50 Weird & Confusing Facts About British Life & Culture

Summary

In this engaging video, Lucy shares 50 quirky and interesting facts about British culture. From the nation's love for tea and unique social etiquette to peculiar habits like avoiding awkward situations and their obsession with pets, she covers a wide range of topics. Lucy also touches on British humor, driving habits, drinking culture, and the contrasting behavior in cities versus villages. This fun lesson is not only great for listening practice but also offers valuable insights into British life, making it a delightful watch for those keen to learn more about the UK.

Takeaways

• 🍵 Tea is the most popular drink in Britain, with 165 million cups consumed daily.
• 📺 The main TV channels run by the BBC have no adverts due to a licence fee.
• 🚶‍♂️ Queues are very important in Britain, and queue-jumping is universally hated.
• 🙏 The words 'please,' 'sorry,' and 'thank you' dominate social interactions.
• 💋 Greetings among friends typically involve one kiss on the cheek.
• 🌞 Brits make the most of sunny days, often wearing summer clothes even in mild weather.
• 🍽️ Chicken tikka masala is voted as the national dish, despite traditional Sunday roasts.
• 🚇 It's expected to give up seats for the elderly and disabled on public transport.
• 😂 British humour is often sarcastic, dry, and can be difficult to understand.
• 🎨 Most museums in London are free and popular among locals.

Q & A

What is the most popular drink in Britain according to the video?

Tea is the most popular drink in Britain, with Brits reportedly drinking 165 million cups of tea every single day.

How does the absence of advertisements on main TV channels in the UK relate to the licence fee?

The main TV channels in the UK, such as channel one and two, are run by the BBC and do not have any adverts because viewers pay a licence fee, which is over 100 pounds a year, regardless of whether they watch the BBC or not.

Why is queue-jumping considered a significant faux pas in British culture?

Queue-jumping is frowned upon in British culture because queues are incredibly important, and pushing into a queue will lead to universal dislike.

What are some common phrases that dominate British social interactions?

Common phrases like 'please', 'sorry', and 'thank you' dominate British social interactions, to the extent that they are often used even when interacting with inanimate objects.

What is the typical British greeting among friends?

The typical British greeting among friends is a kiss on the cheek, although the number of kisses might vary depending on cultural influences or personal preference.

How does British cuisine reflect its cultural diversity?

British cuisine reflects its cultural diversity through the popularity of dishes like the Sunday roast and the fact that chicken tikka masala, an Indian dish, was voted as the national dish.

What is expected of individuals on public transport in terms of giving up their seats?

On public transport in the UK, it is highly expected that individuals give up their seats for elderly or disabled persons, and failure to do so may result in social disapproval.

How does British humor differ from that of other cultures?

British humor is characterized by sarcasm, a dark sense of humor, and a dry wit. It can be difficult to understand and may sometimes offend people from other cultures.

What is the significance of the Royal Family in the UK, and why is there a divided opinion about them?

The Royal Family in the UK is significant for some as it brings in tourism and money, while others believe they spend too much and there's no clear evidence of their overall economic impact on the country.

Why do British people often avoid going on holiday within their own country?

British people often avoid going on holiday within their own country due to the unpredictable summer weather, which can lead to disappointing beach holidays without sunshine.

What is the cultural expectation when invited to a British person's home for a meal or party?

When invited to a British person's home for a meal or party, it is customary to bring a gift, such as a bottle of wine, flowers, or chocolates, although not bringing a gift might result in silent judgment.

Outlines

00:00

🍵 British Tea Culture and Social Etiquette

The script introduces British culture with an emphasis on tea as the most popular drink, with 165 million cups consumed daily. It also touches on the importance of queuing and the social norms around saying 'please', 'sorry', and 'thank you'. The speaker shares personal anecdotes about living in Spain and the differences in queue culture. Additionally, the script mentions the BBC's ad-free TV due to a mandatory licence fee and the speaker's mixed feelings about it.

05:01

🤝 British Greetings and Social Interactions

This paragraph discusses British social customs, including the common greeting of a kiss on the cheek, the preference for not shaking hands among friends, and the British humor characterized by sarcasm and dry wit. It also covers the British tendency to apologize to inanimate objects and the expectation to give up seats on public transport to those in need. The speaker humorously describes the British reaction to confrontation and the significance of acknowledging someone who holds a door open.

10:02

🌞 British Attitude Towards Sun and Weather

The script highlights the British enthusiasm for sun, with people wearing light clothing even at 15 degrees Celsius and the tendency to get sunburned. It also mentions the inadequacy of British housing in coping with heat, as exemplified by the speaker feeling hot at 19 degrees. The national dish debate is also touched upon, with chicken tikka masala being voted as such, despite being of Indian origin.

15:02

🏠 British Home Life and Dining Customs

The paragraph covers various aspects of British home life, including the tradition of dinner being the main meal, the timing of meals, and the British habit of thanking bus drivers. It also discusses the diversity of the British population, the cultural expectation of bringing a gift when invited to a British home, and the British obsession with pets. Additionally, the script mentions the British habit of going to a pub garden when the weather is good.

20:04

🍺 British Pub Culture and Drinking Habits

This section delves into the British pub culture, noting the preference for pub gardens and the drinking habits that peak on weekends and bank holidays. It acknowledges the decline in binge-drinking among younger generations. The paragraph also touches on the British tendency to use fake tanning products for a darker skin complexion, which is seen as a sign of wealth or recent holiday.

👵 Respect for Elders and Public Transport Etiquette

The script discusses the expectation to give up seats for the elderly or disabled on public transport and the British indirectness in confrontations. It also mentions the British humor, which can be misunderstood, and the divided opinions on the Royal Family. Additionally, it covers the unpredictability of British summer weather and the British preference for thanking the bus driver upon exiting.

🍽️ British Dining and Social Etiquette

This paragraph focuses on British dining habits, including the importance of dinner as the largest meal, the timing of meals, and the social etiquette of not asking genuine questions like 'How are you?'. It also covers the diversity of the British population in different regions and the British preference for standing on the right on escalators to allow others to pass.

🍺 British Drinking Culture and Social Behavior

The script explores the British drinking culture, noting the tendency to drink beer and cider in pints and the British fear of wasps. It also discusses the British winters, characterized by short days, and the prevalence of carpets in British homes, including in bathrooms and on stairs, which some find unhygienic.

🔌 British Electrical and Religious Practices

This paragraph covers the unique British three-pronged plugs and the decline in religious practice, with church attendance dropping significantly. It also mentions the separate taps for hot and cold water in older British homes, a topic explained further in a recommended video by Tom Scott.

🚗 British Driving and Fashion Trends

The script discusses British driving habits, with the distinction between polite and rude drivers and the expectation of thanks when someone is let through in traffic. It also covers the British fashion trend of women wearing the same styles, regardless of suitability.

🏡 British Living Arrangements and University Life

This paragraph focuses on the expectation for young adults to move out at 18, the high cost of university education in the UK, and the cultural experience of ice cream trucks playing tunes in villages. It also touches on the British aversion to using car horns and the tension between car drivers and cyclists.

🛒 British Shopping and Social Interaction

The script discusses the large size of British supermarkets and the wide range of pre-prepared foods available. It also covers the difference in social interaction between city and village life in the UK, and the British dislike for loud phone conversations on public transport.

📰 British Media and Dining Etiquette

This paragraph covers the British tabloid newspapers, known for sensationalism and untruths, yet still read by many. It also discusses the British practice of milk delivery in bottles and the dining etiquette of tipping in restaurants, with a preference for cash tips to ensure they go directly to the server.

🍴 British Indirect Communication and Social Customs

The script explores the British indirectness in communication, avoiding direct negative statements to prevent offense. It also covers the British tradition of the Sunday roast, a popular meal often considered best when cooked by one's mother, and the popularity of Chinese and curry takeaways over fish and chips.

🧣 British Tolerance for Cold and Social Avoidance

This final paragraph discusses the British tendency to underdress for weather and nights out, attributing warmth to the 'beer blanket' effect. It also highlights the British aversion to minor awkward social situations, exemplified by a story of avoiding a conversation by not stopping to pick up fallen shopping.

Keywords

💡Tea

Tea is the most popular drink in the UK, with Brits consuming 165 million cups daily. This reflects the cultural significance of tea in British society, often associated with social rituals and daily routines.

💡BBC

The BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation) operates the main TV channels in the UK without commercials, funded by a licence fee. This demonstrates the unique funding model for public broadcasting in the UK and its impact on media consumption.

💡Queues

Queues, or lines, are highly respected in British culture, and queue-jumping is frowned upon. This highlights the British emphasis on order and fairness in public spaces.

💡Politeness

Politeness is deeply ingrained in British social interactions, with frequent use of words like 'please,' 'sorry,' and 'thank you.' This cultural trait is so pervasive that Brits often apologize to inanimate objects.

💡Sunday roast

The Sunday roast is a traditional British meal, often considered the country's most iconic dish, despite the popularity of chicken tikka masala. This meal symbolizes family gatherings and traditional British cuisine.

💡Public transport

On British public transport, it is customary to give up seats for the elderly or disabled and to thank the bus driver upon exiting. These practices reflect British courtesy and social norms in public settings.

💡Humour

British humour is characterized by sarcasm, dryness, and a dark sense of humor, which can sometimes be difficult for outsiders to understand. This type of humor is a key aspect of British cultural identity.

💡Royal Family

The British Royal Family is a subject of division among Brits, with debates about their financial impact on the country. This reflects the ongoing discussion about the relevance and cost of the monarchy in modern Britain.

💡Pubs

Pubs are a central part of British social life, especially pub gardens, which become popular destinations when the weather is good. This underscores the cultural importance of pubs as social hubs.

💡Weather

British weather, particularly its unpredictability, is a common topic of conversation and has a significant impact on daily life and activities. This includes the tradition of checking the weather before planning outings or holidays.

Highlights

English With Lucy discusses 50 unique and quirky facts about British culture.

British people drink an astonishing 165 million cups of tea daily.

The BBC operates main TV channels without adverts due to a mandatory licence fee.

Queues are culturally significant in Britain, with queue-jumping being frowned upon.

Common courtesies like 'please', 'sorry', and 'thank you' are deeply ingrained in British social interactions.

Cheek kissing is a typical British greeting among friends, with cultural variations.

British people make the most of rare sunny days, often leading to sunburn and inappropriate attire for the temperature.

Chicken tikka masala, an Indian dish, was voted as the national dish of Britain.

Giving up seats to the elderly or disabled on public transport is a British expectation.

British humor is characterized by sarcasm, dryness, and a potential for misunderstanding.

Most museums in London offer free admission, contributing to a growing cultural engagement.

Gifts such as wine, flowers, or chocolates are expected when invited to a British home.

Pets are highly valued in British culture, often being prioritized over human family members.

British drinking culture is notorious, though younger generations are drinking less and binge-drinking is decreasing.

Holding doors open is common in Britain, with expectations of gratitude even in inconvenient situations.

The British have a complex relationship with tanning, often using fake tanning products despite limited sunshine.

British society is divided in opinions on the Royal Family's impact on tourism and national expenditure.

Thanking bus drivers upon exiting is a common British practice.

Dinner is the main meal of the day in Britain, with breakfast and lunch being lighter.

British population diversity is high, especially in London, with a significant drop in white British residents over time.

Escalator etiquette in Britain involves standing on the right to allow others to pass on the left.

British ales are often served at room temperature, which can be a surprise for some.

Fear of wasps is widespread in Britain, causing significant reactions even among the most serious individuals.

British winters are notably dark, with short daylight hours impacting daily life.

Carpets are a distinctive feature in British homes, including unexpected places like bathrooms and stairs.

British electrical plugs are unique, requiring visitors to bring adapters.

Religion plays a diminishing role in British society, with declining church attendance and membership.

Separate taps for hot and cold water are common in older British homes due to historical water storage regulations.

Driving and walking rules in Britain differ; vehicles drive on the left, but people walk on the right on escalators.

Young adults in Britain are expected to move out and live independently after turning 18.

University education in Britain is expensive, with high tuition fees for both domestic and international students.

Ice cream trucks are a nostalgic part of British villages, playing tunes to attract children.

British car horns are reserved for emergencies, unlike in some countries where they are used frequently.

Supermarkets in Britain offer a vast range of pre-prepared meals, reflecting a busy lifestyle.

City living in Britain often involves minimal interaction with neighbors, contrasting with the close-knit village communities.

Loud phone conversations on public transport are considered rude in Britain.

British tabloid newspapers are known for sensationalism and untruths, yet they remain popular.

Milk is traditionally delivered to doorsteps in the countryside in glass bottles, supporting local dairy farming.

Tipping in Britain usually involves a 10% cash tip directly to the server, though some restaurants add a service charge.

British communication style is indirect, often avoiding direct negative statements to prevent offense.

Sunday roasts are a popular traditional meal in Britain, often considered best when cooked by one's mother.

Despite the fame of fish and chips, Chinese and curry restaurants are more popular for dining out in Britain.

The British will go to great lengths to avoid even minor social awkwardness, as illustrated by a shopping bag incident.

Women in Britain often underdress for weather and nights out, relying on the 'beer blanket' to keep warm.

Transcripts

(upbeat music)

- Hello everyone, and welcome back to English With Lucy.

Today I'm very hot, and it's only 19 degrees.

We're gonna talk about that later.

Today I'm going to talk to you about

50 weird and random facts about British culture.

Now this lesson's more of a fun one.

It's going to be great for your listening practise

and if you want to improve your pronunciation

alongside your listening, I highly recommend Audible.

It's an online database of audiobooks,

and I've got loads of recommendations

in the description box.

Basically, if you listen to an audiobook

narrated by a native speaker,

at the same time as reading the actual book,

it's basically the key to learning perfect pronunciation.

You can claim your free audiobook and 30 day free trial

by clicking on the link in the description box,

where I've also put loads of recommendations

for great audiobooks, to help you improve your English.

Right, let's get started with the video.

Fact number one.

Tea is by far the most popular drink drunk by Brits.

Maybe you knew this, but apparently we drink

165 million cups of tea every single day.

Bananas!

I've drunk no tea today.

It's not my favourite, I don't hate it,

I'll have it if I'm offered, but yeah.

Number two, on our main TV channels,

that's channel one and two and quite a few others,

they're run by the BBC and we don't have any adverts.

This is because we pay a licence fee

and I think it's over 100 pounds a year,

but basically we have to pay.

If we have a TV we have to pay it,

even if we don't wanna watch the BBC.

Now I kind of like it because I like ad-free TV,

but I also don't want the BBC

to tell me whether I can have a TV or not.

Number three, queues are incredibly important to us.

If you push into a queue, if you queue-jump,

you will be universally hated in Britain.

Doesn't make sense.

Comment below if queues are important in your country,

because I went to Spain and I lived there for a while,

and people did not respect queues.

When I lived in Spain I remember being in a bank

and some lady thought that her problem

was more important than my problem,

and she just pushed in and was like

sorry, this is an emergency.

I was like, in Britain that would never happen!

Number four.

Please, sorry and thank you basically dominate

all of our social interactions.

It's so ingrained into our brains

that we often bump into things

and then apologise to the inanimate object.

Like I have whacked my shoulder on a door

and said "Oh, sorry", and then felt really stupid

and British, at the same time.

But yeah, just a simple task

like passing the salt at a dinner table.

"Sorry, please could you pass the salt?

"Thank you, sorry, sorry, excuse me please."

Honestly, we say it about eight times.

Number five.

When you greet a friend in the U.K.

you don't normally shake their hand.

You don't normally shake their hand.

Normally you give them one kiss on the cheek.

If you've recently been in the rest of Europe

then you might give two kisses by mistake

and say "Oh sorry, I've just got back from France.

"Just got back from Spain."

And if you're feeling very masculine

and you're with another very masculine person,

then even though you know them very well

you might still shake their hand,

but that's only if you're very very masculine.

Number six.

When the sun comes out,

because it doesn't come out so often,

we make the most of it.

In 15 degree heat we will wear sandals, mini-skirts,

strappy tops, bikinis,

and we will get very very sunburned as well.

The day after a sunny day, everyone is red.

It's terrible.

Also, our houses are not designed to cope with the heat,

as I'm experiencing right now.

It's 19 degrees outside and I am absolutely dying.

Number seven.

British cuisine, well our most known dish

is probably the Sunday roast,

or beef and Yorkshire puddings.

However, we actually voted for our national dish

and we voted for a chicken tikka masala,

which is an Indian dish.

Number eight, if you are on public transport

it is highly expected that you give up your seat

for an elderly person or a disabled person.

And if you don't do it, people will tut at you.

This is a very British thing.

People just go (repeated tutting).

But we don't like to be too direct.

Sometimes we muster up enough courage to say

"Excuse me, that person needs that seat",

but we're not gonna be too confrontational about it.

And if we are ever confrontational with someone

on public transport, we spend the next week

coming down from the adrenalin and replaying the situation

in our head, telling our mates about it.

It's a big deal.

Number nine, our humour can be quite difficult to understand.

We love sarcasm, we have quite dark sense of humour.

We can be quite dry, so we can say things without smiling.

I love the British sense of humour

but it can offend people sometimes.

Sucks to be them.

Number 10.

The majority of museums in London are free.

And we do actually use them quite a lot.

There's been a big increase

in Brits trying to do cultural things,

which I think is great.

Hasn't quite reached me yet,

but I did go to the museum in my village last year,

so that was great.

Number 11.

If you are invited to the home of a British person,

if they are providing a meal or a party for you

then you are sort of expected to bring some sort of gift.

Normally a bottle of wine, some flowers or chocolates.

If you don't bring a gift,

we wouldn't say anything about it

but we would silently judge you.

Number 12.

We are absolutely obsessed with our animals here,

by animals I mean pets.

We put our pets before our own children sometimes.

We are dog and cat crazy.

Number 13, as soon as the sun comes out

we leave work, when it's a good time to leave work,

normally five o'clock, and we go straight to a pub garden.

We don't go inside the pub,

we go straight to the pub garden

or if there's no direct route to the garden

then we will march through the pub directly to the garden.

We love a pub garden.

In fact when I finish this video,

I'm going straight there with my neighbour.

14, that brings me onto our drinking culture.

It's quite bad but it's getting better.

It's very normal to see some very very drunk people

on Friday and Saturday nights,

and Sunday nights if it's a bank holiday,

which means we have the Monday off work.

But millennials, our younger generation, are drinking less,

which is a very good thing,

and binge-drinking cases are going down.

Number 15.

If we hold open a door for you, which we probably will,

we expect a thank you.

However, if somebody holds a door open for us,

and it's actually at a really awkward distance

so we have to kind of walk faster

and they have to wait for ages holding the door,

both parties hate this situation

but we still say thank you and we still do it,

because, I don't know why.

It's polite!

Number 16.

We are, hmm, this is divided.

Some of us are very polite drivers

and some of us are very rude.

The polite drivers will probably let you through

but they will expect a thank you.

We live for that thank you wave.

Sometimes people just lift a finger and that's enough.

I just like the acknowledgement.

I'm a polite driver.

Polite drivers also love to tut and shake their head

at impolite drivers who have not thanked you

for letting them pass.

(repeated tutting)

Number 17.

In many cultures around the globe

women want to have lighter skin,

but in the U.K. we want to have darker skin.

Well, not all of us, but a lot of us like to use

fake tanning products to make our skin darker.

I must admit I have got some on today.

I'm a very light shade of orange, on my knees particularly.

Yeah, we don't have much sun,

we don't get much chance to tan,

and having a tanned complexion, I think,

is almost a sign of wealth.

Like you've been on holiday recently.

I just think I look healthier with a bit of a tan

but you might not agree.

Number 18, we are very divided over the Royal Family.

Some people think it brings in loads of tourism and money.

Some people think that they spend way too much money

and there's never really been a study to show

whether they bring a profit or loss to the country.

So it's a funny one, we just don't know.

Number 19, the weather in summer can never be guaranteed.

So we don't actually go on holiday

in our own country that much.

We do, but we can't guarantee

it's gonna be a sunny beach holiday.

A couple of years ago my family and I

went away to Cornwall, to a beach resort,

and there was not a single day of sunshine.

It poured it down the entire time

and we just said never again.

We will always go abroad now.

Number 21.

We like to thank the bus driver when we get off the bus.

In London, on the school bus, anywhere,

it's pretty normal to say "Thank you", as we get off.

My school bus driver was absolutely amazing.

He actually used to buy us all Easter eggs.

A whole school bus of children, he was lovely,

his name was Roger.

I hope I get to see him again.

Number 22.

Dinner is often our biggest meal of the day,

I'm talking about evening dinner.

We have a fairly heavy breakfast, a light lunch

and then a heavy dinner,

and we normally have breakfast between seven and eight,

lunch between 12 and one,

and dinner between six and seven normally.

Number 23.

"How are you" and "You all right" are not genuine questions.

If we say "Hi, you all right,"

I don't actually expect you to answer saying

"Well, actually, no I'm not, my goldfish died."

I just expect you to say "Yeah yeah, you all right."

And that's it.

Top quality interaction.

Number 24.

Our population is incredibly diverse.

In London, for example, in 2011,

when they did the census that they do every 10 years,

44.9% of the population were white British.

That means London, as a city, is so diverse

and it's something that a lot of us are really proud of.

However, if you go up to the north east,

93.6% of the population were white British.

So it's not evenly distributed.

Number 25.

We care a lot about where you stand on an escalator,

and we will tut and shake our heads

if you stand in the wrong place,

and I always see tourists do this.

You have to stand on the right

and you have to leave enough room

for busy rushy people to overtake you.

Otherwise, they won't say anything

but they'll stand there and tut

and maybe even say "Excuse me, excuse me!"

Just be prepared.

26, we drink beer and cider in pints.

Sometimes we drink a half pint

and our beer is sometimes served warm.

Not lagers, but our British ales,

we serve them at room temperature,

and that can be shocking for some people.

27, we are terrified of wasps.

The most serious, straight-laced person

is likely to cause a massive flap and go (screaming),

if a wasp comes.

I was in a church, watching a wedding ceremony

the other day, and a wasp came and it was absolute carnage.

And, of course, all the women had flower decorations

in their hair, which just made it all the more hilarious.

I just observed and thought I'm gonna put this in a video.

Number 28.

Our winters are really dark.

In the peak of winter, the sun doesn't come up

till past nine, and it goes down just after three.

It means that you can go into the office

and leave the office, without seeing sunlight.

It is really quite intense.

29.

Carpets are a key feature in our houses,

and I'm not sure how I feel about this.

Carpets in a bedroom, okay,

but in a lot of old-fashioned houses

we have carpets in the bathroom,

which I don't think is hygienic,

and it shocks quite a lot of people

when they come over here.

We also have carpets on the stairs,

which are really really hard to clean.

I know that when I design my own house

I won't be having so much carpet in it.

Number 30.

Our plugs are different.

We have a three pronged plug

which is different to the European plugs,

so make sure you bring an adaptor with you.

Let me see if I have a plug.

God, I'm so hot.

Yeah, this is our plug.

It's a three pronged plug, and this is an earth prong.

Tom Scott has got a really good video on this.

This is gonna be one of two times

that I recommend his videos in this video.

I think he's got a video explaining that,

and it's a really good one, so I'll link it down below.

I am gonna mention another of his videos later on.

31.

Our society really doesn't prioritise religion.

Church attendance and membership numbers

have been falling drastically.

In the 1930s, church membership was at 30%

and now it is at 10% or lower.

A lot of people just go to church on really important events

like weddings, Christmas and maybe Easter.

Number 32.

We often have separate taps, or faucets,

as you might call them, for hot and cold water,

especially in old-fashioned houses.

This is where I talk about Scom Tott (laughing).

This is where I talk about Tom Scott's video.

He's got a really really good video

explaining why this is, 'cause I've always wondered

because I've always grown up with

having to choose between boiling hot water on my face,

or freezing cold water on my face,

and just thinking why can't we just mix them.

We do have mixer taps now,

but it was something to do with the tanks

that stored hot water.

They couldn't legally be mixed with drinking water,

hence why hot in one, cold drinking water in another.

Again, it's something I have in my house right now

but when I move into my own house

I will be making sure that all taps are mixed taps.

Number 33.

We drive on the left, but we walk on the right.

So you must drive on the left-hand side of the road

but you must go up the escalator on the right.

Number 34.

When something is in fashion,

all women end up wearing the same thing

even if it doesn't suit them.

I've had so many friends come over from abroad

and say oh my God, everyone is wearing the same thing.

And I hadn't noticed it before but it is true.

I remember there was a fashion of like

quite see-through black leggings, and they just,

they didn't look good on anyone,

but everyone seemed to wear them

with the wrong coloured underwear underneath.

Number 35.

When we're 18, we are sort of expected, by our parents,

to move out and start our lives.

In a lot of countries, people will stay with their parents

till they're well in their 30s.

Here, we just wanna get out as soon as possible

and our parents want us out as soon as possible.

If we go to university, we go at 18

and we normally go to a university

that's quite far from our own home.

However, if we're going to start a job straight away

then yes, we might stay with our parents a bit longer.

It is becoming more common

to move back in with your parents

after you've finished university.

That's something that I did for six-ish months

when I was starting my business after graduating.

Number 36.

Our university fees are high.

Very very high.

For U.K. residents, nine grand a year,

grand is pounds, thousand pounds, 9000 pounds a year,

and for international students it can be much much higher.

Number 37.

We have ice cream trucks that drive round our villages

playing a tune, like a little dingy-bell tune,

and it's the most exciting sound as a child.

I never had it 'cause I lived in a rural village

but when I went to the park or to see friends,

I remember hearing this noise and being like ah,

the ice cream man.

But I think my friend's mum told her

that the ice cream man only played the tune

when he'd run out of ice cream,

which I think is the meanest thing ever.

Number 38.

We don't use our car horns that often.

They are for angry emergencies.

Or just emergencies, not necessarily angry ones.

I went to Bali last year, or the year before,

and they just used them all the time to say hello

and to nudge people.

No.

Over here, car horns are quite a big deal

and if someone beeps their horn at you

you spend the rest of the car journey getting over it.

I've had one car horn ruin my entire day.

39.

Car drivers hate cyclists and cyclists hate car drivers.

It's a war on the road at the moment.

Cycling has increased massively in popularity

and car drivers are not happy about it.

40.

Our supermarkets are very big

and they have a huge range of pre-prepared food,

so ready meals, to cook in the microwave.

I've been to lots of other countries

and I've never seen the range that we have,

apart from, perhaps, in America.

41.

If we live in a city

we tend to totally mind our own business.

We don't talk to our neighbours.

We maybe stretch to a hello sometimes.

And you really don't get to know people

outside of your own friend group

and your social activities and work.

In a village, however, it's completely different

and you have quite a hard time protecting your business.

If you tell a secret to someone the whole village will know.

I kind of like it though.

Number 42.

We find it incredibly rude if somebody talks on their phone,

loudly, on public transport.

And the best example of this

is the train going to and from Luton Airport

and Gatwick Airport.

You can see, before it arrives to Gatwick,

everyone's just sitting in silence,

and then as soon as you've gone past it

it's just filled with tourists that don't know

our society rules, just talking really really loudly

to their mums, saying that they've arrived safely

and all of the British people looking like,

they're talking loudly on public transport, what do we do.

43.

Our tabloid gossip newspapers are disgusting.

They are terrible.

They lie so much, but we all secretly read them.

I can't say all of us,

but many of us will secretly read the Daily Mail.

44.

In the countryside, especially,

we have milk delivered to our doorstep in bottles

and it's something that I'm very passionate about.

I'm really passionate about supporting our local milkman

and supporting our local dairy farmers.

I get my milk delivered on Monday and Thursday

and I love it, it's amazing,

we always have fresh milk at the door.

45.

We generally tip 10% in restaurants

and we prefer to tip it in cash

'cause then we know it goes directly

to the waiter or waitress.

However, some restaurants, especially London restaurants

or chain restaurants, will already add a service charge

to your bill, which is normally 12.5%,

and some of us will get very angry about this

and we'll ask for that to be taken off

and will, instead, give cash directly

to the waiter or waitress.

Because we know that they are not on the best wages

and those tips form a big part of what they earn,

and yes, yes I do that.

46.

We're very indirect.

Instead of saying, "I don't like it", we would say

"Well I don't hate it."

Or, "It's not my cup of tea."

Yeah, we just hate being straight to the point.

We don't like offending people.

But it can be very very confusing for people

who aren't from here.

47.

Most Sundays we have a meal called a Sunday roast.

We normally have it in a pub or our mum will cook it for us

and oh, it's the best meal in the world

and everyone's favourite Sunday roast

is their mum's Sunday roast,

and their mum's Sunday roast is supposedly better

than any other Sunday roast.

But everyone says that.

But my mum's genuinely is the best.

48.

Although fish and chips are really famous here,

I would say that going out for a Chinese

and going out for a curry, are way more popular.

We do that way more often.

Fish and chips, I probably have it once every two years.

Fish and chip shops have declined in quality.

Number 49.

We will do literally everything in our power

to avoid the most minor awkward situation.

I was walking with my friend the other day,

she is quite awkward,

and she had a plastic bag full of shopping.

She saw someone she knew, the bag broke and emptied out,

but instead of stopping to pick it up,

which would mean she would have to talk to this person,

she just carried on walking with an empty bag.

And I just thought that is peak British there.

Number 50.

Women seriously underdress for the weather or nights out.

On New Year's Eve you will see women in like bikini tops

and tiny dresses, bare legs, strappy heels.

But they don't necessarily get cold

and this is a phenomenon we like to call the beer blanket.

Once you have enough beer in you, you can't feel the cold.

Right, those are my 50 random weird

and just a bit quirky facts about British culture

and British life.

I hope you enjoyed them.

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And I shall see you soon for another lesson.

(imitates kissing)

(upbeat music)