10 Habits You Pick Up Living in London (Without Realising)

Spoiler: You now tut in British and say "sorry" to inanimate objects.

Moving to London does something to you. You arrive thinking you'll stay yourself — but give it a few months, and boom: you’re standing on the right side of the escalator, judging tourists who don’t.

Here are 10 oddly specific habits you pick up just by living in London — even if you swear you wouldn’t.

1. You’ll start walking like you’re late… even when you’re early.

Londoners don’t stroll. We power walk. The moment you leave your front door, you're in motion. Tourists, please move aside.

2. You become a Tube map in human form.

You can now tell someone the fastest way from Old Street to Shepherd’s Bush — with alternatives in case of strikes, signal failures, or a mystery "leaves on the line" incident.

3. You “sorry” your way through life.

Bump into a lamp post? “Sorry.”
Someone else bumps into you? Still “sorry.”
Say it five times in a row? Totally normal.

4. You complain about rent like it’s a full-time job.

No matter how lovely your place is (or isn’t), rent will always be too high. You will discuss this. A lot. Over pints. With graphs if necessary.

5. You check the weather app 6 times a day — and still bring an umbrella just in case.

It’s sunny? Cute. It’ll rain in 12 minutes. You learn to never trust the sky.

6. You form deep emotional bonds with your local coffee shop.

It’s not just a flat white. It’s a routine. A ritual. A warm hug in caffeine form. You know the barista’s name and feel mildly betrayed if they’re not working that day.

7. You turn mild inconveniences into full-blown stories.

“The Central Line was down” becomes a 7-minute saga.
A late bus? A dramatic monologue.
We're not complaining, we're storytelling.

8. You have an internalised “escalator etiquette” alarm.

Stand on the left?
Block the way? Unacceptable.
You don’t just follow the rules — you enforce them with passive-aggressive tuts.

9. You treat parks like sacred spaces.

From lounging in Regent’s Park to pretending you’re in a romcom during a walk through Hampstead Heath — green spaces become your therapy, your gym, your date spot, and your happy place.

10. You say “not too bad” when life is crumbling.

Flat flooded? “Not too bad.”
Lost your wallet? “Could be worse.”
It’s the British way. You adapt.

Final Thought?

Living in London doesn’t just change your address — it rewires your brain in hilarious, sometimes confusing, very specific ways. But once you notice these little habits, it’s hard not to love them.

Because this is what makes London living special. It’s a city of quirks — and if you’ve picked them up, congrats. You’re one of us now.

Which habit have you picked up without even noticing?

Tag a friend who’s officially become a Londoner without realising.

Follow @Londonyaar for more weirdly accurate London truths and everyday chaos.