EXMOUTH, ENGLAND

Situated on the "British Rivera" between Southampton and Plymouth you will find Exmouth-- a typical seaside town and the mildest climate in England, all thanks to the Gulf Stream.

This is a legendary and mysterious place, for this was the domain for King Authur, Merlin the Wizard and the fairy realm of old-Avalon. Here lived mighty rulers such as William the Conqueror, Richard the Lionhearted and nowhere in England will you find more castles, stately homes and cathedrals.

Exmouth is a great place to visit- full of things to discover, explore and marvel at. The seaside town with its sandy beach is over looked by a stone age hill fort and steep chalk cliffs.

Our School
The "Languages PLUS" school is situated in the towns square and can proudly say that it is the towns only English language center. Here, everything is within easy reach.

School Accommodation
Families: The participants can stay with families with full pension (breakfast and evening meal with the family, and a packed lunch). A single room or double room can be booked.

Prices
Programs in Exmouth start from $750.00 US for 2 weeks including accommodation and tuition. We have many program options and all year round start dates. If you want more detailed pricing or start date information, we suggest you request a brochure or call us Toll Free within North America at: Tel: 1 888 526 4758 (LANGPLUS) or outside of North America at 416 925 7117.

COUNTRY TIPS
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What is the local currency?
The basic monetary unit is the pound sterling (£).The pound is divided into 100 pence. Bills are issued in the denominations of £5, 10, 20, and 50. Coins are available in denominations of £1, and 2, 5, 10, 20, and 50 pence.

Are a passport, visa, or vaccinations necessary?
Citizens of the United States and Canada in possession of a valid US or Canadian passport, are not required to obtain a visa for England for a period of up to three months if traveling as a tourist.

In case that a stay of more than three but less than six months is intended, a visa is required. If you are a resident of the U.S. but do not hold U.S. citizenship, a visa may be required.

Visitors from the U.S./Canada do not need inoculations.

Time?
England operates on Greenwich mean time (GMT), England is 5 hours a head of American Eastern Time.

Should I bring local currency, traveler's checks or use credit cards?
England is still a very traditional country, so everyone is very happy to accept local currency; after all, who doesn't like cash? But for safety and convenience sake, you might not want to have large amounts of either dollars or local currency on hand and so we would suggest you bring along travelers checks, which are accepted almost everywhere, or major credit cards to obtain cash along the way as needed. Be aware that you will be charged a 'service charge' each time you cash travelers checks, so convert enough each time to cover your expenses for several days. In addition, if your travelers checks are in a foreign currency such as U.S. Dollars, you need to be aware that you will receive a much better exchange rate if they are converted at a bank.

Cash and traveler's checks can be exchanged at the official Exchange rate of the day at any bank or exchange counter (airports, railway stations, tourist offices--a small commission applies); travel agencies, hotels, restaurants and stores may accept foreign currency but give you a lower rate to cover their handling.

Banking hours are normally 9:00 a.m.-4.30 p.m. Monday through Friday, Saturday 9am-noon, Banks are closed Sundays.

Credit cards are accepted everywhere. In general, most larger hotels, car rental agencies, and upscale stores in the tourist areas will accept the major credit cards. Be aware, however, that many , restaurants, pubs and stores will only accept cash so be sure to ask in advance.

What are the business hours?
Shopping hours are usually 9 or 10 AM–5 or 6 PM, Monday–Saturday, and, for a few shops (such as supermarkets and larger chain stores) hours are 9 or 10 AM until 7 or 7:30 PM one or night per week.

How much will I spend a day?
This is very difficult to answer and depends on the person, however the prices below should give you a approx. idea.
Three-course meal without drink 12-16 Pounds, Budget meal, 4-6 Pounds.
Laundromat, self service was 1.50 Pounds.
Cafe meal: Sandwich, dessert and coffee 3.50 Pounds.
Pint of lager 1.50 Pounds.

What is the weather like?
The United Kingdom's climate, moderated by the surrounding seas, is mild and moist. Fog, mists, and overcast skies are frequent. Average temperatures for the months of January and July 4° C (40° F) and 18 ° C (64° F) respectively. The temperature in Brighton is quite pleasant. During the summer months, the average temp is approx. 75-80 degrees- with glorious sunshine and a lovely sea breeze. During the winter months, warm clothes and a raincoat are necessary, as the temperature can fall to 40 degrees, or even colder.

Will my electrical gadgets work?
Electric current in England is 220 volts AC at 50 Cycles per second. To operate small appliances, laptop computers or other electronic gadgets, you will need a multi-adapter. Check with a large electronics store in your area. Electric clocks, record players and tape recorders will not work properly even on converters because they use the 60 Cycle American/Canadian standard.

What is the best way to phone home?
There are numerous public phones around the city which use phone cards and/or coins. All these phones can be used for both local and long distance phone calls. You can buy a British Telecom (BT) and Mercury phone cards for making telephone calls. They come in different denominations, and can be used at special cardphone booths.

It is also smart to obtain an overseas phone card (they are usually free-of-charge) from your long distance carrier, such as MCI, AT&T or Sprint. MCI's Worldphone Program, for example, lets you phone the US/Canada from England or any other European countries at greatly reduced rates from what you would pay from the regular charge. The long distance carrier will give you a special number to call when placing your call.

What major holidays are there in England?
Banks and most businesses close on New Year's Day (1 January), Bank Holiday (2 January, Scotland only), Saint David's Day (1 February, Wales only), St. Patrick's Day (18 March, Northern Ireland only), Good Friday and Easter Monday (March or April; dates vary), Labour Day (1 May), May Day Bank Holiday (early May; dates vary), Victoria Day (20 May, Scotland only), Spring Bank Holiday (late May; date varies), Orangeman's Day (12 and 15 July, Northern Ireland only), Summer Bank Holiday (late August, date varies), Christmas Day (25 December), and Boxing Day (26 December).

THINGS TO SEE IN EXMOUTH
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Sights: The Manor Gardens and the house A la Ronde are worth visiting, as well as Woodbury castle, an old fortress.
Exeter: the capital of Devon is rich in tourist attractions especially the Norman cathedral with carved angels and an astronomical clock from the 14th century. Also worth a visit are the half timbered houses and Mol's coffee house where the famous sea voyagers Francis Drake and Walter Raleigh drank tea. Near Exmouth are situated the villages of Budleigh and Salterton with a beautiful cliff coast, East Budleigh with its old pedestrian bridges and picturesque Sidmouth.
Shopping: Axminster carpets, lace and embroidery from Honiton as well as wool from Wellington.
Sports: Riding, sailing, diving and especially windsurfing.
Culinary Delights: Lamb, beef and fish are all true delicacies here. Add to this Porter or stout beer or try the local cider.
Excursions: The Exmoor and Dartmoor National Parks are well worth visiting for long walks through the moor landscapes as well as Okehampton camp with its iron age hill fortress. Mooreton Hampstead and Buckfastleigh are scattered with thatched cottages. Granbrook Castle and Grimspound, a settlement from the Bronze age, should not be missed. The legend of King Arthur's food comes from the foundation of a Benedictine cloister and a bunch of flowers which are said to bloom just before Christmas in Glastonbury. It is well worth visiting Torbay the "Queen of the sea resorts" with many opportunities for entertainment and activities such as concerts, the yacht harbour, local gardens and parks and much more.