A proper visitor's guide to London

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metalangel

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There's a number of ill-advised and rather pompus/patronizing 'guides to British culture' doing the rounds in the media, thanks to the Olmpics. The BBC's effort, for example, seems written more for locals as it raises a bunch of questions and then fails to answer them.

CNN, therefore, wins with this superb and completely accurate piece on what things really are like. Really.

If someone suggests going for a drink after work, they mean drink and nothing else. Booze will be bought in quantity and at no time will the issue of dinner raise its ugly head.

To avoid a woozy stagger home via a frightening fast-food outlet, the sensible socialite takes dietary precautions.

It is acceptable to order prepackaged bar snacks such as crisps (potato chips) or peanuts to soak up some of the alcohol. Alternatively, try ordering drinks that offer a sliver of nutritional value, like a pint of London Pride beer or a cocktail with an olive.

In some bars you may see something called “Pork Scratchings” for sale. These are not for you.
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Journeys that take 20 minutes by Tube, can take up to 48 hours on the night bus. During this time, the sun will not rise and many on board will either perish or get off and walk.
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metalangel said:
There's a number of ill-advised and rather pompus/patronizing 'guides to British culture' doing the rounds in the media, thanks to the Olmpics. The BBC's effort, for example, seems written more for locals as it raises a bunch of questions and then fails to answer them.

CNN, therefore, wins with this superb and completely accurate piece on what things really are like. Really.
Click to expand...

as a londoner i never travel the night bus most of us time it to get last tube or all club into together get cab,My husband has had to explain game cricket to yankies at the Oval which he found a very painful ordeal Culture devide there then .Pork scratings are like your jerkey only we class that as dog food and that where you find it in dog food area some would say the scratching should be there not a pub.Brits like asking americans for a fag or they got fag on them.It also thought polite if american get first round second fouth and fifth rounds at pub even more polite of course always say one for bar staff or that be rude.IF give taxi driver £50 note(good luck)tell him keep change.If taveling in london at rush hour, prepare to loose will to live.
 
Had the night bus more times then I'd like to remember, problem was where I lived at the time (Hampstead) it stopped at the bottom of the very long, very steep hill by the Royal Free Hospital which is exactly what you want to climb at 3am. Only matched in pleasantness by a night bus ride through Harlesden.

I like pork scratchings but can see why to a visitor they'd seem very strange, deep fried pig skin! I suppose it's not unlike the pork rinds you can get in the US, but much much harder and crunchier.
 
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