Every country has their own stereotypes, so I’ve been confronted with the typical English since I moved to the UK. You know, the universally attributed things such as their love for tea, their stiff upper lip – things that have been around for centuries. But how much of this is true?

Well, having lived here, of course there is more to the English than just a few quirks or clichés, but everything’s always rooted in a little bit of truth, isn’t there? Oh, and because this goes both ways, I’ve also talked about German stereotypes, if you want to have a look.

The English love tea

Yes. Yes they do.

Let’s be honest, if you’ve spent any time in the UK, you’ll know. You’ve probably seen the ritual of tea-making in action more than you can count. It’s not just a drink, it’s a culture. Tea is offered at almost every social occasion – visiting a friend, attending a meeting, going to the hair dresser.

That being said, not everyone drinks tea religiously. Some just prefer coffee or, you know, a glass of water. Or maybe, just maybe, a different type than black tea for once. But yes, at the end of the day, the love of tea is so deeply embedded in British culture that it is practically impossible to ignore. The question here isn’t if you’ll drink tea – it’s when you’re being offered a cuppa.

The English are obsessed with the weather

Absolutely. It’s the go-to conversation starter. Whenever you find yourself in a social situation (someone in the sauna opened up with that!) with someone you don’t know very well, the weather is your safest bet. The reason behind this (I presume) is that the weather here in the UK is notoriously unpredictable. It could be sunshine all morning and from one moment to the next you’re going to be stuck in torrential rain for the next three days.

But it’s not just the small talk, it genuinely shapes the English mindset. “Typical English weather” is, what I call “no weather” – grey or white sky, maybe drizzly. As soon as the sun only ever so slightly peaks out? “What a lovely day!” – time for a barbeque at the pub.

The English are reserved

The stiff upper lip – the idea, that the English are always composed, unemotional and stiff. Well, yes and no. There is some truth to that, I guess, but only on the absolute surface level. There can be this calm and controlled exterior when handling difficult situations. Or not showing excitement too easily. Being stoic, really. But it’s really just an oversimplification. It’s restraint rather than a lack of emotions and once you get to know people, they’re just as passionate and expressive as anyone else. Hey, kind of like Germans!

The English are always polite

It’s often said that the English are obsessed with politeness. “Sorry,” “please,” and “thank you” are words that get used constantly, even for the most trivial of things. It’s part of the social fabric here, and it’s something that’s taught from a young age. And this is hilariously accurate. A Brit could walk into a lamp post and apologise to the lamp post.

As a downside, though, this can sometimes seem a bit insincere or overly formal, especially in combination with reluctancy to express their true feelings in an effort not to cause offence. But, generally speaking, English politeness is a delight.

The English are obsessed with pubs

Pubs play a massive role in English social life. In many towns and cities, the pub is the heart of the community. It’s where friends gather, families meet, and strangers can become friends over a pint – you know the spiel. Pub culture is an integral part of English identity – but with all things, not everyone engages it it.

It definitely helps if you’re a football fan – England’s national sport. For lots, it’s more of a religion than a sport, but again, not everyone is involved in this. No doubt it dominates parts of the national consciousness, but there are plenty of people who couldn’t care less about it. Those who are fans, the loyalty and fervour they have for their teams is unmatched – and best observed in a pub. I always thought these two go hand in hand quite well.

So at the end of the day, it’s similar to my own German stereotypes. There’s a grain of truth, but it’s again just an amplifier. If you ever find yourself in England, take the time to experience the country for yourself – things vary dramatically depending on where you are. And there is, as always, way more to the English than meets the eye.

[Picture by Maisie Johnson – thank you! ]