I’m traveling to the uk in September and I want to be the most respectful person I can be while I’m there, so how do I not become the stereotypical American tourist?

29 comments

  2. Self awareness is a very good start

    I’ve never really thought of Americans to be annoying, just don’t tend to understand our humour much.

    I think it also depends where in the UK you’ll be visiting. If you’re going to London, no one will bat an eyelid you’re American whereas if you go to a smaller town they may be intrigued by you/ your accent

  3. Bring your speaking volume down a notch.

    Don’t call historical buildings “quaint” or “cute”.

    Don’t go around telling people you’re English/Irish/Scottish/Welsh, based on a long dead ancestor.

    Treat your religious views like your genitals: it’s OK to be proud of them, but don’t go waving them around in public.

  4. Basically just behave the same way you do back home to be honest. Don’t ask silly stereotypical questions like ‘have you met the queen?!’ Or assume everyone is from London. Don’t mock or imitate peoples accents if you do consider them to be stereotypical ‘British accents’. Things like that really. Just essentially don’t be ignorant or be an asshole.

  5. Fair play to you for asking mate, all i can say is take your hat off indoors. Its bloody rude to wear a hat indoors

  7. The fact that you’re asking shows a level of self-awareness not shown by many, so just be yourself. If anyone takes umbrage with you, just chant “USA USA” until they leave

  8. Don’t say “what” if you need something repeated. Its excuse me or pardon. Its normal in America but we think its a bit rude

  9. Londoners are a lot friendlier than people think. For the most part (despite “hating tourists”), we enjoy meeting people from the US. Don’t be afraid to strike up conversation with people in the pub if it seems appropriate. Buy your round.

    Don’t focus too much on trying traditional British food. It’s good and can definitely be found in London but we have some of the best food from all around the world, so make sure you don’t miss out.

  10. If you’re waiting at a bar, don’t wave money in front of the bartender’s face or push money close up into their face.

    That’s the only genuinely annoying thing I’ve experienced American tourists doing.

    Just wait your turn, even if it doesn’t seem like there is a queue – the bartender will have taken a mental note of the order in which the customers will be served.

  11. Americans are always posting things like this in this sub.

    Honestly just be yourself, we don’t really care.

  12. Don’t look at an old building and say “it’s just like Harry potter,” some British people do this too and it really gets on my nerves. Make sure to try traditional food like sausage rolls, pasties or a Sunday roast at a pub. Other than that just use general common sense, don’t take stereotypes too seriously and don’t be an asshole.

    If you’re in London get to the big museums and look at the popular exhibits as early as possible because they get so busy later that you can’t enjoy it. I can also highly recommend mecarto metropolitano on a Friday or Saturday evening.

    Enjoy your stay here.

  13. Don’t repeat anything that you may have heard on Fox News, especially not the claim that Birmingham is ‘100% Muslim’!

  14. We don’t really have a tipping culture like you guys.

    Unfortunately we have started to adopt some practices from you guys and some eateries will add a service charge but it’s discretionary so don’t feel like you have to pay for it. Ask for it to be removed.

    Before you tip someone 50p or £50, find out what things cost so you have some understanding of what you are giving.

    If in London and you want to see a west end show, don’t get ripped off by some 3rd party ticket office. Go to TKTS in Leicester Sq !

    The price you see on the menu/label is the price you pay. We don’t add sales tax on at the till.

    We prefer hushed tones and we don’t need to know your life story!!

    If someone say “alright” as a greeting, the expected reply is “yes” or “yes, you?”

    We drive on the left (except outside the Savoy Hotel).

    Most pubs and some cafes are “bar service” not table service (changed a bit due to CoVid) so don’t sit at a table like a plonker wondering why no one is serving you.

    Cash is still used here so do change up some $ for £ but credit cards / contactless payments are expected more and more.

    Public transport varies and trains aren’t cheap especially at peak times.

    Stonehenge and Bath are quite a way from London so when someone tries to sell you a day trip doing both, expect to be out late and spend a long time on a coach.

    Don’t try and swear like us. Wanker, Bollocks and Twat just sound wrong when said with an American accent.

  16. Don’t talk extremely loudly, and don’t make the old “bo’oh’O’wa’er” or “Chewsday” joke

  17. Just avoid talking super loud or being overly friendly with strangers and you’ll be fine.

  20. Swearing, is rife in this country. Don’t clutch your pearls if you hear the C word. For a fair a amount of people it’s just a filler word.

  21. Don’t necessarily expect to be able to strike up a conversation with strangers. We are more reserved. People will probably respond and be polite, but are less likely to engage you back in a full conversation than a fellow American.

    I’ve experienced the reverse. I have been taken for rude in America before because I wasn’t very chatty with a random stranger who started talking to me.

  23. Wait in queues.
    Dont smile or say hi to everyone you see.
    Respect the police.
    Dont ask people if they have met the queen.
    Dont make fun of accents.
    Dont claim america saved Britain in ww2, its simply not the case.
    Keep your voice down.
    Dont make a big deal out of red buses, or red phone boxes, or red post boxes, or black cabs.
    Dont assume you are covered under the NHS, unless you have travel insurance, you are not.
    Dont assume you can bring your gun to the UK. 2nd ammendment means nothing here.
    Dont look at an old building and say “its like harry potter.”
    Dont tip unless there’s a tip jar.
    Dont cry if you hear the word c#nt or fag. The C word is very common here, and fag means cigarette. F#ggot however isnt appropriate.

    If going to London/Royal residences:
    The Queens Guard are part of the British Armed Forces, and cycle between ceremonial duty and time in barracks. They are serving soldiers, they deploy. Respect them. Stay out of the way. Dont touch them or anything to do with them, give them at least a ft of space. Dont try and make them laugh. They are the equivalent of the guards at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the US.

  26. When you order food say ‘please can I have’ instead of ‘can I get’

    One thing people here hate is lack of manners. I’ve lived here all my life and people expect a please/thank you when you so much as breathe in their direction

  27. All I can say is, please just make sure you really research what it is that you want to do and the places you want to see as stuff isn’t going to drop out of thin air for you, you gotta start planning and booking things now. Other than that, just be yourself man. My experience with Americans is that they’re usually very friendly and people will let any social faux pas slide knowing you’re a tourist.

    EDIT: I’ll add, when it comes to places to eat make sure they’re actual restuarants with good reviews and don’t mistake something like wetherspooons as such. Tourists tend to get suckered into going to places that sell very mediocre food as they present outwardly to the untrained eye as something a bit more.

  28. Act yourself. If they don’t like the way you are then they can fuckoff. Coming from a British person.

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