To think there is nothing wrong with not traveling outside London/SE for 11 years.

[INeedAnEspresso]

Basically I told my friend I've not gone outside South East England for 11 years and she was shocked. Aibu to think that this isn't unusual. I just don't like the UK much prefer rest of Europe.

I leave London all the time to visit other places in the UK and have had some great weekends away. Having said that, it is incredibly poor value for money and I get a bit fed up with that - I'm going up north this weekend and for the price of the train tickets and hotel there, I could have done a European city break very comfortably. It is very tempting to stop doing UK trips, to be honest, and I only tend to do them now for particular events/festivals/gigs or to see family/friends.

I also get quite fed up with the almost complete lack of public transport - there are loads of nice areas of the UK that I'd love to visit but we'd have to drive and a) car hire is expensive and b) neither of us enjoy driving at all.

Apocalype

Come to North East London

There are a dozen great restaurants within half a mile of where I live. A mile away and there are hundred of restaurants - all nationalities. You do not get that in France

French Supermarkets - great bread, but otherwise, similar to any British Supermarket, with more sugary cereals, I'd say

tesco metro is shite, though.

I am not sure about the ops intentions, but I have to admit to being caught in the same sort of rut as her.
I have traveled around the uk before, and loved it . Really love York, Bath and pretty much everywhere in Wales. For the past 5 years though I think the furthest I have been from the south east was Devon - once. Does Brighton count as further afield ? We have been abroad, not because I think it's better, but because I didn't travel abroad much as a child and enjoy it now.
So where do you lovely MNers recommend ?
I haven't been to Scotland or Ireland and would love to do more uk based travel.

are you being U? no, it's your life and your holidays, go where you like.

are you missing out? massively. cornwall, devon, dorset, the peak district, Yorkshire - they are all beautiful. but part of the beauty is the wide open space, so if you want to help preserve that by shuffling around rome and paris and spanish beaches with millions of other people, please do.

We went on holiday to the north east. The weather was fab, the scenery and wildlife amazing and food lovely. (Local bakery big slices of yummy quiche for lunch £1.40 with a punnet of local tomatoes and bag of peaches for pud from the green grocer next door- perfect beach picnic).
But don't come OP. It's not for you.

Oh and this is where I live.

Yes, just look at the beautiful places you could miss out on if you only ever spend time in London!

Oh, my mistake - these ARE all in London.

Lucy

the West Highlands of scotland, including Skye are just beautiful. If you want wilderness, and so much water, you've got it.

Arisagi, Mallaig, Applecross, Ullapool, Torridon, Durness, Syke, Kyle of Lochalsh

Arisaig, Skye!

We once went up to FortWilliam on the Sleep. Waking up in the mountains was magical. Autumn or Spring are best

The Sleeper

(Really must check before sending)

@OP
Your friend's reaction is understandable. That is odd. The UK is fantastic, historic and beautiful and if punched above its weight. Your loss frankly. Lol

...it punches...

Is the opening post the OP's sole contribution!? Wow. Impressive.

I don't get the whole "oh isn't Britain beautiful" no it's not. The weather is crap, no where is family friendly really and it's expensive here. Much rather go abroad

That's just nonsense. We've just spent a week in glorious sunshine at the north yorks coast. Totally beautiful, gorgeously hot, everywhere is family friendly and very cheap.

Sorry but Holidays to Yorkshire doesn't do it for me nor temps off 20c. We went to Turkey and ate out every night never paying more than £30 for the three 2adults 1child inc drinks. Eating lots of lovely local food not British rubbish before anyone asks

no where is family friendly really

That is complete nonsense; ime that is one area in which Britain excels. Agree about the weather (often) and the cost, though .

Meh. I haven't travelled outside of my city at all for 5 years. Family think there's something wrong with me why does anyone give a shit about any else's travel choices anyway. Seems a ridiculous thing to get judgey about.

'm comparing Tesco Metro to Italian markets or French supermarkets New York delis or street food anywhere or local restaurants practically anywhere else in the world. It's all available here, sure, but ££££ and often baaaaad.

Not true. Have you ever been to the North End Road markets? There's about 5 eastern supermarkets, fruit and vegetable stalls, a fishmonger, a butcher, a cheese/egg/honey trolley, etc etc. All 'exotic' hard-to-find stuff, far less expensive than Tesco.

I'm sure this is hardly unique.

You can't compare Turkey to the UK. They're both great holiday destinations, just different.

I'm comparing Tesco Metro to Italian markets or French supermarkets New York delis or street food anywhere

A New York deli isn't equivalent to Tesco Metro though. It's equivalent to a sandwich shop. London is depressingly dominated by chains even compared to NYC (though that's getting worse too) but a pret sandwich is probably better quality than your average non-fancy deli sandwich in NYC. The NYC equivalent of Tesco Metro are just the regular convenience stores, which are obviously not super-fancy!

Eating out is better and cheaper in NYC than London though. And gotta love a good French supermarket.

Eating out is better and cheaper in NYC than London though.

Is it? I think that London does cheap/good better than NYC.

And as a Yorkshirewoman born and partly bred, I'm a bit surprised that people are so keen on God's own country as a holiday destination. Some nice landscapes but does anyone apart from the most devoted hiker want to spend their summer break trekking across muddy fields filled with sheep in the drizzle? And the pics people have posted show that it is pretty in the sunshine but most of the time it is SO GREY. Can't blame anyone for preferring the south of France, personally.

Is it? I think that London does cheap/good better than NYC.

Ooh I can't agree with this. The variety in London is nothing like that in NYC, nor the prices. And eating out is so much more the norm there. There are places I love in London, don't get me wrong.

NotYoda
I'm salivating at the memory of the year I lived off the Seven Sisters and walked along it to work every day. I ate so well- figs for breakfast, lovely bread and fresh tomatoes. I discovered coriander (it was a long time ago)
I now live in south London and travel all over London as an outreach worker. I regularly weep with hunger as I survey identikit High Streets with Greggs KFC Tesco Metro, greasy spoons serving instant coffee...