If You’ve Never Done These 9 Things, Are You Even British?

In the spirit of complete and total honesty, feeling British isn’t solely about where you were born or even which passport you hold. It’s about all the little things. The quirky things. These things unite us all. For example, complaining endlessly about the weather, apologising excessively and perfecting the art of a perfect cup of tea. These quirks are so deeply ingrained that they’re practically a part of our DNA. They’re a part of what it means to be British. Take a peek at our list of 9 things that, if you haven’t done at least once, makes you wonder if you’re even British. Tick them off as you read; the more you tick, the more British you are at your core.

1. Said, “lovely weather we’re having,” while it’s drizzling.

If you’ve never made a comment about the “lovely weather” in the midst of it raining, are you sure you’re British? Nothing is more British than pretending the rain isn’t happening when it so obviously is. Your coat is soaked through and your umbrella is drenched, and you still insist that the weather is “quite nice, actually”. This is less about the weather and more about the positive spirit and quiet optimism. 

2. Apologise when someone else bumps into you.

Only in Britain could being the one who got bumped still end with you saying “sorry”. For the true British, apologising is an automatic reflex similar to breathing. It’s not about feeling guilty but rather about having exceptional manners. There’s an unspoken national agreement to avoid confrontation at all costs, and apologising grants this easily. Brits don’t argue; they apologise their way through life. If you’re not always the first to apologise, you might want to double-check that you’re even British at all.

3. Declared you’re absolutely starving, then proceeded to make beans on toast.

Beans on toast hits the spot every time and it’s such a British thing to say you’re starving and then make the iconic dish. It’s warm, comforting and ready in just minutes. It’s not about gourmet dining but rather nostalgia. Biting into beans on toast will have you reminiscing about your childhood and simpler times. Only in Britain could two slices of toast and a tin of Heinz beans feel like a lavish dish.

4. Made a cup of tea as a solution to every problem.

Had a bad day? Pop the kettle on. Going through some relationship issues? Time for a cup of tea. Something fantastic happened? More tea. True Brits enjoy a cup of tea to smooth over every issue. It’s not about caffeine but rather comfort. It’s a way of saying “we’ll get through this” without actually saying anything.

5. Wait your turn politely in the queue and secretly judge those who didn’t.

Queuing is basically a form of art in Britain and most Brits take it exceptionally seriously. It happens in a somewhat natural motion and before you know it, there’s a long queue. Brits wait politely in the queue but those who jump the line? We’re secretly judging them. 

6. Open a pack of crisps with precision so as to share them with others, then eat them nearly all yourself.

Opening up a pack of crisps starts with good intentions. You open it with precision and then pass it around to be polite. But, when the pack comes back to you and the crisps are half gone, you feel disappointment. Sharing snacks is very British but so is hoping that no one takes too many so you can still enjoy them too.

7. Said “cheers” instead of “thank you” to the bus driver.

Saying “cheers” rather than “thank you” as you hop off the bus is the unofficial British farewell. It’s polite without being too formal and warm without being awkward. It combines cheeriness with simplicity and is the perfect way to encompass your gratitude without emotions being tied into it. It’s understated and perfect all at once. If you’ve never said “cheers” rather than “thank you” to the bus driver, are you sure you’re British at all?

8. Threw on shorts any time the weather is warmer than 15 degrees celsius.

In Britain 15 degrees celsius is basically summertime. It feels like a tropical paradise. When those temperatures hit, practically everyone has their legs out. Jackets? They’re optional. Umbrellas? There’s no need! Brits act like winter never existed once the sun gets warm and shines down. It’s a way of celebrating optimism and any hint of warmth possible.

9. Claimed to be fine when you’re actually not.

The ultimate British move: a calm “I’m fine” while inside, you’re anything but. Frustration, stress, or just a rough day gets tucked away behind a polite smile and a stiff upper lip. Overreacting is frowned upon, so you shrug it off, quietly hoping no one probes further. In Britain, “I’m fine” often translates to, “I’m holding it together… barely.”

10. Started a conversation about the weather and then regretted how passionate you became.

It starts as harmless small talk, a comment on drizzle or sunshine, and somehow ends with you passionately debating wind chill, rainfall, or whether it even counts as “summer”. Arms are waving, facts are flying, and you’re left wondering how a polite conversation about clouds got so heated. In Britain, only the weather can turn a casual chat into an accidental spectacle.

In The End

It turns out there are several things that are so uniquely British that if you’re not doing them, people might question just how British you really are. From apologising when someone bumps into you to waiting your turn politely in a queue or using the word “cheers” rather than “thank you”, these are just some of the quirks that make being British so unique and charming. So the next time you have a problem and you make yourself a cup of perfect tea, you can be comforted in knowing that it doesn’t get much more British than that!