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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think if you have enough money to travel frequently, the UK is the best place in the world to live

181 replies

Beefybaby · 16/10/2026 13:48

We have our humor, our countryside, the food here is great in the sense you can have all cuisines, and if you can travel abroad regularly for sunshine snd enjoying the rest of the world, you can't beat it

OP posts:
LetMeButterYourParsnips · 16/10/2026 16:03

The health care is also a big lottery.

Original poster
Beefybaby · 16/10/2026 16:09

InterestQ · 16/10/2026 15:30

I love the UK - I like the people, the humour, even the complaining. Riots and strikes are unusual, when a new government is voted in, there isn’t violence (a bit more whingeing), the countryside is incredible, London is amazing with a buzz and vibrancy that you don’t get in many other places. Edinburgh is beautiful. Holidays here are gorgeous, there are defined seasons, fresh air, stunning beaches from Kent to the Western Isles. Innovative chefs in out of the way pubs, brilliant auctions to snap up bargains, a good arts scene, great plays on in random rural towns. The Prime Minister gets questioned in person every Wednesday and held to account fairly politely but effectively and we get to see that weekly.

There are downsides and most things are expensive (food not as pricy as the continent though) but if there’s an emergency health issue, the NHS are brilliant. I’ve only needed about 2 drs appts in the last 5 years but I rang up and got them on the same day.

I could wish for things to be cheaper but all in all, I can’t think of one single place I’d rather have been born.

Brilliant post

OP posts:
Original poster
Beefybaby · 16/10/2026 16:15

YellingAway · 16/10/2026 15:51

I have lived abroad in a city in Europe that is usually highly rated as one of the most desirable places to live.

Yes, there were many great things about it but just like anywhere it had its downsides.

The lack of diversity was very noticeable even to someone like me who is from a very white area.

I was also told by a local that people like us were more accepted as we were white and British and apparently all the Turks were criminals. Attitudes were very behind those in the UK.

Also, it wasn’t easy to integrate into the community, they are quite a closed society.

I have a family member who stays in a tourist hotspot and they tell me what it’s really like to live there - value education, well good luck on that one. Value conducting business without having to give backhanders to government officials, well you will quickly go bankrupt. Yet people continue to flock there only to land with a bump.

Where was this?

OP posts:
Original poster
Beefybaby · 16/10/2026 16:16

InterIgnis · 16/10/2026 15:52

‘Better’ is subjective, and what is a good place to live for someone with a higher income, won’t necessarily be a good place to live for someone with a lower one.

I’m not from the UK, but I did live there for years. I wouldn’t choose to live there again.

Yes i do agree

OP posts:
Flamingojune · 16/10/2026 16:18

Beefybaby · 16/10/2026 14:04

If you don't agree, tell me where you think is better, because every country has its issues, but yes totally agree , the trains and public transport is really bad, would be better renationalised

I love the uk train network

Livingoverseas123 · 16/10/2026 16:19

Have you ever beemn to Switzerland, OP.

Original poster
Beefybaby · 16/10/2026 16:21

TheKindnessProject · 16/10/2026 15:57

In Berlin right now. It's pretty good.

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Heard so many good things abiut Berlin, I'd love to visit and Munich I'd love to go to too. Fancy doing that river thing, where you hoping and hope out downstream, I was actually thinking that could be a great base for a holiday

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Wallywobbles · 16/10/2026 16:22

I’ve spent 30 years in France and brought up my kids here. I think it’s way better than the UK. Not for everything but it’s really worked for us.

Original poster
Beefybaby · 16/10/2026 16:23

Livingoverseas123 · 16/10/2026 16:19

Have you ever beemn to Switzerland, OP.

Not yet but I'm hoping to this winter, hoping to go on the glacier express and want to stay somewhere with a warm water
A pool overlooking the mountains, so any ideas? Looks amazing

OP posts:
Original poster
Beefybaby · 16/10/2026 16:25

Chalula · 16/10/2026 15:56

How do you know there’s nowhere better if you’ve never actually lived elsewhere? I’ve lived in 7 countries in my lifetime (and I have three citizenships, including British, and permanent residency in a fourth country) and no, the UK is not the best place to live. One of the pros is definitely the easy access to other countries within Europe and globally but in terms of the UK itself there are a multitude of problems (failing economy, high taxes, low growth, high cost of living and poor public services and healthcare to name a few, plus the endless grey weather for six months a year). That said there are many positives too, including the history, culture, there are some beautiful scenic places, and London is still a very vibrant city and a great place to raise kids.

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I welcome your pov but I find it ridiculous that's I'd have to live somewhere to figure this out

OP posts:
Livingoverseas123 · 16/10/2026 16:26

Beefybaby · 16/10/2026 16:21

Heard so many good things abiut Berlin, I'd love to visit and Munich I'd love to go to too. Fancy doing that river thing, where you hoping and hope out downstream, I was actually thinking that could be a great base for a holiday

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Berlin is a completely dysfunctional city. Great to visit but residents are leaving if they have the chance - many to Switzerland. Munich is a beautiful city but horribly expensive!

Original poster
Beefybaby · 16/10/2026 16:26

Plus we don't get much crazy weather like tornados or earthquakes and no deadly wildlife or insects

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Original poster
Beefybaby · 16/10/2026 16:27

Livingoverseas123 · 16/10/2026 16:26

Berlin is a completely dysfunctional city. Great to visit but residents are leaving if they have the chance - many to Switzerland. Munich is a beautiful city but horribly expensive!

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Oh I don't know it was expensive there

OP posts:
Original poster
Beefybaby · 16/10/2026 16:28

Flamingojune · 16/10/2026 16:18

I love the uk train network

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Don't you think it would be better re nationalised though? And made much more affordable

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Original poster
Beefybaby · 16/10/2026 16:32

EstoyRobandoSuCasa · 16/10/2026 15:58

I think mainland Europe would make a better base for travel, assuming you have the right to live there.

How about the Netherlands? You can easily visit Belgium and Germany by train, and can get to other countries if you have time for more than a day trip. You’re also within reach of an international airport.

Yes we could live there because my husband and children have the right to an Italian passport, I'd certainly go for an extended period of time but never to live

OP posts:
dizzydizzydizzy · 16/10/2026 16:34

doesn’t it depend where you live? It you live between Heathrow and Gatwick, you can very easily get a direct flight to almost anywhere in the world. If you live in Wales, Cornwall or northern Scotland, it must be a much bigger undertaking.

HappyViewer · 16/10/2026 16:34

I go away 7 times a year and have visited almost 70 countries, I am very happy to live in the UK.

Crikeyalmighty · 16/10/2026 16:34

I would say it has things I like , but so do other places within Europe. I’ve lived in Copenhagen, that was pretty splendid too ‘if ‘ you had decent money/income , same goes I feel for Sweden, Netherlands, Germany if you want a ‘non hot’ country -

Flamingojune · 16/10/2026 16:36

dizzydizzydizzy · 16/10/2026 16:34

doesn’t it depend where you live? It you live between Heathrow and Gatwick, you can very easily get a direct flight to almost anywhere in the world. If you live in Wales, Cornwall or northern Scotland, it must be a much bigger undertaking.

By air is not the only way to travel

Chalula · 16/10/2026 16:37

Beefybaby · 16/10/2026 16:25

I welcome your pov but I find it ridiculous that's I'd have to live somewhere to figure this out

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You think that you can judge how good a place would be to live in just by holidaying there for a few days or weeks? That’s ridiculous. And how many other countries have you actually visited? You sound very narrow minded. It’s great you love the UK so much but you don’t have any experience living elsewhere so it’s odd to think there is nowhere better to live, to say the least.

Original poster
Beefybaby · 16/10/2026 16:37

Nice to feel the love for the uk, sometimes you get sick of the press calling it broken Britain etc
Nice to reflect

OP posts:
RadioJuan · 16/10/2026 16:40

Livingoverseas123 · 16/10/2026 16:19

Have you ever beemn to Switzerland, OP.

I’m been here a while. Good standard of living. Very expensive but good salaries. Excellent roads but terrible traffic. Excellent public transport in the towns. Abundant healthcare that costs me and my spouse £1,000 a month with a £2,400 excess. Swiss do not accept foreigners into their communities so migrants gather together. Their sense of humour is not the same as British.
A lot of Brits who live here are up their own arses about living here, decry the UK but travel ‘home’ multiple times a year. Same as the Americans.
Buying a house in an urban area is beyond the reach of most. There’s a lot of poor Swiss scratching by. Summers are brutally hot and dry. Not much crime. Not much or any litter. Right wing mentality is everywhere. That’s my experience anyway. Other opinions are available.
I preferred Bavaria. I’ll move back to the UK at some point.

RadioJuan · 16/10/2026 16:43

Beefybaby · 16/10/2026 16:23

Not yet but I'm hoping to this winter, hoping to go on the glacier express and want to stay somewhere with a warm water
A pool overlooking the mountains, so any ideas? Looks amazing

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If you take the Glacier express then consider Pontresina, or Flims.

dizzydizzydizzy · 16/10/2026 16:45

Flamingojune · 16/10/2026 16:36

By air is not the only way to travel

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True. But boat or train travel abroad is really much the same story. Nearly all options are via Dover or Folkestone or central London, with the main exception being boat travel to Ireland is from the West.

Fernsarethebestplants · 16/10/2026 16:50

As the world hots up, the UK looks more tempting than ever.

I dislike: the litter, the poor health-care service, not a very entrepreneurial environment. Hate increased racism. It was better in the early 2000's.

I like: the humour and general chitchat, the lack of formality, moderate weather, beautiful countryside, basic tolerance of all types despite some racism (worse elsewhere in Europe)

I can't live elsewhere; I don't fit in, and my jokes don't land.