British Culture: 7 Taboos You Must Avoid | IDP Vietnam

With a reputation for being unnecessarily polite, the British tend to apologize for everything and say "please" and "thank you" excessively.

During your stay, you should behave casually and have a polite conversation when you have the opportunity. Failure to do so will make you seem rude in the eyes of the British.

Punctuality is something the British value, so ensure that you show up on time for meetings or functions. Being late is considered odd and in some cases, rude.

Having said that, arriving 10 to 15 minutes later than the agreed time for dinner is still acceptable.

In the event you absolutely cannot make it on time, you should contact those involved as soon as you know to inform them.

Even if you’re having a disagreement, do not disrespect your elders in the UK.

It is in British culture to be respectful of the elderly and take care of them. Hence, disrespecting them in any way would be seen as rude and inconsiderate.

The British are big on privacy. Hence, you should be mindful to not pry too much by asking personal or intimate questions while having a conversation.

Questions to avoid include those that involve how much one earns, a person’s weight as well as the reasons why one is still single or not married.

The British are big on privacy. Hence, you should be mindful to not pry too much by asking personal or intimate questions while having a conversation.

Questions to avoid include those that involve how much one earns, a person’s weight as well as the reasons why one is still single or not married.

In the UK, it is common practice for the person who initiated the dinner plan to pay. Thus, it is important to remember this and get the bill if you invited someone for dinner!

Apart from that, in the event someone else is paying because they invited you, do not try to split the bill or argue about whose responsibility it is to pay. Instead, you can make plans to invite them out to dinner on another day and pay for the next one.

Extended eye contact is deemed intimidating by the British. Hence, you should make it a point to limit your eye contact so as to not make anyone feel uncomfortable.

In a team setting, however, brief eye contact is encouraged as this brings about a feeling of inclusion.

Embark On Your Study Adventure In The UK

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From offering tailored guidance to navigating the entire application process with you, you’ll be in good hands when it comes to choosing a course that best suits your goals and being sufficiently prepared for the trip.

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