12 Types Of People In London You’ll Run Into When In The City
London is a fabulous city and I am not just being biased. With so many tourist attractions it comes as no surprise that people from all over the world flock to our city’s streets to see for themselves what all the hype is about. Londoners themselves, myself included, can often feel like a tourist in their own city as there is always an area or avenue to delve down, explore and discover new things, or new places to go. However, with so many different things to do and different things to see, it is somewhat ironic that you will always find certain types of people up London. This article will list the twelve types of people that you’ll inevitably run into when in London. *Alert*: I am going to be a bit tongue in cheek and vastly over exaggerate certain stereotypes but I am sure you will all read this article and be able to think of an encounter you have had with each of these individuals in turn! Check out the below types of people in London.
1.The Businessman/woman.
London, especially the city, is lively with the hustle and bustle of men and women travelling to and from work during the week. You will know the office worker types, their suits are so crisp and stylish you can practically smell how expensive they are, their hair is sleek and they walk about one hundred miles per hour as if they are constantly in a rush or on an important mission. These people will not have time to stop and talk as they have important work to do!
www.pinterest.co.uk2.The Busker.
London is notorious for its street talent, notably for its buskers. You only have to jump off of the train at Charing Cross and already you can hear the music pulsating in the air from the various performers who take up residency at Trafalgar Square. Stop and listen and you will be blown away by the rawness of their talent and their passion as they try to make it big. I have often found myself losing track of time sitting on a wall and listening whilst watching the world go by…
3.The tourists.
Okay so I have already mentioned them briefly in the intro but without a doubt, you cannot be in London and avoid tourists. They are easily recognisable, sometimes they can be seen as part of a group following a guide, but most often they are distinguished by their cameras and other recording devices which seem to be permanently glued to their hands. They find everything fascinating, from pigeons stealing people’s foods, to famous monuments such as Buckingham Palace.
www.pinterest.co.uk4.The foodies.
These types of people you’ll run into up London are people after my own heart. They are always eating out at the trendiest and hippest places and sampling the craziest current food trends. You know you can always rely on them to recommend you food places to try in whatever area of London you desire to visit, and if you try to recommend one back to them, chances are they have already gone themselves! With so many food markets popping up around London, it makes it easier to spot these types of people.
www.pinterest.co.uk5.The Student.
London is also home to multiple Universities such as UCL, Queen Mary, Kings College London. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that you’ll run into a student when in London. They are easily recognisable due to their laid back style, their backpacks full of books and the disengaged look on their face as they mentally list all of their essay and coursework deadlines!
6.The Fitness Fanatics.
London as a city is a hybrid creature of shops, restaurants, hotels, offices- everything manmade, but also of nature. There are countless parks in London such as Hyde Park, Richmond Park, St James Park, all of which offer great grounds for a workout or a run. You can expect to run into sports enthusiasts in their shiny lycra flexing their muscles and making everyone else feel guilty when in London!
www.pinterest.co.uk7.The Art Gallery/Museum Enthusiasts.
These are what I like to call the ‘cultural types’, they care about the history of the city and about improving their minds and becoming more refined. They are always mid route to the latest art exhibition that has opened at such and such gallery, or to the latest exhibit that has been unveiled at such and such museum. These are the types of people that we can all learn from.
www.pinterest.co.uk8.The Hipsters.
London is such an accepting city- you only have to look at places like Shoreditch and Camden where all types of edgy and controversial people mix with the more conformist people of society. So it comes as no surprise that London is full of hipsters trying out the latest trends such as vegan eateries and rooftop yoga classes, clothed in second hand vintage items or faded and baggy jeans that have been in the wash one too many times. These are other types of people in London.
9.The Homeless.
There is no denying it, as much as London is the rich and flourishing capital of England, there is also the darker side to London and the increasingly problem of homelessness. You will inevitably run into people living on the streets who are more often than not begging for money to purchase a warm meal, drink or a place to stay the night. These are more types of people in London.
www.pinterest.co.uk10.The activists.
Because London attracts so many different people, it is inevitable that not everyone will think or feel the same. So it comes as no surprise that you will always run into activists up London. Quite often crowds of people can be seen marching past Trafalgar Square with placards adorned with slogans protesting for animal rights, LGBT rights etc. These are some of the types of people in London.
11.The sophisticated strata of society.
These are the people who frequently divulge in afternoon teas and champagne three course brunches simply because they can afford to. They experience all of the higher things in life and regularly shop in Harrods and Fortnum and Mason to name a few. You might catch them cooing through their phone: ‘ooh darlingggg, you never guessed what happened last week at luncheon!’
www.pinterest.co.uk12.The locals.
Sharply contrasting from the above example, these are my favourite types of people you will find in the city and are mainly labelled as ‘cockney’ or ‘common’. Such people are London born and bred through and through and have local small businesses that form the community heart of London. They often work on market stalls; visit markets such as Columbia Road Flower Market or Borough Market to get a better idea of the people I am referring too! These are the types of people in London.
www.pinterest.co.ukSo there you have it, a list of 12 types of people in London you’ll run into when in this city. However, this is a non-exhaustive list, if you can think of any other types, then please answer in the comments section below.
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My name is Nicole Brownfield and I am 20 years old. I am studying English Literature and going into my 3rd and final year of Queen Mary University, London in September. I am currently the Editor-In-chief of my University magazine 'CUB' and my dream is to pursue a career in journalism after I graduate. I love living in London and am obsessed with sourcing out food and drink places, as well as exploring the parts of London I have never been to before. My boyfriend and I have recently turned pescatarian and this symbolises my goal to constantly keep bettering myself and to stay healthy and disciplined. Every day I try and achieve something as I want to look back and be proud of the life I have lived, and to make my family proud too.