Go to the theatre and enjoy a country stroll? You’re cultured

YOU may think chatting in a foreign language or whipping up an exotic meal is a sign of sophisticated savoir-faire.

But it doesn’t have to be that hard. Simply going to the theatre or taking a walk in the countryside is enough to make a person seem cultured, a poll has found.

One in ten Britons think having a library card is the key, while a fifth believe reading a novel before watching the film version is the key to truly being cultured.

Enjoying films with subtitles is also high on the list – along with correctly guessing the Countdown conundrum, drinking herbal tea and visiting a city on holiday.

‘It seems that perceptions of culture can vary,’ said a spokesman for Yakult, which carried out the survey of 2,000 Britons.

‘Being cultured can simply be a case of showing interest in the world and experiencing new things.’

Going to the theatre topped the list of 40 activities that made a person seem cultured, along with recog- nising famous paintings and hosting dinner parties. Listening to classical music and long walks in the countryside are also crucial – as well as taki ng an i nterest i n politics and reading newspapers.

High-brow documentaries should be the first choice when deciding what to watch on television, foll owed by Question Time and Antiques Roadshow.

And being sure to avoid mass-produced furniture in favour of individual or vintage items is vital according to one in 20 of those polled. Around three quarters of those questioned believe it is possible to become cultured without ever leaving the country. And the most sophisticated age, according to the poll, was found to be 38 years old. Yet despite it being so easy to appear cultured, seven in ten of those polled were desperately keen to be even more so. ‘Trying out a new activity can be a fun way to shake up our every day routine and learn something new,’ the spokesman said.

‘We can all benefit from this – getting out and about is a great way of improving our lives.’

Science centres and historical sites were among the destinations deemed important for gaining cultural knowledge – but 54 per cent admitted the expense involved held them back. Some 31 per cent also confessed to ‘faking it’ to seem more cultured to others.

Job interviews and going to dinner parties and posh restaurants were the prime situations for feeling the need to impress.