Cross Cultural Understanding

University students socialize by going out to the local pub for a beer and to watch soccer and make lots of noise while supporting their teams. Men watch soccer or rugby. Some women enjoy the sport as well.
Some students enjoy just relaxing at the local restaurants while eating sandwiches, drinking tea and other beverages and just chatting with friends.
Discos are a popular hangout on Fridays and Saturdays and now and then different students will throw a party at their home.
Generally all universities have a union (led by students, for the students) where there is somewhere to eat, chill, play pool, a bar etc. All unions have societies/clubs for students to get involved with that range from football clubs to chocolate societies. Its up to you how much you want to get involved.
Drinking is a part of the culture and there is usually a pub on almost every street corner. Excessive public intoxication is not acceptable and the police are strict about that, and just recently in the past few months the British government has banned smoking in pubs and restaurants.
It is generally acceptable and even expected for a man to ask a woman on a date, but times are changing and there are instances where women have felt that the men are too slow and end up asking the men on a date.
A first date is usually a typical outing of dinner and then a movie, the man pays the bill usually.
An unacceptable first date involves being too late to pick up the date or meeting, overly consuming alcohol, and public intoxication.
Foreign students studying in England should make an effort to get involved with the university clubs because that is the best way to get to know the locals and learn about the culture quicker.
Pubs are enormously important social institutions and you can expect to be asked out to the pub at any time of the day and nearly all of them will serve full meals although primarily they are a place to relax and drink beer. They are the key to socialisation; generally being the favoured location for gathering, and therefore are central to becoming involved in the culture and meeting people.