Do americans find Londoners miserable when they come to England?

Question

I have just got back from holiday (went to LA) i have never been to america before and couldnt believe how friendly and helpful people were. Sometimes people asked if we needed help without us even asking and chatted away to us. In London everyone is miserable and i don't think very helpful to tourists. Have you been to UK (Americans only) how did you find the British?

Answer 1

Yes. But this doesn't just apply to Americans. Everybody else in the UK who isn't from the London area probably feels like that. People just seem to be a lot friendlier everywhere else. You don't really see Londoners smile very often. lol  :-)

Answer 2

I felt the same when I was there. I wasn't sure if it was because I was American, or if that's just how the people were in general. I wouldn't say miserable, but kind of rude, and not very helpfull. Most of the people I met that were nicer were from London suburbs, or a different city all together.

Not the worst people I've ever met, but definitly not the nicest.

You could say the same thing if you came to New York. Those of us not from New York or surrounding areas would say that a good majority of New Yorkers are as$holes. That seems to be pretty common in big cities in many countries.

People are in a hurry, always trying to get somewhere, and don't want any distractions along the way.

I had fun while I was there, and did manage to meet a few really good people that I still keep in touch with today.

Come back again anytime, hope you enjoyed your stay here!

Answer 3

I lived there Yes most have a look as if they have not had a good 'sit down' in weeks Most Brits I don't care for,as i find them smug and anti American But sometimes you find one you can joke around with and have a good time The Brit expats in Asia should be shot on sight They seem to enjoy ragging on Americans had only one good friend i would pal around with Miss him to this day Think I'll give him a call right now and see how the heck he's doing

Answer 4

I lived in Scotland for 14 months...loved every day of it.  It helped that my husband was from there, but even when we would just be walking around, and someone would hear me talk, they would stop and ask me questions (not always about Pres Bush I might add *lol*)

We spent 2 days in London before we came home.  And I can honestly say I like it, didn't love it, just liked it.  When Londoners found out I was from the states, they would fake smile, roll their eyes and act polite.  I actually had someone say "Oh I'm sorry" when they asked where I was from.  I sure that 2 days didn't get me the just of Londoners...but I've seem more polite people in my days.

Answer 5

why can't I get ice in my drink?

Answer 6

Well, they generally won't go out of their way to help tourists or anything, but most Londoners I associated with while living there  were very friendly when approached. But, approaching them is probably the difficult part because theyre always in a rush and rather grim-looking/ unwelcoming in appearance.

Answer 7

Well I'm from London and still live there, and not only do many Americans say people in London are miserable and rude, but so do people from 'up north' - I recently went to York and everyone was extremely friendly, and said that people down in London were seen up there as snobbish, rude, miserable..etc.

Answer 8

You can't compare London with LA ... in LA people drive around in their cars and don't use public transport, so it's a novelty when they're in a restaurant or at a tourist attraction to see a foreigner, thus making them more inclined to be friendly.  In London, there is simply no getting away from tourists - they're in our faces 24/7 - so that's why you eventually get pissed off with them.

I'm from London and I'm not blatantly rude to tourists - if someone asked for help then I would stop and help - but I wouldn't ask if they needed help.

However, I take objection to people from other parts of the UK who call Londoners rude.  I recently visited relatives in Norfolk and one day in the supermarket, I was physically pushed out of the way by two different people!  Londoners would at least say "sorry" or "excuse me" first, and then if you didn't move might give you a slight nudge.  But what's with the pushing?!