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.

This and loads more bicycles / far fewer cars.

Gardens which grow vegetables even right up to the pavement, even right in the middle of urban areas, well tended & so much pride in every tiny area.

Parking not being a relentless hassle. Just driving to where you need to go... and parking being both free and available.

So liberating!

American own brand medicine that comes in tubs of 1000. I understand why we don’t have it, but I just wish we did. It also feels like it works better for me?

What I do like when I go somewhere else is automatically saying "Hello", "Good morning/afternoon/evening" etc when you enter a shop or bar. In the UK, the shopkeeper's instinctive reaction seems to be unfriendly suspicion.

I agree that we miss opportunities to build houses with basements and always include solar panels on the roof. And south and west facing windows should now incorporate electric shutters.

I'd be interested in a thread from non-UK residents re what the UK has that they wished they had.

I had these when I had a B&B over here. It also made it easier for me clearing up.

I've also seen them in lots of European countries.

Good, healthy, affordable and above all, properly seasoned and hot food.

"Fewer fast food places. It's seems the default option is so many situations in this country."

Healthy fast food is the way to go.

For me, one of the main concerns is the health service. You almost have to be in the peak of good health to face dealing with the current system. I would happily pay to have a more reliable and efficient service.

I've seen how getting medical help in certain other countries is less stressful.

I wish we were just……more cultured. Many people’s idea of a good night out is going to the pub, getting as pissed as possible and then onto some crappy nightclub where you might get into a fight, if you’re lucky. Rinse and repeat the weekend following. We’re so rough around the edges. It’s embarrassing

Oh no, i absolutely hate this and will turn around and leave if i am just browsing and someone does this. If i want assistance i will ask and i don't want phony goodwill

@Eight8eight The Metrocentre does have solar panels above the car parks. So does Gateshead Council's car park and I've seen others here in hte north east of England.

In Spain - draining board in a cupboard above so the dishes aren't visible and they drain down into the sink.

Other western European countries - affordable (or sometimes free) health systems with appointments at convenient times, direct access to some specialists, preventative care, etc.

Couriers exist in the UK so I don't understand the motor bike riders comment in the OP.

Cross posted with you.

a taxi driver comes round with a bottle of champagne and pizza or whatever you want and it doesn't cost much.

olive trees.

men who speak English with a foreign accent.

We do have a border force. There's a boat parked up in our marina that rarely fires up the engine. The most action it's seen is the captain bonking a crew member below decks.

We always know because their range rovers are parked in the carpark 😄

I'm not talking about assistance. I mean just going into a boulangerie or something. You say "Bonjour" and it's reciprocated with a smile and a reply. In England, if you walk into a newsagent to get some supplies and dare to say "Hello" as you walk in, you get a glare.

Leaving your child to sleep outside whilst you go into a coffee shop - think that says a lot about the culture and society they live in.

In France the receipt for your supermarket shop gets put into categories - e.g meats, frozen etc.

Not having loads of packaging on fruits and veg. I brought a single garlic bulb this week, it came in some plastic netting and then a tag to tell me it was garlic!

Better cycling infrastructure.

Bit of a biggy being thrown in to - a higher emphasis on play and starting formal learning later.

Decent roads

One thing I loved about Melbourne in Oz was the ability to walk around a shopping centre and get a walk-in massage. It was brilliant if you had a headache or a sore back; just pop in and get it sorted on your way to Woolworths for your shopping. I've never seen that anywhere over here - and have to book a very expensive massage at least three weeks in advance here which is no good if you've got a migraine and just need a head and neck rub.

Belgian supermarkets - you can usually (though not always) take something out of a packet of multiples e.e. you don't want 6 bottles of coke, break one out of the multiple pack.

Clean streets a lot of the UK is a litter strewn dump

Dog-free public spaces.

Unbearably hot in England???

Clean trains that run on time.

You'll get a shock if you do that with the outdoor orange trees in Spain - they're the bitter marmalade ones! I like the idea of public apple and pear trees though.