bad things about living in the uk

If you dont speak English fluently, dont have a UK passport, or live anywhere north of Oxford, youll struggle to find a job. Dont get me wrong, there are some good places to eat here, but its nothing compared to the US.-The customer service. For example, living in London or Edinburgh might be fairly expensive whereas finding good deals is easy to do if you live in the north of England like Newcastle, Sheffield or Birmingham.It can be a bit tricky to find a nice living space in London, but if youre willing to commute from the outskirts its much more affordable. Everything happens in London, everyone wants to go to London, everything about London is expensive, all transport is centered on London, and most people struggle to grasp the idea that not everyone lives/wants to live in London. If you can afford it, you can fix this con by paying for healthcare. We dont see ourselves as racist because in our (their) minds, racism is making overtly racist statements, its Ku Klax Klan and Alabama or calling Pakistani people Paki right to their face. Although both are mild, New Zealand is far warmer than the UK.New Zealand has some British imperialism left over, as you can see in their food and their slang. I think there are always challenges or unexpected cultural differences when you move somewhere new. I really wish there where some good things to say about it but there simply is not . Stop by the Cotswolds to visit the prettiest cottages and maybe consider moving into one of them while youre there. One final thing? Being polite is just this veneer for passive-aggression where you have about 5 minute window before they start being covertly hostile. Here are 4 things I wish I'd known as an American in the UK. I am an ethnic minority woman who lived in Canada for some years before moving to England. Some readers . While other countries have a better claim on artists than England does, no one can doubt what this little country has done for literary works of art. Some of your points are very true (especially the one about the weather). Getting around England by train is very doable. Pros and Cons of Living in London - Travel and Destinations Here's our totally honest list of the pros and cons of living in England. York is also a very white city to live in, and there isnt very much diversity here, which might skew my perspective a bit. 0 hour contracts which is why work in family business. But in a very short period of being single living in England, dating was difficult and it really sucks that you had some bad experiences! I dont usually reply to blogs but there is a lot of hate going on here. Some people of certain incomes can get those last two and their prescriptions for free however . Let me tell you the areas I was in are MUCH cleaner than 90-95% of Philly, even in its nicest areas. I have never been scared for my physical safety here, and for that I am extremely grateful. They both have free healthcare options, but incredibly long wait times. Most Americans pay that for a premium for one month. You can go ahead and read about my 15 Harsh Truths About Living In England. My love of British culture started with Robert Pattinson from Twilight and British panel shows. The UK prefers to hire their own citizens. Lewis would get together to write and discuss politics. My uncle who is from here but moved to Hull where he went to uni and met my Scouse auntie were also there. Some of my favourite celebrations and festivals are: One of the biggest disadvantages of living in the UK as someone who does not care about sports is their love of football. (not actually outdoorsy camps like we have in USA) And none are close enough to us to be a viable option. So remember that the UK is now not technically a part of Europe when you visit. 4) Colonialism is buried and never talked about: Its shocking to be here in the UK when in the States, we are going through a reckoning with our racial past. Even the attitudes of the people are markedly different.Personally, I preferred living in Scotland for the social systems they have in place. VPNs allow you to access more of the internet. Its like drinking on a couch with your mates, except youre in public with live music and a fun crowd. Living in England really sucks sometimes. When making our living in London pros and cons list, easy travel was at the very top of the pros. Top 16 Worst Things About Living In The UK | Cities Journal Growing up in Canada, flights were always at least $300 CAD to go anywhere inside Canada. We put weather in the living in England pros list but its safe to say that the English weather is a contentious subject. Im not a fan of any country that prioritizes work over living a healthy life. And often a favourite pastime of locals is to don some wellies or walking boots and go in search of fresh air whether in woodlands and fields or up mountains and on beaches. There is so much to read on your website, Im looking forward to spending more time here! It can be so incredibly lonely when youre in a foreign country, in a culture that isnt your own, especially if you dont speak the local language and only know other foreigners (as opposed to knowing locals). ), its now a pro that anyone living in the UK can enjoy. Especially 7 and 10. So of course British food plays a role in my love of England. Im a Brit. It is one of the hardest experiences Ive ever had. Since the 2016 referendum, the mood and attitudes really changed. If thats the case then the issue is really just that the Cost of Living in the UK is higher. Me and my family (husband and daughter) are fighting over my current company to provide me a visa sponsorship to have our UK dream become a reality. What is the best and worst things about living in England? Both my husband and I had pretty good experiences at school, but the schools we attended were rated highly by OFSTED. Forgive me if this has been asked before, but I'm thinking about moving to England in a couple of years. Because so many people can access the healthcare and arent afraid of insane medical bills like in the USA, people actually go to the doctor. These are the kinds of homes that inspired the Hobbit. Healthcare expensive and really not that great depending on the plan you are on. Im sorry to hear youre struggling its definitely not easy and I can understand exactly just how difficult it is. Hi Marine, thank you so much for reading and for your thoughtful comment! Be wary, as binge drinking often leads to pub fights. 1. I should stress that I am very happy to be a New Zealander but I clearly remember how surprised I was to be confronted with the alien label And then there was the abject rudeness of the immigration staff another shock for the long distant colonial! As a high-context culture, they dont even recognize their own passive-aggression. The accents are incredibly diverse for a country as geographically small as Britain. Living In England: The Bad. That seems just crazy to me. Even then, she often needs subtitles. However, certain places arent right for certain people.So the UK would be a bad place to live if you hate rain, struggle with accents, dont want to live in a multicultural area, and think adorable cottages are gross. With Ryanair and EasyJet, youll have tons of options for a cheap weekend getaway. She just shrugged. This post is over 5 years old and my perspectives have definitely changed! I have paid property tax in a few states, and I find that the property taxes in the USA and Council tax rates are nearly equivalent. Hi Cory, thank you so much for your comment. Class systems were very entrenched in their society, creating a clear divide between the upper and lower classes. You might just be resistant to change. When I visit there, i also feel like a foreigner ! Most look like they are in leisure centers. When things dont go to plan, have Safety Wing on your side. On the flight []. In the USA it was 18-19 kids per class. I relate with this post. Sure, the UK gets a decent amount of rain, but probably no more than most countries. It is devided and conquered by the narccistic class system, which very much has not gone away! Ive gotten used to listening to accents from around the world, so I can understand most any accent thrown at me. I cant wait to end my master in this September. Far from it in fact. No country in the world has such a class divide as Britain and from what I can see it's only going to get worse, helped along by certain sections of the media. Like you I love a good hike and being in nature but where we are down south, you have to travel quite a bit to find a good-ish place. Find a beer you like. Im moving to the UK soon and after reading this post, Im feeling incredibly stressed and overwhelmed. Sometime I burst into tears. Right now, there is a lot of confusion and uncertainty about England and Brexit. It isnt easy, thats for sure. Hang in there. In the UK, not so much. Living abroad for a husband really sucks sometimes, and it can amplify even the most minor of grievances. But I got your message on Facebook so will message you back on there . The fees for a visa are embarrassingly higher than how much it costs to process. The exception to this is national parks/protected nature areas, like the Peak District and the Lake Districtthose mercifully dont have trash everywhere (yet?!). Thats three (3!!!) Unfortunately, youll see a lot of that when you live in the UK. many thanks! Thats why I developed this $7 course to share all of the steps Ive taken when deciding to move to 20+ different countries, and how I handle homesickness when I get there. I enjoyed reading your comments about accents. It can be so hard sometimes to keep a positive attitude. Renting a car in the UK is a necessity for visitors. Although it does put a damper on fun UK day trips and hikes. I can relate to this post somewhat. The government has been suppressing official inflation rates so that people don't realise how bad things have gotten. Brits are notorious the world over for having a binge drinking culture. You can read it here: 15 Harsh Truths About Living In England. People who try to deny it often arent looking at the whole picture. What things did you find most difficult? And weve been going back and forth for almost 25 years. When visiting an English village, mooching in the independent shops and having afternoon tea are two top ways to spend your time. As I put in the update in the end, this was written during a very difficult period of my life, but as time has gone on, things have gotten much better for me and I have adjusted much more to the differences here thanks for reading. In smaller towns, the communities have banded together to ensure the safety of visitors. I havent used the dental services yet, but right now Im not impressed: the first appointment I could get was for 7 weeks away. In fact, the UK has quite an issue with -isms. Am I therefore okay to say Australians are racist absolutely not. My mam and her partner were raised about 2 mile away from each other and have totally different accents! Brits are racist, brits are passive aggressive, its a dirty country, there is rubbish everywhere You are such a wonderful, talented young woman and you have so much to give others. Ex military soldiers homeless because thet have been failed.Fake homelessness is in record number poncing money off hard working people. I couldnt agree more on what you have written. As you can expect London is an extremely expensive city to live in. and the opportunities (and affordability) of traveling to different places in Europe is amazing. Everyone is stuck up The claim : Everyone in London has more money than sense and they are judgemental if you're not like them. I can't remember the last time I heard a complaint about the UK. But my one of my first impressions of England was running around Liverpool Lime Street train station trying to desperately find a trashcan. One of my biggest frustrations about the systems in place in England is council tax. And experiencing this kind of racism and this hateful discrimination makes it even harder. Now its about 1=$1.30. I dont mean to write this post now [], [] already talked about how hard it can be living in England. I still struggle, particularly with visa processes, as the Windrush scandal has caused any faith I had in the UK government and the Home Office to evaporate. Everything is made to be satisfying, homey, and warm. This is extremely difficult for me, as I dont know my work schedule more than a few days in advance. I hope youre doing well. The BBC is the worlds oldest national broadcasting organisation and has some of the most amazing dramas and original shows well worth a watch. Anyway Im going to blog about my tragedy of a life including what its really like to be a hidden, marginalised, unemployed, neglected British (but not seen as such) woman especially in a time like this. The very real anxiety about visas and my right to be here (and my ability to live with my husband) is something I dont ever feel will go away. This government funded healthcare system ensures that any British citizen with an injury or illness can get access to treatment from a doctor or nurse. Finally youll have someone to talk to about James Acasters perfect line on Scenes Id Like to See! The pace of life is generally faster than what you may be used to.10. The food is often bland and not very exciting.8. Is there anything else you want to know about living in England? However, if you find good British food, youll understand the allure. Although I am a permanent resident here which removes the visa anxiety i once had, I do tend to even after 5 years of living here still live with the loneliness and longing feeling. This is opposed to in the US, where paychecks are generally bi-weekly. So many people (myself included) think that since English is the official language in England, there is no language barrier. var s = d.createElement(sc), p = d.getElementsByTagName(sc)[0]; I genuinely thought Id prefer living in the UK to Canada. In London, I got to enjoy a taste of Harry Potter. Find out how much it costs to protect your trip today with Safety Wing travel insurance. What are the worst things about living in England? - Quora Its for all these reasons why we wanted to write a totally barebones honest blog about the pros and cons of living in England. Ive never travelled so I cant speak for other countries big Im guessing I would have a much better quality of life so where far away, somewhere clean, somewhere better,somewhere with people who respect each other, somewhere I belong. Elizabeth Wood had no idea what to expect from life in London when she moved there from Ohio. Couples drinking bottles of wine between them every week. Many historic places only have trains to their main station. The women there adored it yeah. But I can tell you a bit about what I do know. How do I pick a country to live abroad? And this history can be seen throughout top places to visit in England such as London, Salisbury, Oxford, York, Bath, Cheltenham, Chester, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Tintagel and Warwick to name just a few. But, this is not my first go around. . Im not sure how much youll remember from your school days, but generally, we still have nurseries, primary and secondary schools, which goes up to about 16 years. I even include tips for prepping your family, and for how to handle family who arent supportive. Whats the best site to find cheap hotels? I am currently living in England from the US and I am white and I have had a very good life. As with every other day of my life, Im sat up here, deeply distressed, not coping, suffering badly but having not been helped on numerous times of seeking support, I no longer ask for help. Hi Colin, thanks for your comment! Well, tolerate it. These panel shows are rivalled only by amazing content like Taskmaster my true favourite TV show. EDIT: The economy has gotten even worse since writing this. So I have to utilize urgent care. Moving abroad is an opportunity to learn the language. I often hear myself saying: Why oh why cant we be more like Italy?. Were dealing with horrific politicians and a media empire to match winding people up every chance they get. 1 December 2011. I have a bit more nuanced post that I wrote last year that you might find useful/interesting/amusing! Hence the blog post. I can totally relate to the feeling you described in your post. Most British students are focused on partying as much as possible, something to be aware of if you dont want to drink/party all the time. Its a sense off loss and constant mourning almost. Anyone in this situation try out Scotland or Wales? We were house hunting locally last year and came across 3 bed Victorian terraced houses with asking prices of over 650k. Some British people also think theyre at the center of the world in Britain, and theyre not. Paying 600 pounds as part of your visa is very very cheap for health care. Oregonians are self righteous. Find the cheapest car rentals here! In particular, California. With Heathrow as a major hub for worldwide travel and the myriad of cheap airlines, it is so easy to pop over to Europe whenever you feel like it. Prices for train tickets have been constantly rising for years, even though the level of service and punctuality/reliability of trains has decreased (Ive noticed this particularly from 2013-2014 in Notts and now). Obviously this post has ruffled a lot of feathers over the years and Ive had a lot of nasty and abusive comments that Ive had to just delete. I wrote this post nearly 2 years ago at what was one of the worst times of my life (in case you couldnt tell!). On winter days, it can get . In the US, customer service is a big deal. If youre planning to live in the UK, youll definitely need to invest in some wellies and an umbrella. Thanks Ish, Hi, thanks for your comment. If youre British, you learn from an early age how to identify where people are from based on their accent. You will be told off for going to A&E unless you have a major fracture/ stroke/ heart attack although UTIs are taken seriously. The UK is one of the safest countries for women. How is the education there? While Im not saying that every British person is racist, xenophobic, or classist, it is a clear issue in the society. I agree public transportation is just too expensive in the UK. Sadly, England and the whole of the UK has a lot to learn when it comes to train travel. British people really do think too highly of our/their country, like its the centre stage. Im used to being able to go to Target until 10:00pm and buy literally everything I need there. The decision of whether or not to move to the UK is a personal one that depends on your individual circumstances. I hate the UK media but always tune into it, listen to it, watch it and read it, in fact I am a media junkie. In fact, most cities come to a standstill at the slightest hint of snow!Can you imagine Canada if we operated that way? Ergo the UK left the EU. Then they take your passport for weeks even with an expedited Visa. Also the people who make comments and say well just leave, not everyone is in a position to do just that and its a very ignorant comment as it doesnt solve any problems or have any solution. Thanks for your post. Oh and one final thing, if youre struggling to understand Geordies, you can buy a book from Amazon called Larn Yesel Geordie. Yes its a very diverse country when it comes to accents, I wouldnt even like to guess how many different accents there are! When I arrived at Heathrow I looked around to find the appropriate queue for immigration. I struggled for weeks understanding one of my managers accents (and sometimes I still have to ask two or three times what she said). The racism and micro-agressions are hard to deal with. London is relatively safe in most areas. Good luck trying to pay rent with a tax return in April. Over the past few years, weve seen politicians floundering, lying and resigning this doesnt exactly instil confidence does it? For one, we love that we get to see a variety of seasonal weather. My husband is English and hes the greatest guy I know. The apple generay doesnt drop far from the tree and British people dont move far from home. This is from someone immigrating from south africa to New Zealand. Again, thanks so much for your very honest comment. EDIT: This is now one of my most popular posts of all time. That makes it easy to still go out and live your life. What do you love the most about living in the U.K.? In order to survive living abroad, where every day can be a flurry of activity and cultural [], Hi maja I do feel bad for you and for me I grew up just outside of London honestly this country is a joke and not a funny one. After living here for a while, I found myself saying stuff (subconsciously) to sound more English, becoming more uptight, using British English and even valuing all the external things and being very materialistic. I am so sorry to hear you are struggling, although it seems entirely understandable after such a lengthy period away. But I have to say that after moving to both, I think its a tie.Both countries are very multicultural, but only have a few cities with booming job options. I really struggled with liking the UK. I question daily if we should wait it out (and pay the insane ILR and citizenship fees) and then decide to move again, or if we should get out now. Northern cities may see some more snow, but not nearly enough to warrant Canadian winter gear. Brits hate EVERYONE. It always rains. Some are ok. Write down the ones you like and seek them out. But my major qualm is that I pay for that through the taxes I pay from my earnings, and it feels unfair to have to pay for it twice over and when there are many people in the UK who dont pay anything towards the NHS at all (ie. Im not sure if its anti-American bias, xenophobia, or what, but once every two weeks a random Brit seems to go off on me for what seems like a completely inane issue (using the wrong trash can, for example, Ive also gotten making tea the wrong way). Thanks for sharing your thoughts a really interesting perspective! It was great to read this blog (youre whole site is great) as Im considering moving back to the UK from the USA. How do I tell my friends and family I want to live abroad? Although most people dont live in the city (they opt for nearby suburbs and small towns), this is where most people end up working. Over time, she's learned to love the people, places, and sense of humor. Best wishes to you! Wish I wasnt! Whats the best site to rent cars abroad? Plus, the ever changing weather always gives us something to talk about when running low on conversation topics with acquaintances and work colleagues. And also Durham is like a soft Geordie accent, not quite as harsh, but to anyone down south were all Geordies. (Im 42 now) So, I had a pretty good idea of what I was getting myself into with this latest move. I understand completely how tough things can be but I cant imagine if the pandemic had happened so soon after I moved! Unfortunately I understand exactly what you mean Ive particularly felt like the racism and xenophobia in the UK has become even more widespread in the last few years. Thank you so much for reading, and for your comment and sharing your perspective. I originally paid 600 for the NHS for 2.5 years of my visa, and as they have now doubled the cost I recently paid 1000 for the NHS in my most recent visa application. -High cost of living-The weather-Difficult to adjust to the new lifestyle-Racism. I realize this post was 2 years ago. Many. If I had to pick the main things I don't like it would probably be political and we have enough threads on that. I am noticing that the wait lists for activities for her are ridiculously long. The data from the Health Survey for England showed nearly nine in 10 had at least one unhealthy trait. Texans loud and rude. While the origins of their multiculturalism are suspect at best (lets be real, theyre pretty shady! Trains in England also constantly run late, which is a nightmare if youre using them to get to work or a conference when you have to be there on time. In fact, shows like The White Queen, And this history can be seen throughout top places to visit in England such as, Although not the smallest country in Europe , This means its super easy to travel to somewhere completely different as a, A two-hour drive can take you from London to the coastal city of Brighton, Driving for 90 minutes gets you from Bristol to the, Kendal in the Lake District is just 2.5 hours from the gate of Scotland: Glasgow, There are a huge number of attractions and places to visit throughout the country that are pet friendly alongside plenty of. The cons of living in England are that the country is expensive and theres not much work for those who dont speak English. It is also so hard not to be extremely frustrated when the everyday, tangible things your council tax pays for dont go rightlike when it took the Council 6 days after collection day to pick up the trash on our street (after several phone calls and being unable to open the windows due to the smell and flies/mice on the street). Hi Grace, thanks for reading and for your comment. This post was written nearly 4 years ago during a very difficult period of my life, and some of my opinions and perspectives have definitely changed over the years . 1. Yet I have completely fallen in love with the country. The houses and gardens are getting smaller and smaller down south. 25 Pros and Cons of Living in New Zealand, 28 Pros and Cons of Living Abroad: Why You Should Move to Another Country, Everything You Need To Know About Living In Wales [From a Local], Guy Fawkes Night (also called Bonfire Night), Eurovision Song Contest (not a festival, but they sure treat it like one! The differential treatment spills over into other aspects of life too. I cant vote. I know there were a lot of racial slurs being shouted out at football matches last time I went. Hi Freddy, thank you for reading and your comment! The UK actually has a two-tiered system, more like New Zealands. 12 Good Things About Living In The UK (And Why I Want To Stay) Also, there are no giant superstores that sell everything you need. We usually only manage a long, Litter is something weve noticed more and more of, The Constant Feeling of Being Misunderstood. British citizens have to wait weeks to get in to see a doctor. Hi Maja. I found that British men are so keen to get to have sex with you (they will never say it) and they keep badgering you about it and putting pressure on you, but if you do, they will be assholes about it, gossiping, spreading rumors afterwards, destroying your reputation. It was totally fine. I am really torn. The public transportation system is reliable and efficient.4. The 17 things that make London 'the worst place to live' - debunked You can hop over to Amsterdam, Morocco, or even Iceland for a weekend without needing to fly for two days straight. Other things have gotten more expensive, and it will only get worse after Brexit. I thought Australians in some rural and remote regions were worse but it makes me love and respect my country even more. Xenophobia comes along with racism. Why we quit Australia for the UK - BBC News Ultimately, making the choice of where to move is going to be hard. This is a difficult question to answer as it depends on your personal preferences. This one might come as a surprise to a lot of you but English weather has a lot of good qualities. Although not entirely positive, the top 10 facts about living conditions in the United Kingdom show a thriving, healthy country. London is not representative of the wider country- it feels like an entirely different place. The point about the weather is an important one as it does drain you, but also the fact that if you are not into pubs and drinking, life can be very boring here. I pray that in these simple acts of service, that you will find deep joy. Im British and have lived in England my whole life. Especially the language barrier. All must just need to be prepared and be extra patient with the new place youll be living in. They get so wound up that when you go to a football game, you actually have to sit in separate sections based on which team youre rooting for. . That means that if you didnt live in Toronto like I did, youd have to fly to Toronto from the outskirts of Canada just to get your fingerprint scanned. Ive had people over the years (online) tell me how lucky I am to live in England, that theyd love to live here or just visit.
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