Why are Northeners so much nicer?

[forgiveormakehimpay]

I'm from The south east, 40 mins away from London by train.

I've come up to Liverpool to see an old friend and what?! It's like a different culture. People are so lovely to us?

My child has a disability and people have been brilliant. I know I'm generalising but literally, guarantee a hard look from lots of people when out in my own area back home

People here are just so.. personal? Very friendly and kind.

Why aren't people in the South East like this? Mostly they aren't anyway! Mostly just keep themselves to themselves etc And I'm not even talking about London

My mum lives in Billericay and people there are vile.

I moved from London to Yorkshire for my husband and after the initial culture shock I have some thoughts...

In London I was constantly stressed. It cost me at least £30 every time I wanted to see a friend, not counting expensive trips on busy tubes that were so crowded we all literally elbowed and shoved each other (even if gently). My rent was roughly 70% of my good wage for a mouldy houseshare.

I was always also suspicious of strangers wanting a chat in case it was a distraction ruse so their friends could pickpocket me. That sounds extreme but it happens and I think there's a lot of mistrust.

Added to that the feeling of always being in a rush...

So that's my very simplistic and personal theory!

I don't think they are friendlier on a one to one basis. There are just more people in the South East so you can't go around chatting to everyone. I certainly don't think Liverpool and Manchester are friendlier cities.

(I live in Manchester so don't think I'm biased against Northerners).

I live in the North West not far from Liverpool ,I'm glad you found the people to be lovely 😊

I am southern. Lived 40 years in London. Married a northerner more than 30 years ago.

I find southerners much more hospitable. Not in your face chummy but they'll always buy a round.

As a Northerner we just don't understand why everyone isn't like this! You should try Glasgow, it's the one place I find even friendlier than Liverpool. Come north, you'll smile more.

I found Yorkshire people bloody rude and mardy.

Another northerner here.

I travel to London regularly with work and the magnitude of the city is so much that the culture is very different, it feels impersonal. I've never had anyone make small talk with me or smile if we've caught each others eye (not in a flirty way). These things happen all the time in Manchester.

I love both cities.

They’re not

I'm from "down south". I can't seem to leave the house without someone trying to talk to me. If people are "friendlier" up north then I'm glad I'm here.

A good friend of mine is from Newcastle. She was recently visiting London and someone in the tube knocked into her. Her response was to call them a "fucking cunt" and then moan to me about how rude Londoners are. Personally I think she was far ruder!

I don't think it's true. There are friendly people (and rude people) everywhere.

I'm a northerner and spent some time living in London. I always found Londoners to be friendly, they seem to like the northern accent. My nickname was Bet Lynch among my work.mates. Might have been something to do with the bleached blonde hair 😉

I'm from the south and live in the north. Personally, I find people in the south do keep themselves to themselves more, but I don't find northerners genuinely nicer, just more likely to make small talk with strangers.

Justmy experience, but I found this too! I'm from london, thenlived in Bristol, then at age 28 moved to Manchester and was like "wow, howfun" lol. I did get confused about the dinner means lunch thing though.

I have lived in the north for over 40 years and I'm not sure what is meant by "nicer". I love visiting London, and I don't really notice much difference between there and where I live.
I think the difference is more between cities and small towns/countryside - at least in a city, thank goodness, you can be anonymous and keep to yourself. I find it very bizarre when people pass by and say "hello" - why does a random stranger want to speak to me?

I think it’s the volume of people in London, you see hundreds every day. Transport up North tends to be is less people

when I’ve had to speak on tube/train in London I’ve always got a great , nice response

I think London is very friendly.

As is Glasgow, and NI IME.

Can’t speak for Billericay, but broadly speaking if you are friendly, people are friendly back. If you found life stressful when you lived in the SE you will have been projecting that.

So true. Born and raised in the midlands and now live SW. The people beyond Bristol are so much friendlier! The further north you go, the more helpful and kinder they are.

I miss that and often feel lonely in the SW...

We moved to Kent from N.ireland at the height of the troubles and ,despite the problems in NI, I just wanted to return as found it so unfriendly. We were there for two years before moving to N.Devon where it was much easier to make friends. Mind you most of our friends were blow ins like ourselves. The locals and farming community in North Devon are friendly but tend to stick to themselves.

We're in N Wales so see a lot of visitors. We also have visited various cities from time to time. Welsh friends tend to agree with us. Liverpudlians are in the main lovely as visitors and hosts. Friendly. I put it down to the Irish blood running through them.

The Mancs. Bloody rude, unpleasant, impatient and stingy.

Yorkshire a bit reserved at first but when they thaw out a great laugh.

Southerners a mixed bag but they're more reserved in the main. They do say how relaxing it is, how well they sleep and the water tastes lovely in Wales. I think how crowded the South East especially London is and am not surprised they keep their heads down and are quieter

Just recalling my City days the folk from Billericay were a bit odd. Not hearty and down to earth like the people from Loughton and not as well heeled as those from Epping or Ware. Funny really as they were almost all from the East End originally. I think they peeped out from behind their nets in Billericay. The people from Canvey and Basildon took the piss as much as the spoons.

I agree. I travelled from London to Halifax on the train recently with my DS. I slept most the journey. As we arrived, I wiped my eyes as I was sure my mascara was smeared everywhere. One kind-hearted lady asked if I was ok. She asked a couple of times. I guess my eyes were also red from waking prematurely from deep sleep, so looked like I had been crying. I was so touched that a stranger cared enough to ask.

I love the Scots, too.

Chorley people are pretty miserable and insular. Not sure what happened to them.

Err.. are they?? I don't know the south-east actually. But I find northerners to be very good at a kind of extroverted fake socialising. They're not friendly as such.

It's so clear isn't it the difference? I can only assume that northern Towns had more poverty , they often live in smaller towns/ villages so people looked after one another

Here we walk in the country with the dog, a nod and a good morning is complete normal when you see others. It's good manners.

The American visitors are wonderfully friendly and so complimentary. They're proud of their home state and want to share it. The Canadians want you to come and stay.

Yes. I agree. I live in South East and all my children went North to Uni ,different cities and I really found Northerners so friendly and up for a chat without fail.