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!

I live in a part of Australia that actually has seasons, when it's not on fire.

What would I value? Public footpaths. They effectively don't exist here. What a pisser.

British Autumn and Springs. Beautiful villages in the north West, the accent, the people. My family being a drive away. The humour.

It feels home, quick flight to Europe.

My house, my cat. Supermarkets. BBC

Great post

being able to walk around freely without fear of violence

Unless the part of North London OP’s PILs live in is Tottenham, of course...

If we’re drawing comparisons with Germany then I would say we are much better at breakfast. German breakfasts are absolute shite.

Absolutely sod all, sorry... Obviously there are more difficult/challenging places to live, but I spend quite a bit of time feeling ashamed of this culture.

It's better than Germany.

I'd hate to have to speak German, such a harsh sounding language.

It's home.

Ofthread-
How can you say that when you read everyone’s responses above? Is there not one thing you agree with?
Of course there will be better places but where is perfect.

In the NW you’ll be near some great countryside, coast and brilliant cities - eg Liverpool, Manchester, Glasgow!

Prepare for rain, bring good outdoor gear if you like the outdoors! And nice umbrellas.

Whatever you enjoy doing now will likely still be easily possible!

No need for a couple of posters to bash Germany!

No need for a couple of posters to bash Germany

Quite.

Shameful.

Sad to see this turn into Germany bashing. If you think our language is harsh, you clearly don't speak it. It's possible to like several countries at the same time you know, one doesn't have to be "better" than the other.

We moved back to the uk after 4 yrs in Germany when DD was 6 months old. Positives for us:
Family support and being able to get in the car to see them
Being able for me to work part time and not be judged (family support)
Things being open past 8pm and Sunday's/bank holidays
Husband being able to start own business without paying 10k
Being able to buy a house
There are no baby/toddler groups in Germany
Generally most things are easier in comparison because you know or can find out really easily we do miss Germany as it's lovely and there where many other benefits if we stayed there.

OK, as someone with a German heritage on one sude of the family and as op says she will have some time in London I'll go:

Black cabs on shiny, wet nights. The bustle and lights of the west end having caught a bus through NW8, stopping briefly for a turn around Regents Park. Whte stucco terraces. Amazing book shops, The British Library and great museums. Acres of parks all with a different vibe, the Changing of the Guard, fabulous shops and fabulous food from China Town to Michelin starred.

@Luckystar777

It's better than Germany.- in your opinion!!

I'd hate to have to speak German, such a harsh sounding language.- YOUR PREFERENCE, so not exactly a positive that applies for everyone but they also speak english so...

It's home.- again...TO YOU!! As someone who lived in the uk for 8 years and then moved back to Ireland, I can tell you there are many things about the UK I can’t stand!!!

Oh the roses - That was quite poetic

Cathedrals, pubs, public footpaths, the NHS, Waterstones, villages, the seaside in the summer, CAMRA festivals, lots of things!

I'm foreign here so those are the highlights that we don't have so much at home.

I like how safe it is here — by that I mean the climate not having extremes, the animals and plants being safe etc and generally it’s safe to get on with life. I’ve never felt threatened going out and about by myself.

Having travelled and daydreaming about moving somewhere else I realise I like Britain despite the annoyances and problems we might have here.

Agree with everything said by previous posters about the British scenery, food, humour, etc.

Things I appreciate in the UK after living in Germany for 3 years:

• The convenience being able to use my credit card or Apple Pay nearly everywhere in the UK, e.g. small quantities of fruit/veg or a slice of cake at a market stall or a crepe from a food van. Germany is still very much cash based.

• Groceries and shops being open on Sundays

• Schools not finishing so early (including at noon on Fridays) and lots of after school provision; I have a full time job

• Farm shops with cheeses, jams, locally sourced bacon, sausages and meat and attached tea rooms, something very British about them

• Garden centres and the gardening focus on TV; maybe it's the same in Germany but I only spoke basic Berlitz-type German ("My sister's hair is long and straight", "Can I have some water?", "It is sunny in summer") so didn't notice this

I'm German so these are especially in comparison to what I remember. Love the way people drive here, much more pragmatic, and I feel like most people look out for you at least a little bit on the roads (I'm a motorcyclist).

You guys do have great roads in Germany though!
But I agree! I don't drive- two wheels for me. But I feel like the Brits are very concise in their driving... quick, aggressive, smart, yet safe. They still have manners when they drive and do the right thing. They're not hostile towards cyclists, motorcyclists, or pedestrians.

We did a road trip across Germany into Poland and I still get the giggles when I think of our very abrupt 'border crossing'. We went from driving on roads smooth as marble to driving over what felt like nails and glass shards in a matter of seconds. It really was a 'We're not in Kansas anymore' moment. Other than that, Poland is beautiful!

As a foreigner, I love these things about living the UK:

• the proximity to Europe
• the history - so many ancient buildings and places I've read about my whole life just there
• the relative accessibility of everything - beaches, mountains, forests, lush countryside, it's all close by
• the NHS, despite its problems
• the ale
• sausages - I actually eat them here (although I LOVE German sausages)
• pubs here are brilliant

Leedsmum, yes there are some things, but my confidence in this country is at an all time low due to Brexit, the recent election, the homelessness and suffering I see around me, Grenfell tower, the failure to care for the NHS (though love the NHS), and now the royal family - a posh family that we all pay for, why? The press and the kinds of small-minded attitudes, and worse, racism, that are infecting the country - e.g. the Harry and Meghan thing, what a farce! Why can't they just get on with being a posh family, like other bloody royal families in Europe?

Sorry to rant, I work in a school in a deprived area. Looking at things from that angle, this country is in a crisis. There are two systems, one for the rich and middle classes, one for everyone else. This country is so unequal, while pretending that it isn't. It makes me angry that many kids from poor backgrounds will never have the same opportunities in life, when we could afford for them to do so if it were not for awful policies like Universal Credit.

BBC Radio

Different cultures, nhs (free healthcare is amazing), cheap food and kids stuff, beautiful countryside

Add on: what i dislike
-school system. the standards are awful

• public transport is a disgrace

There are plenty of other thread that bash the UK, no need to do it in this one. And no country is perfect.

As someone who is not UK born I love in particular the defined seasons. Spring is beautiful as is Autumn. Lack of extreme weather. Supermarkets and their huge variety. Acceptance of other cultures and religions.

Eccentrics. I have lived in several countries across the globe and nowhere else is more accepting of eccentricities than the UK.

Acceptance and support of special needs. This might be better elsewhere but in my personal experience the UK is extremely understanding and supportive of people with special needs, and they are safe here.

British TV is amazing.

Also acceptance of mistakes. Other places I have lived, its the norm to cover up mistakes be it national or personal. The UK is the most self-effacing place I have ever lived.