To ask what you like about living in the U.K.?

[glabicki]

I'm pregnant, and we are moving back to the U.K. I'm nervous about it.

So, could you tell me some of the reasons you love living there to calm me down a bit?

A lot of the time, I read quite a lot of negative things, but I know the positives out way the negative!

Help!

Freedom of speech. Radio 4. Decent cup of tea. People who say hello to dogs. The sense of humour. Sarcasm. I feel like in the UK you can be whoever you want to be.

Reading these to DP and both getting excited - and for the first time coming up with our own positives!
We will be in London up until at least Christmas, so plenty of time to enjoy being there. But it's my goal to settle in the NW to be near my parents, especially with the baby.

Congratulations on your pregnancy!

Where do your parents live?

For me, the single best thing about living in the UK, especially now that I am a mother, is being near my family. We can see my family reasonably regularly and my son has a lovely bond with his grandparents, aunts and uncles.

Others things I like about being in the UK:

• my friends
• employment opportunities for me and DH
• familiarity, it's home and I know how (most) things work, it's my native language, etc
• the NHS (no it's not perfect and infuriates me a lot of the time! But still!)

Ah cross post!

PS YY to pubs (specifically gastropubs) and common British traits including self-depreciation and the fact that's ok to be quirky and different. Also agree with the PP who said that we are more progressive when it comes to gender equality (and other issues) than many other countries (not all, of course, and still far from perfect!)

I like the fact that people aren't continually staring at you. Whenever I'm in Germany or surrounding countries I feel like people are watching and commenting on my every move.

I love this thread. So many threads recently have been ‘brexit is shit I want to get out of this country ASAP’ it’s so lovely to hear people talking about the great things in the UK.

Lived abroad for many years, moved back about 3 years ago and I was nervous.
I bloody love it!!

The food, availability of decent priced fresh produce; the countryside and all the footpaths; access to Europe for travel; British TV, esp dramas; British pubs; being close to my family after many years of missing out on get togethers.
I'm sure I'll press Post and think of many more!

OP, come back with an open mind, don't believe the negativity, it is what you make it. Good luck!

Cricket. It's just wonderful but you need to understand it.
Libraries and books generally.
Ridiculous obsession with sport.
Comedy clubs.
Pub quizzes.
Nowhere is too far away.
Parish councils.
Most people drink to excess on nights out.
Plethora of Indian restaurants.
The Sunday papers.

I love this thread so much.

I recently moved back from US and am glad to be back with friends and family and really love the English countryside. Be patient it might take a little while before you feel settled partly because the move is tiring. But as others have said rediscovering things like the food, humour and so on will cheer you up. I would consider looking for an NCT group in the area you are to live in so you can meet up with other mothers, a yoga pregnancy class might be worth exploring as well. Be kind to yourself and take your time to adjust.Congratulations

The countryside
The history
Proper real Cheddar Cheese (I'm Somerset born and bred)
Tea
Fish and chips
Oak/Yew Trees
Churches
Marmite
Misty mornings
Autumn and the smells and colours

The North West is lovely. I'm a southerner but was in the northwest last summer and people were so friendly everywhere. Honestly I love where I live and thought people were nice here but I was surprised at the general level of niceness!

Our sense of humour. The stunning architecture. Our history. Wonderful scenery. We do the best telly in the world! The easy availability of so many different international foods. Our NHS. I would also have included or freedom to live and work across the EU, such a great opportunity, but not many of us will have that for much longer.

It is my native land and I feel at home here, even if it infuriates me most of the time.

It is my ancestral home, my Uncle and Dad and Grandad fought for this country's freedom from the Nazis. I have travelled and lived in other places and over them, but the UK is my home.

Over= loved

I spent a year in a very different culture and I missed:

Music culture
The British Pub
Seasons and greenery/countryside, it really is 'this green and pleasant land'
The freedoms we have as women to go to above pubs, wear want we want etc.
Cycling, camping, the sea!

It's not a bad old country really. I wouldn't mind getting the hell out of where I live and move up to Yorkshire though. Spend holidays there and go for work. The people are so friendly, unlike a lot down here in the "Deep South".

People make the country. I love the history, the artistic/individuality of the people. I love London, it holds alot of memories and I just get a certain feeling walking down certain streets. I love the diversity of population and cultures. I love the access to theatre, parks, museums, restaurants. I love the walkability of alot of the places I like to go to.
I also love that I can be in the countryside in an hour, the coast in not much longer. I love its closeness to the Continent so trips by train/ferry to different countries is easy.
I love the friends I have made. I love the friendliness of people in my area of London.
But alot of this is true for many countries - it's that this is MY country, and it will always be my favourite place.

I should add that I mainly grew up abroad but spent early childhood here and returned at 24.

The weather, the safety, the friendly people, the live and let live attitude, freedom, the amazing scenery and gorgeous countryside, beautiful coast and seasides, big cities and great arts and architecture and history, education and the nhs, sport, the humour, pubs, shops and supermarkets, london landmarks and views, availability of most things when you want them, the people, a bit of pomp and circumstance and ceremony for state events and royal milestones.
I don’t think I’d live anywhere else.

(Oh and I live in the South and have lived in London too. Theres still plenty of friendly people, and people who will help you in a crisis, and lots who will say good morning and help you out with change if you're short in a shop and chat to you in a pub. Southerners are friendly too!)

You can home educate your child if you want.

Pubs, definitely pubs.

More choice of beer and wine, including English wine.

You won't be fined if you put a recyclable item in your normal rubbish.

Greasy spoon cafes, go have a full English breakfast in a greasy spoon.

OP. I am very envious, I moved from London to Sweden a few years ago and I am desperate to move back but am currently outpaced. Good luck.