Visitor Information
Meeting the British
Although Britain spawned the punk movement, with all its anarchic extremes, good manners are still welcome everywhere and used by most people. In a country that prides itself on democratic freedoms in speech and dress, just about anything goes. The British are extremely tolerant of many things, but will quietly expect visitors to abide by certain codes of behaviour whilst visiting the UK.
The first is the queue (standing in line). Even where queues don't form, such as waiting to order a drink at the bar of a crowded pub, a mental note is made by all of those who were first through the door and those who come after, and it is considered polite to wait your turn in such circumstances. Ignoring a queue to barge ahead for service can result in disapproval or confrontation. In fact, standing in a queue is often a great way to strike up conversation and make new friends.
In a small island nation of over 55 million people (an average of 600 inhabitants per square mile), it can be difficult not to bump into others; but when it happens, it helps to turn and apologise with a polite 'I'm sorry!' or 'Excuse me', even if it wasn't your fault. Nine times out of ten, the other person will also turn and apologise, and each of you will appreciate the gesture.
Generally, most Britons prefer to avoid confrontation and regard shouting and shoving as very offensive. To openly lose your temper is to lose face. Even talking in some public places is kept at a hushed level, notably waiting rooms and on trains and buses where strangers are gathered together in one place. This has little to do with class division or snobbery and more to do with privacy. Essentially, the British guard their privacy; hence their hushed tones in public places.
National Public Holidays
- 1st January (New Year's Day)
- Good Friday / Easter Monday (late March or early April)
- First and last Monday in May
- Last Monday in August
- 25th December (Christmas Day)
- 26th December (Boxing Day)
Please note:
If Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year's Day falls on a Saturday or Sunday, the next weekday becomes a public holiday.
Language
English is the most commonly spoken language in the United Kingdom, but you may also hear Welsh and Scots or Irish Gaelic. Regional accents and dialects vary greatly across the British Isles and can sound strange to those not familiar with the nuances of everyday British regional speech. If you travel just a few miles in England, Scotland or Wales, you will find that words, sentence composition, sentence structure and subject topics can vary considerably from region to region. For example, sports fanatics in the north of England discuss football as a national topic, whereas in the south, it's cricket. It's no wonder that standard English speech and spelling was invented!
The English language originates from the German tongue spoken by the Angles, Saxons and Jutes who settled southern Britain in the 5th and 6th centuries AD, after the Romans left. Cousins of these Anglo-Saxons, the Norse (Vikings) were later invaders who brought their own linguistic signifiers such as the 'th' sound used in 'the', 'there', 'that', etc.Descendants of another group of Vikings, the Normans, introduced a French patois, which was spoken as a separate language by the elite in England until the time of Henry VIII. It can still be heard as a dialect in parts of the Channel Islands today. The use of French words or phrases suggests the speaker has a good education and background.
Although the language retains its original Germanic structure, it has absorbed influences from around the world and continues to develop, not only as a world language, but as the language spoken on the Moon!
Some guidebooks will list certain words and expressions that differ depending on which part of the English-speaking world they are commonly used, but generally most words and phrases are understood in England with little need to translate. There are many ways to say the same thing in the English language, which is why it is so rich and versatile. So, in most cases, don't worry about trying to think of an alternative.
Places of Worship
The churches in London belong largely to the Church of England as places of worship for the Anglican faith, although all faiths are welcome. However, being such a cosmopolitan city, London also has many mosques, temples and chapels.
Casual Dress
In the summer, from May to August, the streets of London can get very warm and humid and therefore light cotton clothing will be ideal. Nobody in the UK - especially London - will look twice if you wear safari shorts and a wide-brimmed hat, so wear whatever is comfortable for you.
Winters can be long and damp; be sure to bring a warm overcoat, scarf and gloves. If your itinerary includes visiting outdoor locations, water-resistant boots or shoes with a good grip are recommended as the pavements can get very wet after heavy rain.
Body Language
English attitudes to daily greeting can vary considerably from region to region. It's not unusual in quieter, rural areas for people to greet strangers with a spoken salutation such as 'Good morning!' which prompts a similar reply. This does not mean, however, that a conversation is expected and it is merely a friendly, yet informal greeting.
Tipping
In some restaurants tipping is automatically included in the service charge and is 10% to 15% of the total bill, but this should be clearly advertised and itemised on your credit card voucher upon payment. You do not need to add a further tip. Where service charges are not automatically added to restaurant bills, cash can be left on a clean side plate for the waiter or waitress to find: if the sum involves paper money, hand it to the waitress direct. This tip is theirs, not the restaurant's, and is given in recognition of prompt and courteous service.
Taxi cab drivers expect a tip in the region of 10% to 15%. There is no need to tip bar staff, although you can offer to buy them a drink as a means of appreciation for good service. No other public service workers expect tips.
Smoking
In many public and utility buildings, and on public transport, rules restrict smoking and are usually indicated by no-smoking symbols and notices affixed to walls. Pubs and bars, however, welcome customers who wish to relax with a drink and smoke.
Smoking in Britain is not as fashionable as it once was so it is always a good idea to exercise discretion and sensitivity when selecting a location in which to smoke. The best advice would be not to smoke unless others around you do so.
Invitations to Eat
Much business is done over the dinner table. Business lunches will frequently take place at a local restaurant recommended by your host who will take pride in suggesting a particular cuisine. In addition to the great abilities of British chefs, who rank as some of the best in the world, restaurants are frequently run and owned by Greeks, Italians, French, Chinese and Indian, so it's very rare that you'll be offered the plainer indigenous meals that have for so long been synonymous with the British way of life.
In most good restaurants, a comprehensive wine and beer list will also be available. Normally, tables have to be booked in advance due to demand.
Business dinners are less formal affairs and usually conducted at home, with a pre-arranged time for arrival about half an hour before dinner is served.
Although guests are not expected to arrive bearing gifts, a bottle of wine or flowers are appreciated and should be presented upon arrival. Social dinners are rarely formal affairs and guests will be encouraged to relax.Like the high street restaurants, your host will probably prepare multinational-style dishes to your taste. It's not unusual for hosts to check in advance what sort of meals you prefer. Coffee and mint chocolates often follow a main meal and lengthy conversations are positively encouraged. However, it is considered polite for the guest to draw the evening to a close at an appropriate moment by expressing their gratitude and making a gesture to leave.
Social Drinking
The British love pubs for their informality and social atmosphere. Pubs are places to meet and be seen, though each has its own standing in the local community. Some pubs are frequented by manual workers, others by businessmen and women, some by locals, others by visitors. It can take a bit of practice to familiarise yourself with all the different types of social pubs. A good rule is to simply open the main door and look in as if looking to meet a friend. If there's a great mix of people inside, you can be sure it's a good pub, but otherwise just close the door and find another.
Of the many customs associated with drinking in pubs, the most common is that of buying a 'round' of drinks when drinking socially with a group. Each member of the group will take their turn, and in no particular order, although the instigator of the pub visit will usually begin by buying everyone the first round. As people's glasses reach empty, it's a good idea to reciprocate by offering to buy the next 'round' and so on.Wine bars have also become very popular as the British thoroughly enjoy drinking and talking about wine. Indeed, a good knowledge of wine is almost akin to a good knowledge of literature and makes an excellent topic for conversation.
Tip!
The belief that the British drink nothing but tea is today very much a myth. Many of them love drinking coffee - especially the instant varieties.