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OWN the UNWRITTEN RULES of BRITISH LIFE

I'm Mike, an actual Englishman teaching you the etiquette, the coded phrases, and what "that's certainly an option" really means. Before you find out the hard way.

Mike, an Englishman
Trusted by 1M+
politely savage ☕
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Practical, funny, field-tested guidance for navigating British life & work, whether you're relocating, working with Brits, or just tired of second-guessing yourself.

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"not bad" = rather good, actually
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courses, guides & more

THE SHOP

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Becoming British course
Most popular · ★ 5.0

Becoming British: A Masterclass

The unspoken rules of British life, culture, and conversation… finally explained.

$149 $199 Enrol now
Mike's Collected Works
Bestseller · Bundle

Mike's Collected Works

All of Mike's bestselling guides in one place. Bundle & save 15%.

Let's Not Make It Weird guide
Guide · Bestseller

Let's Not Make It Weird

The British small talk manual you wish you had. Key phrases, do's and don'ts, and scripts for starting (and crucially, exiting) conversations.

Mike, candid
kettle's on ☕
your favourite Englishman on the internet

MEET mike

Hey, I'm Mike. Born and bred in England. I once ran a chain of London optical practices; now I explain Britain to over a million people on the internet, which my younger self would have found deeply suspicious.

I write about British culture, the art of getting along with people, and navigating life with some dignity and the occasional biscuit. Husband. Father. Englishman.

Read my story
kind words, understated naturally

DON'T JUST TAKE MY WORD FOR IT

"I moved to London and spent six months confused. Two weeks with Mike's masterclass and my colleagues stopped translating for me."
Priya · Mumbai → Manchester
"The office guide saved me from at least three career-limiting emails. 'Not bad' apparently meant they loved it."
Daniel · Austin
"I can now exit a conversation at a party without faking a phone call. Life-changing, honestly."
Sofia · Bristol
"Reading your essays is a bliss. Thank you Mike!"
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weekly: British culture, decoded

THE FULL ENGLISH

Dry humour, sharp observations, and the kind of polite savagery only a Brit can deliver. I promise never to post a photograph of my morning almond.