The United Kingdom is a land of contrasts - largely due to its rich and complex history, and the individual cultures if its four constituent "home nations "of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, and even then customs tend to differ depending which part of the four home nations you are in. It is important to realise that the UK is a proud nation and it people are proud to be proud. However, Brits are not offended easily.
Talking
If you are travelling on the London Underground, it isn't usually customary to talk loudly or hold large conversations. It won't cause offence, but it will make you stand out from the locals. On other public transportation, quiet conversation usually takes place and if you want to, you can try to strike up a chat with people you're sitting near, to get recommendations on things to do, places to eat and the like, though a newspaper being read or an MP3 player being listened to are signs that someone doesn't want to be talked to (these are British anti-socialising defence mechanisms).
If you are asked by a tour guide to be quiet when entering a building, it is best to observe this. Whether it be a church, an official building or a castle, it is best to observe these customs as you may be asked to leave if you don't.
Language
In some places, it is common to hear bad language in the streets or in pubs. Depending on the situation, you can go have a quiet word with one of the party concerned and gently ask if they could tone down their language. Mostly, this will not cause offence, but judge the situation carefully, either let it wash over you, or move on.
If you're in a pub and don't feel confident, speak with a member of the bar staff who will usually go over and get the offending persons to calm down. If you're with children, make sure you point this out, the language will usually subside and you may get an apology.
Racism and phobic language, in general, is not appreciated and will receive a stern rebuke.
Culture
The culture is quite varied across the UK, as essentially, the UK is a political union of four nations. All major cities have theatres, music halls and museums to visit. Most other areas will have something on offer too; whether it's a rural show, well-dressing (yes, they actually dress wells) or a community hall dance.
To get a real flavour of the people, visiting a pub is essential, as it is the social heart of most communities in the UK, though judge carefully!
Some establishments in suburban areas can be a bit 'locals only' and have very rudimentary facilities, but, in general, you should be fine in the centre (downtown) of main cities, around popular venues, tourist locations and in most rural pubs. If you are in doubt, ask around for recommendations.
Some "taboos"
Whilst not strictly taboo, it is best to avoid certain topics of conversation amongst any new acquaintances, as they can evoke strong reaction:
- Politics and religion, whilst in Northern Ireland
- The death of Princess Diana
- The current war in Iraq
- Fox hunting, in rural areas
Another pointer is that although the UK is internationally recognised as a single country, the inhabitants of each of the four home nations tend to be very conscious of their individual nationalties. It is in generally considered rude to refer to a Scottish person as "English" or vice-versa and Scots and Welsh people generally get irritated when foreigners (even the English themselves!) refer to the entire UK as "England". Again it is worth repeating the case about Northern Ireland - the underlying religious tensions in the province mean that it can be risky to broach the subject of national identity - some members of the Unionist community do not like being called "Irish", and equally the Republican faction will repel the idea of being called "British". Best to steer cleer of such conversations.
