Specifically, far southwest England.

1. The average UK citizen's attitude towards Americans.
2. The food vs American food.
3. Brit women vs American women.
4. Brit's idea of fun; after work and on weekends.
4. Anything else you think is important for an American to know.

I want to enjoy myself without being an "ugly American."

Here's my biased opinionated guide to the UK.

1. The average UK citizen's attitude towards Americans.
   Good.  You have the free life most of us want. You get cool stuff like the PS3/X360 early.  Lots of UK people want to be American's and will wear A+Finch clothing to be trendy.
2. The food vs American food.
   Nothing beats a Philly Cheesestreak or southern Chicken Fried Steak. I hate UK food.  It's bland.  Some Pubs do good traditional food you will like ie; Beef in Yorkshire pudding with onion gravy.
3. Brit women vs American women.
 Brit women are skanky and violent.  Avoid at all costs.
4. Brit's idea of fun; after work and on weekends.
Getting drunk, fighting your best mate, running from the town policeman (yes only 1 on duty) then picking up some skanky drunken Brit girl for a romp in the back alley
4. Anything else you think is important for an American to know.
 We have lots of History and old buildings.

Have a safe trip. :-)  Somerset, Devon and Cornwall are lovely.

Quoted: Here's my biased opinionated guide to the UK. 3. Brit women vs American women.  Brit women are skanky and violent.  Avoid at all costs..

Why is that?  And if I avoid UK women, who else is there?

I think Lonesniper hits most of the nails on the head :D

Quoted: I think Lonesniper hits most of the nails on the head :D

I think lone sniper might be a bit bitter and twisted, eats in the wrong places and may have gone through a rather bad divorce



1. The average UK citizen's attitude towards Americans.
Most will be polite as long as you are, don't shout, Americans seem to love everyone in the pub knowing they've arrived, big mistake, there are usually a lot of drunken people around who would just love to show the Americans (or anyone else that walked in loudly for that matter) the Falkland's spirit, whilst telling you the war started in '39 not in '42

2. The food vs American food.
Good home cooked English/British food is great, just don't think that a pizza, curry or kebab (it's not a kebob) is real English food. Kebabs only taste great after a lot of beer, then they are the best food in the World, bar none. Period.
One thing over here that I hate is that most places will overcook red meat. STOP - it's meant to be red in the middle!
The British idea of pizza. Fast food pizzas are usually just a few ingredients (laughingly called toppings, more like sparse scatterings) stuck together with cheese, extra cheese stuffed in the crust and then more cheese on top, it's crap cheese at that. Find a proper Italian pizzeria and get a proper pizza WITHOUT ALL THE CHEESE.
Pub food is often good value for money and regularly reach American portion size.

3. Brit women vs American women.
We got the full range - from those that need wining and dining before they'll put out, and those that, if you offer to buy them a drink, will rip your clothes off before the money hits the bar. Seriously though, same as in the US, just start slowly.

4. Brit's idea of fun; after work and on weekends.
Where do I start, it depends on what you're into. There are events for all the sports and recreational activities you could possibly want if you can be bothered to look. Many Brits will just sit on the couch with the 6 pack and moan that there is nothing to do. These guys need to get off their backside and get a life.
If you have an idea what you're looking for I'm sure someone on here will know of a venue near where you're staying that does it, we have a membership covering the whole country on the UKHTF.

4. Anything else you think is important for an American to know.
DON'T SHOUT

I want to enjoy myself without being an "ugly American."
I'm sure you'll do fine. The vast majority of Brits are friendly and will offer you room to stay given half a chance, there are only a very small minority that get the majority of the press coverage that causes trouble for everyone.

height=8

Quoted: height=8 Quoted: Here's my biased opinionated guide to the UK. 3. Brit women vs American women.  Brit women are skanky and violent.  Avoid at all costs.. Why is that?  And if I avoid UK women, who else is there?

My view is taken from the area I live.  The town I live in is just like one giant 'trailer park' not the style of homes but the type of people.  All the girls want to do around here is get drunk, have more kids to get a bigger council house and more money from the Government.  5 kids per women is the norm in this town, and from 3 different 'donors' or fathers as they were once called.

I am sure the southwest will be different though.  I can highly recommend European girls though ;-)  There are loads in the UK.  You can spot them because they will be the ones working.

height=8

Quoted: I think lone sniper might be a bit bitter and twisted, eats in the wrong places and may have gone through a rather bad divorcehat As for eating......people are right, find a good Pub with traditional food and you will love it.  Try roast Lamb with mint sauce. Eating out is expensive for the English and it not like the eat out culture of the US.

height=8

Quoted: And where might you hail from?  Sounds, from your description, that you live near me.... h I love rainy days as the locals stay inside and don't fight in the street.  I fear the summer and warm nights.  The sun, alchol and pot don't mix well.  I stopped calling the Police as they never come in time.  My area is so nice there was an armed seige at the end of the road the day I moved in.  Was a nice welcome to the area :-)

Having grown up a few miles from the Tamar, I can only offer the following advice in addition to the wise words already posted. These are especially true if you do down to Cornwall.

1. Anyone from further away than Exeter is a foreigner. Bristol, America, the Moon, there is little difference. You will generally get a very warm reception.

2. Especially in the more rural areas, the pubs operate as a community focal point. Many are family friendly and take great pride in serving good food. Rule of thumb - menu written on chalkboards = good, flashy printed menu  = catering chain, can be quite generic quality food.

3. Many fine British women, as there are Americans. In Cornwall, make sure you count the number of fingers on each hand first.

4. Fun and frolicks - Finding good company and enjoying it, be that at the pub, the range or in front of the TV with some beers.

5. What not to do? Shout, as someone said. The British tend to have a fairly closely defined personal space and social circle. When drunk, all this goes out the window so go with the flow.

Do not be scared if you tune the radio in to hear pure gibberish - Cornwall has a different native language and (when I was a lad there) they have their own radio stations. Kernow bys vykken!

Lastly, don't be surprised to see ox-drawn carts crossing the Tamar. They are delivering electricity to Cornwall.

Even more lastly, please don't carry a pea-shooter or a rubber band for flicking at people - the British Police hate being out-gunned.

Edit to add: Loads of castles! Do not miss the opportunity to visit some! As you travel, look at the place names and see if you can spot where the name style changes the further s/w you go.

Quoted: Specifically, far southwest England. 1. The average UK citizen's attitude towards Americans. 2. The food vs American food. 3. Brit women vs American women. 4. Brit's idea of fun; after work and on weekends. 4. Anything else you think is important for an American to know. I want to enjoy myself without being an "ugly American."

If anyone gives you lip about being a Septic ignore them, if you must have a go on the local bike then go gloved up!, you will figure the rest soon enough, have fun mate.

I noticed that just about all the replies included a warning against shouting. I wasn't aware that it was a problem or that we Yanks are know for it.

My daughter has a friend from England coming over to visit next month. Will he be expecting me to shout at him?

Not to threadjack, but is there anything I can do to make him feel at home? He'll be staying with us.

Quoted: I noticed that just about all the replies included a warning against shouting. I wasn't aware that it was a problem or that we Yanks are know for it. My daughter has a friend from England coming over to visit next month. Will he be expecting me to shout at him? Not to threadjack, but is there anything I can do to make him feel at home? He'll be staying with us.

Don't let him fire anything semi or full auto....

Quoted: Funny thing you guys say we yell. A good portion of the Brits I encounter tend to mumble and mush their words. So a tip for Brits visiting the US, speak up and try pronouncing each word individually.

I find we have to speak at half speed, as those Americans with a Southern drawl cannot keep up with what we are saying!

Quoted: Quoted: Funny thing you guys say we yell. A good portion of the Brits I encounter tend to mumble and mush their words. So a tip for Brits visiting the US, speak up and try pronouncing each word individually. I find we have to speak at half speed, as those Americans with a Southern drawl cannot keep up with what we are saying!

We tell yankees to slow down too but in thier case it's just to annoy them.

This is how UK comedy sees American Tourists so try not to be like this :-)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyQuv0nPTMg

I just had to relate this story and this thread seemed to be the place, vis US vs. UK.

Last week, my daughter wanted to send her boyfriend a pizza with pepperoni arranged in a heart shape.  Since I had the credit card, I went online to Papa Johns and ordered the pizza with special instructions to arrange the pepperoni in the shape of a heart. I followed up with a call to the store. All set. Will be deliverein in an hour or so.

The boy and his family were quite surprised to get the pizza. Unfortunately, no pepperoni heart. I called the store and asked about it:

Me: Hi. I ordered a pizza to be delivered. It was to have pepperoni arranged in a heart shape. It got there without any pepperoni.
PapaJohn Guy: I made that pizza. It had pepperoni.
M: Sorry, but I just spoke with the family that received it. No pepperoni.
PJG: It had pepperoni!!
M: Well, what can I say. They opened the box--no pepperoni. Perhaps the delivery person left the wrong pizza?
PJG: No he did not. I made that pizza and they delivered it.
M: Shall I have them bring it back? Did it have the pepperoni heart on it?
PJG: Yes, but it is probably hard to see because the pepperoni is red and blends in with the sauce and it's under all that cheese.
M:

Why you no rissen? You no speakee Ingrish? Sirry iriot


or


fork 'andles..........................


or even


I'm playing all the right notes, but not necessarily in the right order....


I could just go on and on