I’ve been here for about 5 months (Norwich, PhD student) and I like how polite and kind people are here. They thank the bus driver, they say sorry a lot, they help a stranger like me who’s not European. It’s not that I expected you to be racists (lol), but I also didn’t expect this level of compassion. So, I wonder, is this common in all of your cities? I’ve heard people in London are not so polite, but haven’t been there yet.
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Yep, the stereotype definitely has a basis in fact.
You are also correct about London.
Polite to people you don’t know/like. Absolute dickhead to your best mate. That’s the rule.
Apparently it wasn’t always this way; certainly not in Scotland. But just over 300 years ago the Scots has this ‘Scottish Enlightenment’ thing. So before it one could hardly travel 10 miles in Scotland without a stranger attempting to rob you blind, Then, with the SE, everyone was now being curteous to each other. Calling each other ‘gentlemen’. Saying please and thankyou, wishing each other a ‘good day’. Within 50 years the culture of Scotland has been transformed.
I’ve not noticed any actual difference between people in London and any other city that I’ve been to in the UK to be honest.
But is politeness common among British folks ? To your face Yes unless you’ve upset them, they’re drunk or they’re high… behind your back, not so much đ
It’s when Brits stop being overly polite to your face that you know you’ve been accepted. Also, I hate to burst the bubble, but we do have more than our fair share of racists.
Norwich is lovely*; I often go there for a break from Bury St Edmunds.
Treat yourself to lunch in the cafe on the top floor of Jarrolds. Recently I asked an assistant there where I should put my tray after I finished; she smiled nicely as she took it from me and whispered, ‘That’s John Lewis’.
Then visit the cathedral to see the beautiful copper font, formerly used to make Rowntree’s toffee.
*Except the drug problem and drunk students in termtime (ETA unless of course you’re one of the latter, in which case they’re lovely too.)
I mean, we try, I think. There’s no reason not to be polite to people, is there? Everyone likes to feel appreciated and we’re all just trying to get through the day as best we can.
I’m really happy to hear you are having a positive experience of our country. Norwich is a beautiful city, isn’t it?
Iâd say most people are pretty polite, to say please and thank you doesnât take much effort really.
Although you donât want to be on the end of a sarcastic UK thank you.
Example. Holding the door open for someone who doesnât say thank you would be swiftly followed by a under breath âthank you thenâ. Completed by an eye roll.
Just got back from NYC – if you walk into someone accidentally in the UK thereâs a general back and forth of apology – not there there isnât.
That depends alot on where you are and what your doing. If you in Plymouth asking for a tea you would expect everyone to be polite. If your in west Belfast wearing a rangers top celebrating Oliver Cromwell you might get a different response
Yes, most people are quite polite.
Londoner here.
Grrrrrrrr.
Wait til you figure out sorry doesnt always mean sorry and excuse me is not for good manners…
… but generally yes politeness gets you miles and most people will be (genuinely) polite.
I wish it was so. We used to be renowned the world over for our politeness but I find nowadays as a society we are rude, arrogant, ignorant, entitled and bad mannered.
For me itâs pretty 50/50. I work in hospitality so get my fair share of rude people who lack even just the bare minimum of politeness.
Itâs made me more polite when Iâm a customer somewhere.
Outwardly yeah, and thanking the bus driver & bartenders etc. is very standard, but if you piss someone off they’ll inwardly seethe at you even if they won’t say anything.
Go to London, and I guarantee youâll either be mugged or not appreciated. Catch the train to London, stopping at Rejection, Disappointment, Backstabbing Central, and Shattered Dreams Parkway.
Only until you try jumping a queue.
TBF if you’re in Norwich …. Everybody will be polite to their immediate family #incestklaxon
Compassion and social responsibility is a human thing but I believe British people not all but the majority are kind compassionate and know itâs the little things that make us feel better, the media would have everyone believing we all dislike each other especially foreigners wich is actually a total lie in my area everyone mixes with everyone else no problem no racial tension and basic levels of politeness so I would say yes the.British are a polite forward thinking humans that believe in social justice and personal freedom and responsibility
I had to teach my husband, not from uk, to say thank you if someone handed him something or a waiter brought an order.
People in London are rude as all fuck. You will be lucky to get out alive. Do not go there under any circumstances.
There are very few English in London now , they’ve all moved to Southend and Brighton. You’ll find high levels of Oz in Golders Green, loads of Irish or Scots in Earls Court, but every where else is an English desert.
yeah its pretty much one of the best places on the earth. Welcome!
I live in suffolk now but I’ve lived in Yorkshire, London, Birmingham, Hampshire, Home counties, Merseyside and some other places. London people are polite enough but I agree with the general rule that you’ll face more overt friendliness the more North and more rural you get. The exception, unfortunately (in my experience) is if you’re not white, where big cities are more multicultural and accepting. This is obviously a massive generalisation and the vast majority of people everywhere in the UK are cool but the pockets of ‘old fashioned opinions’ seem slightly bigger up North
I insisted my young children say thank you to the lady collecting their empty plates in the pub yesterday lunchtime. Important to be respectful and also polite. Goes a long way
Make sure you watch some Alan partridge if youâre in Norwich
I lived in London for 8 years in my 20s and early 30s. Mostly everyone is trying to get somewhere – and fast. Hence why they get pissed off if you stand on the wrong side of the escalator.
However, if you need help they’re also generally pretty polite. Like if you drop something, are lost, need a door holding, got pram on the underground, they (mostly) really try to help. It’s just that people aren’t really having small talk and are just trying to get through the crowds to their next appointment or whatever.
We’re polite to your face, then bitch behind your back.
Interacting with the general public on a day-to-day basis, I feel the idea of âBritish politenessâ is somewhat of a myth. Speaking purely from personal experience of course, but people donât really do manners when theyâve got an axe to grind. Usually just get a load of microaggressions and entitled moaning, predominately from the older generation.
No, and your question is unwelcome – good day to you.
After living my whole life in England and travelling a lot, common theme is that people never really go out of there way to say hello to you or attempt to speak to you unless you do something for them. for example, holding a door or just common courtesy to help them out. other than that though you can sit in an office with a hundred people and never interact with one of them simply because there is no benefit to you interacting with them or them interacting with you
In conclusion mostly every one has good manners and are polite nice people just are not very social