 | United Kingdom Local Customs | Tips 1 - 10 of 336 |  |
Popular Local Customs | Other Local Customs Tips | All Tips (336) 1 pint = No change to your English
2 pints = Your English goes up a level
3 pints = Your English goes up a level
(but the grammar disappears)
4 pints = You become very fluent, but start mixing English with your own language
5 pints = You discover you can sing in English, and are brilliant at karaoke
6 pints = You suddenly know lots of taboo words in English (fortunately no one else seems to understand them)
7 pints = You can?t speak English at all (and also forget your own language)
over 7 = You start speaking American English
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'Good morning', 'good afternoon' and 'good evening' are all formal, and mainly used for sevices (e.g. in hotels) and if you don't know the person very well. To be less formal (for example, when greeting a stranger on a country walk) we often miss out the 'good' part' and just say 'morning', 'afternoon', evening'.
'Hello' is often used on the phone, and is also suitable for meeting people in a less formal situation.
'Hi' is very informal, is not often used by elderly people and is best kept for friends or for meeting new people in a relaxed situation.
When we leave formally, we say 'goodbye', but often shorten this to 'bye' in less formal situations. There are also many informal ways to take your leave ....'see ya (you)'. 'tara', 'cheerio' etc. Leave a Comment
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April 1st is April Fool's Day, when you can play tricks and jokes until midday. There are usually joke articles in newspapers, and sometimes on television too. Probably on websites as well! If you catch someone out with a trick, they are an 'April Fool'. Leave a Comment
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......in several different ways. 'Thank you' and 'thank you very much' are quite formal, and are often replaced with just 'thanks'. 'Cheers' is increasingly popular (not just when you drink alcohol), and sometimes the( very informal) 'ta'. 'Much obliged' still exists, though it's a bit old-fashioned. English is a very confusing language!
In Wales, of course, you may be thanked in Welsh ...diolch yn fawr (' dee-olk un vowr') which is often shortened to 'diolch'. Leave a Comment
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Our public telephone boxes used to be red, enclosed and much-loved (although frequently abused). British Telecom decided to do away with them in the 90's, but some still remain. You are most likely to find them in small villages, where local people felt strongly enough to fight to keep the traditional box, which fits in so much better than the ugly modern glass ones. Leave a Comment
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Tipping is a nationwide custom in Britain and for good reason. From what I've been told some employees have to rely on tips to make up their income as wages sometimes are not that good.
Coming from Australia I was not familiar with this custom but tried hard to comply. I did'nt eat in restaurants where table sevice was given so didn't need to tip waiters etc. Cafes had small bowls on the counter where spare change could be deposited.
Taxi drivers were always well tipped as my luggage got a bit heavy and and I was grateful for their help.
Sometimes I just completely forgot to tip someone and I absolutely refused to tip bad service. Leave a Comment
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Public Houses are a way of life in the U.K. and Ireland. The opening ours are mostly restricted and they usually close before midnight. Pubs are the heart of many villages and neighbourhoods. People meet and greet, gather to enjoy each other there. Beers and ales are wide and varied and it's fun to try different types. I've yet to pick a favourite, but i'm still looking. Pubs can be modern and cold, attracting the younger set. My favourites are the more traditional types of pubs. Most of them serve food and it's a great place to get relatively inexpensive meals and they aren't all deep fried heart attacks on plates anymore. Many of them are catering to more healthy choices and vegetarian choices as well as traditional fare like bangers (sausages) and mash (mashed potatoes loaded with gravy).
A Ploughman's Lunch is often a filling meal, with cold meat, cheese, a dark rich relish called Branston pickle and let's not forget the pickled onion and sometimes, pate.
You'll probably find some congenial company too. Well, at least the bartender will probably be chatty. Just remember, you have to get your drinks and order your food at the bar, they don't come to the table and wait on you. You don't tip either, but you can offer the bartender a drink and he or she will take the price of a drink from your change as the tip. "And one for yourself"
Guide to pub etiquette:
http://www.sirc.org/publik/ptpchap1.html Leave a Comment
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Sunglasses needed!
Lots of people in the UK are wearing bright fluorescent yellow jackets - luckily it is not sunny so often or your eyes would hurt!
This is not fashion - it is purely "health and safety" gone mad. First it was cyclists and motorcyclists, to be seen by drivers. Then it progressed to construction workers and anyone near machines, like at harbours and airports. Then the police and traffic wardens and little children on their way to school in winter.
Most clothing in UK is quite dull, so these "high visibility" yellow jackets are a sight for sore eyes.
It has gone crazy.
The man in this picture is a labourer on his lunch break - in Kirkwall, Orkney. Leave a Comment
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The first pillar boxes in the UK appeared in 1840. Initially they were a dark green but the present red was quickly adopted. Prior to 1840 letters and mail were paid for on receipt. The present boxes are normally round but these very early one were octagonal, this box is outside Worcester Cathedral.
The photo is of the 1857 fluted Victoriar pillar box from my Malvern page.
It is a very reliable service compared to most parts of the world. Leave a Comment
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Visit St. Barbe Museum and Art Gallery. The area has seen a thriving salt industry, smugglers landing their illegal cargoes on the coast, and has a long tradition of innovative boat building. The museum's aim is to capture the unique flavor of life in the district and to bring first class art exhibitions into the town. Leave a Comment
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