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The answer to this question depends on whether you are using British English or American English. In British English, the floor of a building which is level with the ground is called the ground floor, and the floor above it is called the first floor.

In American English, however, the floor which is level with the ground is called the first floor, and the floor above it is called the second floor.

This difference can cause confusion and frustration for travelers, especially when they are looking for their hotel rooms. Imagine you are an American tourist in London, and you have booked a room on the first floor. You enter the hotel and see a sign that says “Lifts to all floors”.

You think, “Great, I don’t have to carry my luggage up the stairs”. You press the button for the first floor and wait for the lift to arrive. When it does, you step inside and see another sign that says “Ground Floor”. You think, “Wait a minute, this is not the first floor, this is the ground floor.

Did I press the wrong button?”. You look at the panel and see that there is no button for the ground floor, only for the first floor and above. You think, “This is ridiculous, how can there be no ground floor in a building? Where am I?”. You press the button for the second floor and hope that it will take you to your room.

Meanwhile, a British tourist in New York has a similar problem. He has booked a room on the ground floor of a hotel. He enters the hotel and sees a sign that says “Elevators to all floors”. He thinks, “Great, I don’t have to walk up any stairs”.

He presses the button for the ground floor and waits for the elevator to arrive. When it does, he steps inside and sees another sign that says “First Floor”. He thinks, “Wait a minute, this is not the ground floor, this is the first floor.

Did I press the wrong button?”. He looks at the panel and sees that there is no button for the first floor, only for the ground floor and above. He thinks, “This is ridiculous, how can there be no first floor in a building? Where am I?”. He presses the button for the basement and hopes that it will take him to his room.

The moral of this story is: always check what system of naming floors is used in the country you are visiting before you book your accommodation. Otherwise, you might end up in a place you don’t want to be.

https://sameerabuildingconstruction.com/what-is-the-difference-between-upper-ground-floor-and-lower-ground-floor/