Go to the ‘Tourist Information’ office for a free map, or you can buy one in most newsagents. The widest choice of maps is found in bookstores such as Waterstones.

Tourist guides are available in bookshops including Waterstones, Foyles, Blackwells. WH Smith and Waterstones are on most high streets and have a wide selection of guide books.

Ah, where would you be without one? It’s best to check with your school whether they have any discount on dictionaries, but the cheapest place is probably www.amazon.co.uk, who deliver for free within 3 days in the UK. If you need one in a hurry the UK’s major bookstores are Waterstones, Blackwells and Foyles, which stock a large selection. Waterstones shops can be found in most town centres.

Many of the clothes stores in the UK are internationally known, in addition to some shops that are only found in the UK. Sometimes the price in a particular shop may be different to what you are used to back home. Of course, most of the fun is in browsing, but you can use this as a guide to the main clothes shops in the UK and prices:
Cheapest- Primark, TK-Maxx, New Look; Middle – Topshop/Topman, Zara, H&M, Gap, Moderate: Urban Outfitters, John Lewis. Expensive: Prada, Hollister, Harvey Nichols.

The cheapest place to buy a laptop in the UK is from a supermarket like Tesco or Asda, or of course online. You can also check with your educational institution as they may have discounts from computer companies such as Apple and Dell.

Search Google Maps for opticians such as Dolland & Aitchison, Specsavers and Vision Express. Contact lenses and glasses may also be bought in Boots, the chemists.

Money can be sent and received at the Post Office, most banks, and any newsagent with the Western Union or Moneygram sign outside.

Search Google Maps for a ‘leisure centre’, as they offer the cheapest prices for swimming, exercise and gym facilities. You can pay each time you use them or join for a month, 6 months or a year, for reduced prices. Of course there are more expensive gyms including Fitness First, Bannatyne’s and David Lloyd which offer more facilities, but these usually need you to be a member for a minimum of three months, which may be longer than your stay.

Why- British Study Centres of course! www.british-study.com

You can find the largest choice in magazine shops including WH Smith, Paperchase and the card and gift shop Clinton’s.