5 Things Tourists Should Not Do When In The Great Britain

Consisting of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom (UK) has long been one of Europe's most popular tourist destinations. The country's appeal has much to do with its diverse scenery and rich cultural heritage. It's easy for visitors to feel relaxed in Britain. The one-time epicentre of the largest empire the world has ever seen,it's natural for lots of people to think the Great Britain is just like home...with a different climate and accent.

However no matter how much at home you feel in the United Kingdom, starting from confusing London with United Kingdom there are a couple of things to never do while vacationing

* Don't Confuse England With the Rest of the United Kingdom

Nothing annoys someone from Scotland or Wales more than being called English. In Northern Ireland, if you call a local English, you could start a brawl. The full official name of the UK is The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Great Britain is composed of England, Scotland and Wales, each a distinctive country with a good deal of local governmental control, local culture, reviving national languages and strong ethnic identities. If you are not sure who you are talking to, or which country you happen to be in, use Britain and British as safe general terms.

* Don’t disrespect the queuing rules

Queues are taken rather seriously in the Great Britain. Jumping the queue is a very much frowned upon, so much that you might risk someone hating you till their dying day. Although people wouldn’t say anything in the moment because they really observe the social rules about not making a scene.

* Don’t pay for only for your drink

Buying rounds isn't an alien concept to most people. The British don’t just buy rounds frequently, it is the default mode of every single drinking session. Even if you haven’t met the people in the group before, buying a round of drinks is a common courtesy. If you dare to pay for just your drinks, you risk to be regarded as the biggest cheapskate of all times.

* Don’t make lingering eye contacts

In Britain, physical contact with strangers is considered to be very awkward, even a lingering eye contact is taken to be a weird gesture. The British are a rather reserved and do not appreciate very forward behaviour from visitors. However, if you head straight to the pub, you will be able to have a better time once the drinking starts. Alcohol is widely known as the country’s social lubricant.

* Don’t block the escalators

The locals generally race up and down the left side of escalators in stores, airports, and train stations. If you prefer to stand patiently in one spot from the bottom to the top, stay on the right, leaving the left side free for passing traffic. City people, in particular, regard loitering on the left of the escalator akin to shoving in at the front of a line instead of waiting your turn...you'll get a lot of grumbles.