When foreigners come to Britain what suprises you most?

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Siddy

In London Underground, I noticed how everyone sticks to the left side on escalators to allow busier people to climb past.

On the surface streets, the roundabout was a crazy confusion.
The same street changes names seven or eight times in a couple of miles and finding the hotel in Hampstead Heath from Heathrow took me 8 hours. (by Underground, it should have taken no more than an hour) I bought a map and found an optometrist shop lady to help me locate the hotel and she couldn't find it just by the address. I asked her how long she lived in London and she said she lived there for 19 years.

The M4 (?) going around London was choked with so much traffic with all these motorcycle messengers rocketing out of narrow alleyways and weaving in and out around your car.
While searching for my hotel, I asked a guy on a motorcycle while waiting for the signal to turn and he goes..."I don't know. I'm from Belgium."

The cute and well organized little shops and boutiques on every major street reminded me of someone saying that England is a nation of shopkeepers. Nothing like that where I live.

Also, I never knew that there was so much immigrant population in London. Also finding the American corporations have taken over with familiar name brands flashing around town was a bit...unsettling.

cristoir2f

The tax is unbelievable over here. The non existent recycling of waste and the people so schizophrenic

PATRICIA L

The way we queue in line for everything and say sorry when people bang into you. The British are so polite [until they've had a couple of drinks then aggression takes over]. And we talk quietly [not like the spanish who shout constantly!] We don't use our hands to talk [like the french.] We don't think we're gods gift [like the italians do]. We're just here. And the whole world knows it. You can't beat being British or Britain, for all our bad points we've got a lot more good points. Wave the flag high!

bw_r005t3r

That they think London is such a great place to be. It can be a real nightmare and really frustrating.

bumbleboi

I think a lot of first time visitors to Britian probably expect to find a country as it is described in classic novels and hold some very romantic notions about finding Mr Darcy's, Dickensian London, ladies like Jane Austin's heroines and sleepy villages full of Agatha Christie type characters. These things can be found on the tourist trail but I think what often shocks visitors is our urban way of life and how very modern the country is as well as ancient, how ethnically mixed it is and unfortunately how modern crime impacts on life just as it does the rest of the world.
I think generally visitors are not dissapointed with Blighty but surprised it is not the time capsule they expected to find. I think the cost of some things and the lack of politeness at times can shock them, it shocks me and I live here!

Songbird

Amazing.....how few white faces!

whitetiger

it did surprised me how my $ went down a lot! but that was ok because i meet my british husband and brit man are quite nice and sexy & he had ВЈВЈ.

cozjeanda

as a foreigner that has been to britian twice now and would like to visit again . i was surprised most by the beauty of the land and the people and how busy the cities are but at the same time people find a way to stop being so caught up in business and enjoy themselves . the BRITISH people are fun and friendly that didnt surprise me after awhile .

nicemanvery

They think it's broody rovery !

simplegal

Just came back from oxford for holiday, find out that some people there can be very rude and unfriendly. and they always get drunk around midnight!!! but no worries i still like uk, just another cultural experience for me.

в™Ґgigiв™Ґ

what are the Japanese doing with Paris !!! lol

and if they dont like things they can always go home ;-) i know i would

renclrk

It comes as a total surprise you have Japanese tourists!!!
In Queensland, Australia our street names have been dubbed in their honour.............it surprises me that they go there, when we are the ones making the effort!!!!!!!!!!!

kxkx

how rude they are, and the lack of English they speak, ok so its fine when there on holiday but when they come to live here i think it should be mandatory for them to learn the language

King Wills III

Pleasantly surprised that every government leaflet is printed in their language.

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