Dating Customs in London/UK

Hi,

Young single professional.

Can someone please advise on UK dating customs?

I find myself very confused and don't want to commit some sort of faux pas so it results in me being tentative.

Some of these questions may be completely silly or obvious to you, but it's not for me!

1) In the USA, if a woman glances over at me several times within a short time span, I know she's physically attracted to me.  Is this the case in the UK?

2) Glance at her->she glances back->repeat->smile->she smiles back->walk over and talk to her.  Same process in UK? Or, if she's smiling back, is she just being nice?

3) Chit chat->laugh->whatever->ask for her phone number.  More or less the same in the UK?

4) Is there a "three day rule" on phone calls in the UK?  Basically, in the USA, (younger) men may not call women for 2-3 days after getting her phone number to not appear desperate.

5) Include any other differences in dating customs that you found - especially if you're from USA!

Thanks!

EDIT: I am in London in case there is any confusion.  I'm sure the culture in London may be a tad different in some cases.

I can only speak as a married woman, but I'd think the 'lots of glances in a short span of time' showing interest is the same worldwide. Humans are humans, and being physically attracted to someone else, and wanting to look at that person, even in short glances, is human nature.

I have never understood the '3 day rule' for phone calls. Some men see it as not wanting to appear desperate, but a lot of women see it as the man wanting to play the game by his rules, or as some silly macho need to show he doesn't need a woman. If you are interested in each other, why waste three days? You can call and set up a date for a few days later, I suppose, but it is silly to wait to call.

My reply probably isn't much help since I haven't done any dating here, but I wouldn't overthink it, go with the flow, and ask for a phone number, call her, and see what happens. Nothing ventured, nothing gained. 

Hi,

Well, I researched it a bit, and according to this thread, British people don't go on "dates" per se and it's definitely very different from America:

http://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=1709331&page=2&s=44c9b55640f303b809a95604fe4b80d2&page=2

Basically, they don't date here and the thought of it can be very intimidating to British people?  Is this at all the norm in London where it seems much more Americanized?  Because I see couples in restaurants all the time, but I'm not sure if it's a "date" for them (or perhaps they're married?)

The thread also claims you should start as friends; we American males know all too well about the "friend zone."  Is it the same out here in London?

Finally, the above thread also claims Brits don't date multiple people at the same time?  So, basically, if I'm seeing someone, I'd be expected to see her and only her?

I've been on dates here!

I think perhaps you're overthinking this whole dating thing, eisd. Just be a gentleman and you'll be fine. There's really no difference between dating in the US and the UK, in my opinion.

There's really no difference between dating in the US and the UK, in my opinion.

Agreed. Not that I've ever "dated" in either country, since I've been with my husband since I was 16. But I've got a friend who has just started dating quite a bit. She has been out with 3 different guys this week. On dates! Doesn't seem any different to me.

4) Is there a "three day rule" on phone calls in the UK?  Basically, in the USA, (younger) men may not call women for 2-3 days after getting her phone number to not appear desperate.

Dunno about (younger) women and men, but if I met someone I liked well enough to give my phone number, I'd be heartily annoyed if they didn't phone or text me for 3 days!

Well I am far from London, but I went on dates here, coffee, pub, dinner, cinema, walking, all the same as in the US. 

I've only dated one person since moving to the UK, and ended up marrying him, but based on that and my friends here...

- People DO go on dates. Often just drinks on the first date, which the man may pay for or split (but it is definitely expected by the woman that he does)
- People do date multiple people - I have a friend who went on a mad spree of 20 dates with various men in the space of 2 weeks when she was going on a dry spell
- Don't expect that you're the only one that person is seeing unless there has been a conversation of "I think we should be exclusive"
- I don't think there's any 3 day rule - anyway it's good manners to send at least a text saying you had a nice time the next day

I'm 25, American, and in London, if that helps. But yeah, agreeing with chary that you're possibly over thinking a bit. Gentlemanly behaviour is the same in US and UK, so just be a gentleman!

Have you never seen Bridget Jones' Diary? 
Hugh Grant and Renee Zellwegger went out for dinner before they had sex. I'm sure it's the same thing with Colin Firth.
I hope this helps.