What do you like and dislike the most about the UK?

Question

I'm an American whose interested in life over there. If you could too, please kindly tell me what you think about Americans. I don't like Bush or really want to hear about him either. Thank you!

Answer 1

I married a girl from Dallas and after visiting USA several times have found most Americans to be friendly and polite, except for Chicago where most people were unfriendly and rude.

If you decide to live in England I think most people will treat you just as well as they treat anybody else, most people are fine. I agree with many of the other answers with regard to a lot of people are mistrustful of strangers, there are too many drunks because the "lads/ladettes" culture, the taxes are far too high, the wages will be lower than you're used to, the prices in the shops are a bit higher than USA (Texas certainly).

On the plus side wherever you are in the UK you are not more than 30 minutes drive from some beautiful countryside, or the sea. There is plenty of history for you see if you're interested.

Also I would advise getting your visa documents in order well in advance of your trip cos the British Consulate are very persnickety about issuing visas and immigration recently denied my wife access to enter the country cos they weren't 100% happy with her passport!

Overall come and visit, you will generally be treated well, even though after a while you may think us English are too reserved and quiet (except for the drunks of course)

Answer 2

Ok First the dislikes, They drive on the wrong side of the road, they park in the wrong direction on very narrow roads, On the motorways they crawl along at 50mph or even slower, they hog the fast and overtaking lanes. Millions of roundabouts. The state of the roads and public footpaths are terrible, The hospitals are from the dark ages. Too many drunks, criminals, Yobs etc. The houses are much too expensive for what they are and are mostly too small plus the gardens if you can call them that are so small they are like a vegitable patch. There was a song in the sixties called if I remember rightly (Little Boxes on the Hillside, Little Boxes made of Ticky Tacky and they all looked just the same) That is England Terraced houses, apartment Blocks, Semi Detached houses mostly from before the last war. Big Brother is watching You, Cameras everywhere. The Beer is terrible, the food is not much better, cant remember ever seeing an English Restaurant????? Plenty of Foreign Restaurants but Real English?????

Ok The Likes: Im sorry to say but for me it was Dover the way out of England. They have no ID Cards in UK but I bet that will also be coming soon.

What I think about the Americans? Ok I have worked with Americans 14 long years got on pretty well with them and have some very good American friends, I have been to the States many times nice but I would not like to live there either. Hmm not sure which was worse the Police in UK or the Sates LOL

OK guess I will get a hammering for what I said about England but like the old saying goes "The Truth always Hurts" LOL

Answer 3

Thank you so much for asking this question, because it illustrates perfectly the point I want to make: very few Americans care how they are viewed by the rest of the world. And thanks also for asking about our country, without mentioning teeth. Nobody likes being reduced to a stereotype.

The main thing I dislike about Americans is their disdain for and lack of interest in the rest of the world. There's a general assumption that all other English speaking countries are lesser versions of the US, but have the same laws and values. And perhaps the most irritating of all, that we all want to live in the US.

What I love about Americans is their energy, intelligence and generosity. Some friends of mine in Portland Oregon are working so hard for the release of a Somali man, (Adel Hamad) held for 5 years in Guantanamo. I feel quite humbled by their dedication.

I'm about to return to London after 2 months in Australia. I know it's cold and damp, but I look forward to being able to walk everywhere. Everyone over 60 in London gets free public transport, so I can jump on a bus to the West End, the British Library - anywhere. Can also jump on a Eurostar and be in Paris in 3 hours. I live in a very multicultural area (Islington) and despite what others say, immigrants are generally law abiding and work very hard. And thin, because they don't eat junk food, although their children do. I know most of my neighbours, who are all different colours and generally decent people. Yes, you can still sing baa baa black sheep, that nonsense about it being illegal was dreamed up by the Daily Mail, a magazine for those who love to fear and hate.

I love the BBC, Radio 4 and the World Service. You won't get many people on yahoo answers agreeing with this, but in the UK generally, it's incredibly popular. Most people in the UK are intelligent, open minded and not racist. I love that we still have lots of libraries, good health care which is free at the point of use (in other words, we pay for it, but when you're ill, you get treatment without money involved).

What I don't like: UK overrun with cars, children driven to school, having lost the use of their legs cos the Daily Mail (see above) has warned them the streets are crawling with paedophiles.

Supermarkets, they are incredibly powerful, sell expensive fat food and put small shops out of business.

Well, yes, the weather. It's not always bad, and as with most other things, China is overtaking us. Friends was there for 5 weeks last year and did not see the sun once - pollution. Every photograph had grey sky.

And I have fabulous teeth:::)))

Answer 4

Don't go to the UK, America is the best country in the world (It is better than Canada, Sweden, Norway, no matter what the quality of life index says)

What do I like about the UK: You can have lots of fun, there is always something to do, I like the music, the Pet Shop Boys and the people, who are really friendly, I like the location, you can go to Europe every weekend if you want!!! I like that the pound is strong, so you can afford lots of stuff overseas

What I dislike about the UK: Houses are freakin small and freakin expensive, everything is freakin expensive, and the quality of life doesn't seem that confortable, I don't like the congestion charge, as it makes harder to have a car

Americans are the most wonderful people in the world, their accent is awesome, I don't care about Bush, I lived in America and life is so cool over there, I wish I could move there, but they only encourage low skilled ilegal immigration...

Answer 5

I think the thing I dislike the most about the UK at the moment is we are too politically correct and so afraid of offending people that we sacrifice our own beliefs and values. The best thing about the UK is the opportunities available if you are willing to work for them.
I generally like Americans, we are very similar in life style and culture.

Answer 6

When my wife and I were on our honemoon, we flew from L.A. to England. This was great because we were in a foreign country, but the people spoke English. They have a long, proud, independent history, and are poised between American and Europe socially and culturally, as well as geographically.

If they hadn't stood up to the Nazi's for several years before we lent our assistance, we may never have won WWII.

Answer 7

After living abroad for 15 years, there are things that the UK has that elsewhere does not.
Pros:
Customer service is really quite good, in Spain it is non existent!
Going into a shop and asking for something on display and being told "of course madam I'll get one for you" - instead of a shrug of the shoulders, and a mumble that they have none, don't know when they'll get them etc.
Being able to get a job even if you are over 50, most supermarkets in Uk encourage old people back to work. Brill!!
In Spain if you're over 35 you'll never get a job in a shop!!
Cheaper and more choice of clothes in UK, by far. Due to fierce competition. Here in Spain, it's expensive (Or real crap) No competition fights here, if they haven't got it you can't get it.
Food, ohhhh the choice is great in the UK. Not as vast as the US but great selection, especially organic.
The countryside is really beautiful so many nice places to visit.

Cons:
Cold, wet, freezing weather. Mad drivers, too much speeding traffic.
Too much politically correcting going on, everyone is afraid to voice their opinion of others for fear of being called racist etc
Can't say things like "baa baa black sheep" how ludicrous is that!!"
Government afraid to say no to illegal immigrants for the same reason, so allowing too many in and then letting them run amoke.
Train and bus fares too expensive and bad service.

As for Americans, like them as a whole, but when I first went to the US and everyone was wishing me "have a nice day" it seemed so false like they were forced to say it. Made me think "shut up and I would have a nice day!
Love the accent, would like to live in your country, but your immigration rules are way too strict. One bad comment....some of the womens voices are really high and squeaky and grate on the nerves a bit.
And as for those pageants .....well they are so bad....
Anyway...."Have a nice day ya'll"

Answer 8

PLUS:
Clarity in business and tax - I used to live in Italy where you get paid late and the tax man seems to just pick numbers out of thin air.

Bright, quirky and interesting people.

MINUS:
Police state - you are filmed everywhere you go.
Obsession with drinking and 'yoof' culture
Terrible tabloids and TV.
Can't drive for toffee.

On the US and differences with UK - depends where you're from I guess.
UK has many fewer TV stations, particularly religious evangelists.
Generally more secular, though Blair has changed that slightly, the cretin.
Americans a note of enthusiasm and energy to Brits cautious demeanour - come on over!

Answer 9

I first visited Orlando in the 1981 when locals would always want to hear my London accent,- as you may know not to many Brits visited the USA in those days. I have always been fond of our American cousins and like yourself, in some way I will apologise for Blair and his cronies. Really do , " Have a nice day '."

Answer 10

Quite frankly I am tired of hearing Scots say how the English are so bad. It might have been true 800 years ago, but they did their share of terrorising, too. Get over it already. There are more Scots in Parliament than English it seems.

Be proud of your Group, but don't put the English down. There is a UNION now. One which you freely accepted and voted on. The question was about the U.K.