Over here, they label floors definitely. Pretty much, if you think the office you're visiting or the flat you're heading to is on the third floor, it's actually on the fourth so prepare yourself for some serious stair climbing. In Britain, there is a ground floor, first floor, second floor, etc while in America the ground floor and first floor are equivalent so it would be first floor, second floor, third floor, etc. For example, I live on the first floor of my flat building but my windows are one floor up from the ground.
To go hand in hand with this, I will also provide a bit of information on the British flat mailing system. If you're going to visit someone who lives at 53 3F2 Road Street, that means they live in building 53, on the third floor (fourth floor to the Americans!) in flat number 2 (otherwise known as the second flat you approach after climbing all those stairs.
Confusing? Absolutely! Even the Brits don't know how it works sometimes! I often have postmen buzzing into the building and then wandering around aimlessly until I open the door.
In fact to make matters even more complicated, in the Old Medical School at Edinburgh University I had a class on the second floor and prepared myself for three flights of stairs. No. Apparently they decided to have G, GM, 1, 1M, then 2 so it was much higher up than expected and I want to die every time the elevator takes too long and I have to climb all those stairs. Prepare yourself for winding curling spiraling staircases nearly wherever you go!
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