Many people considering a move to the UK will believe they have a good knowledge of what life is like in the nation before they visit, thanks to its wide-ranging depiction in popular culture.
However, everyday life in the United Kingdom is quite different from what you see or read on the Internet or watch on the telly; it’s certainly not all donning tweed and inviting the Queen round for afternoon tea. If you’re planning on moving to the UK, here we reveal some aspects of the culture here that might surprise you.
We’re Not Direct People
The Sydney Morning Herald once observed that “Brits speak in coded manner to match their stereotypical national characteristics of excessive formality and over-politeness to avoid confrontation”.
Indeed, us Brits are not direct people. What Brits say and what they mean are often very different things.
A YouGov survey revealed that most non-Brits would miss the passive-aggressive British subtext in everyday phrases. For example when us Brits say “with the greatest respect”, what we really mean is that we think you’re an idiot. Or, when we say “that is a very brave proposal”, what we really mean is that “you have lost your mind”.
Yep, us Brits are indirect communicators and if you’re moving here, it’s a good idea to get a grasp of our indirect code. Why don’t you come round for dinner and we’ll help you understand?
We got you… According to that same survey we mentioned two paragraphs prior, foreigners are in danger of actually expecting a meal when it is not forthcoming. When we say “you must come round for dinner”, we don’t actually mean it. We’re probably just being polite.
We Have A Dry, Sarcastic Sense Of Humour
Just like the confusing subtext of our everyday phrases, British humour is often considered a perplexing enigma to visitors. However, to get under its skin is to discover a delightful concoction of sarcasm, irony, self-deprecation, and wit.
For an immigrant looking to integrate more efficiently into British Society, then one of the best things you can do is to learn about our humour.
The first thing you have to do is embrace the self-deprecating nature of British humour. Brits love to poke fun at themselves, turning their own flaws and mishaps into comedic gold. So, when in Britain, don’t be afraid to laugh at your own misfortunes – it’s all part of the charm.
Next, prepare yourself for a heavy dose of sarcasm and irony, delivered with such deadpan precision that you might question whether it was a joke or a serious statement.
Keep an eye out for subtle cues like a proud smile or a twinkle in the eye to help you decipher the true intent behind the words. To get an understanding of a certain style of British humour, watch some classic British comedies like Alan Partridge, The Office, The Thick Of It, The Inbetweeners and Peep Show, and soon enough, you’ll appreciate the wit and charm of our sense of humour.
Read: Moving to London? Some considerations before you relocate
The Art Of Queuing
In his essay on the English, George Orwell commented that foreigners would be struck by the orderly behaviour and “the willingness to form queues” of the British people. Which may be why George Mikes, a Hungarian-born British author, famously remarked that “an Englishman, even if he is alone, forms an orderly queue of one”.
Indeed, the British have a reputation for loving a queue and display amazing queue etiquette without being told. Take the Wimbledon queue. However, in reality and contrary to worldwide perceptions, our love for queuing is a misnomer. Much like we tolerate England’s grey skies and rain, we tolerate queuing in a begrudging manner. For Brits, it’s often a case of standing in the back of the queue while complaining about the queue.
Queuing of course isn’t unique to Britain. You’re likely to be more impressed with the orderly queues on Thailand’s BTS, where well-mannered travellers wait in perfectly formed lines for the train’s door to open, than you will be by the versions here.
However, there is an unspoken etiquette of queuing that one should know if moving to the UK, which includes:
- Always join the back. If in doubt ask “is this the back of the queue?” to avoid offending anyone.
- Never jump the line or push in.
- It’s generally acceptable to ask someone to hold your place in the queue if you really need the bathroom.
- Feel free to roll your eyes, tut or say “excuse me” in a terse way if someone pushes infront of you.
It should be noted that when the UK devised its inaugural citizenship exam in 2010, how to form a good queue was on it. And while learning how to queue isn’t actually one of the legal requirements to move to the UK, it is important to learn aspects of our culture when moving here. Indeed, those wanting to obtain UK citizenship have to take a multiple-choice test on Britain, its history and way of life.
We Love Football
Speaking of the British citizenship test for those wishing to have permanent residency in the UK, one question that has been on the test is ”which sport can be traced back to the 15th century?”.
The answer is golf. It’s a bit of a trick question as most people think of football in connection with the UK. In fact, the English invented the sport in 1170 and as any proud Brit will tell you, it is England’s national sport.
In the UK, football is more than just a sport; it’s a way of life. It’s a unifying force that brings people together, regardless of their background or social status. So, if you ever find yourself in the United Kingdom, don’t be surprised if you’re swept up in the frenzy of football fever.
As such, your moving to the UK checklist (culturally speaking) should include finding a football team to support with fervour and fury.
The Importance Of Tea
Ah, the British love for tea; a steamy affair that has kept the nation brewing for centuries. Researchers at instant boiling water tap makers Redring estimate that the average Brit guzzles down an astonishing 66,685 cups of tea over their lifetime. Sherlock Holmes himself declared “there’s nothing like a hot cuppa to quicken the mind, Watson. Perhaps this is what keeps Scotland Yard always one step behind.”
Other steamy statistics suggest that the average British person drinks 884 cups of tea per year. Or, as Sir Ivo Tiffinsworth, famed Victorian explorer, once put it, “enough tea goes down a British person’s throat to fill a decent-sized bathtub.”
It actually works out as about two and a half cups a day – yes you read that right, half a cup; because every British household you enter will have half a cup of undrunken cold cup of tea in it, somewhere.
Us Brits even argue about how best to make tea. Some who are very wrong argue that you should add the milk first, others who are correct contest that you should add the it after the tea has brewed.
If you’re moving to the UK permanently, it’s a good idea to learn that it’s customary to offer guests a cup of tea upon arrival, and declining might be seen as impolite. If you’re working in an office, then the worst thing you can do is to make a “selfish cuppa” – you must offer to make one for your whole team.
Oh, and you should always ask how someone likes their tea. Ours is a strong builder’s, dash of milk, no sugar. If you’re asking, course…
Fancy A Pint & A Packet Of Crisps?
If you’ve ever read George Orwell’s famous essay about his favourite (albeit imaginary) public house, the Moon Under Water, then you’ll have an understanding of why us Brits cling to our pubs. They are a cornerstone of British culture, serving as social hubs in physical form and social lubricants in liquid form, bringing people together. For centuries, us Brits have been perfecting the art of bonding over pints, and cracking jokes amidst the scent of stale ale.
The benefits of British pubs are many. As Tom Stainer, chief executive of the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra), told the Guardian; “A local can increase your number of friends, your wellbeing, your happiness and your mental health”. Moreover, they offer refuge from the incessant raindrops off Britain’s grey skies.
Unfortunately, due to soaring energy costs and rising food prices many pubs are shutting down. As reported by the Independent 386 pubs were lost for good last year and currently, approximately 51 pubs are closing down per month. When pubs are forced to close it’s a huge loss to the local community.
If you’re moving to the UK, join the fight in keeping our pub culture alive. It’s a great way to meet new people and immerse oneself in the local community. Here’s some pub etiquette tips for when you visit your local…
- Queue for your brew: Jumping the queue for your tipple is simply sacrilegious.
- Cheers, mate: Raise your glass and clink it with your neighbour, even if they’re a complete stranger. In fact, the pub is just about the only place where talking to strangers is acceptable.
- Musical chairs: Engage in the age-old tradition of stealing someone’s seat when they pop out for a quick smoke. Just for laughs, mind.
- Sharing snacks: It’s an unwritten rule that when you’re in the pub and you buy a packet of crisps, you must split the bag open (”hippy style”) so all of your squad can enjoy them. The same goes for pork scratchings and nuts.
British Food Is Actually Very Good
Britain’s food receives a lot of criticism for being bland, boiled and fifty shades of beige. However, this reputation is undeserved. Much-maligned globally, there’s plenty to love about the grub on these shores, boasting fine-dining temples of gastronomy, greasy spoon cafes, and everything in between.
We’ve got excellent produce, a rich heritage and a long food history that’s paved the way for a plethora of restaurants serving world-class modern British food alongside classic chippies, pie shops and curry houses, many of which are very, very good.
Of course, like any country there are bad cooks and good cook as there are poor ingredients and quality ones. There’s nothing worse than soggy fish and chips or a bland pie with a soggy bottom. You have to hunt for the best.
When it comes to our fresh produce, we’d go as far as saying it’s one of the main benefits of moving to the UK. Don’t believe us? Then you haven’t experienced summer strawberry and British berry season. Nor have you enjoyed the delights of our glorious game or marvellous mackerel season. Oh, and it is a well known fact that British food is produced to some of the highest environmental and animal welfare standards in the world.
Before you pass judgement on British food, try a proper pie, some bangers and mash with onion gravy, an Eton mess, a real Cornish pasty or a plate of Scottish langoustines, and we bet you’ll be pleasantly surprised.
Read: The best fry-ups in London
A Penchant For Pardons
Apologising unnecessarily and all the time is an inherently British thing to do.
Indeed, a study commissioned by PiCKUP! revealed that the average Brit apologises a whopping eight times a day, amounting to 4,380 times a year. And it doesn’t stop there – 88% of Brits say sorry for things that aren’t even their fault. Bumped into by a stranger? Sorry. Rain ruining your day? Sorry about that too.
Yep, if someone stands on our foot at a gig or bumps into us with their shopping trolley at a supermarket, whether we’re the victim of an incident or not, a sorry will be blurted out. But why, you ask? It turns out that saying sorry is deeply ingrained in British culture as a way of showing good manners.
Us Brits often use the word “sorry” in a way that can seem unusual and even inappropriate to visitors to these shores.
As the BBC explains, “British society values that its members show respect without imposing on someone else’s personal space, and without drawing attention to oneself: This is something that linguists refer to the as “negative-politeness” or “negative-face”… the British will say ‘sorry’ to someone they don’t know because they’d like to ask for some information, or to sit down next to them – and because not saying ‘sorry’ would constitute an even greater invasion of that stranger’s privacy.”
Now, if you’ll excuse us, we must apologise for taking up your time with this delightful insight into the world of British culture. Cheers!