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“Until you have cried on public transport, you’re not a true Londoner.” The line sounds as if it was taken from a book of modern proverbs, but it’s in fact something that was overheard in London.
With its historical landscape, vibrant culture, beautiful gardens and canals, narrow streets and arts, and double-decker buses, no wonder London is among the most visited cities in the world.
And where there’s a lot of action going on, there’s a lot of miscellaneous things to be overheard. Like the internet’s powerhouse “Overheard LA” that collects conversations which were not meant for others’ ears, “Overheard London” is exactly that but with a Greater London twist.
So make yourself some afternoon tea with bourbon biscuits and get ready to see what Londoners are buzzing about, which is honestly the most entertaining thing ever.
More info: Instagram | OverheardLA.com
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The old stereotype is that people from London are usually unfriendly workaholics who only care about money and themselves. You'd better not look in the eyes of a Londoner on the tube, as they will give you the evil eye back. Some foreigners think of them as self-obsessed, arrogant and stingy.
But this is just an exaggeration. The rude Londoner stereotype might have been created by the standoffish reputation of London’s fine citizens, who are otherwise genuinely very polite and have great manners. There’s something about this etiquette that is simply unparalleled and that’s why it may have caused a side effect of foreigners getting the wrong impression.
On the other hand, it’s more or less true that people tend to be in their own little worlds on the transportation network. However, the tragic London bombings in July 2005 and the optimistic 2012 Olympics certainly showed that Londoners can join together when it counts.
Another belief is that food in London is expensive and simply awful. It’s true that not even a BLT sandwich is cheap in the city compared to other European capitals. But when it comes to British food, not everything there is bland and greasy. If unpretentious but hearty is your thing, you’ll like the traditional pub food. Plus think of the crazy meal names like toad in the hole, bubble and squeak, and spotted dick.
Also, the sheer level of worldwide famous British chefs suggests that we may be underestimating the British talent to cook. After all, it does have famous chefs like Jamie Oliver, Nigella Lawson and Gordon Ramsay flying the flag for British cuisine everywhere they go!
#17
troufaki13 3 years ago
One time I was so terribly bloated (courtesy of my IBS) that someone offered me their seat. I was too embarrassed to refuse...
#20
Mohsie Supposie 3 years ago (edited)
It is just something we voted for and we got it, but we still got no clue what it is!
#27
KombatBunni 3 years ago
I've heard it as champagne tastes on a beer budget. Old Aussie saying :P
#28
#33
#37
Caroline Overill 3 years ago
So was I. I'm a stay at home orphan now. Ok so I'm 60 but sometimes you still want Mummy and Daddy
#41
Al Cook 3 years ago
Question is, is the American disgusted or excited by that? I'd be disgusted personally.
Devil's Advocate 3 years ago
Carpet in a house toilet / bathroom is bad enough, in a public one?! Yeah, every sane English person also finds this disgusting
Tugg Ster 3 years ago
every sane person period should find this disgusting! not just the English
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NsG 3 years ago
Oh come on, even Brits find this one weird - you've just encountered a Londoner who doesn't get out much.
Rai Grant 3 years ago
It IS a bit old fashioned now. I guess it was seen as a luxury for a while, but I've not seen a carpeted bathroom since 1990-something.
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Valisbourne Spiritforge 3 years ago
Maybe every public toilet in London is immaculately used and cleansed after every use. The public toilets I've seen, well, are not. Given the amount of urine I typically see on the floor in any particular public restroom, I shudder to think of carpet being in one.
Bill 3 years ago
This brings back many horrible memories and smells from my time renovating houses.
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Printerman 3 years ago
This doesn't happen a lot, but I'm with the American on this one. Carpeted bathroom is *bleeping* disgusting.
Sherbaan Naab 3 years ago (edited)
To the people that find this weird? Have you considered putting the lid down when you flush? Or not peeing on the floor? Or, you know, keeping your bathroom clean? Personally, I like a small fluffy carpet when I get out of the shower and to warm my feet on when sitting.
digitalin 3 years ago
There's a difference between a small fluffy rug that can be washed and installed wall-to-wall carpet. It's not about peeing on the floor (although accidents happen) but the moisture build-up from the shower probably grows mold in permanent carpet that you can't see and a vacuum might not reach.
Load More Replies... Victor Botha 3 years ago
Seen lots of posts on BP of houses in the US that have revoltingly carpeted bathrooms. Not specifically a UK.
Heidi Sweetwater 3 years ago
Americans ARE disgusted by carpet in bathrooms. WHAT is the point of it? Just catches all the piss men can't seem to get into the toilet bowl and stinks the place up.
frank kilmore 3 years ago
most brits dont have carpet in the bathroom.....maybe a small rug...
Marley Pullinger 3 years ago
Yeah I'm sorry but, if you're unlucky, toilets flood. You do NOT want carpet there when that happens.
E.C. Jarvis 3 years ago
Well if you can manage to pee in the actual toilet, it's not that big of an issue.
Susie Elle 3 years ago
I once went into a pub with a British co-worker in London and I said: "I kind of like the carpets in pubs." And she went: "Yes, and sometimes they're clean." :')
Karolina Paulina 3 years ago
That also suprised me a lot with few other things in England (yes, chip butty )
Riley Quinn 3 years ago
Not sure if this American is pleased or disgusted. I owned a cleaning business, and trust me, a carpeted bathroom is foul beyond words.
Christine M Quigley 3 years ago
One of my pet peeves..disgusting if there's a male in the house... It's cheap that's why contractors use it..
Baali Venomax 3 years ago
I got bathrugs in my bathroom. In front of the sink, shower and toilet. The floor is tiled, you dont wanna slip do you?
Me 3 years ago
That's fine. They are talking about wall-to-wall carpet that is nailed down and can't be washed.
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Craig Reynolds 3 years ago
Clearly, the American was a man that can't manage to NOT pee on the floor or down the side of the bowl. Sit the fk down and problem solved. Carpet won't be an issue.
Don Sayers 3 years ago
Americans use the word 'bathroom' to mean toilet, so they're thinking of your pissy carpet. Of course it's OK to have a carpet in the actual bathroom, but not in the toilet, we have special little mats for that, to piss on.
#45
#46
Valerie G. 3 years ago
My mom used to say "don't tell anyone your troubles, half of them don't care and the other half are glad it happened to you".
#49
Devil's Advocate 3 years ago
If it was like Brexit, there would be people hanging off the train trying to get back in after it's already left...
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What do you think ?
Jo Choto 3 years ago
Maybe I'm biased, but the British sense of humour is one of the best in the world. The Aussies are also very funny.
Pumpkin Spice 3 years ago
I think I'm secretly British. Nice, snarky people. Wanna move there.
Lauren Caswell 3 years ago
If you can look at someone and express all your pity and incredulity without words: you'll fit right in! :D
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Simon Murray 3 years ago
On the tube years ago I heard 2 guys talking about a friend having trouble with IVF. First guy says "if a girl can't get pregnant is she impregnable?" His friend replies "no I think she's inconceivable" I could see the logic but it cracked me up way harder than it should have
Deanna Crichley 3 years ago
Maybe just because I have only experienced Britain through television, I'm always charmed when they make a statement, and then ask for agreement. Ex: he's made a mess of it, hasn't he? Or this is really fiddly, isn't it?
Karina Henschel 3 years ago
I thought that is the norm. Was taught since primary school that's how you ask that kind of question (I'm obviously not a native speaker)
Load More Replies... Jo Firth 3 years ago
On a British Airways flight that had been given a gate so far from the runway it took 10mins to get there. Pilot came on and announced, " Sorry for the long taxi to the runway everyone. Seems our gate was allocated by someone who doesn't know their a**e from their elbow". Made my day.
Abby Parker 3 years ago
My husband reminded me today of when we came back from DisneyLand and we were coming through customs at Calais. The lady at the desk asked me how my trip was. I said, ‘It was good. Weather was rubbish and I couldn’t get a cup of tea but yeah, it was good :)’ After, my husband said, ‘Could you be anymore British?’ I didn’t even realise what I’d said xD I also have no memory of this and he took great delight in telling me again xD
Evelyn Haskins 3 years ago
The real difference is that Americans seem to fell the need to state the bloody obvious.
Rosie Bannister 3 years ago
ermmmmm that makes them: only 25%; you were sad enough to count; folks voted them into that position so not like it was completely the responsibility of the editor 😎
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Leo Domitrix 3 years ago
It's fascinating to me that it's charming if it is British but horrible if American. If an AMerican ignored a co-worker choking to death, it's proof of evil. If a Brit does it, oh well, just a British thing. (Citing an example from above.) My UK in-laws are quite tight-assed, misery-faced examples of "The Best of Britain" (according to them). They'd leave you to choke. I'd try to save you (I'm American). Why is it charming/funny if it's British? Sincere question, b/c I'm kinda tired of this "UK is superior because" attitude when Brexit has proven the contrary, even if world history hadn't. A jerk is a jerk, no matter his accent, IMO. Peace out.
Kirsty 3 years ago
What makes you think a British person would let you choke? We'd help you out and then ask sarcastically if you needed the rest of your food chewing for you or if you thought you could manage it yourself.
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Jo Choto 3 years ago
Maybe I'm biased, but the British sense of humour is one of the best in the world. The Aussies are also very funny.
Pumpkin Spice 3 years ago
I think I'm secretly British. Nice, snarky people. Wanna move there.
Lauren Caswell 3 years ago
If you can look at someone and express all your pity and incredulity without words: you'll fit right in! :D
Load More Replies... Simon Murray 3 years ago
On the tube years ago I heard 2 guys talking about a friend having trouble with IVF. First guy says "if a girl can't get pregnant is she impregnable?" His friend replies "no I think she's inconceivable" I could see the logic but it cracked me up way harder than it should have
Deanna Crichley 3 years ago
Maybe just because I have only experienced Britain through television, I'm always charmed when they make a statement, and then ask for agreement. Ex: he's made a mess of it, hasn't he? Or this is really fiddly, isn't it?
Karina Henschel 3 years ago
I thought that is the norm. Was taught since primary school that's how you ask that kind of question (I'm obviously not a native speaker)
Load More Replies... Jo Firth 3 years ago
On a British Airways flight that had been given a gate so far from the runway it took 10mins to get there. Pilot came on and announced, " Sorry for the long taxi to the runway everyone. Seems our gate was allocated by someone who doesn't know their a**e from their elbow". Made my day.
Abby Parker 3 years ago
My husband reminded me today of when we came back from DisneyLand and we were coming through customs at Calais. The lady at the desk asked me how my trip was. I said, ‘It was good. Weather was rubbish and I couldn’t get a cup of tea but yeah, it was good :)’ After, my husband said, ‘Could you be anymore British?’ I didn’t even realise what I’d said xD I also have no memory of this and he took great delight in telling me again xD
Evelyn Haskins 3 years ago
The real difference is that Americans seem to fell the need to state the bloody obvious.
Rosie Bannister 3 years ago
ermmmmm that makes them: only 25%; you were sad enough to count; folks voted them into that position so not like it was completely the responsibility of the editor 😎
Load More Replies... Leo Domitrix 3 years ago
It's fascinating to me that it's charming if it is British but horrible if American. If an AMerican ignored a co-worker choking to death, it's proof of evil. If a Brit does it, oh well, just a British thing. (Citing an example from above.) My UK in-laws are quite tight-assed, misery-faced examples of "The Best of Britain" (according to them). They'd leave you to choke. I'd try to save you (I'm American). Why is it charming/funny if it's British? Sincere question, b/c I'm kinda tired of this "UK is superior because" attitude when Brexit has proven the contrary, even if world history hadn't. A jerk is a jerk, no matter his accent, IMO. Peace out.
Kirsty 3 years ago
What makes you think a British person would let you choke? We'd help you out and then ask sarcastically if you needed the rest of your food chewing for you or if you thought you could manage it yourself.
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