Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To believe that Brits stand out a mile when abroad?

184 replies

ChickenSkin · 09/04/2012 20:14

And I don't know why!

When we were in Florida we were walking through a mall and people definitely look twice at us. Little kids especially stared at our kids like they KNEW they were different.

So what is it about Brits that make us stand out so much?

OP posts:
MrsTerryPratchett · 09/04/2012 20:18

My family always used to get mistaken for Germans abroad. No idea why possibly the white skinned blondeness.

FatherHankTree · 09/04/2012 20:21

DH has been mistaken for a local in Greece and Israel, in Germany I've been asked if I'm French [buconfused].

RedBlanket · 09/04/2012 20:21

For me it's usually the clothes. the kids are all wearing clothes from Next, especially boys (mine included).

wornoutbutstillwonderful · 09/04/2012 20:22

We were in a town in Holland and we went into a small local cake shop, the girls were all really friendly but they knew instantly I was english and they wanted to know if one of they girls could practise her english with me. Dh is different though we go to spain they think he is spanish, if we go to france they speak to him in french the same in holland.

Itsjustafleshwound · 09/04/2012 20:24

It's the pastiness which gives them away! The frumpy clothes and red faces ...

OutragedAtThePriceOfFreddos · 09/04/2012 20:25

Lobster coloured shoulders and noses and football shirts usually does it.

StickingLaboutin · 09/04/2012 20:25

Not our kids. DH is half Spanish and has been asked to leave a hotel bar we were drinking in as apparently 'it's not for locals'!

Like redblanket I think it is the clothes.

treedelivery · 09/04/2012 20:27

Clothes and sunburn complexion.

I also thinks Brits tend to have a bit of a gormless look when we wander about - but that might be my old age grumps.

Hulababy · 09/04/2012 20:27

Never had that in Florida personally, the staring I mean.

I think many tourists stand out regardless. You can spot non British tourists in London, for example.

Glittertwins · 09/04/2012 20:28

I usually get mistaken for East European or Israeli rather than English.

ConferencePear · 09/04/2012 20:30

It's the t-shirts with slogans that give us away.

lolajane2009 · 09/04/2012 20:31

When we went to Crete they knew the Brits as they carried on wondering around in torrential rain and the locals scrambled for cover. it was really funny tbh and the host we were with was apologising for the weather.

SingingSands · 09/04/2012 20:34

I was asked if I lived on Statten Island by a tourist when we were in New York, catching the Statten Island ferry! I was Grin and DH was Hmm

I think Brits stand out to other Brits - we were in Prague last year in an international group, mostly German and Scandinavian, we knew another English couple would be joining us at the restaurant and as soon as they walked in I nudged DH and said "that's them". For me, it was the fashion, I could tell the woman was English by her style, but can't put my finger on what it was!

bringbacksideburns · 09/04/2012 20:36

I will have to try this out - we are in Florida soon. Every country we ever went to pre kids my DH was assumed to be a local. And they thought i was Dutch. Although nowadays they don't as i'm an old fart

They now just assume my kids are twins.

We'll be going at the time of the Queen's Jubilee aswell.

marriedinwhite · 09/04/2012 20:40

Have blonde long bob, wear Boden, M&S and Laura Ashley. I could not look more English. In any country I happen to be in, usually France/Italy, am regularly stopped by tourists of all nationalities for directions, questions, etc.. Gesticulate to DH, smile sweetly and say something like Ma Marie parlez Francais J'ai parlee un petit peu in a very very bad accent and waits for that to be corrected.

They then all look faintly surprised but very grateful. Funny, I'm stopped all over London by all nationalities for directions and help too.

ZZZenAgain · 09/04/2012 20:46

I recognise Brits abroad and it is nothing to do with the clothes or sunburn. I think it comes from having lived abroard so much that I just recognise facial expressions, manner. Also, although there is a big range of British types, often you can recognise a face that looks very definitely British somehow.

In Germany I got told I look so English, whatever they think that is and I got told quite categorically by one man that I was definitely not British (wtaf?!). In Italy, they think I am Italian, in France they think I am French (until I speak), in Spain oddly they think I am Portugese. Same for dh.

When we were in Florida we weren't stared at. At least I didn't pick up on it . There are some groups they really don't seem to like there though. I thought that was very clear.

Birdsgottafly · 09/04/2012 20:48

When i have travelled it has always been said that they knew that we were from the North of the UK, because we had smiles on our faces and were friendly.

redpanda13 · 09/04/2012 20:50

Often stopped and spoken to in the local language when in Spain, Italy or France. I really enjoy being spoken to very, very slowly and loudly by British people. I put on my broadest Scottish accent to reply. Was an asset being a bit sallow skinned in South America as I was not hassled like my red haired ex DP.
I think German men tend to stand out in hot climes. They seem to favour too short, too tight shorts. Hot pants really combined with a fondness for Chuckle Brothers hairstyles and moustaches.

BellaVita · 09/04/2012 20:50

Men with vests...

Meglet · 09/04/2012 20:50

XP was mistaken for a local in Greece and Turkey. He tans.

I had locals taking photos of me in India as they had never spoken to a white girl before.

h0tcrossmum · 09/04/2012 20:52

I always get mistaken for a local when we go on holiday! To the point were other locals even make eye contact with me with regards to other Brits antics! Blush

Tooblunt2012 · 09/04/2012 20:53

Complexion is what gives it away in my opinion! I had a white American in Florida one time tell me that my skin was the whitest they had ever seen (& by my standards, I had a bit of a tan!!) & a black American in Atlanta stroke my skin as it was so white Grin.

stressheaderic · 09/04/2012 20:54

I can spot British teenage girls abroad due to their complicated hairstyles. European teenage girls tend to wear their hair more naturally I think.

Tooblunt2012 · 09/04/2012 20:55

Should say, the 'so white' were his words, not mine!

Annunziata · 09/04/2012 20:56

British people always looked so hassled, even on holiday! You can definitely spot them a mile off, but I can't quite put my finger on why.