The British are very polished when it comes to etiquette. Rules often govern their everyday life, but they don't mind. As they had a strong connection to various social classes, several rules of etiquette had evolved over the years. These were meant to make their lives classier.
Reserved attitude
They are more reserved than the Americans. They don't become too friendly when they first meet you. They maintain their spaces.Don't ask personal questions
They also don't ask any personal questions like weight, age, relationship status, or salary.Punctuality
Punctuality is very important in British culture. You will be considered to be rude to keep someone waiting. So, they are never late for any business or medical appointments or social events, like weddings. So, if you giving an interview at a British company, or visiting a doctor in England then you must arrive at the venue 5 to 10 minutes early to minimize the risk of being late. However, arriving too early at a social gathering is also considered to be rude as the host will be preparing to welcome the guests.Giving gifts
At a British dinner party, it is expected for the guest to bring a gift for the host. It can be a bouquet of flowers, wine, or chocolate. When giving gifts to someone, leave the price tag so that the person knows how much you have spent on the gift. This act is a way of telling them how much to spend when they give you a gift.Table manners
You must use cutlery to eat food at a lunch or dinner party. Using hands will be considered to be inappropriate. You must take the knife in the right hand and the fork in the left. You must point the prongs downwards and push the food backward with the knife. You shouldn't start eating once your food is served. You should wait for others to be served. It's polite to start eating after your host. To get an item on the table, don't reach over someone's plate; instead, ask that person to pass over the dish to you. While eating, you shouldn't keep your elbows leading on the table. It is considered rude to make any sound while eating. Actions like slurping, yawning, or talking with food in the mouth are very inappropriate in British culture. You must keep electronic devices like phones away when you are having dinner.Basic social manners
• The British love politeness when speaking to someone. So, say 'thank you' and 'please' whenever possible, even for minor favors like passing on your drink or giving you the changes after buying something from the shop. • If you are walking in a non-crowded place and you see someone coming then smile and greet that person. • You shouldn't turn up at someone's home without informing them in advance unless that person is a close family member or friend. • Whenever you enter someone's house, take your shoes off and compliment their home. • Don't spend time with your smartphone when you visit someone; engage in some kind of conversation. • After dinner or lunch, clean the table and offer to do the dishes when you visit someone. • Don't overstay at someone's place as you know that the person won't be able to go to bed unless you leave. • It is considered a good manner to stand when a person enters the room or holds the door open for a lady.
Queuing
It's a joy to watch the British people standing in a queue. They will maintain a neat and orderly queue when waiting to get into a venue or to board public transport. It is considered to be an offense to break a queue.Apologies
Just as often they say 'please' and 'thank you', they also apologize without any hesitation for their mistakes. They will also apologize even if it is not their fault. Don't be surprised to see more than one person apologize for an incident.Complaints
It is an irony that even after being such a polite citizen they enjoy complaining about different things. They will find ways to complain about little things like weather, grocery prices, and other things. They will complain openly if they are not satisfied with the product or service they bought.Use of slang
Despite being polite, the British use slang in their language often. They use terms like 'cheeky', 'cuppa', 'cheers, etc. which are not proper English terms.Tipping
Tipping the waiter, taxi driver, or anyone giving you service is a common practice in Britain. When you are dining in a restaurant, check your bill. If it doesn't include the service charge then you can give a tip equivalent to 10% of your bill or any amount you desire.Greetings and meetings
When you meet someone in a formal or informal setting you should greet that person with a firm handshake, a smile, and direct eye contact. Double-cheek kiss is only appropriate for the close ones.As the British are very polite, you won't notice them insulting anyone very often. They don't point out someone's flaws. They don't comment on how fat or slim they are. British etiquette and manner are a blend of tradition and consideration of others. There are good things to learn from their culture as many other cultures lack them. It is a good thing to be nice to people and learn the proper manners from a young age. That way a person can comfortably carry out the proper etiquette in any environment. You must not forget that your etiquette and manner say a lot about your family and teachings. So, always try to maintain socially accepted behavior and kindness when you are around people.
