What's one thing you've seen in other countries that you wish we had here?

[chocolateychurros]

In my home country, we have riders on motorbikes whose job it is to transport things from one place to another.
For example, if you left your charger at your mums, you could just request one of those and they would bring it straight to you.
Mind you in that country taxis are a lot cheaper than they are over here, so even if we had something like this here it would probably be too expensive and not worth it.

Our electricity current is much more powerful. I got an electric shock from a bathroom in Czechia recently though.

How unlucky!

I believe EU and UK current is same strenght at 220v?

Reliable affordable trains

Mixer taps everywhere. How can I wash my hands in running water with separate hot and cold taps ?

Windows that can be tilted or opened inwards.

Safe cycle lanes which don't require me to dismount at every roundabout, especially the really big ones.

EU is 220 but UK is slightly stronger with 230

But do they actually have less crime? That's surely what matters...

Yes. I live in the US and have had a blaster tap in every place I've ever lived. They are so handy. I can't understand why they aren't standard in UK/Ireland - you can get them but only in limited styles.

Well, feel free to reinvent the UK as a surveillance-obsessed dictatorship with a heavily censored press, 90% of the population imported foreign workers with no stake in the country, and an increasingly oppressive attitude even to any of its own citizens demanding a transparent judiciary? And the criminal classes not being bag-snatchers but international crime gangs money laundering ?

Not having these things is one of the good things about living in the UK.

Where do they have these?

So... Only way to lower crime is dictatorship?

Couldn't agree more @ShinyAppleDreamingOfTheSea @Chuchoter, we don't want that kind of violence on UK streets.

Wooden gazebo structures in parks, for when you are picnicking/playing and rain comes on suddenly.

Porches/verandas on houses. Why don't we have them? I would love to sit on the porch and drink tea. Everytime I see a property with a naff little balcony or conservatory I think how a covered veranda would have been such a better addition.

Streets and green spaces that aren't overrun with bloody dogs and their poo.

Abra1t · Today 12:08
Less litter

This. We drove along the M69 today and there was barely a blade of glass visible beneath all the litter on the verges. Really depressing.

Affordable heating.

@Adamante "The ability to go for a run, or walk around safely at 3 am like I can when I go to the UAE"

Yeah. That's such a priority when it comes to women's rights in the UAE!

Just about to go visit family in South Africa (I know it has its problems!) but we do a day at the spa, two course breakfast, morning tea, two course lunch, afternoon tea, all with prosecco and a drink on departure (8am to 5pm) plus 7 - yes SEVEN - treatments from top to toe - for £86. It's my highlight of the year!

@miIIicant As someone who despises my house in the summer I would love shutters - just can't afford them right now

I wonder if it's because there are more women on here. Perhaps more likely to be without a car altogether, or not to have the use of the family car when they need it? Just guessing.

@Heggettypeg I did consider it too. It would be interesting to see what answers would come if the same question was asked on a men’s forum. (I dread to think)

I’ve a long list but I’ll pick Less Litter in the streets.

The fuller range in Euro Ldl
Polish milk bar
Japanese toilets

What I would really like is for the local council to have a list of registered tradesmen who are qualified and who do the job properly. So if you want e.g. a plumber you can go to the council and they will give you one from the recommended list. If that plumber does a bad job you go back to the council and they take him off the list. I am absolutely sick of bad workmen. Yes they are all men!

More green spaces that are properly looked after and maintained
Free buses in the centre of cities
Shops open till later in the evening
Cleaner public loos... and more of them, especially near bus stations
Safer streets etc (yes, as others have said...like the UAE... and anywhere else in the Gulf) Nobody wants the worry of being stabbed etc when they go out.

In my bit of Melbourne we have the gazebos, with roll-down sides and picnic tables and benches in open areas near shopping strips. They were built by the council during Covid to provide somewhere for people to meet in the open air. They were so popular they've been kept on. They are unlovely, being tarp and plastic, but well-used. The longterm plan is rebuild as timber structures.

As for verandahs, which you'll often see as part of Aussie houses, I'd gag for one, part of what I'd look for in my last house. I can't build onto my house as it can't go any further out than it is due to building regs.