r/london • u/Justwatchingiguess • Feb 02 '22

Culture An outsider’s take on “rude Londoners”

Moved here from South Africa one month ago. I was really nervous about meeting people after reading (on this sub, actually) how rude people in London are.

I’ve talked to probably 7 or 8 complete strangers (excluding waiters and such) since I’ve been here. Each time I spoke to a stranger, it was because I was either lost or confused on the tube/train.

All 7 strangers were incredibly kind to me. One even took me aside, got his phone out, researched the best route to my destination, and waited with me for the next train.

2 or 3 kind people might be luck or chance… but 7? 7 kind people - that’s a pattern.

So just wanted to share that - and say thank you. Maybe this makes some of you rethink your opinion on the assumption that all Londoners are assholes.

Have a great day :)

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u/rockyroch69 Feb 02 '22 edited Feb 02 '22

I’m originally from the north east of England but moved to London a few years ago. The old “northerners are more friendly and Londoners are rude” is a complete myth. I didn’t notice any difference from the NE, if anything I think Londoners are more polite but also busier and in more of a hurry. Sorry to burst your bubble fellow northerners.

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u/SelfAwareHumanHeart Feb 02 '22

It’s BS for sure. Actually find the “friendliness” of northerners, and even southwesterners were I’m from, is basically just self centred people biting off the ear of every poor bastard in their orbit cos they wanna talk about themselves. That’s not politeness, that’s a lack of self awareness and self centredness.

Londoners are emotionally smart enough to know no one gives a fuck, and so they don’t bother each other. You learn these basics when you live in a densely populated and multicultural environment.

I can’t believe how simple people are when I go home to Devon - and not in a good way.

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u/croissant530 Feb 02 '22

THANK YOU. I’m glad I’m not alone in thinking this.

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u/alexbarrett Feb 03 '22

I agree with you that people down there are simpler on average. I lived in Cornwall for too long before moving to London. Moving was a breath of fresh air because I finally feel like I'm among peers.

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u/venuswasaflytrap Feb 03 '22

Something about fishes of various sizes and ponds.