One of my favorite cities on the planet will be hosting the world at the upcoming Olympic Games. There’s a lot to love about London, like the art and the culture and the tea (oh, the tea). But those aren’t the things I miss on a day-to-day basis. I’m talking about the weird (to me) and wonderful little distinctly-British quirks that I discovered in my time there.
Ok, all other cities cover your ears. London, I heart you the most. And here’s why:
Red telephone booths: We all have cell phones (excuse me, mobiles) now. There’s almost never a reason to pop into a phone booth and pick up that ancient receiver. But I have fond memories of closing the world out and punching in the endless string of numbers from my calling card, finally out of earshot of my flat mates. I needed the comfort of hearing a familiar voice on the other end of the phone, and I found a little bit of home in a distinctly British landmark.
Sitting in the front seat on the top of a double-decker bus: So, double-decker buses are awesome by themselves, but when you can snag the coveted front seat on the top level, your day just got a whole lot better. Sitting there makes you feel like you’re gliding, high above street level. It’s a bird’s eye view of the city streets, all for a few quid. Significantly cheaper than a spin around the London Eye.
Pre-made egg and cress sandwiches: One word–Yum. I know they sound kind of gross (being a pre-made/packaged sandwich and all) but they were so good. And watercress is not an ingredient usually found in pre-packaged sandwiches over here in the States. Actually, I’m not sure I’d be brave enough to try a pre-made sandwich here. The idea brings to mind visions of gas stations and questionable sell-by dates.
Pub culture: By “pub culture” I mean congregating with friends and having a pint. It’s a relaxed, laid-back atmosphere where kids are welcome and the objective is to have a good time, not get wasted. Sure, there are all kinds of pubs (trendy pubs, local joints, tourist-y hangouts), but I’m talking about the little place down the street from your flat; the place you walk into and know that one of your friends will already be there. And if not, you know it won’t be long until one stops in.
Year-round Cadbury Crème Eggs: It’s been too long since my last trip to the UK, but when I was there, the Brits seem to take for granted their unfettered access to the-best-chocolate-treat-ever-invented. And why shouldn’t they? They could stroll to a corner store on a random Wednesday in October and buy as many of those delicious eggs as they wanted. Sure, you could say that absence makes the heart grow fonder, and that we appreciate them more because they’re only available here for a short time, blah blah blah. Nope. Sorry. Having Cadbury Crème Eggs available for consumption at any time is one of the things I miss most about London. Forget the royals; that fake-egg-yolk-colored fondant is my favorite British institution.
Scones: A scone, a scone, my country for a proper scone. I’ve never found a scone over here that’s the perfect combination of crumbly, raisin-y goodness. There’s a line where they cross from being too dry to too cake-like. It’s a delicate balance, and if anyone has found a decent alternative without having to hop a plane across the pond, please give me the details.
What are your fave British treats or traditions?
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I also heart London the most (but don’t tell other cities in the UK because I heart many of them an awful lot, as well…)
London is such a great city! I like the mentality over there =)
All year round Creme Eggs? where are you finding these xxx
Oh my god, I could have written this article! I went to London a few years ago in December/January, and I was so excited by the Cadbury eggs that I stockpiled them and brought tons home in my suitcase. I wish they were available here more often. And I really don’t understand England’s obsession with premade sandwiches (they’re somewhat rare over here…my university had them in their library cafes but that was about the only placce I’ve seen them…sometimes grocery stores/gas stations might have them) but I did enjoy them while I was there. I still kind of miss pret a manger. haha. Also riding on the top of the double decker bus was so fun. I really enjoyed the Tube. And the museums….I could spend hours in the Egyptian section of the British Museum!
Reading this makes me want to go to England even more!! I can’t wait to get there! I know I will love everything about British culture! I already own a Mini Cooper, listen to British singer-songwriters and love everything else about England! Hopefully I’ll get there within the next year!!
Love this but as an English girl I have to say I’ve only noticed creme eggs only come into shops around Easter. Also, they’re called phone boxes!
I always find it sad that British culture is always seen as simply ‘London’…people even do it here in Britain! I live in the north of England and while London culture is great, I’d love to see some more recognition for the north! Sweeping countryside that has inspired some of the worlds greatest classic literature, the gothic landscapes of untouched northern towns, the broad accents and colloquialisms. And it isn’t just nature that’s great about the north, screenplays, poetry and short stories are getting their time in the spotlight at the moment and much popular indie music comes from artists based in the north. While London may always remain the cultural hub of the country, please take sometime to consider the many great elements from all around the country! Also we have the Yorkshire pudding named after us and British grub doesn’t get much better than that!
as a brit, i would love to know where you found these all round eggs – i’ll hop on a double decker bus to get some straight away! and scones are so true – i’ve twice made scones for my foreign when travelling abroad
Another wonderful piece! Of course, I’m biased because I share some of these memories. One of the things I miss is the Tube, especially now that I live in a city that relies significantly less on its subway as the primary means of transportation. (Mind the gap, please.) Even though I live in a large city, it’s not nearly as large as London and doesn’t have as many neighborhoods that are both easy and fascinating to explore. The architecture and character vary greatly among London neighborhoods, which makes exploring by foot that much more enjoyable. Another thing I miss is Harrods. I used to go there just to look at the displays throughout the stores, which were really incredible works of art, whether it was the fish display or the teddy bears in the toy department. What I miss most, though, can’t only be found in London, since it’s part of British culture: the dry sense of humor and the incredibly proper way in which they speak, even to their closest friends. I’d also appreciate more episodes of “Mistresses” and maybe my own personal Adam Rayner.
I love going on the tube in London. Whenever I’m there I forgo taxis and take the tube. It’s dirty, cramped and smelly but it’s simply London to me. Also, Stephen Fry. And cider with pub lunches in summertime. We’re having a mini heatwave at the moment, I live in the countryside, and we spend our days with cold drinks and friends in the sunshine.
It’s rainy and cold most of the time, but I do like living in England!