What’s different in Wales to England?

[ItsMyLasagna]

Apologises if I’m being stupid here, I have googled but I’m getting myself confused.

Myself and DH are moving to Wales imminently to be with his family. I’m English and have only ever lived here. DH is Welsh and lived there until 12 when his parents divorced and his Mum took him back to his home town.

As he didn’t spend any of his adult life there he has no idea what’s different. I know prescriptions are free but is there anything I need to be aware of? I know Scotland has many things different to England but is Wales?

Thanks for all the replies! We’re moving to Gwynedd from Yorkshire. His family are pretty split between Gwynedd and Flintshire so maybe we’ll end up in Flint after a few years. I have noticed the council tax is so high!

I didn’t know about the 20mph speed limit.. DH has always driven when we’ve gone to visit family so I’m glad I asked!

I’m planning on taking some classes to learn basic Welsh. DH learnt in school before he moved but can only remember the basics now. To be fair only one of his friends can speak it!

Yeah I meant after Bridgend going towards Cardiff 😂

No Wairose further west of Cowbridge though is there? Or is one lurking 😎

Oh sorry - I thought you meant in the opposite direction! Not to my knowledge - although you would have thought they would have scouted out Pembs as a likely location!!

Like the one in Mumbles 🥰 but can only get certain things in Waitrose.

It is

Gwynedd and Flintshire are very different. Gwynedd has a very high population of Welsh speakers and I’m pretty sure all primary schools (not sure on secondary) are Welsh medium. Flintshire is on the border and so there are far fewer Welsh speakers, although the Welsh medium schools there are very popular and have expanded recently due to the numbers of pupils on roll growing.

gwynedd is more of a beautiful rural location because you have sooo many beautiful beaches, as well as Snowdonia and Anglesey on your doorstep. Flintshire has the clwydian range which is also lovely but is less rural and closer to cities like Chester, Manchester and Liverpool which can be handy if you want a mix.

No there isn't unfortunately but they do deliver to Swansea. Once when a van went past my house I rushed upstairs to see from the bedroom window which posh paws neighbour was having a delivery.

And eat laverbread and cockles every third Wednesday.

And the rest of the Wednesdays it's hot Welsh cakes with scattered sugar and melted butter. Drooling now...

And a curry half and half for tea.

Oh yes, half and half! It's genius isn't it?!

Everyone carves love spoons (well, many do)
Avoid laverbread. I mean, really avoid it. Don't even think about it. In fact, don't move to Wales because laverbread lives there....!

And a big Waitrose in Pontprennau (Jcn 30) too.

Oh im in Gwynedd!

Croeso!welcome!

beautiful beaches, mountains, castles, quarries, lots of sheep.

much appreciated if you could learn the basics, it will help you, strong welsh community in this county!

Croeso!

1. We don't have motorways, so it takes forever to get anywhere long-distance within Wales itself.
2. If you live rurally, you will spend time getting stuck behind tractors on the road. They're only allowed to do 25mph, and do usually pull over at the nearest passing place for you (unless you have a bad relationship with them, in which case, they will keep on driving...). Also, if they have trailers or tankers on the back, give them plenty of room for turning!
3. Also if you live rurally, it's perfectly normal to dodge around sheep on the road.
4. There's a lot of pride in being Welsh. You'll notice the Welsh flag a lot- on supermarket billboards, car number plates, etc.
5. You can choose to have your driving licence in Welsh or English.
6. Google Translate is based on South Wales, so it might not be the right kind of Welsh in North Waless.
7. 'Dw i'n dysgu Cymraeg' (I am learning Welsh) will become your most-used Welsh phrase, apart from 'sori' when you nearly run into someone around the corner in the supermarkets. You'll learn more Welsh as you go along, but classes won't harm you! It is quite tricky to learn, though, if you're not a native speaker.

I've never heard anyone talk about rugby. Maybe the circles I move in. People say hello in the street here in Wales and talk to you at bus stops etc. Less traffic. Free prescriptions for everyone!!!

Conwy County may be a good fit if your DH has family both in Gwynedd and Flintshire. Conwy isn’t as Welsh speaking as Gwynedd but is more so than Flint. There is a good mix of Welsh medium and bilingual schools in the area.
People have already mentioned the obvious prescription charges and Student Finance. We don’t pay for hospital parking either.
Have to disagree that we can all sing, because we can’t. I couldn’t hold a note in a bucket if my life depended on it. I also hate the Eisteddfod with a vengeance but that may stem from way too many hours sat in school halls listening to the recitation over and over again 🤣.
When driving you do have to watch out for sheep, as they do have a tendency to wander around villages and mountain roads on a regular basis and then you also get the wild Carneddau ponies coming off the mountain from time to time.
We will say hello and chat to complete strangers.

worth moving here just for a Joes

Wales is fabulous. However South Wales is a different breed from North & Mid Wales
visit Swansea if you can. Lovely beaches and parks

Wales has more castles per square mile than any other country in Europe, making it a true "castle country”.

Many Welsh despise the English with a passion. There you go, I said it.

Some of us have English parents/extended families and even married English partners.

Your evidence for this assertion?

(I am making a small bet with myself what the reply will be).

Also a Waitrose in Pontprennau!

And now I want a rissole for the first time in decades, probably... 😋 And to pick up some faggots in Swansea Market...

I've got some Welsh family on my husband's side. This is true, many snide comments about us 'English' - I always try and make a joke about it. I can understand them being proud of their culture - but don't be unkind about everyone else's.