Londoners on the tube are not...

[blaeberry]

Living up to their stereotype. We are visiting London with our three primary aged kids travelling round by tube. Every tube train we have been on so far (over a dozen) we have had people offering us their seats, saying 'hello', helping us with directions, standing back to let my kids sit down. It might be obvious we are visitors but other than that there is nothing special about us. I thought Londoners on the tube were meant to be a grumpy lot but turns out they are nearly all very friendly.

One of my local stations has messages each time I go through there.

As for the grumpy ones, maybe they are from south of the river.

Nope, we have lovely staff south of the river. The ones at Canada Water in particular are great.

I loved looking at the families in London today!

Londoners are mostly lovely. Just follow etiquette - especially in rush hour, though.

I think londoners on public transport generally nicer than they were 20 years ago, perhaps because services although busy are generally better and more reliable.

Mainline stations seem much worse though - Waterloo in particular is horrible for pushing and shoving.

I work in London as a nanny never once have had to struggle with a pram or push chair .

3rd generation Londoner here, and I thank drivers when I get ON the bus

I've lived in London less than 2 years, but I am proud that I worked this out. I won't see the driver at the end, so I'll thank them at the beginning.
Thanks sparechange for confirming that this is a "Londoner" thing to do :o

Thanks sparechange and Trills, so I'm not the only one

When I was a bit younger a man rested his newspaper on my head so he could read it on the tube.

What did you do, Flambola?

I don't live in London, but travel by bus regularly in my own city. I always greet the driver, and thank him or her. And once one person thanks the driver, loads of others do. They always answer as well. It's a tough old job, IMO, and I am appreciative of their skills, not alone the driving, but they are so helpful too.

This thread's making me nostalgic for when I used to commute on the tube. (I know, I know). Best ever was one winter day in 2010 when it was snowing really hard and all the trains and buses were delayed and cancelled and stuff but the tube was running and I got on the Northern line at Bank and the driver did an announcement like "thanks for travelling with the London Underground: unfortunately due to a custard cream shortage the tea trolley will not be running today but we'll still get you home."

I just kind of left him to it!

I've had someone try and rest an open copy of the Evening Standard on my rather large rack before. They got a kick in the shins for their troubles.