How is the Social Etiquette in London?

London, why you need to know “how is the social etiquette” here?
Well, first, we need to know about the City, that we’re talking, so…
The City of London, the capital of United
Kingdom is a year-round tourist destination.
London is the largest city in Europe and located
astride the famous river of Thames. This is the
home for most of the international
organizations and the city is headed by the Lord
Mayor of London. The city of London has its
own police force, call City of London police.
London is considered as both business and tourist destination
and visited by millions of people annually. The Heathrow
Airport, London is considered as the busiest airport in the world.
City of London provides many attractions for visitors. You can
visit London museums, see Royal palaces and activities, relax
on London parks and many more places for bed and dine.
London is considered an expensive city in the world and even
though its home for many foreign migrants, still keeping its
traditional heritage and surrounding.
Now, you can continue with the Social Etiquette.
Get started with this short primer on culture and social etiquette in
the United Kingdom.
There are no strict etiquette rules that you have to stick to when
in the UK. It is advisable, however, to demonstrate decent
manners and respect to the local culture and traditions.
The first, and most important step, is to be aware of the clearly
distinct nations which form the UK. The United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Northern Ireland consists of England,
Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. The citizens of any of
these countries may be referred to as “British”. This term is also
the safest to use when not certain of a person’s heritage. When
certain of heritage, you are free to call the different residents as
follows: English, Scot, Welsh or Irish. While the four countries
share many customs, each has its own set of traditions and
history.

Greetings and meetings

When first meeting a Brit, he or she may
seem reserved and cold, but that is just an
impression. In reality, they are very
friendly and helpful to foreigners. A
handshake is the common form of
greeting, but try to avoid prolonged eye
contact, as it may make people feel ill at
ease. Use last names and appropriate titles until specifically
invited to use first names. It is proper to shake hands with
everyone to whom you are introduced, both men and women;
the appropriate response to an introduction is “Pleased to meet
you”.
Time and punctuality
British people are very strict when it
comes to punctuality. In Britain people
make a great effort to arrive on time, so it
is considered impolite to be late, even
with by few minutes. If you are delayed, be sure to inform the
person you are meeting. Here are some situations when you are
obliged to be on time, as well as some situations when it is
advisable:
 For formal dinners, lunches, or appointments you always
come at the exact time appointed.
 For public meetings, plays, concerts, movies, sporting
events, classes, church services, and weddings, it’s best to
arrive a few minutes early.
 You can arrive any time during the hours specified for teas,
receptions and cocktail parties.

Food time!
If you’ve visiting London from the United States, then you’ll find
the restaurant and eating etiquette much the same – if you’re
visiting from South East Asia, the Middle
East or parts of Africa for instance though,
you might be a little less used to the died-in-
the-wool cuisine customs in the UK. To wit,
eating with a knife and fork is almost always
normal (even for pizza, but not so for bread).
Chewing with your mouth closed is
considered good manners, as is talking
relatively quietly when dining with others in public. London’s far
from a place driven by decorum, but there are some unspoken
rules!

Business Etiquette in London, England

Courtesy
The United Kingdom is not warm and
fuzzy, particularly in the Metropolitan
areas like London. They are, however,
very courteous. Do not cut in line,
shove, or execute bodily functions.
Frequent use of “sorry”, “thank you”,
“pardon”, and “please” are standard. Being overly friendly
can seem intrusive. However, being abrasive is uncouth.
Avoid hard pitches, being pushy, and confrontation.
Business Meetings
Courtesy can mean that confrontation is avoided, leading
to indirect or evasive responses or ironic speech.
Decisions are made from the top-down, so expect that
meetings may not result in an immediate response. They
may be more productive towards later decisions.
Business lunches and dinners are common practice,
especially in metropolitan centers like London.

How to Host a Dinner Party?

” … Food, drink, friends, good conversation — a dinner party
is, in the end, a simple and enduring
combination of ingredients, made
unique by what hosts and guests infuse
the evening with. To help you achieve a
more flawless and fun-filled gathering,
here are a set of guidelines with
everything you need to know about throwing your best dinner
party”
The British party planner Fiona Leahy says that as a
professional, outsourcing is key for her own busy life, but even
if you can’t hire a catering staff for your private affair, think
about what you don’t have to do yourself — like picking up a
dessert, having wine, flowers or other supplies delivered, or
hiring a cleaning service for before or after the party. Keeping it
simple for yourself is crucial. “I’m not above just serving a
sourdough truffle pizza with great wine,” Leahy says. “It’s the
company that counts … and, of course, the tablescape.”

Here, her timeline tips for your party:

Two weeks before
 Create your guest list, making sure you have enough dishes
to serve everyone. (Here are some good, simple suggestions
for dinnerware sets.)
 Send out your invitations.
 Think about the atmosphere and aesthetic you’d like for the
evening. Figure out what you’ll need for décor and make a
list.
One week before
 Pin down confirmations from guests and be sure to check
on their dietary restrictions.
 Plan your menu, keeping in mind what ingredients are in
season and what can be prepared a day before the party.
 Think about how you’ll want your dishes to look when
served, and be sure to include any special tools, plates or
garnishes you’ll need to create.
 Pick up candles and any other décor (except flowers) you’ll
want for the evening.
Two days before
 Pick up all the ingredients for the dinner.
 Purchase wine and any other beverages you’ll be serving,
and make sure you have a good corkscrew.
  Fill up your ice trays and pick up extra ice from the store if
you’ll be making cocktails.
 Make a playlist (or several).
The day before
 Prepare as much of the food as possible, including dessert.
 Clean up your home, especially areas where guests will be
(the dining room, living room and bathroom) and be sure
the trash and the dishwasher are empty for the next day.
 Pick up flowers or other natural touches and put them in
vases.
The day of
 Take it from pro chefs and prepare a mise en place, setting
out all of the ingredients, sauces and garnishes you’ll need
to finish your dishes around a counter area with a cutting
board and good knives. Line up small bowls and fill them
with everything you’ll need.
 Prepare any last dishes.
 Set up the table and any décor. All linens, table settings,
glasses, place cards and candles should be laid out at this
point.
Two hours before
 Arrange all the food you cooked previously on the counter
and pull out any pots you’ll need to prepare them.
 Set up a drink and snack station for guests’ arrival with
wine or an aperitif and something small to nibble on.
 Put pitchers or bottles of water on the table.
 Get dressed for the evening.
 Light candles and put on your first playlist.
 Have a glass of wine or take a moment for yourself so
you’re relaxed when your guests arrive.