The root of the British culture is in the rich history of the United kingdom, the people and the four countries that include Wales, England, Northern Ireland and also Scotland. Each of these places have their own unique traditions and customs. The British culture as well as the British norms are very unique in themselves. If you are planning to go to any country, it is essential to know about the social culture and norms of that country.
It is true that you can also know about some facts about the UK from television shows and also internet. You may have even visited the countries before but living in a different country is altogether a different experience. You might be staying anywhere in the United Kingdom and if you want to know about some of the norms of the British people, then you can go through the points that we have mentioned below:
- British people are extremely punctual
In Britain, being late is odd and sometimes it is also considered to be rude. If you come to know that you will be late for an appointment or a meeting try to contact those who are involved as soon as you come to know that you will be late. Moreover, it is less rude to be late in a dinner party in somebody’s residence in comparison to being late in a public meeting.
- You should never jump queues in UK
There are some countries where jumping the queue is considered to be acceptable, but in UK things are different. If you do so in the UK, the people will be unhappy with you and they will show you how unhappy they are. As a part of the British culture, you will have to stand patiently in the queue.
- Keeping arm’s length between you and the person you are talking
If you are too close to a person while talking then that is considered to be aggressive for the native in the UK.
- Please, Sorry and Thank You are very commonly used in everyday conversations
Some people are surprised by the fact that how polite the British people are. If you are an international student, you might not be used to this, however, you will soon get used to it.
- When you are greeting a good friend or a family member in the UK , you do not simply shake hands
Many times when you are greeting specially a female, you will greet her with a kiss on the cheek. On the other had if you are not a family member or a close friend then physical touch is considered to be uncomfortable or odd. You can simply shake hands but a bow and a smile is acceptable.
These cultural differences will help you to accept the life in the UK. Therefore, it is important that before you arrive there, you know about the British culture. This will ensure that you are not offending anyone, as you are getting used to the life in the UK. If you are not able to do this naturally, the British will automatically know that you are from out of town. With this knowledge, you will be able to get adjusted to the British norms better.
