What does Big Ben look like next to a person! Well it’s big! But how fabulous is Big Ben?!

I’ve seen it in person before this last trip to London, but each time it feels like the first time and it’s just as impressive.  

Big Ben was an obvious choice to shoot in front of because it’s such an iconic London masterpiece and enhances the entire look of the shot.

 Big Ben was officially renamed as Elizabeth Clock Tower in 2012 for Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee and apparently it’s the second largest clock tower in the world behind…Minneapolis City Hall.  Not sure how many people visit Minneapolis to take pictures!  Who knows, maybe that will be my next stop.

On the heels of my trip, I have been thinking a lot about the differences I have noticed between American English and British English and I recently read a piece on Buzzfeed, that went viral, by Scott Waters (via his Facebook page) about his recent visit to the UK and the differences he cited.  Granted he was in a rural part of England so some of his comparisons don’t exactly compare to the metropolitan city that London is but I did find myself agreeing (and disagreeing) with a few of his observations and noting my own.

Here’s my list:

I couldn’t agree with Scott Waters more: every British shower needs to come with instructions. I have long hair—I don’t have time to painstakingly wash each hair as I toggle between the hot and cold controls which is what I had to do because I couldn’t figure out how to get the right temperature.  Luckily, I asked some locals and finally got it right–but that first shower was a doozy!

Brits use the following words in a very different way than Americans would.

–Fancy means: do you like something or want something or like someone aka “Would you fancy a drink?”

–Quite is used more to emphasis something you like or want. For instance: “I quite like that” perhaps when ordering a tea or lunch.

–Isn’t it?, is often used as affirmation at the end of a sentence, much like the Spanish would add a “verdad?” or “no?”

–Right is retorted as some sort of placation. For instance, if someone mentions or observes an unusual event, a Brit would respond with “Right.” Which is probably the same as an American saying “sure” or “ok.”

–Massive is used to describe a lot of things and not just when expressing something’s dimensions.  Brits might say “massively wealthy” or a “massive task.”

–Redundant is referred to someone being laid off.  I had never heard the word used that way before, but they use it quite a bit in the British version of The Office.  

–Brilliant is one of the most well-known words used by Brits and not used by Americans (in the same way).  Brilliant, there, is used quire loosely for anything being cool, awesome or genius.

It’s funny, only being there a few days, I already started to pick up the lingo—you almost feel weird not adding in these filler words.

When a Brit hears your American accent, they are very interested in talking to you—wanting to know where you’re from, etc.

However, and this is where I disagree with Scott Waters, they tend to be interested in you but also feel that they are better than you—but are they really?  I know, I know–they think the USA is rightfully theirs!  (This is all in good fun to my British friends out there!)

Hotels looks like palaces.

The Marriott hotel across from Westminster Palace could basically be Buckingham Palace. It has similar coloring and similar architecture. Although I don’t know if Buckingham palace lets you in to use the bathroom and change outfits!

They drive on the wrong other side of the road.

You will undoubtedly look the wrong way (well the wrong way while in London) and you will most likely walk to the driver’s seat, thinking it’s the passengers seat…that’s a tough habit to curb if you’re just there for a quick visit!

At pubs you order at the bar, don’t need to tip and when ordering a glass of wine you request a large or a small…is that a rhetorical question? Shouldn’t it always be a large?!

These differences are what make traveling to London so fun and intriguing! Now just a few words on my look–no this is not a wedding dress, although if it were you would be saving a lot of cash. It’s a crocheted knit dress, that is pretty, comfortable and perfect for a fall look!  I wore it with tights and Lanvin stilettos but it could easily be worn with booties, a caped coat and an auburn hat.

Shop London Style:

Photos by Mark Pengelly.