The Brits have always been a bit different. Here's why...

We may be only a quick trip across the water to lands of croissants or clogs or pasta, but how different are the Brits really from the rest of Europe?

Eccentric, conservative, football mad and a nightmare on holiday? How does the rest of Europe view the Brits? There are certainly a number of things that, culturally, set the Brits apart from their friends across the English Channel.

In Southern Europe especially countries like Spain it is very common to eat lunch at anywhere between 1pm and 4pm. In fact the Spanish don't know if the Brits are having a late lunch or an early dinner. Some countries in Southern Europe will eat dinner at 10pm or later.

When a European travels to the UK, it is extremely confusing. While the rest of Europe keeps its traffic on the right side, cars in Britain drive on the left side. However, the British are very considerate and have painted "Look right" on the ground at every crossing. They also look to notify you which direction they are turning.

The discrepancy in traffic in the UK can be explained by three possible reasons.

One: medieval tournaments, where competitors kept to the right of their rivals;

Two: a differentiation between classes, as nobility and knights used the left lane while the lower classes had to stay on the right;

and three: the fact that riders used their right hands to whip their horses.

In English humour, few subjects are taboo. Moreover, insinuations, intellectual jokes, and word games characterize British humor, so you should pay attention and understand them if you don't want to get lost in conversation. Monty Python are the masters of British humour but there is a rich history of eccentricity in Britain.

It is traditional in many parts of Europe to give kisses on the cheek when meeting people. Not in Britain, a firm handshake is quite enough thank you.

The English breakfast is a feast of food that generally includes bacon, eggs, sausages, potatoes, Black pudding (blood sausage), beans and tomato. If you find it too bland, you can also add ketchup or a bit of spice with HP sauce (brown sauce). And, if you still have room for seconds, there is always a muffin.

Photo: Elle May/Unsplash

Seen throughout the house. Their origin lies in the cold climate and the need for insulation against noises between different flats or floors in a building. It's not unusual in the UK to expect that carpets are included with the house just like doors and windows. Other European nationalities tend to be less attached to their carpets and consider them unhygienic.

I don't need to indicate, I know where I'm going. Brits are extremely courteous on the road and will mostly indicate, let other drivers out and follow the rules of the road. In many European countries it is everyone for themselves.

Each home must pay a license. This goes for both natives and foreigners in temporary residence. Many other European countries have abandoned this TV contribution, but in the UK, the annual fee still serves to pay the expenses for the public television network. If you don't pay it, you will receive a fine!

The tea tradition. It generally takes place between 3 and 5 pm and is commonly accompanied by pastries or, for the less gluttonous, by cucumber sandwiches. To go to 'Afternoon Tea' in one of London's big hotels, such as the Ritz, you will need elegant clothing, make a reservation in advance, and pay a good amount of British Pounds.

Photo: Jelleke Vanooteghem / Unsplash

The pound (GBP) is the official currency of the United Kingdom. It is the world's oldest currency that is still in use. Its value fluctuates, but it generally costs more than a US dollar or a euro. For Europeans, holidaying in the UK tends to be expensive.

A taste of the bitter, ginger beer. Ginger, lemon, sugar, water, and brewer's yeast. Often accompanying something stronger, perhaps a whisky.

Photo by Deepal Tamang / Unsplash

It is not unusual to find a photo of the late Queen Elizabeth II in some British homes, either stuck as a magnet to the refrigerator, engraved on a key ring, or framed in the living room. Society does not tend to question the monarchy - until recent events. A queen who has remained stable on the throne for 70 years was accepted by most. Would you find the same King Charles memorabilia?

It's the typical fried dish in batter for the British. London's first fish and chip restaurant dates back to 1860, but it was a known dish before that, Dickens's novel Oliver Twist, for example, repeatedly refers to this culinary combination. It's unlikely to stroll through any city in the country and not encounter the famous chip shops.

Spanish workers in The Costa del Sol may disagree but the British are very polite. Please, Thank you and good morning are automatic for most Brits.

Europeans count in litres, but Anglosaxon countries use the gallon as their unit of volume. It's also called the imperial gallon. 1 gallon is equivalent to 4.54609 litres.

British football fans travel like no other country in the world. When Liverpool played Milan in Istanbul an estimated 40,000 fans travelled to Turkey to see their team.

The British people love an apology. They apologise for pretty much anything. "Sorry I'm late", "Sorry the traffic was bad", "Sorry for the rain".

'Pre-packed' is not a real sandwich, the Brits want to choose the bread, the filling and the sauce. Brits are the masters of sandwiches and they will not be fobbed off with a triangle of bread and some kind of paste inside.

Refusing food is considered to be quite the insult in many European countries, whereas Brits feel confident in saying 'No thank you'. Just never with a cuppa.

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