Every city comes with its share of assigned stereotypes, and London is no exception: The food is bad, it rains constantly and the people are all snooty with bad teeth, right?
Not quite.
Some London myths are based on a nugget of truth, while others are either no longer true or never were in the first place. Many are simply a case of misconception or misinformation.
Press "Start" to debunk 10 myths about Britain's capital city.
London Fog: It’s a brand of clothing, an alcoholic beverage and a typical phrase to describe the so-called “pea-soup-like” air. In truth, however, London has less rainfall than New York City, Rio de Janeiro and Tokyo. Sure, London weather can be a bit dreary at times but, as the UK’s tourism chief put it recently: “People do not come here to lie on a beach. That is not our offer. They come for culture, sightseeing, and they come all times of the year.”creative commonsTwitter Reacts To Candace Parker, First Female Athlete To Be On 'NBA 2K' CoverIt’s not. Fish and chips, that most-British of fried delicacies, was actually introduced by Jewish-Portuguese immigrants. It became a stock meal of the working class in the second half of the 19th century and, in 1860, a Jewish immigrant named Joseph Malin began serving London’s first fish and chips from the bottom of his house in the East End. He combined the Portuguese fried fish with the Belgian chips (fries) to create the classic combination that’s now as English as a cup of tea (which, as you know, also has its roots elsewhere).creative commonsBrits have been fighting for some culinary respect for a long time. It’s been a slow battle and many remain unconvinced, but really, the food is not that bad. There are plenty of meat, fruit and vegetable markets, numerous vegetarian and vegan options and, like any metropolitan city, London offers every type of world cuisine with Thai or Indian curry as plentiful in “traditional pubs” these days as bangers and mash. On the high-end scene, London sits proudly on Michelin’s list of the world’s most-stared cities in 2012.creative commonsBlame Austin Powers for this one. Though the BBC said in a recent magazine piece that “British teeth might be described as having character,” it would be more appropriate to assume that Brits just aren’t as obsessed as, say, Americans are with perfect teeth. There is, however, no shortage of dentists, and it’s unlikely you’ll notice any difference in London where people are generally more concerned about their looks than in the hinterlands. creative commonsIn the midst of a legal battle over Alabama's new immigration law, the state's attorney general sent a letter to top Republican lawmakers suggesting ways to shield the law from challenges by altering or deleting controversial provisions.REUTERSWhen someone calls you “very British,” it’s not a good thing. It means you’re snooty. But this is really a misnomer perpetuated by stereotypes in popular culture (have you ever noticed that movie villains always have an English accent?). Sure, British people are British, and they may not run up to you with arms outstretched, but they’re not standoffish. What’s more likely is a few pats on the back and an exchange of jokes once you find yourself in the midst of Brits at their favorite spot: the pub.creative commons
