What do you like about the UK?

[Killerkweef]

I am British bit have lived abroad for 15 years.

I miss the British sense of humour. When I make jokes in my country of residence people look at me like I have two heads.

I miss the choice in the supermarkets. Different flavours of the same product, different products at Easter/ Christmas and not just exactly the same as last year and each and every year before that.

I miss the rich history of the country, and the traditions that I hope are being upheld (Guy Fawkes night was always my favourite).

I am feeling really homesick tonight. Indulge me.

Peace
Safety
Tolerance
Temperate climate
Prosperity - yes, really.

Feeding wild birds is big business.

I miss the choice in the supermarkets.
Me too - and I live in the UK!

British TV period dramas
A cup of tea for every occasion
Anything goes fashion-wise
Crumpets, scones, afternoon teas, ice creams, fish & chips
Wimbledon
National Trust properties
Tiny little beautiful cottages in hamlets and villages
Village events like local dog shows and fairs
Seaside days out

The history.
The humour.
The countryside.

Landscapes and accents. Not much else these days ☹️

Eccentrics
Amazing music & arts
Temperate weather
Woodland wildlife
Homemade cakes & Earl Grey
Tunnocks bloody tea cakes!
Tolerance
Green landscapes
Entertaining politics

The NHS. It’s shit but I love it.
The greeness of everywhere.
Heinz Beans.

When I lived abroad I missed the seasons. I craved a frosty morning. Now I’m in the UK again I make sure to enjoy frosty mornings and stormy beaches.

In no particular order:
English literature
Boots
Accents
British seaside
Green spaces in cities
Roast dinners
Indian food
Theatre
Free museums
Great universities
Free press
Pubs
London
And feeling comfortable as a mixed race family

The feeling of general safety compared to living in a previous country where police were liable to arrest you just to get money from you

The feeling that most people in the UK are decent people who would help you as opposed to people who want to rip you off

Puddings
Front gardens
Sarcasm
TV
Shortbread biscuits
Pulling over for ambulances
People saying sorry when someone bumps into them
Getting dressed under a towel on the beach
Bacon

Sense of humour
Stately homes and gardens
Sunday roast
Good fish and chips
Edwardian, Georgian and Victorian houses

People are very skilled at general chit chat here. Also they are pretty good at personal space and rarely bump into you or get in your way. I also like how people are generally good at customer service and problem solving for clients.

I personally also like the fact that there are high levels of non practising religious people and huge numbers of atheists. Many fewer people being influenced by religious dogma (in my particular neck of the woods).

The way that everyone instantly cheers up hugely for our one week of Summer...radios playing in back gardens and the splash of paddling pools followed by shrieks as it starts to rain.

Proper tea

Scones and clotted cream and all our glorious stodgy puddings like crumble and apple pie with proper cream or custard

Proper fish and chips and mushy peas

Our dislike of too much outward affection and our merciless sense of humour

Stunning villages and thatched cottages with teeny little churches

The hilarious and childish shouting and ayes and eye rolls that happen in Parliament

Just a few of the eccentric things I love about the UK.

I've lived in several other countries but for all its flaws and problems, there's no place like home.

I'm Irish living in the UK long term but the humour is brilliant. People take the piss out of themselves and it makes life very fun and funny. I'm a bit eccentric and I think that's very much embraced here. In my years in the UK I've experienced incredible acts of kindness and find people very accepting. Haven't found this elsewhere...

It's the most tolerant country in the world.

Which world are you talking about here? Because in the world I live in, the majority of British people don't tolerate anyone who is in any way different from them.

Guy Fawkes night is a disgusting anti catholic festival.

Thatched cottages
Duck pond on the village green
Afternoon tea
Eccentrics
Classic cars and motorcycles

Pubs with live music
Some of the worlds greatest authors
Wildlife and birdlife
M&S food
Dogs lovers
Branston pickle
Proper Beer whisky and cider
Canal boats
History
Accessible beautiful countryside

Free press and almost free speech unless you are a woman

A welfare safety net (not as good as it was or should be but appreciated none the less.

No extreme weather/disasters.

Lots of coast, very green, mountains, rivers, forests, open spaces.

Some places still have affordable housing.

Fairly secular society

Comedy

Don't need to fundraise lots of money to run for office

Great literary culture

Great music

Great tv and films

Lots of restaurants with food from around the world

Huge supermarkets

Long opening hours

Fashion

Its relatively good for women's rights

Some great free education available (but postcode lottery)

Modern, liberal

Disability access is better than most other countries

Fairness is valued

Comprehensive rail network (but to £££)

Best breakfasts in the world

Our home grown food

I personally am struggling with the U.K. at the moment. We pay so much in tax and get very little in return. I can’t see it getting any better.

The very first thing that made me appreciate living in the UK was on a nature parenting forum and realising a large number of posts were parents asking advice about alligators/bears/mountain lions/snakes/spiders etc and realising we don't really have any dangerous predators. But I can't come up with much more, I'd love to try living somewhere with a warmer climate, our dull weather, boring food, outdated royal family and right wing politics makes me miserable.

FatOaf · Yesterday 23:43
It's the most tolerant country in the world.

Which world are you talking about here? Because in the world I live in, the majority of British people don't tolerate anyone who is in any way different from them.”

Yes, this. Though I’m not sure it’s a “British” thing but rather “English” England has become so small and narrow-minded.

For my DH, Waitrose is the acme of civilisation. I suspect he wants his ashes scattered in the wine aisle.

I no longer live in the UK, but I miss London, especially the art and theatre, the rural rights of way network, and having these astonishing Norman or earlier churches full of history and architectural quirks and crusaders’ tombs just sitting there like a time capsule in villages.

For the few who are so negative maybe you should read the posts on here and perhaps try to have a sunnier outlook on life. It must be so tiring being so depressing all the time!

I'll always remember my friend commenting on how it's always green in England, even when it's covered in snow!

I do think the UK is pretty tolerant overall.