Things to Do and Not to Do in London

Each country of the world has its own traditional and cultural values and its typical customs and if you wish to visit a foreign country it would make life easier for you if study their customs and get familiar with them beforehand. By following those customs, you will not inadvertently annoy them and you will have a pleasant stay. England also has its typical customs and cultural rules that you should be aware of, before visiting the country.

The Do’s

Greet People You Meet: The Brits are sophisticated people who believe in etiquettes and as such they greet people they are introduced to with a simple ‘Hello’ and a handshake. However, if it is a formal occasion, they follow it up with ’How do you do?’ You should always be polite with them but avoid being too affectionate. Just one kiss on the cheek would be sufficient.

Carry an Umbrella: It is advisable to keep an umbrella with you whenever you are going outdoors as English weather is most unpredictable and it may rain at any time.

Keep the Volume Low: The Brits consider silence to be golden and as such, you should speak only when necessary and that too in a low volume. If you are enjoying with friends at a restaurant or travelling on a bus or the tube, you should not be too loud in your conversation. If you speak loudly, you will get meaningful glances.

Be on Time for Your Appointments: Punctuality is one of the virtues of the English and they expect others also to be on time for an appointment. Even if someone asks you to come at any time, you should call him before visiting him at home. As a matter of courtesy you should take a small gift such as a bouquet of flowers or chocolates.

Talk about the Weather: If you wish to break the ice and start a conversation with a Brit, the best thing is to talk about the weather as they love to do so.

Have Tea: The Brits love to take tea and consume most tea in the world. If you wish to have a scintillating conversation with a Brit, just arrange to have tea with him.

If you are visiting London you should choose one of the hotels near Paddington for your stay as they are located at a very strategic place which is close to most attractions in central London and also to Paddington Station that offers convenient links to most places of the city, especially to Heathrow Airport.

The Don’ts

Don’t Mind being called ‘Duck’ or ‘Mate’: The Brits use many affectionate terms without any mal-intentions such as duck, mate, dearie, chuck, son, miss, or treacle. As such, you should not mind being called by any of these names.

Don’t Drive on the Right Side of the Road: UK is one of the few countries where you have to drive on the left side of the road. As such, you should make sure that you adjust to driving on this side and concentrate on your driving and avoid panicking.

Don’t Wait to See the Queen Outside the Buckingham Palace: The Queen hardly stays at Buckingham Palace and even if she is there, it is highly unlikely that she can be sighted from outside. As such it is futile to wait outside the palace hoping against hope to catch a glimpse of her or of any member of the Royal family.

Don’t Get Confused Between the Tower Bridge and the London Bridge:  The Tower Bridge is the current bridge between the City of London and Southwark in Central London whereas the London Bridge refers to several bridges that have been built over the Thames. As such, you should not loosely call the Tower Bridge as London Bridge.

Some Other Tips: The tube system in London is every local’s pride and as such you should not speak ill of it. If you are not a Brit, you should not try to put on a British accent as you will end up making a fool of yourself. Do not compare UK with the United States of America and avoid criticising the weather that brings constant rain or the high price of fuel. Do not criticise the British cuisine as locals will not like it at all. Although the Brits are not really smitten with their Royal family, they certainly do not like anyone criticising the blue-blooded family. As such, do not be too critical of them in front of a Brit.

It is not necessary to answer if someone asks you ‘How do you do’ and vice versa if you ask someone that question a prompt reply may not be given by the person. If you wish to do sightseeing and exploring the country, you may face several problems because of the unpredictable and incessant rains. As such, you can choose an affordable car rental service so that you can move around comfortably.