire pudding, and fish and chips.
• 6Traditional foods — Wales: Welsh cakes, a traditional snack made from flour, dried fruit and spices.
• 7Traditional foods — Scotland: haggis — a sheep's stomach stuffed with meat, suet, onions and oatmeal.
• 8Traditional foods — Northern Ireland: the Ulster fry — a fried meal with bacon, eggs, sausage, black pudding, white pudding, tomatoes, mushrooms, soda bread and potato bread.
• 9Films: the first public film screenings in the UK took place in 1896, and British film pioneers developed early cinema technology.
• 10Sir Charles (Charlie) Chaplin became famous in silent movies as a tramp character and later worked in Hollywood.
• 11British film studios flourished in the 1930s; Alfred Hitchcock directed The 39 Steps (1935) before moving to Hollywood — he remains a celebrated film director.
• 12During WWII, British films such as In Which We Serve helped morale; the 1950s and 60s brought Ealing comedies and "new wave" realist films.
• 13The James Bond films are based on the spy novels of Ian Fleming (the character 007).
• 14Famous British films (handbook list): The 39 Steps (1935, Hitchcock), Brief Encounter (1945, David Lean), The Third Man (1949, Carol Reed), The Belles of St Trinian's (1954, Frank Launder), Lawrence of Arabia (1962, David Lean), Women in Love (1969, Ken Russell), Don't Look Now (1973, Nicolas Roeg), Chariots of Fire (1981, Hugh Hudson), The Killing Fields (1984, Roland Joffé), Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994, Mike Newell), Touching the Void (2003, Kevin Macdonald).
• 15Many British actors have won Oscars, including Colin Firth, Sir Antony Hopkins, Dame Judi Dench, Kate Winslet and Tilda Swinton.
• 16The annual British film awards are the BAFTAs (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) — the British equivalent of the Oscars.
• 17British comedy traditions: satire from the 18th century (cartoonists like Hogarth), music hall, wartime radio comedy, TV sitcoms and satire such as Monty Python and Spitting Image.
• 18Television: the UK has many channels; popular programmes include regular soap operas such as Coronation Street and EastEnders.
• 19Anyone who watches or records TV as it is broadcast must be covered by a TV licence; one licence covers all equipment at one address, but people renting separate rooms need separate licences.
• 20People aged 75 and over get a free TV licence; blind people get a 50% discount; watching TV without a licence risks prosecution and a fine of up to £1,000.
• 21The TV licence fee (2013) was £145.50 for a colour TV.
• 22The money from TV licences funds the BBC — a British public service broadcaster providing TV and radio; it is independent of the government; other channels are funded through advertising and subscriptions.
• 23The BBC is the largest broadcaster in the world and the only UK broadcaster funded by the licence fee.
• 24Social networking and online media are widely used to keep in touch.
• 25Pubs and night clubs: public houses are an important part of UK social life.
• 26Alcohol law: you must be 18 to buy alcohol; people aged 16 may drink beer, wine or cider with a meal in a pub or hotel if accompanied by someone over 18.
• 27Pub opening hours vary — the landlord decides, under the terms of the premises licence; night clubs open and close later.
• 28Betting and gambling: you must be 18 or over to enter betting shops or gambling clubs; the National Lottery has been drawn since 1994, and participants must be 16 or over.
• 29Pets: many UK households keep pets such as cats and dogs; owners are responsible for keeping animals healthy — veterinary surgeons (vets) treat sick animals; charities can help with vet costs.
• 30Dogs in public places must wear a collar showing the owner's name and address; the owner is responsible for keeping the dog under control and cleaning up after it.