If you’re planning on visiting Northern Ireland or England on your next holiday then this guide is a must for you. It looks at what it means to be British in a playful way, a tongue in cheek guide which will help any foreigner blend in easily with the British locals.
Always Comment Badly about the Weather
You must complain on the dreary state of the weather often. Aside from watching Downton Abbey this is one thing that all Britons do. It’s also common to hear comments on the unpredictability of the weather like ‘its four seasons in a single day’.
The British are really particular about their English
Learn a few common phrases beforehand such as how to properly address people. ‘Old Sport’’ is a very popular method of addressing everyone, particularly males of all ages. Old Chap also works, we don’t know what the deal with ‘Old’ is though. For females ‘old girl’ works and for some reason, ‘old bean’. Mate works as well but is sometimes considered formal.
Go to the Seaside
Forget to apply tan and go down to Blackpool, Llanddudno or Dunoon. Jump off the pier and subsequently get attacked by a flock of seagulls. Oh and don’t forget to don a hankie on your head and wear both socks and sandals. And if you’re not red by the time you get back, you should be ashamed.
You should know your celebs
If you do not possess encyclopedic knowledge regarding the relationship status, love lives and baby status of footballers and reality TV stars you will feel like an artist at a science convention – totally out of place with little to talk about. If your knowledge is lacking read up the various magazines detailing minute events occurring in the lives of celebrities especially footballers. Football is like a religion here and those who are not excited by its mere name are shunned. The smallest town has their own team (with bigger towns having multiple teams in different localities and fierce rivalries of course) and everyone has an opinion on this subject. If you know your football, you’ll be able to talk to almost anyone.
The same goes for Cricket
Britons do love their sports. We mentioned football, they possess almost the same dedication to cricket. And knowing about the nitty gritty of the game will aid you in making new friends. A few pointers: The Aussies are the enemy on the cricket field, make a point to mention the 2005 Ashes series and remember the Oval is not merely a shape – rather a hallowed piece of cricketing ground in London.
Tea, not Coffee
Yes, Starbucks does exist but you will want to make your way to a street café and have tea instead and preferably a traditional English muffin.
This article is a prime part of Europe Travel Tips, and will help you brave the land of the English.
Esme Craig is a freelance writer and a history teacher, she loves to travel and explore different cultures due to the subject that she teaches, she works for Business World Travel as a travel blogger.
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