I'm from the Southwest of the UK where it's perfectly normal to start conversations with most people and many shop-staff often call younger people they don't know 'my love' as an informal greeting. "You need any help there my love?'

Now I live in London, where saying such a thing would likely get you sectioned. I have to curb my natural Penguin friendliness right back. Different parts of the country have different norms. People in London are actually lovely, but there has to be a reason to talk, you can't just make idle chit-chat.