I covered shopping and eating but I have not given you ideas of what to do in the evenings so here are some ideas in the local area.
Clubbing in England is a good way to let your hair down after the long hours you work. Clubbing at the weekends is the norm for most 18-25 year olds, and there are plenty of places to go in Newmarket, Cambridge and Bury St. Edmunds.
Most clubs have a dress code that means you have to wear a nice shirt and dress shoes, no tennis shoes! Girls generally dress up in skirts and dresses.
Drinks are expensive and most people tend to pre-game at the pubs and move onto the club. Drinks are often bought in rounds when out with friends and it is expected that if you do not buy this time round, you will eventually. Do not leave your drink unattended, as there have instances of people’s drinks being spiked. It’s cheaper to get in before 10:30 p.m. and on themed nights. There are good local clubs in Cambridge, Newmarket and Bury St. Edmunds.
If you are the designated driver, one drink you might like is J2O, looks alcoholic but is juice. In England, they generally do not provide the designated driver with free drinks.
At the end of the night, you might be looking for a ride home. In most towns, there are taxi ranks where you can catch a cab. If you are going a bit of a distance, you can sometimes negotiate the fare with the driver (do this before you get in). It is customary to tip the driver. Only use licensed taxis that have a registration number on their license plate.
Cabs are expensive, so try to travel in groups and split the costs, or have a designated driver. The bases have set up a program to reduce the recent rise in the amount of DUIs seen in the past few years. Phoenix Taxi will pick you up 24/7 and if you are stuck out without any money you have seven days to pay. You will need ID to verify you are military. Please put 01638 533060 in your phone. As a last resort, you can also call Airman Against Drunk Driving at 0800 328 0178 (save the number in your phone) or you can call the Command Post and get patched through. Please take care of yourself.