Tips for the London Traveler

Many of my friends from home have asked me whether or not I've learned how to be a true Londoner, and the answer is- I hope so?
It is pretty obvious when you're out on the streets of London who the tourists are, and Londoners aren't exactly known for being the friendliest bunch 

(to all of my London friends apologies, you're lovely, but I know even I can get really snarky when its 40 celsius on the tube and you just want to get home from work)

So, I've devised a list of things travelers need to know before making the leap over the big pond. 

1. Know where the queue (line) ends and where it begins and NEVER cut it- if there is one thing you can do to piss off some Londoners, it is to try and skip the queue. No exceptions! You've been warned. 

2. When you're walking on the sidewalk, pull left not right when someone is walking towards you. This has become second nature to me now, but at first it was really weird.

3. When you're in the Tube stations, stand to the right on escalators, people continue to walk on the left! People who want to get to work or home quickly will be speed walking on the left side and aren't too happy when they have to ask by.

4. There is no ice- like... ever. It is rarely served in water or sodas. So, if you want ice ya gotta ask for it, and lots of places don't even consider keeping it, so you might just be SOL.

5. People are genuinely helpful most of the time, so if you're lost just ask someone who looks like they know where they're going.

6. Unspoken rules of the tube are don't stare at someone for more than two seconds, don't talk loudly if you're with another person or a group, if you're standing super close because it is crowded look down at your feet so people don't feel uncomfortable. These are dumb rules, but you're trying to fit in, right? 

7. ALWAYS let people OFF the tube before you try to get on. This is what I most commonly see people getting told off for. If you're blocking the doors and not giving a clear path, you might get yelled at and no one wants that scene with fifty other people around you.

8. Walk briskly not leisurely on sidewalks.

9. Tipping at restaurants is different here- 7-10% max is given, sometimes they automatically include 12% into your total. Don't tip in cabs unless they were especially friendly or efficient. You're going to feel like a jerk, and that never goes away. I still haven't gotten past it!

10. Adapt  your vocabulary:

UK                                 vs.                 US

Where is the 'toilet'?--------->  bathroom?

going on a 'bender'----------->we're 'partying' hard 

A 'bobby'-------------------------> Policeman

Look at those 'birds'!---------------> 'cute girls'

I'd fancy some 'mash'------------>mashed potatoes

"How have you found London?"--> How do you like it

'mobile'------------------------------->  cell phone

'Cheers'------------------------------->'thanks'  

chips---------------------------------> fries

crisps-------------------------------->chips

Pint of cider----------------------->hard sparkly apple cider, it is as popular and well stocked as the draft beers

Pint----------------------------------->beer, they don't use the word 'beer' here at all

cab------------------------------------->taxi

cabbie------------------------------->taxi driver

lift---------------------------------->elevator

flat----------------------------------->apartment

biscuit---------------------------------->cookie

diary------------------------>pocket calendar/planner

trousers-------------------------------> pants

Pants--------------------------------->underwear
(I learned this one the hard way when I told a girl at church that I liked her pants...ugh. Shoot me.)

Pudding----------------------------> dessert

fag---------------------------------> cigarette

"would you fancy"-------------->would you like

first floor----->one above ground level, aka 2nd floor

"Its 40 degrees out!"--------> really hot, boiling

"Its 25 degrees out!"---------> perfect weather

"Its -2 degrees out!"-----------> cold

Holiday-----------------------> vacation



11. You're gonna want to have this map with you at all times until you can memorize it...

12. London runs on military time, might as well get used to it, or risk missing ticket times...
13.00= 1pm           
14.00= 2pm
15.00=3pm
16.00=4pm...
You get the idea.

13. Americans care WAY more about the British Monarchy than the British do. I'm guessing this has something to do with our obsession with a fairytale ending. Meanwhile, this picture about sums it up..

14. And finally, a lesson on how to make a British person a cuppa (cup of tea) for teatime.

1. Turn on water boiler
2. Put tea bag in cup
3. Once water boiler has clicked off, pour water slowly over the tea bag (this allows for more teabag contact and therefore more caffeine)
4. Stir with spoon and let the teabag sit for a minute or two
5. Once it has been allowed time to sit, take out the tea bag (unless requested to leave it in) and add sugar and milk or cream per request. 

This is an important step process for the English! They find that Americans usually don't do it right (myself included before I was taught) and there is NOTHING worse than a bad cuppa!!

Cheers, y'all!

Carly