The term 'British' is used extensively throughout this page and site. It can be a contentious term however, for every dozen  people that couldn't care less, there'll be one bleating about being mis-represented. I'm using it as a contraction of 'British Isles' rather than Great Britiain, so it includes as opposed to discludes people. No demonym exists which appeals to everyone, and until one clearly does, I'll be using 'British'.
If you're lost or not sure about something, don't hesitate to ask a Londoner for help or directions. With so many visitors,  the chances of asking another person on holiday is high, especially if you're outside Buckingham Palace. Londoners tend to walk quickly often not paying attention to their surroundings much (as natives in other cities do). It's also important to ask for help - 'could you help me please', the British mentality finds it hard to resist a direct request for assistance and the use of please and thank you etiquette, makes it near impossible. Contrary to reputation, they're not a shy or cold race, but really rather talkative. Shameless self-promotion and boasting are universally frowned upon, so a self-effacing attitude is the British norm. It's also considered better to let someone discover your hidden talents, than to tirelessly draw attention to them.
Oh what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive... (or similarly, attempt to explain the 'class' system in Britain). If everyone belongs to it, you would naturally favour the views of your own class. Not always, say I, not always. 
Very roughly - there are three classes - the upper, middle and working classes. In reality these days - the upper class is small, wields enormous financial clout, but has no relevance or popular influence over the masses. They're seen as anachronistic curiosities, by the majority of Brits. I'm sure in their own universe, they're rather significant and pretty, bloody, seriously, important, yah? - 'idle' rich is the popular street argot. You probably won't meet any if you visit London, they'll be at the country seat during peak tourist season.
Queuing is not a British invention, you'll find it in every country in the world, bar none. The same protocols for queuing  apply here - only more so. Pushing in front, or cutting in line is a no-no. There are few things more likely to raise the ire of the British temperament than ignoring a queue and walking straight to the counter. The Brits like fair play - pushing in is an affront to this sensibility and it's unlikely to be tolerated.
To call any number in the UK, from anywhere in the world, then take the '0' from the front and add the  international dialling code '44' in its place. So the number - (020 7654 3210) would become (44 20 7654 3210).
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Kissing and displays of affection. Hmm. Best not to French-kiss excessively in public, or grind bodies in a  Royal Park - kissing, holding hands and all the rest are fine. It's not that the British are especially squeamish, or coy about kissing. It all comes back to the fact that they can't abide showing off. Get a room.
40 years ago the sight of people air-kissing-hello, well... people didn't do it (generally two is the requisite number in the UK - for balance - like). What am I saying? They didn't know how to do it. Sometime during the 1980s it entered the national psyche and stuck. Along with ready-meals, foreign holidays and 100 channel satellite TV.
Places where kissing passionately will be greeted as warmly as a turd in a swimming pool: public transport (it's difficult enough already), in the theatre (cinema generally ok) or in museums and art galleries.
Brits love to moan, grumble and whinge. It's not so much that they want the problem fixed, as it's an excellent opportunity  to point out how things could be handled much better (if they were running the show). If a bus is late, several silent Londoners will pitch up and engage in some mutual, grumbling banter. They may even start to enjoy themselves. Perhaps this makes little sense, but it's absolutely inbuilt at the genetic level - tutting, sighing, rolling the eyes, muttering and more sighing are all useful tools for running a system down.
Is fun. Everyone does it, and although in most countries the purpose is to arrive at some kind of settlement or consensus,  the British ideal is to all: 'agree to disagree'. They don't want it to end in a fight, so tolerating other peoples' views is an important character trait.
Everyone loves double-deckers and hates bendy buses. It's fun sitting on an upper deck, looking down on people  (physically and figuratively) and the other type take up twice the road space and are too difficult to overtake. One thing though, buy your bus ticket from the bus stop vending machine, although the driver will sell you one, they will only do so under extreme duress, with much whingeing. It's not worth the trouble.
Despite the reputation for frosty embarrassment and sexual incompetence, London and the British Isles  are amongst the most densely populated places on Earth. Let's just say: they get by. In the UK it's about being 'up for it' - and you'll find a surprising number of people who are.
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London Visitor Advice
