London is a vibrant city with a rich cultural mix. Whether you’re visiting for a short trip or planning to stay longer, knowing how to greet people properly will help you feel more confident and comfortable. Greetings are the first stepto making a great impression!
In this guide, you’ll learn:
✅ The most common greetings in London
✅ How to use them in conversations
✅ Polite and informal ways to say hello
✅ Exercises to test your understanding
By the end, you’ll be ready to greet Londoners naturally and confidently!
1. The Most Common Greetings in London
Londoners are friendly but reserved. They appreciate politeness and respect personal space. Depending on the situation and relationship, people use formal or informal greetings.
1.1 Formal Greetings (Polite & Professional)
These are perfect for business settings, formal meetings, and respectful interactions.
| Greeting | When to Use | Example Conversation |
|---|---|---|
| Good morning | Before noon | Good morning, Sir. How are you today? |
| Good afternoon | 12 PM – 6 PM | Good afternoon, Miss. Can I help you? |
| Good evening | After 6 PM | Good evening! Do you have a reservation? |
| How do you do? | Very formal | How do you do? It’s a pleasure to meet you. |
| Nice to meet you | First meetings | Nice to meet you, John. I’ve heard a lot about you! |
🚀 Key Tip: In London, “How do you do?” is not a real question. It’s just a polite greeting. You can reply with “How do you do?” or “Nice to meet you.”
1.2 Informal Greetings (Casual & Friendly)
Use these for friends, colleagues, and everyday situations.
| Greeting | When to Use | Example Conversation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello! | Anytime | Hello, Sarah! How’s your day going? |
| Hi! | Very common | Hi, mate! What’s up? |
| Hey! | Casual | Hey! Long time no see! |
| Alright? | British casual | Alright, mate? How’s it going? |
| What’s up? | Friendly | What’s up, Tom? Haven’t seen you in ages! |
🚀 Did You Know?
In London, many people say “Alright?” instead of “How are you?”. You can just reply “Yeah, alright. You?”
2. Special Greetings in London
Londoners also have unique ways of saying hello in different situations.
2.1 Greetings for Friends & Family
With close friends or family, you can be more relaxed:
✔ “Heya!” – Very casual and friendly
✔ “You alright?” – A common greeting
✔ “How’s it going?” – Shows you care
💡 Example:
Person 1: Hey, you alright?
Person 2: Yeah, all good! How about you?
2.2 Greetings in Shops & Restaurants
When entering a shop or restaurant, staff may greet you with:
✔ “Good morning/afternoon!”
✔ “How can I help you?”
✔ “Are you being served?”
💡 Example:
Waiter: Good evening! Do you have a booking?
Customer: Yes, under the name Smith.
2.3 Greetings on the Phone
When answering the phone in London, people say:
✔ “Hello, [your name] speaking.” (Formal)
✔ “Hi, this is [your name].” (Casual)
💡 Example:
📞 Hello, this is James speaking. How can I help?
3. Exercises: Test Your Knowledge!
💡 Choose the best greeting for each situation.
1️⃣ You meet your new boss at 10 AM. What do you say?
a) Hi, mate!
b) Good morning, Sir.
c) What’s up?
2️⃣ You see your best friend in the park. What do you say?
a) Hey! How’s it going?
b) Nice to meet you.
c) How do you do?
3️⃣ A waiter welcomes you at a restaurant in the evening. How do they greet you?
a) Good evening! Do you have a reservation?
b) Alright, mate?
c) What’s up?
✅ Answers:
1️⃣ b) Good morning, Sir.
2️⃣ a) Hey! How’s it going?
3️⃣ a) Good evening! Do you have a reservation?
4. Things to Remember About Greetings in London
✔ Politeness matters – Londoners appreciate “please” and “thank you.”
✔ Use formal greetings in professional settings.
✔ With friends, be more casual – “Alright?” is very common.
✔ “How do you do?” is not a real question.
✔ Body language is important – a smile makes a difference.
🚀 Pro Tip: Want to sound like a local? Try using “Alright?” and “How’s it going?” with confidence!
5. Final Thoughts
Now you know the most common greetings in London, when to use them, and how to respond. Greetings help build connections and make conversations natural.
📌 Key Takeaways:
✔ Use formal greetings for professional settings.
✔ Casual greetings work for friends and daily conversations.
✔ “Alright?” is a common British greeting!
✔ Politeness goes a long way in London.
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🚀 Which London greeting do you like the most? Comment below! 😊