Are jeans and/or athletic shoes banned or discouraged anywhere in London or elsewhere in England.
I need to wear my Nike trail shoes for their ankle support. However I will be taking my jeans and two pairs of Dockers pants (gray and khaki) on the trip.
Keep in mind, I will not be going to any upscale restaurants on the trip.
Wear whatever you want. Nothing is banned, not even nudity but I suspect you'd be heavily fined. The British refer to athletic shoes as trainers. Yes, they are worn. Jeans are EVERYWHERE and worn by nearly everyone except HRH. Seriously the days of "proper" attire has disappeared. Very few places in the UK have a dress code anymore. Be comfortable and unless you are staying a month you can get away with 1 pair of jeans and 1 pair of Dockers. Travel light.
Are you all telling me I've been wearing top hat and tails everyday for no reason???
Jeans are perfectly fine. I wear them and so do the locals. Dockers are also great. If you wear trainers they will know you are American but if you need them to keep your feet healthy and happy then I would do it. I typically bring a pair of trainers that are grey instead of white. Those blend in more.
Yes..........Dockers pants, pants in the UK are underpants.
So, in regards to going naked, the Naked Rambler has been fighting the battle and appears to be losing it with European Union chiming in. Originally, he started in Lands End with the intent of walking to John O'Groats. I believe that he got through most of England without a lot of trouble, but when he hit Scotland his troubles heated up. I think some wee old ladies saw him, were horrified and called the police. He would get arrested serve time in jail; start off again--naked--and get re-arrested as some other wee old lady would be horrified. Here's a news account on one of the rearrests near Perth. (I am surprised he got that far!) Here's a link that tells some of the history. And then there is this music video of
The Naked Ramblin' Band featuring Naked Rambler Stephen Gough as himself in "Get Up! Get Up!". Mind you they warn about some brief nudity in the video.
Pam
The naked truth. The idea that the British are 1.) Prudish and 2.) don't wear sneakers (trainers) are basically urban myths.
They wear trainers and you'll find more nudity on stage and in British film and television than in the US. Many, many years ago I saw an American play called Hurly Burly performed in London. Had gotten my ticket at the Half Price booth in Leicester Square. I was in the front row no more than an arm's length from the stage. The play opens in a trashed apartment with the main character sprawled on the floor in a cocaine induced stupor. Now I've never read the play so I don't know if it was in the script, the director's choice or the actor's preference but Rupert Graves had his pants and underwear wrapped around his ankles. His naked posterior directly in front of me, and let me tell you as he staggered to a standing position I was privy to more of Rupert Graves than a complete stranger should have been. Prudish, the Brits? Balderdash!!!!
The dress code that prevails in England is casual to scruffy by and large. Don't be surprised if restaurants and other indoor places require you to wear a shirt though.
Sorry Keith jeans are worn and should be worn by people over 30. May not be your taste but it's NOT bad taste so, really who cares. Flip flops, spandex and a flowered print are another matter.
