This is what makes people British, survey claims (2024)

FAQs

What percentage of people are proud to be British? ›

A survey commissioned by Channel 4 from Ipsos found that more people (45%) are proud to be British due to the country's history than they are because of the Royal Family (28%).

The UK's official religion is Christianity, and churches of all denominations can be found throughout the UK, such as Catholic, Protestant, Baptist and Methodist. The main other religions are Islam, Hinduism, Sikhism, Judaism and Buddhism.

A quarter of Britons think that our hardworking attitude (26%), tolerance to other sections of society (25%) and our patriotism (24%) are the best attributes of the British. Whilst 18% say one of the best characteristics is that we are law abiding and 13% say we keep to ourselves.

The English are said to be reserved in manners, dress and speech. We are famous for our politeness, self-discipline and especially for our sense of humour. Basic politeness (please, thank you, excuse me) is expected.

These values are Democracy, Rule of Law, Respect and Tolerance, Individual Liberty. As part of the Prevent strategy Total People will be promoting Fundamental British Values to reflect life in modern Britain. These 4 fundamental British values are: Democracy.

Good manners are expected in the UK

“If Britain is famed anywhere for “unrelenting politeness”, it is nowhere more so than in Britain itself, where the national reputation for good manners is treated as a badge of honour.”

Fundamental British Values underpin what it is to be a citizen in a modern and diverse Great Britain valuing our community and celebrating diversity of the UK. These values are Democracy, Rule of Law, Respect and Tolerance, Individual Liberty.

For example, the British tend to have a reserved and formal demeanor, while Americans are known for their friendliness and informality. Additionally, there are differences in cuisine, fashion, and social norms between the two cultures.

Research carried out among 2,000 adults revealed the top 40 typically British traits, which include having a stiff upper lip, being tolerant and being culturally aware. Other classic British activities are dunking biscuits in tea, talking about the weather and saying sorry too frequently.

How can I impress a British? ›

British culture is influenced by the combined nations' history; its historically Christian religious life, its interaction with the cultures of Europe, the traditions of England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland and the impact of the British Empire.

The British are very polite. They communicate more indirectly, respectfully and diplomatically than some others. The British would never openly reject an idea from an interlocutor or an employee.

Humour, tradition, and good manners are characteristics commonly associated with being English. The secretary of state for digital, culture, media and sport is the government minister responsible for the cultural life of England.

Mutual Respect and Tolerance

Respecting the values, ideas, and beliefs of others whilst not imposing our own on others. Examples are: Embracing diversity. Promoting awareness of religion, traditions, cultural heritage and preferences.

Italy, France and the USA rank close behind the UK and Canada (third and joint fourth ranks respectively). The UK achieves the highest attractiveness ratings in Kenya and the Ukraine (both 88 per cent) and lowest in Japan (55 per cent).

Americans tend to be friendly

Often, Americans tend to be more friendly. This does not mean that the English are unfriendly but because they tend to develop so-called “negative politeness”.

Liverpool. One of the best cities to live in the UK for social vibes, Liverpool has a cosmopolitan vibe with a large community of locals and expat residents who make the city welcoming for all. Liverpudlians are generally some of the friendliest people in the world, with our readers certainly agreeing.

What exemplifies British values? ›

British values are defined as including: “democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance for those with different faiths and beliefs.”

We help children to remember the British Values through the thumb and finger model. Thumb – democracy – up or down to give opinion. Middle finger – Tolerance of different faiths and beliefs – tallest finger pointing to God. Little finger – Individual Liberty – sticks out on its own.

' In an increasingly familiar litany, British values are said to be: democracy; rule of law; individual liberty; equality; freedom of speech; mutual respect, tolerance and understanding of different faiths and beliefs.

Promote tolerance, respect, liberty, democracy and justice with our British values poster. All of our posters are printed on thick 230gsm matte paper with high quality ink, which gives the displays a really vibrant look!

Cardinal virtues (prudence, temperance, justice and fortitude) and theological or Christian virtues (faith, hope and love) are essential to mutual respect and dignity in a free society.

A quick online search for 'the most British things' brings up a vast array of Britishisms but the most common seem to be: saying sorry, queueing, (bad teeth), separate hot and cold water taps, roast dinners, and tea and crumpets with the Queen. Naturally, everyone in the UK has tea with the Queen at least once.

Overall, the cost of living in the U.K. is 0.49% lower than in the United States. Rent overall is about 22.55% lower in the U.K. You would need $4,700 per month to finance a modest lifestyle in London, compared to $5,822 for the equivalent lifestyle in New York City.

The most significant differences between British and American English are in their pronunciations, their vocabularies, and their spelling. There are grammatical differences, too, but these are less important and harder to describe, so we will pass over them for today.

British strengths included having an much larger and more experienced army, the strongest navy in the world, and alliances with Native Americans.

Brits also like to keep their displays of affection private. For example, North American people tend to hug and kiss people in public, whereas Brits like to do their cuddling and romancing behind closed doors.

What accent do Brits find most attractive? ›

The accents Brits find the sexiest have been revealed - and it's Mancunian that's topped the list. Research by Best Casinos, which polled some 2,500 people, found that a Manchester twang is considered the most attractive by more than 50 per cent.

The U.K. is a highly multicultural country and generally respectful of all beliefs and cultures. Discrimination based on race, gender, sexual orientation, age or disability is against the law. Many expats are attracted to the U.K. because of this diversity, finding it a welcoming and friendly place to live.

English culture, like the individual cultures of the other nations that make up the United Kingdom, is heavily influenced by its imperial past. Admittedly, this is not a great part of British and European history but does form the basis for many cultural elements you'll come across in England today.

But after the Revolutionary War, upper-class and upper-middle-class citizens in England began using non-rhotic speech as a way to show their social status. Eventually, this became standard for Received Pronunciation and spread throughout the country, affecting even the most popular British phrases.

The British have earned a reputation for remaining stoic and maintaining a 'stiff upper lip' through tough times. This has been largely shaped by the hardships faced during the First and Second World Wars, as well as the post-war period.

Irrational or hysterical (60 per cent) Better suited to housework and/or should take care of the home(72 per cent) 'Bossy' if they are being assertive (61 per cent) Not good at sports (53 per cent) or DIY/fixing things(60 per cent)

Northern and Southern stereotypes

The stereotype portrays northerners as being more outgoing, forthright and gregarious; southerners as being more wary, noncommittal and reserved.

23.3% of the total U.S. population. Predominantly in the South, Northeast and Interior West regions.

There is certainly evidence to support this. In a YouGov poll in 2014, 59% of respondents said that the British empire was something to be proud of, while only 19% thought it was a source of shame.

What percentage of the world was British? ›

By 1913, the British Empire held sway over 412 million people, 23 per cent of the world population at the time, and by 1920, it covered 35.5 million km² (13.7 million sq mi), 24 per cent of the Earth's total land area. As a result, its constitutional, legal, linguistic, and cultural legacy is widespread.

the United Kingdom population is equivalent to 0.87% of the total world population.

New York State's land area is approximately 47,000 square miles. England's is 50,000. New York City and London have 8.8 million and 8.9 million inhabitants respectively. England is part of the island of Great Britain.

Moreover, the state with the highest number of so-called "English Americans" is California, with over 2.5 million residents in the Golden State identifying as descendants of English ancestors.

The largest proportional concentrations of people of self-identified British descent in the world outside of the United Kingdom and its Overseas Territories occur in New Zealand (59%), Australia (45%), Canada (30.6%), the United States (11%), South Africa (2.6%) and parts of the Caribbean.

The British public are generally proud of their country's role in colonialism and the British Empire, according to a new poll. At its height in 1922 the British Empire governed a fifth of the world's population and a quarter of the world's total land area, but its legacy divides opinion.

As economic historian Adam Tooze writes in his book The Deluge, for a century, the British Empire had been the largest economic power in the world; in 1916, its output was overtaken by that of the United States.

Government data about the UK's different ethnic groups. 82% of people in England and Wales are white, and 18% belong to a black, Asian, mixed or other ethnic group (2021 Census data).

At the height of its empire, almost a quarter of the world succumbed to British rule. Yet this figure is dwarfed when time is disregarded and the British empire's incursion record is viewed as a whole. Over its history, a new study found, Britain has invaded almost 90 percent of the world's countries.

What ethnicity is British? ›

The United Kingdom is an ethnically diverse society. The largest ethnic group in the United Kingdom is White British, followed by Asian British. Ethnicity in the United Kingdom is formally recorded at the national level through a census.

As of July 1, 2022, United States Census Bureau estimates that 75.8% of the US population were white alone, while Non-Hispanic whites were 59.3% of the population.

THEY came, they saw, they conquered. But while the Romans, Vikings and Normans ruled Britain for many years, none left their genetic calling cards behind in the DNA of today's mainland Caucasian population.