America to UK

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rose_mortem
rose_mortem Posts: 147 Member
in Chit-Chat
Could someone who's experienced both the UK and the US please tell me the biggest differences? What would be different in my life if I moved to England? (And what are the policies for doing that?) I know I could research it, but personal opinions are more fun :smile:
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Replies

  • Uxorial
    Uxorial Posts: 38
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    Things are much more expensive in the UK in my experience, clothing, movies, day to day living sort of things.
    Housing prices are out of this world.

    I love visiting there, though... loving visiting the US too (I'm Canadian).
  • Uxorial
    Uxorial Posts: 38
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    Oh, and people tend to walk everywhere, most shopping is in the downtown core with no vehicle access.

    I tend to drive to box malls but that just isn't the way in the UK.
  • SkinnyChemicals
    SkinnyChemicals Posts: 86
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    Oh, and people tend to walk everywhere, most shopping is in the downtown core with no vehicle access.

    I tend to drive to box malls but that just isn't the way in the UK.

    Errr what? Lots of shopping centres have attached parking spaces.
  • redfroggie
    redfroggie Posts: 591 Member
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    We moved here 5 years ago and haven't looked back! So lets see. We don't own a car and don't really need to, we are on one of the train lines and have access to the underground so you can get just about everywhere.

    People do walk here a lot and it's pedestrian and bike friendly.

    House prices are insanely high. Semi-detached (duplex) homes are very prolific.

    NHS-I love it, it's not perfect but to know we will always have healthcare is such a relief.

    As far as the prices, if you do the currency exchange it does seem expensive, however we have learned you can't compare things price for price.

    The history, omg the history! It's amazing.

    The best part is it's a great jumping off point for travelling Europe. We have been to Paris and Munich in the last year, trips that we never would have afforded flying from the US.

    I am German and have EU citizenship. We moved here because Hubby got a job offer, he had to apply for his residence visa and it wasn't easy. We spent a lot of money and time getting things in order because there was a screw up with his employer.
    He is eligible later this year to apply for British Citizenship, which he wants to do.

    If you have any other questions, feel free to add me. I'm happy to help where I can! Good luck!
  • skinnyinnotime
    skinnyinnotime Posts: 4,141 Member
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    Oh, and people tend to walk everywhere, most shopping is in the downtown core with no vehicle access.

    I tend to drive to box malls but that just isn't the way in the UK.

    Errr what? Lots of shopping centres have attached parking spaces.

    Exactly! We drive most place, can't be walking miles with 3 little ones in tow.
  • Laces_0ut
    Laces_0ut Posts: 3,750 Member
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    id like to move to England and visit every pub and soccer(football) stadium.

    any english ladies need a husband? :D
  • skinnyinnotime
    skinnyinnotime Posts: 4,141 Member
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    id like to move to England and visit every pub and soccer(football) stadium.

    any english ladies need a husband? :D

    Not one that will be either in the pub or at the footie!
  • Laces_0ut
    Laces_0ut Posts: 3,750 Member
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    id like to move to England and visit every pub and soccer(football) stadium.

    any english ladies need a husband? :D

    Not one that will be either in the pub or at the footie!

    they dont have to come. :)
  • AGGUK73
    AGGUK73 Posts: 91 Member
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    id like to move to England and visit every pub and soccer(football) stadium.

    any english ladies need a husband? :D

    One's enough thanks!!!
  • AGGUK73
    AGGUK73 Posts: 91 Member
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    It's bl**dy expensive here, but then we don't know any difference so are used to it. UK is (was???) an amazing place. I'm not going down the political route but it defo isn't what it was :( NHS is amazing though (biased as I work in it), we are very fortunate to have it yet most British do nowt but moan about it. They don't call us the 'whingeing poms' for nothing ;)

    Oh & we have a wicked sense of humour, lost on the majority of the globe :)
  • britlocs
    britlocs Posts: 124
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    but it defo isn't what it was :(

    how so?

    one thing to watch out for,looking the wrong way when you cross the road!
  • Laces_0ut
    Laces_0ut Posts: 3,750 Member
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    It's bl**dy expensive here, but then we don't know any difference so are used to it. UK is (was???) an amazing place. I'm not going down the political route but it defo isn't what it was :( NHS is amazing though (biased as I work in it), we are very fortunate to have it yet most British do nowt but moan about it. They don't call us the 'whingeing poms' for nothing ;)

    Oh & we have a wicked sense of humour, lost on the majority of the globe :)

    at least here in the USA we get your sense of humor. we love your tv shows and comedians. Ricky Gervais is one of if not the funniest people alive.
  • Laces_0ut
    Laces_0ut Posts: 3,750 Member
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    but it defo isn't what it was :(

    how so?

    one thing to watch out for,looking the wrong way when you cross the road!


    first time i experienced that was in Ireland. i saw on the roads of Dublin markers pointing which way traffic was going. i thought to myself why is this needed? i know its the opposite of home...well after a few pints at the bar i step out and nearly get clipped by a truck. doh!
  • AGGUK73
    AGGUK73 Posts: 91 Member
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    but it defo isn't what it was :(

    how so?
    Don't want to get into why our country is going to the dogs, it's political & maybe offensive to some cultures. I will say no more, plus it depresses me & I'm not a depressive person :)

    one thing to watch out for,looking the wrong way when you cross the road!

    Yes please look both ways ;)
  • AGGUK73
    AGGUK73 Posts: 91 Member
    Options
    It's bl**dy expensive here, but then we don't know any difference so are used to it. UK is (was???) an amazing place. I'm not going down the political route but it defo isn't what it was :( NHS is amazing though (biased as I work in it), we are very fortunate to have it yet most British do nowt but moan about it. They don't call us the 'whingeing poms' for nothing ;)

    Oh & we have a wicked sense of humour, lost on the majority of the globe :)

    at least here in the USA we get your sense of humor. we love your tv shows and comedians. Ricky Gervais is one of if not the funniest people alive.

    This is so true, have you watched idiot abroad? Pure class, you will be doubled up :)
  • sazzyp1973
    sazzyp1973 Posts: 517 Member
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    Roundabouts! When driving through America we only ever found one little one!

    (eta I think they are called circular intersections in America!)
  • Laces_0ut
    Laces_0ut Posts: 3,750 Member
    Options
    It's bl**dy expensive here, but then we don't know any difference so are used to it. UK is (was???) an amazing place. I'm not going down the political route but it defo isn't what it was :( NHS is amazing though (biased as I work in it), we are very fortunate to have it yet most British do nowt but moan about it. They don't call us the 'whingeing poms' for nothing ;)

    Oh & we have a wicked sense of humour, lost on the majority of the globe :)

    at least here in the USA we get your sense of humor. we love your tv shows and comedians. Ricky Gervais is one of if not the funniest people alive.

    This is so true, have you watched idiot abroad? Pure class, you will be doubled up :)

    idiot abroad is wonderful...head like a fing orange! and the bucket list was great too....i hope they do a 3rd series.
  • lilacsun
    lilacsun Posts: 204 Member
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    It's bl**dy expensive here, but then we don't know any difference so are used to it. UK is (was???) an amazing place. I'm not going down the political route but it defo isn't what it was :( NHS is amazing though (biased as I work in it), we are very fortunate to have it yet most British do nowt but moan about it. They don't call us the 'whingeing poms' for nothing ;)

    Oh & we have a wicked sense of humour, lost on the majority of the globe :)
    [/quote

    I'm in the USA and I actually understand the sense of humor thing. No one gets mine either:-D
  • sunshine_gem
    sunshine_gem Posts: 390 Member
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    It's bl**dy expensive here, but then we don't know any difference so are used to it. UK is (was???) an amazing place. I'm not going down the political route but it defo isn't what it was :( NHS is amazing though (biased as I work in it), we are very fortunate to have it yet most British do nowt but moan about it. They don't call us the 'whingeing poms' for nothing ;)

    Oh & we have a wicked sense of humour, lost on the majority of the globe :)

    at least here in the USA we get your sense of humor. we love your tv shows and comedians. Ricky Gervais is one of if not the funniest people alive.

    If you get our sense of humour then you're a rare breed of American. I've spent a lot of time over there, got loads of American friends and my sister in law is American and they really don't get the humour. I travelled all over the US and maybe 5% got it. Maybe.
    I don't think it's that much more expensive than the US. Ok, petrol yeah. That is annoying, but you generally don't need to drive as much. There are usually other ways to get around especially if you live in a city. Every country has it's little idiosyncrasies so I can't tell you if you would prefer it to where you are. The little irritating things can bother some and not others. The NHS is awesome though. Having used healthcare in both countries I will never complain about the NHS again!
    Come for a holiday and see if you like it. If you don't like the city, try the country. I love England :-)
  • oohmercyme
    oohmercyme Posts: 279 Member
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    We moved here 5 years ago and haven't looked back! So lets see. We don't own a car and don't really need to, we are on one of the train lines and have access to the underground so you can get just about everywhere.

    People do walk here a lot and it's pedestrian and bike friendly.

    NHS-I love it, it's not perfect but to know we will always have healthcare is such a relief.

    As far as the prices, if you do the currency exchange it does seem expensive, however we have learned you can't compare things price for price.

    The history, omg the history! It's amazing.

    The best part is it's a great jumping off point for travelling Europe. We have been to Paris and Munich in the last year, trips that we never would have afforded flying from the US.

    All of that!

    I'm Canadian, but became a Dutch citizen (both my parents were born in Holland) before I moved here 8 years ago. Had only planned to stay a year but here I am!

    I also lived in the states for 9 years and would definitely put the UK way above living there again (anywhere in Europe frankly).

    Love socialised health care (not perfect but it works), love the travelling (have been to 14 countries- Am going to Madrid for the weekend. the weekend! , love the more laid back lifestyle.

    I find when I go home (usually go to the states as I visit my sister there) I am overwhelmed by the enormity of everything. The cars, the houses, the stores, all unnecessarily huge. And I'm overwhelmed at the store. Here I might have 10 choices of cold meds, there I could spend hours with hundreds of choices. Do I need hundreds? Not a chance.

    Yes- things are more expensive, but you can't compare the prices to living in North America when you are earning ££.

    Great experience- I can't think of anything that would make me return to North America.

    (add me if you wish if you have questions).

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