--- title: Stephen Fry Guide to British Etiquette description: Stephen Fry presents a guide to UK etiquette in Heathrow Airport ad canonical: https://time.com/4169179/stephen-fry-heathrow/ author: Olivia B. Waxman article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2016-01-06T15:41:03.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-05T08:41:26.427Z og:title: Stephen Fry Guide to British Etiquette og:description: Stephen Fry presents a guide to UK etiquette in Heathrow Airport ad og:url: https://time.com/4169179/stephen-fry-heathrow/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt897dfb2918d4a41c/698877c2f887dc03b7e94018/heathrow-airport-stephen-fry.jpg?branch=production&width=544&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 544 og:image:height: 306 og:image:alt: heathrow-airport-stephen-fry og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Stephen Fry Guide to British Etiquette twitter:description: Stephen Fry presents a guide to UK etiquette in Heathrow Airport ad twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt897dfb2918d4a41c/698877c2f887dc03b7e94018/heathrow-airport-stephen-fry.jpg?branch=production&width=544&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Allow Stephen Fry to School You on British Etiquette > Sponsored content. 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It curates the day's top headlines with TIME's reporting and analysis across politics, world affairs, business, health and culture. It is free to join at time.com/newsletters. #### How do I sign up for The Brief? The Brief is available free at time.com/newsletters, where readers can select it along with any of TIME's other six newsletters. There is no subscription required to receive it. #### Is The Brief free? Yes. The Brief is a free daily email newsletter from TIME. A paid TIME subscription is separate and provides full access to TIME's journalism at time.com/subscribe-agent. #### Who writes The Brief? The Brief is led by editor Richard Hall and draws on reporting from TIME's newsroom. Every edition is assembled by TIME editors rather than generated automatically. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-brief-2026q3/newsletters?i=8e0e344c-828b-4159-b32a-038cf744bf2a&cr=time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Stephen Fry's Guide to Etiquette [Watch (HLS stream): Stephen Fry's Guide to Etiquette](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/9VjM6hcm.m3u8) (2:57)  _Published 2016-01-06. Stephen Fry's Guide to Etiquette_  by [Olivia B. Waxman](https://time.com/author/olivia-b-waxman/)  ## Olivia B. Waxman Staff Writer Jan 6, 2016 3:41 PM UTC  by [Olivia B. Waxman](https://time.com/author/olivia-b-waxman/)  ## Olivia B. Waxman Staff Writer Jan 6, 2016 3:41 PM UTC In a new commercial for Heathrow Airport, British comedian [Stephen Fry](http://time.com/3691225/stephen-fry-god/) offers a few pointers on etiquette for tourists visiting the United Kingdom. Most of his advice is in regards to the art of waiting patiently in line — or the queue, as they say across the pond. [The actor](http://time.com/3655408/stephen-fry-getting-married/)‘s spin on why Britons seem so relaxed and unfazed by the wait: “It’s reassuring for us to know that the thing we’ve decided to do is so popular that we’re unable to do it immediately.” ## Transcript [ MUSIC ] Oh, there you are, oh, well I'm glad you could make it. Now that you've landed at Heathrow let me be the first welcome you to this happy island, we call home. Very soon you'll be free to enjoy the many things that make the UK such a great place to visit. [ MUSIC ] The majesty of our countryside. The majesty of, of her Majesty. The Scottish Highlands, the Johns Causeway, Saint Paul ´ s Cathedral, [ FOREIGN ]. [ FOREIGN ] You could look it up if you don ´ t believe me, and you can spell it. All these await you. [ MUSIC ] But first. [ MUSIC ] Remember a staggering 91 % of all verbal exchanges in the United Kingdom concern the weather. Bare in mind however the agreement rule. Bit nippy out. It's not too bad. How dare you! [ MUSIC ] Oh, we Brits do love a queue. [ SOUND ] It's reassuring for us to know that the thing we've decided to do is so popular that we're unable to do it immediately. Nevertheless, If the queue should start to move particularly slowly, it may become necessary to turn to your companion and display your displeasure in the strongest possible terms. Pfft. I'm sorry you had to see that. [ GLASS BREAKING ] Yay! I have no idea why I would do that. Who's next? Next. Oh no, look what's happened here. By foolishly embarking on a conversation the structure of the queue was broken down. This may well lead to the after you loop. After you. Oh no, no. After you. Please. After you. You see, these loops can sometimes continue for several hours and that can call for desperate measures. No please, I insist. Well, okay. No. Unbelievable. I know we look like an easygoing bunch but well sometimes it feels like we've got more rules of etiquette than a A Japanese tea room. But you should be fine if you recall the one golden rule: make yourself at home. 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