The most visible trait of everyday British life is politeness. Politeness is treated almost as a social rule.
The English are reserved, and the reserve can border on stiffness. It is not done to pry, to gossip about neighbours or colleagues, or to pass remarks about strangers. Many people find the British cold at first. That is why a neighbour may hold back from helping until asked. It does not mean indifference: in a real emergency people step in without waiting for a request.
British people are often attached to old customs, in public life as much as in daily habits.
Britain still has responsibility for several British Overseas Territories, a status that gov.uk itself uses when it lists exemptions from the English test for family visas. Since 2022 the oath of allegiance is sworn to the King.
Pints, pounds and inches remain part of everyday life alongside metric units, and traffic keeps to the left.
Where to go next
The archive notes above describe attitudes, not rules. For a fuller picture of settling in, read moving to Britain: cultural adjustment and the practical checklist in everyday life: GP, English tests and paperwork.