Gap Year Programs in England

England is a mighty country for being a small island off the coast of the mass European continent. Showing it’s power through trade and commerce, England’s home to some of the richest cities in the world, making them known for their architecture, history, and of course, a splendid nightlife. Don’t know what city you want to have have your gap year in England? Here are some tips to help you narrow it down. 

London. Soooo.. Tell me what you want, whatcha really, really want? Oh wait, we know. It’s a gap year in London! Live in one of the world’s largest cities and never sit on your bum bored out of your mind. You could be a tourist everyday on your gap year in London and you’ll always have sights to see. Check out the Tower of London, where the Royal Crown Jewel are hosted. Or walk up to the top of St. Paul’s Cathedral and gain a glimpse of London from the very top of the dome. 

Manchester. Are you a dedicated follower of the magnificent Manchester United (soccer) football team? Ok, at least you’ve heard of the beautiful retired star of the team, David Beckham? Talk about a dashing young man. Manchester is popular for its soccer team and is known globally for their high performance. Not to mention, they are the location for the National Football Museum. What a time to be alive. If you’re a sport lover at heart, Manchester is the city for you.

Liverpool. Home of the famous city where the Unsinkable Titanic set sail in 1912, Liverpool has been a port city bringing in a variety of newcomers—perfect for your British gap year. Visit Albert’s Dock and take a stroll during a warm summer day to watch the ships sail out into the ocean. Or, if you’re obsessed with The Beatles, head down Penny Lane and Come Together with all of your fellow gappers to visit The Beatles Story Museum. Hey Jude, you seriously don’t wanna miss it on your gap year in England.

God save the Queen! We need to find you something amazing to accomplish while seeking gap year opportunities in England. With a set of diverse activities throughout the entire country, you’ll be able to find whatever it is you're passionate about and run with it. Work on land as a nanny or work by the ocean doing conservation studies—variety, that’s the beauty of having a gap year in England. 

Au Pair. Lover of the little lads, are ya? Becoming an au pair would be an absolutely splendid choice for your gap year programs in England. The job consists of being a nanny abroad for a local British family and living in their home… for free. Plus, it’s paid. Another bonus would be that you get to live the culture and learn it through a typical Brit family life. A superb British gap year option indeed.

Internships. Looking to beef up that resume and want to impress future employers with your sweet skills? There are multiple gap year opportunities in England for future C suite go-getters. Work at a professional company and perform impactful work. This is like a test drive to see if you like your major of study or if this company was meant for you. There’s numerous options for gap year placements in London. Want to work with at a business or architecture firm? Looking to study history and work as a historian? You’ll find your next great resume addition here with gap year internships in London.

Music. Feel it in your fingers—and feel it in your toes. England has been gifting the world with incredible music acts for generations. Kick it old school with medieval folk or baroque and classical music studies in England. Or turn the dial up to recent acts, like the Rolling Stones or Radiohead. We heard Thom Yorke loves hanging out with gappers…

Study Abroad. Before you go running to hills at any mention of the word “study,” hear us out! England is world famous for the quality of its education. You can take a variety of classes here, and they won’t be as boring as high school chem. Bring literature to life, earn your TEFL certificate, or take an art history class at Cambridge. The beauty of studying abroad on your gap year in England is that you’ll reacquaint your inner curiosities and love of learning ← the best gap year souvenir on the market.

Costs. So mate, you’re looking to live in England for a year, are ya? Make sure to save some money before you go. England, especially London, is on the expensive side of life. But if you have crumpets and tea, what more could you need? Just kidding, but chat with your program advisor to see how much you should be saving for your gap year in England. Start scraping pennies together now and check out FundMyTravel here.

Accommodations. Obviously, you’ll need to find somewhere to live during your gap year in England. Most programs will take care of this on your behalf #perks.#perks. You’ll otherwise have options of dorms, hostels, apartments, and host families (unless you’re visiting Great Uncle Oliver and Great Aunt Margaret). But, if you ask me, find a host family! It’s the best way to experience a culture in any country, and they’ll be sure to have a pantry stocked with Yorkshire Tea and jaffa cakes.

Visas. There’s a variety of gap year England visas out there that you’ll need to choose from. Not sure what one? Contact your program advisor and they can hook you up with the necessary information and advice. How does it work? Go online and apply for a visa through the UK consulate. Fill out the necessary paperwork online, print off your documents, and then visit the UK embassy to finalize the deets. Not sure where the closest embassy is? Find one here on the GoAbroad embassy directory. 

Safety. The city life during your gap year placements in London and other major English cities can be a bit much at times, but it’s nothing to fear if you use common sense. If you’re out at night with friends, always stay in groups. If you’re find yourself at a jolly pub that a couple miles from home, call a cab. It’s worth to the spend the money, knowing you’ll be home safe. 

A bit unsure if you want to get a phone plan while doing gap year programs in England? Contemplating how much wifi access you’ll have? Don’t worry, the internet infrastructure is very developed and you’ll basically have access to wifi everywhere! Starbucks is always your friend when you’re out sightseeing and need to look up directions on your phone. Having a phone plan might be helpful, especially since you’ll be there for a year, but not a big deal if you don’t. Wifi is seriously in the air.

However, if you want to make the most of your of your gap year in England, we strongly caution you from being too addicted to your phone. While it can be a helpful tool, it can also distract you, keep one foot too close to home, and serve as escapism when you should really be dialed into the experiences happening around you. Take your phone, but don’t be that kid who can’t live without it. Please?

Here comes the sun (doo-en-doo-doo). The infamous cloudy skies and scrumptious fish n’ chips are waiting for you on the other side of the big pond. Once all of your planning is done, you’ll be happy to start conquering your lovely adventure overseas. The queen (and her corgis) aren’t getting any younger... it’s time to set sail on your gap year in England!