We’re a very multicultural nation
By its very nature, Great Britain is multicultural as it comprises four different nations: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Many of our former Kings and Queens have come from European royal families, and our colonial past has ensured that we’ve absorbed many different cultures from around the world.
Though we all communicate in English, over 300 languages are thought to be spoken within the British Isles.
We value personal space
In Britain, we’re not standoffish or rude, but we do like to keep our distance from one another where possible and consider it polite to maintain arm’s length distance from each other when there is space available.
British people may find it uncomfortable if you stand or sit too close to them when it isn’t completely necessary to do so.
We have a unique sense of humour
We’re good at hiding our emotions in Britain, which can make us seem cold and withdrawn to other cultures. But British people have a very keen sense of humour.
A lot of our comedy pokes fun at the absurdity of everyday life. We love sarcasm, tongue-in-cheek delivery, banter, insults, self-deprecation, puns, innuendo and having a dig at the British class system.
Don’t worry if you don’t get our humour to start with, it can be very subtle and nuanced. You’ll soon learn the ropes though and be encouraged to join in.
We sneer at queue-jumpers
British people resent queuing as much as anyone. But we resent it even more if someone tries to cut in front of us.
We queue for the bus and the cinema, at the post office, in the supermarket and for the public toilets at festivals.
It’s perfectly fine to roll your eyes and complain if the queue moves slowly, but it’s not cool to ask the person in front to mind your place while you go and do something else!
We love “a cuppa”
It’s true. In Britain we have an insatiable penchant for tea.
While most countries in the world prefer coffee – and the coffee industry is rapidly growing here too, by the way – for us, there’s nothing quite like an English cup of tea.
If you are new to the country and making new British friends, they may invite you over for a cuppa and a chat.
It’s our way of being sociable without going to the pub, so make sure you get involved.
We stand on the left side on escalators
When travelling through England, it’s important to note that we stand on the right and walk on the left of escalators. It helps every commuter travel at the speed they’re comfortable with.
If you’re travelling on the London Underground and are stood still on the left of the escalator, people will soon let you know to move over.
It’s highly recommended to avoid rush hour traffic where possible.
You should also note that you need to push the button to open train doors as they do not open automatically.
We don’t make too much noise in restaurants or on public transport
Most people in Great Britain like to keep themselves to themselves and it’s generally frowned upon to be too loud in restaurants and on public transport.
Any loud activity in these environments will likely result in disdainful stares, especially if you are in a designated quiet zone.
We hold knives in our right hand and forks with our left, avoid talking when our mouths our full and place our cutlery gently onto the middle of plates when we are finished to signal to the server or hostess that we have finished our meal.
We are a nation of pet lovers
It’s believed that 1 in 2 Great British households share their homes with a furry, scaly or squawky friend.
Pets are considered “part of the family” by British people and help bring families closer together.
Dogs are the most popular pets in every region of the country except London, where cats are the preferred option.
