• Italy!

    Italy: Rome' historic buildings. Go Now!

    Italy
    Crumbling buildings in Rome (pictured) only add to the atmosphere in a country where old is redefined and western civilization begins. Explore Italy!

  • Ireland!

    Ireland: Cliffs of Moher! Go Now!

    Ireland
    The Emerald Isle is world famous for its landscapes, foods, beers, and culture. Explore Ireland!

  • Albania!

    Albania: Village of Theth! Go Now!

    Albania
    Albania is unique in Europe, starting with its Muslim heritage, but expanding to include food, culture, and even its natural beauty. Explore Albania!

  • Armenia!

    Armenia: Noravank Monastery. Go Now!

    Armenia
    With a unique language, foods, architecture, and identity, Armenia is a fascinating country and culture unlike no other in the world. Begin Your Journey!

  • Switzerland!

    Switzerland: The Matterhorn. Go Now!

    Switzerland
    This mountainous country unites ethnic Germans, French, and Italians; making it home to a number of diverse cultures. Go Now!

  • Latvia!

    Latvia: Art Nouveau in Riga. Go Now!

    Latvia
    Latvia is small, but has a diverse history, foods, and architecture (shown), which includes aspects from both Eastern and Western Europe. Begin Your Journey!

Social Life in the United Kingdom

Behavior

The Brits are very well aware of the world around them as well as the differences in opinions and behaviors. Because of this they are quite understanding of various cultures and foreigners so odd behaviors are generally accepted (but not encouraged).

Your behavior should begin with modesty as being loud, rude, showing off wealth, or dressing provocatively will get you stares. Likewise, placing yourself above others or boasting is viewed negatively.

As a visitor to the United Kingdom, just try to follow the lead of the locals by dressing in alike manner (see below for details), dining in the local etiquette (see our United Kingdom Dining & Food Page), and avoid sensitive conversation topics, such as politics, finances, and business unless initiated by your local counterpart.

Dress

The traditional dress in the United Kingdom was quite regional as the Scots wore (and still to wear) kilts and the English wore more western-styled clothing. No matter the region, western-styled clothing originated in Europe and for centuries the traditional clothing in the United Kingdom has been the fashion of the time. Only the Scots, with their kilts and Tam o'Shanter have anything truly distinct from that of western clothing; the kilt is a plaid skirt-like cloth that men wear and the Tam o'Shanter is the traditional hat, also typically in plaid.

Today the style is truly western with a combination of everything from new fashion trends to whatever is most comfortable. For formal occasions suits, dresses, and traditional outfits, like the kilt in Scotland are still common. As a visitor to the country nearly anything is acceptable, but dress for the occasion. In cities and more formal settings the dress should be more conservative and formal, while swim suits and more revealing clothing should be reserved for the beach or a nightclub.

This page was last updated: November, 2013