Uniquely British things

[ChristmasA123]

I went for a walk earlier and saw one of my favourite things.. a random glove stuck on a railing. Obviously someone had dropped it and a kind stranger has put it somewhere easy to spot. I often see dropped items popped on fences/gateposts like this and it got me wondering.. I wonder if they do that in other countries? I've also noticed how polite drivers are here.. mainly! With that little wave or thumbs up when someone lets you through. I've never seen that driving in the US or Europe. Oh and I love the BBC Christmas ident. It's always so cosy. Are there any other cute/ wholesome things that only generally happen in the UK?

I have quite a large pushchair and I've accidentally ridden over a few peoples toes before when at big crowded events, and they nearly always say "I'm so sorry" ... I say "oh that's ok don't worry" chuckling...

You seriously think that decent people only live in the UK 😮😮

Saw the glove/hat/toy thing frequently in Germany and Cyprus as well.

British people may be the only people who apologise to a person who walks into them....

@ChristmasTidyings obviously not 🙄I just wanted to read some wholesome things because I need cheering up. Oh well

British people may be the only people who apologise to a person who walks into them....

No, Canadians are known for it. Plenty of gloves on railings etc here too.

What’s unique and I enjoy it very much it the queuing, nowhere in Europe people do that as orderly and patiently as british people do

Yes! The queue! So orderly!

Hurting yourself in public, but being too embarrassed to draw attention to it ... limping away like nothing happened

Tis but a scratch!

Queuing is the main characteristic I have found. Though even I as a brit couldn't believe the queue lengths for the Queen's coffin.

Saying thankyoi to the bus driver. My late mam even used to say "Thanks Mr Driver' 😊 9

I have noticed that a lot of British people will whinge about their food but when a waitress or a waiter comes over and asks if they are enjoying their meal, they will say, “Lovely, thank you”!

@Puffalicious .. that is so cute. Me and my kids have always done it. I met a Polish lady a while ago and she said it isn't a thing in her country and she found it very strange...

We bucolic locals always said, "Thank you" to the bus drivers here, but I don't know whether that is a British-only thing. I imagine it might happen on country bus routes all round the world. Nice custom, though.

@BobbyBobbyBobby in my case it depends on the circumstances. If it was maybe a date or a meal someone was treating me to I wouldn't complain so whoever I was with didn't feel bad. If I was with my mates or something more low key I definitely would.

No, it's not a British custom to put dropped gloves somewhere easy to find. And I don't find the drivers particularly polite really, but that's subjective.

I’m not British but have been living in the UK for many years; my favourite things are:
Politeness
Queueing
Respect for traditions
Exceptionally tolerant people
Keep Calm And Carry On spirit
Sunday roast
Afternoon tea
Quaint cottages and gardens

I’m sure there are more, but these are off the top of my head.

@7Worfs wow what a list! I wonder why we love to queue so much?

Re. Bus etiquette
Almost everyone here in South Wales says, Thanks Drive as they leave the bus.
Acceptable variations include Cheers Drive and the simpler, Drive. ☺️

I live near a Further Education college and love listening to all the students first thing in the morning, a little courteous chorus!

The people who knit hats for the post boxes.

Do other countries have the compulsion to take a serious situation/question and turn it into a joke? Like trying to name a boat Boaty Mcboat Face, naming gritters and snowploughs and rail replacement buses having signs saying "I'm a train choo choo"

Talking about the weather. Talking excessively about putting the heating on every year. I don't agree about the British being polite drivers!

definitely the queue. Especially at bus stops and even if people fall out of their place in the bus queue the other queuees seem to remember said queue order and let person on bus who was there first in correct queue order.
I now live in an area with high levels of migration of people from all over the world and a lot of none native brits don't get our queuing etiquette and will just charge on the bus regardless of who was there first and I must admit I find it extremely rude and it does annoy me. love they way brits politely queue.

@RandomUsernameHere they seem to be where I live, generally. Certainly more so than the European country I was in this summer.
@PuttingDownRoots that's a brilliant one!

I have lots of international colleagues and many of them have said exactly this to me- that all nationalities enjoy a joke but only the Brits have the urge to make a joke in situations which are not remotely funny.