12 Unspoken Rules To Follow When You Travel to the United Kingdom

The United Kingdom is famous for its rich history, iconic landmarks, and distinct cultural etiquette. But beyond the royal palaces and afternoon tea, there are unspoken rules that visitors often overlook—ones that can make the difference between blending in and standing out as a tourist.

In the UK, we have a reputation for being grumpy, but honestly, that’s not the case. I promise we’re usually pretty cheerful. However, we occasionally get frustrated and angry when people don’t follow our unspoken rules.

For example, did you know that standing on the left side of the London Underground can annoy commuters?

Here are 12 rules you must follow when visiting the UK to learn more. As someone who has lived in the UK for over 27 years, I can help you avoid mistakes.

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Don’t Cut the Queue

One of the most important rules to follow when visiting the UK is not to cut the queue. None of us truly understand why we do it, but Brits have an obsession with queueing.

Whether lining up outside an attraction, waiting to board a bus, or queuing to get inside the best restaurants, Brits just can’t resist themselves.

That said, you must wait your turn patiently in line. Queue jumpers in the UK are frowned upon massively. In fact, don’t be surprised if a local confronts you about skipping the queue.

Honestly, in London, the locals would happily escort you to the Tower of London for skipping the line if they could.

Don’t Queue at the Bar

Okay, so we don’t want to confuse you, but the one time you shouldn’t queue in the United Kingdom is at the bar. That doesn’t mean you can jump straight to the front of the bar and demand a drink, but bar etiquette is slightly different.

In pubs and bars across the UK, it’s common practice to line up along the bar.

So, instead of queuing, cluster along the bar and fill in gaps. However, while doing this, take tabs on who was before you. That way, you can point the bar staff in their direction if they ask you first.

This may sound strange and overly complicated, but you’ll be surprised how easy it works and how polite everyone is.

Order Rounds at the Pub

On the topic of drinking, one of the most common unspoken rules in pubs across the UK is ordering rounds. Going to the pub isn’t just a frequent pastime for Brits; it’s an after-work and weekend ritual and how most of our socializing happens. That said, it has its dedicated etiquette and rules.

One of the unspoken rules is to order a round of drinks for the table, not just your drink. That said, if you’re visiting the UK with family and friends, take it in turns to buy rounds.

Going up one at a time to order your drinks will only annoy bar staff and other customers waiting to be served. This rule is fundamental if you’re going out for a drink with new friends.

Don’t Stand On The Left On the London Underground

One of the worst rules you can break in London is standing on the left on the London Underground. You’ll likely spot signs dotted around the tube stations telling you to avoid standing on the left, but there’s always someone who does.

You must know that the left side of the escalators is reserved for travelers in a rush. If you ignore this rule and stand on the left side of the escalator, you may be told off by a commuter in a rush for their train.

Trust me, I’ve seen an angry London commuter shouting at a tourist before, and it’s not a pretty sight.

Luckily, this rule is easy to follow. Simply stand on the right and give travelers in a rush plenty of space.

Leave a Tip

Tipping culture in the United Kingdom differs significantly from that in the United States. While tipping in the United States is somewhat expected, it isn’t a must in the UK.

However, there is an unspoken rule that we should leave at least a small tip if you’re happy with the service you received.

So, if you’ve enjoyed a delicious meal in a restaurant or were pleased with your Uber/Taxi driver, why don’t you leave them a tip? A 5 to 10% tip is acceptable in UK pubs and restaurants. Meanwhile, most people tip their taxi drivers one or two pounds.

Don’t worry; you won’t get shouted at for not leaving a tip.

Don’t Disrespect Local Cultures

One of the most serious unwritten rules you can break when visiting the United Kingdom is disrespecting local cultures. The UK takes its culture very seriously, so don’t be surprised if people become angry with you if you show disrespect.

For example, in Wales, locals will quickly become offended if you mock the Welsh language.

Meanwhile, in England, people won’t take kindly to you making jokes about the local cuisine. Worse yet, Scottish people don’t take kindly to being called English. Again, though, this is an easy rule to follow.

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If you think something you could say might offend somebody, simply don’t say it. That way, you won’t face the wrath of an angry Brit.

Use Good Manners

Using good manners is likely an unspoken rule anywhere in the world, but it’s arguably even more critical in the UK. We feel passionately about using good manners whenever and wherever possible in the United Kingdom. Therefore, you must do the same during your visit.

This includes saying “please” and “thank you,” greeting people you walk past in the streets and holding the door for people behind you.

Quite honestly, most British people, including me, get agitated when someone doesn’t hold a door for us or say “please” and “thank you.”

Conversely, a quick hello when passing someone in the morning can make them smile.

Keep Noise Levels Down in Public

One of the most annoying unspoken rules you can break in the UK is keeping noise levels down in public. Of course, there’s nothing wrong with talking to people, having fun, and being enthusiastic about your conversation, but not everybody needs to hear it. Most people in the UK prefer to keep to themselves.

That said, the last thing they want to experience on their commute to work is a noisy tourist. If you’re with friends or family, you might get away with being a little bit louder.

However, never, ever talk loudly on the phone in public. This is a surefire way to annoy the people around you. Instead, keep the volume down, or wait until you’re somewhere else to take the call.

Don’t Talk Politics

Politics in the UK have caused much tension in recent years, especially since Brexit, so it’s best to avoid discussing it during your visit. Political discussions are rare between tourists and locals, but they do happen. I can remember a couple of occasions when travelers asked me questions about British politics.

While most people aren’t too bothered by others asking political questions, many British people prefer to keep their views to themselves. That said, asking people which political party they support is probably not in your best interest.

An even bigger mistake would be to ridicule the UK’s current political state. Some people will be annoyed by this.

Never Assume the UK Is Only One Country

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A crucial unspoken rule you must follow in the UK is never to assume the UK is only one country. It may come as a surprise, but you’ll be amazed at the number of people who don’t realize the UK comprises four individual countries.

Worse yet, it’s not uncommon for people to assume Wales and Scotland are places in England.

The United Kingdom is a sovereign state, but the four countries that make it up are also countries in their own right. Those countries are England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

It won’t be surprising that referring to Wales, Scotland, or Northern Ireland as England or not recognizing them as countries will frustrate locals.

Don’t Try to Pay With £50 Notes

Even British people sometimes make the mistake of trying to pay for things with £50 notes. Unfortunately, many shops, cafes, pubs, and restaurants across the UK refuse to take these notes because there are many fraudulent notes in the public domain. Therefore, avoid carrying £50 notes during your trip.

If you’ve been given £50 notes, exchanging them at a Post Office or bank might be a good idea. It’s also worth noting that many establishments in England and Wales refuse to accept Scottish £20 notes for the same reason.

Besides, you should avoid using larger notes in small shops anyway because they might not have enough change to give you in return.

Don’t Complain About the Weather

Trust us, we already know we have bad weather in the UK compared to other European tourist destinations, so we don’t need you to tell us.

Nobody comes to the UK for a tan, so moaning about the weather during your trip isn’t going to change anything. In fact, it might annoy some of the locals, especially in Scotland.

Scotland is renowned for being cold and rainy, so many people will likely find constant complaints about their weather more tiresome.

They’ll likely be even more frustrated if you complain about the weather when it’s a nice day by UK standards.

With that in mind, embrace the weather and enjoy your trip regardless.