Some English and American people like to invite friends to a meal at home. You should not be upset if your English friends don't invite you home. It doesn't mean they don't like you.
Dinner parties usually start between 7 and 8 pm and end at about 11 pm. Ask your hosts what time you should arrive. It's polite to bring flowers, chocolates, a book or a bottle of wine as a present.
Do you want to be pretty polite? Say how much you like the room, or the pictures on the wall. But remember — not to ask how much things cost.
You'll probably start the meal with soup, or something small as a "starter", then you'll have meat or fish with vegetables, and then a dessert, followed by coffee. It's polite to finish everything on your plate and to take more if you want it. Some people eat bread with their meal, but not everyone does.
Most people ask "Do you mind if I smoke?" before they take out their cigarettes after the meal.
Did you enjoy the evening? Call your hosts the next day, or write them a short "thank you" letter. Perhaps it seems funny to you, but English and American people say "thank you, thank you, thank you." all the time.
