8 Things Only UK Daters Will Understand

With Britain’s growing international community and free online dating sites available worldwide, finding a partner is now a multi-cultural affair. But there remains a few customs and traditions that only UK daters will understand. If you are from overseas but considering hooking up with a Brit, or maybe you’re a Brit that needs enlightenment about your quirky ways, then this list will set you straight about how things are done in this little corner of the globe.

1. The Weather is a Perfectly Acceptable Conversation Topic

In fact, someone who has no opinion or comment on current climatic conditions is distinctly odd. Any pause in conversation, or awkward silences should be quickly filled with an insightful remark about precipitation, cloud cover or wind speed.

2. The Most Unlikely Excuses Are Acceptable

The British can be late due to many unusual challenging occurrences. Flooded roads, getting stuck behind a tractor, the wrong type of leaves on the train track, and being held hostage by a self-service supermarket checkout are all real everyday situations that can delay a Brit.

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3. No Place Saving

You must never ever ask your date to join a queue for you and save you a space. It just isn’t British. If your date asks you to do this, make your excuses and never see them again. You cannot trust your heart to someone so morally corrupt.

4. Sports Events Are All About the Quality of Snacking

Not all sports events are created equal. Some are a perfectly acceptable romantic day out, others are not. A day at Wimbledon will involve Pimms, and strawberries, and can therefore be considered a proper date. A trip to a football match will offer only beer and a pie, and is a complete dating fail.

5. ‘Tea’ is Not a Complete Answer When Asked What You Would Like to Drink

When your new love asks what you would like to drink, a simple response of ‘tea’ or ‘coffee’ is woefully inadequate, forcing the follow up question of ‘do you take milk and sugar’. Pre-empt the inevitable additional information requirement, and provide the drink maker with full instructions on what hot drink you would like, and how it should be made.

6. Remembering How Someone Takes Their Tea is More Important Than Remembering Their Birthday

Knowing how your partner takes their tea or coffee is the greatest test of any British relationship. Intimate knowledge of milk and sugar preferences must be acquired the first time a hot drink is prepared on their behalf. After this time it is unacceptable to know how they take their tea or coffee. Asking them to restate their preferences may lead to the premature ending of your relationship. If you genuinely have no recollection on whether to add milk, sugar or both, there is only one way to save yourself. Arrange for a friend or family member to invite your new partner for a cuppa, then they can legitimately ask the all important milk-sugar question, and secretly text you the answer.

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7. Do Not Hold Hands on the Tube

Even in the flush of early romance you must not stand side by side on a London Underground escalator. You should also avoid holding hands whilst on the train or risk pulling each other off balance, or blocking the path of high-speed commuters.

8. British People Don’t Talk About Themselves

If your date does talk about themselves, first establish whether they have the excuse of being from another country / culture. If not, then run as fast as you can, as they are clearly insane.