Despite being geographically part of Europe, many Brits feel more like distant cousins than proper relatives when it comes to European culture.
There’s a slight sense of disconnect, like we’ve arrived late to the party, don’t fully understand the dress code, and keep mispronouncing the host’s name. From language to lifestyle to the legacy of Brexit, there are plenty of reasons why many of us sometimes feel like we’re standing just outside the cultural circle. Here’s the honest (and somewhat tongue-in-cheek) truth about what fuels that quiet sense of exclusion.
1. The language gap is wider than we admit.
Most Europeans speak multiple languages. Brits, meanwhile, are often clinging to GCSE French and a vague memory of “¿Dónde está la biblioteca?” We admire fluency from afar, but rarely match it ourselves. This makes conversations abroad slightly lopsided. Europeans often switch effortlessly between tongues, while Brits smile nervously and hope someone nearby speaks English. It’s humbling, and a little isolating.
2. Our food culture just doesn’t stack up.
Europeans talk passionately about regional dishes, slow cooking, and market-fresh ingredients. Brits talk about a good meal deal, a decent curry, or whether it’s acceptable to eat beans on toast for dinner again. We’ve come a long way, sure. but compared to the deeply ingrained food rituals of France, Italy, or Spain, British cuisine often feels like it missed the sophistication memo.
3. We don’t fully trust good weather.
Europeans sunbathe; Brits overprepare. Even when it’s sunny, we’ve got the emergency raincoat, SPF 50, and a slight suspicion that clouds are gathering. The trauma of British weather runs deep. Watching Europeans lounge in parks like it’s no big deal while we’re sweating in jeans or carrying three backup layers is a reminder: we’re just not built the same.
4. The casual confidence of European style throws us off.
Europeans dress like they’ve wandered out of a lifestyle magazine. Brits dress like we checked the forecast fifteen times and still packed for the wrong season. Practicality always wins—fashion, less so. In European cities, everyone looks effortlessly put-together. Brits feel underdressed, over-layered, and suspiciously damp. It’s not insecurity—it’s just a sense of being one outfit behind.
5. We eat dinner ridiculously early.
While Europeans are enjoying an aperitivo, we’re already halfway through our shepherd’s pie. In many parts of Europe, dinner at 9 p.m. is normal. For Brits, that’s dangerously close to bedtime. This time gap creates logistical and social confusion. Do we snack? Wait and starve? Pretend we’re not ravenous by 6 p.m.? Either way, we’re slightly out of sync with the continent’s meal times.
6. Brexit made the gap feel very, very real.
Leaving the EU didn’t just change politics—it changed the tone of how Brits feel in Europe. There’s a quiet awkwardness now, like we’re at a party we technically RSVP’d “no” to but showed up anyway. Even when everyone’s polite, the sense of separation lingers. Brits often feel more like visitors than neighbours now, and that stings more than we like to admit. It’s especially tough for those of us who very much voted remain.
7. We don’t really do public displays of affection.
Couples kissing in parks, friends greeting with kisses on both cheeks—Europe does PDA without a second thought. Brits, on the other hand, offer an awkward wave and a vague pat on the shoulder. We’re emotionally reserved and slightly allergic to physical closeness in public. Being surrounded by such open warmth can feel beautiful, and mildly terrifying.
8. Our coffee culture is still finding its identity.
Europe has rules when it comes to coffee. Cappuccinos only before noon. Espresso after meals. No syrupy extras. Brits, meanwhile, still lean heavily on giant lattes and novelty mugs with puns on them. We’re still somewhere between Italian café elegance and office instant. Ordering abroad can feel like a minefield if you don’t know your lungo from your ristretto, and chances are, most of us don’t.
9. We take humour into every room, even when it’s not welcome.
British humour is dry, self-deprecating, and always lurking in the background. In Europe, where conversation can lean more sincere or passionate, our sarcasm sometimes lands with a confused silence. We joke through awkwardness, tension, even compliments. However, when no one laughs—or worse, takes us seriously—it creates a cultural mismatch we don’t always know how to fix.
10. We’re still awkward about leisure time.
Europeans embrace rest. Long lunches, actual weekends, and guilt-free holidays. Brits treat time off like a reward we have to earn by nearly burning out first. That casual, unhurried attitude Europeans have? It’s enviable, and a bit alien. We want to relax like that, but most of us are still mentally checking emails on the beach.
11. Our relationship with alcohol is… different.
In many European cultures, alcohol is part of a meal, not the whole event. Brits, meanwhile, are infamous for drinking with purpose—and often, that purpose is forgetting the work week ever happened. It creates a noticeable difference in how nights out feel. While others are sipping wine, Brits are often ordering another round. It’s fun, sure, but it doesn’t always blend seamlessly into local customs.
