How to Spot Americans in London and Abroad as Tourists

What things to Americans do to make it easy to spot them as tourists abroad? Is it the way they dress? Act? Talk?

Watch this video to learn the top things to spot Americans in London.

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[kazza]

I’m American I also live in Florida. I lived in England for five years. If you live outside of London, Americans are so warmly embraced for their differences. While at the time I just wanted to fit in, I was made something of a local celebrity and was often asked to “just say something anything”. I think it’s important now as I’m traveling back to England this summer, to be in my authentic self just as everyone else should be. London is so diverse and while many in the UK do have a blanket prejudiced against Americans, most when confronted with them, in my opinion, change their tune. It is important to respect the culture you are in but not to the point that you feel self-conscious and can’t enjoy yourself.

[liamedwards]

Went to Vegas a few years ago, every American who heard me speak asked me if I was from London. #Protip London is not the only place in England.

[lindaS]

I live in Massachusetts. Half of our towns and cities are named after English towns. Worcester = 2 syllables. Wuss- ter. Think it's the same in England. It's funny hearing people trying to say Were Chester shyer sauce. (Worcestershire) Over here it's more like Wuss-ter-sure sauce. 😀

[joane]

I'm very lucky to have Brits as friends for when I visit the UK! They'll sort me out.... 😄😆😎

[vinniedaniels]

OMG - you're dead on. I'm American from the NJ/NYC/Philadelphia area and I have to admit I'm guilty of most of them. I'm loud, impatient and extremely pushy. Not offended at all, but the times I've visited London, I make myself aware of my offensive traits because my friends/colleagues from London have told me about them. Your video is truly a help for the person who is going for their first time. KUDOS

[evas]

I also find many Americans are very impressed with iconic places such as ‘The Ritz’ and ‘Claridges’ ‘Bond Street’ ‘Harrods’ and cram their Instagram with as many cheesy pictures as possible.

[jackpringle]

The loud part is definitely true. Around Belfast it’s very easy to spot the American tourists as they’re extremely loud. You can always hear them from a mile away

[davidhuber]

Sainsbury's. I was not pronouncing it correctly until I heard a radio advertisement. I still kept pronouncing it wrong and quite frankly I found it quite trivial. I have also made little effort to linguistically adapt when I have visited. I am an American and I think they get it. In fact a good laugh is often the end result. As long as one applies relative good manners you will not upset anybody. Your comments are still quite insightful, thank you.

[jeansylvester]

I'd love to hear how an American can blend in more. As a type-A personality, I don't think I can ever NOT talk to people at a pub. But will try to keep the volume lower! If I can! :)

[stevencassidy]

I enjoyed this. Thanks for making it.It reminded me of the other day of the tube and Americans complaining of how far they to walk. I do that walk every day. Glad you and your husband are enjoying themselves.

[panchopuskas]

TBF most tourists from whatever country, expect things to be like it is back home. A lot depends on the level of culture....educated Americans are not loud or impatient etc....I know because I have some American friends who are like that....on the plus side, Americans tend to be a happy bunch....

[crazycatfish]

Very good observations and all true to a point. The pace of life is different.
I would say to Americans or any tourists, dont worry, be yourself, just be considerate and treat people how you would like to be treated. The UK loves tourists, so dont be afraid. Doing some research isnt a bad idea. My tip would be dont try to do too much as you will end up just tickboxing places and fail to appreciate them. There is more to the UK than London. We like Americans not because of the money you spend but because of shared values and being through two world wars. Far more important. Good people are good people just as rude pushy ones are the same irrespective of nationality. Come have a good time and tell others. If you meet locals who arent nice then dont let them spoil your holiday as they arent representative. In London you are just as likely to encounter other tourists as locals.


On place names, dont worry its a non issue. Just keep a list of words or names you have trouble with and then put the phonetic version next to it. You shouldnt be worried about being different, be yourself.

[leslewis]

Good point about pronouncing place names. Things are different just here in the US. It is very different if you are from the Western US and pronunce place names while visiting in the south.

[YucaTX]

The impatient part is very true. Everytime I’ve been to Europe, Americans are the ones making a scene because the service is taking too long. The good part is I’m Mexican - American so when they ask what I am, I just say Mexican lol

[Brookspirit]

Pronouncing the place names correctly is polite and shows you have taken the trouble to learn and are trying.

[tinahindi]

LOL! I live in Florida & I will be going to the UK for the first time next year. I have a feeling that my cousin and my mom who are both LOUD Puerto Rican will be the "loud American". My cousin loves and seek attention so she would be the one giving details of her day to anyone who will listen. It's going to be interesting.

[sailing_raptor]

English is not a phonetic language and therefore, the spoken word is not always the same as the written word. If you take the case of Worcester, which the 'cester' at the end, gives it away as a Roman Town, like Alcester, Gloucester, Leicester etc and although slightly differently spelt, Chester. Worcester is pronounced as Wooster, with a short 'oo', Gloucester as Gloster, Leicester as Lester etc.

Using Sainsbury's as a point in case, it's pronounced Sainsbries. If this is incorrect then the word 'sea' would be pronounced 'seeah', which makes no sense in the same way that every American's best friend, the psychiatrist, has a silent 'p'.

The word 'vehicle' is a strange case because, as it stands, the 'h' is silent. However, the 'h' is vocalised in the word vehicular, so you can't win.

Americans seem unable to understand the point about the language being non-phonetic, except when it suits them, they also think they speak English but they actually speak a form of English, which is more akin to 16th Century English in many cases (such as their use of the word 'gotten', which has died-out in English). Only the English speak English and even then there are a huge range of dialects and accents change markedly within a couple of miles in some places. In the Black Country the word 'water' is spelt thusly but pronounced 'werter'. I used to work in Glasgow and the guys I worked with there conceded that they spoke Scots English, so if the Scottish can accept the difference in their form of the language, Americans should be able to as well but for the most part give the impression of arrogance in conceding that they're ever wrong about anything.

Americans have two major saving graces, in that they're not the French and better still, they're not the French who live in the UK, who are generally a hateful breed.

[Iskandar]

I live in London, but I travel to the US often, work for an American company and have many American friends, some are the best.
I think your observations about US tourists are quite correct, but cultural abrasiveness is true of any untravelled tourist of any culture in a foreign country.
All the US Americans I know as friends are not like that i guess. They are well travelled, knowledgeable and sensitive.

[TheCallduck]

It's not just Americans who have problems with place names. I once heard an Australian try to pronounce Loughborough! It came out as Loogerburger.

[tomsmith]

Funny story: I was on a cruise to Mexico and while on a shore tour into the mountains east of Mazatlan, I absent-mindedly read a road sign out loud that said, "Mazatlan 70 kilometers." The British couple behind me said, "Wow. I didn't know they used the metric system in the United States."