The world has been watching celebrations in the UK this month, with major events raising the profile of two of our most exciting cities: the Coronation of King Charles III in London and the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool.
International students joined in the celebrations and language schools around the country organised activities to help everyone get involved:
The Coronation of King Charles
The Coronation took place in London on Saturday 6 May, with a traditional ceremony watched by millions around the world. Across the UK, events, music concerts and street parties were organised in celebration, and there was a special bank holiday to mark the occasion.
Thousands of people lined the Mall and the areas around Buckingham Palace to catch a glimpse of the coronation procession before 2,000 guests including royals, world leaders and celebrities attended the ceremony at Westminster Abbey.
King Charles III, formerly known as The Prince of Wales, became King of the United Kingdom on the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth II on 8 September 2022.
Eurovision Song Contest hosted in Liverpool
Liverpool in the North of England was proud to host the Eurovision Song Contest on May 13 2023, on behalf of last year’s competition winner Ukraine.
26 countries competed in the final, with Sweden winning the coveted 1st place with Loreen’s song Tattoo.
Many countries choose to sing songs in English, so learning the lyrics is a great way for students to learn vocabulary in a fun way.
Eurovision facts:
> the world’s biggest music show is broadcast across five continents
> the contest has taken place annually since 1956. 2020 was the first (and only) time in 64 years that Eurovision was cancelled
> ABBA is the most successful Eurovision Song Contest winner. The Swedish pop band won the contest in 1974 and has enjoyed phenomenal success ever since, despite officially splitting up in 1983
> the UK’s 2022 entrant, Sam Ryder, won the jury’s vote with his song Space Man, but finished second overall after the public votes
> for the first time in 2023, people from across the globe, not just in Eurovision countries, were able to vote. Public votes from the rest of the world were counted as if they are one other country.
Host city Liverpool is of course already famous for its music history. Beatles fans often choose to visit (or study in) Liverpool to visit the The Beatles Story museum and famous locations including the Cavern Club, the music venue where the band started their career.
Do you know someone who wants to study English in the UK?
We have lots of information to help you plan the trip.
Many students can study a short course in the UK without needing to apply for a visa before travel. Visit our visa information page to find out who needs a visa to study in the UK.
Not sure what course to choose? Find out about UK study options.