Positive thread about life in England

[Mamibaer]

My family is about to relocate back to the UK after over a decade on the continent. It’s for work reasons, and to be closer to family. In a lovely part of the UK. I’m fluctuating between excited and despairing - the situation seems so bad over there at the moment from what I see in the news (I.e on MN ). Brexit, Covid cases, NHS crisis. Some days I wonder what the hell we’re thinking and others I can’t wait to come back for gorgeous British walks and pub lunches. Can you share what you find positive about life in the UK right now?

She is free to get out right now

And that comment epitomises the worst of it.

Natural disasters are thankfully rare and weather is on the whole pretty neutral.
A great range of cuisines in the shops and in restaurants.
Very accepting of different cultures.
Stunning scenery
(I'm in Scotland though not England)

I am not from the UK and love living here. Things I enjoy:
Wonderful parks and countryside
Amazing monuments and historical sites
Fantastic architecture
Free museums and art galleries
World class theatre and.music
Generally friendly and welcoming people
The NHS when not under Covid pressure
I could go on....

The food- quality and pricing-leaves something to be desired. 🙂

Not shit here atm

Someone made a comment on another thread that her Daughter is doing medicine as her ticket out of the UK.

She is free to get out right now.

Nice comment!!! I don't know who commented but that wasn't a dig about the UK, that was likely about practicing medicine in the UK (which is underfunded and unsafe!) The medical schools are good.

The OP is asking about life in the country of England, but many people are referring to life in the 'United Kingdom'.

Life is different in the different countries which make up the union. I think it's specifically England that she's asking about.

It isn't cold all the time, just a lot of it.

Oh also British humour , British television, British movies...
Strictly Come Dancing!
Love the change of seasons.

I wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. Proud English woman here

So much countryside, green pastures, amazing wildlife. Public footpaths and access across it. Fascinating history, higgledy-piggledy roads with villages, towns and cities dotted around. Stunning coastlines. Seasonal changes, holidays to celebrate and enjoy. Pubs and jovial times. British wit, humour, the ability to get on with it and keep going. Freedom (for the most part). Literature and arts. So many different accents, traditions, little pockets of quirky places. Big cities. Opportunities for all. Little corruption in comparison to the majority of the world. More opportunities to work from home. Good educational institutions. So many people who risk their lives to reach our shores. We are more lucky than we will ever realise.

@ChocolateDeficitDisorder

The OP is asking about life in the country of England, but many people are referring to life in the 'United Kingdom'.

Life is different in the different countries which make up the union. I think it's specifically England that she's asking about.

To be fair. She ends her message with asking about life in the UK.

@ChocolateDeficitDisorder

The OP is asking about life in the country of England, but many people are referring to life in the 'United Kingdom'.

Life is different in the different countries which make up the union. I think it's specifically England that she's asking about.

Very true. But most of what people have put can and does apply to Scotland, Wales and NI too: great countryside, humour, seasons, NHS (when it works!), etc..

Isn't it worth asking why somebody wants a ticket out of the UK?

Anyway - the seasons are beautiful. I had a wonderful dog walk in the Autumn sun this morning. Beautiful.

Three family members are being treated for cancer and are receiving wonderful care. Thank you NHS.

Sense of humour, general appetite for silliness and willingness to poke fun at authority figures.

Museums and galleries all over the country are extraordinary.

BBC, ITV and Channel 4 cater to all tastes.

I think we are generally a decent & kind - politics might be messy but there's a lot of good people out there (I assume that bit is the same the world over).

I’ve lived and travelled to developing countries across the world. We’re privileged to live here. People have no idea. Of course you could say the same about other developed countries. Of what I love / the diversity of scenery, the sense of humour, tolerance of others…

I’ve lived abroad and travelled a lot and wouldn’t want to live anywhere else. I love England and would count myself as English then British. I was born in London, I’m not white and am second generation from immigrant parents.
Many of the reasons have been posted above. The weather. We moan about it but it’s a very temperate climate with rare extremes.
Lack of poisonous spiders, dangerous wildlife, deadly diseases.
Generally I think public services are good and try hard to be inclusive. Eg. Public libraries - absolutely wonderful! (I’m aware not all areas have these).
Amazing history and buildings. Walking past the Tower of London on my way to work etc.
It has its faults but I like British media and culture. I love Radio 4 and the Times. Not perfect of course. I like our sense of humour, language and literature. Maternity leave. Employment rights. Our supermarkets. I could go on and on.

@Rosesareyellow yes of course I have.

Not ironic at all. I have been on some really bad roads and trains in other countries and some really excellent ones.

We can get around fairly easily. I think that’s a good thing.

We travelled from East Yorkshire to Northumberland this week. We stayed in a 700 year old castle. We got to see the only herd of wild cattle in the world. We got to visit the seaside town of Seahouses where everyone was friendly and the food was divine. Back in Chillingham we got to eat amazing steak and ale pie in the local. We drove through beautiful countryside daily and passed the Scottish border to visit Burnmouth Bay. Back in Chillingham we got to learn more about the history of the anglo-Scottish wars and stood where those battles took place. We’re now back in East Yorkshire in our heated detached home with nice neighbours and I have a blood test booked for Monday (which won’t cost me a penny).

Nowhere else in the world compares to the UK

@CallMeAChopper

We travelled from East Yorkshire to Northumberland this week. We stayed in a 700 year old castle. We got to see the only herd of wild cattle in the world. We got to visit the seaside town of Seahouses where everyone was friendly and the food was divine. Back in Chillingham we got to eat amazing steak and ale pie in the local. We drove through beautiful countryside daily and passed the Scottish border to visit Burnmouth Bay. Back in Chillingham we got to learn more about the history of the anglo-Scottish wars and stood where those battles took place. We’re now back in East Yorkshire in our heated detached home with nice neighbours and I have a blood test booked for Monday (which won’t cost me a penny).

Nowhere else in the world compares to the UK

How many food banks would you say you passed?

There are lots of reasons. But I'll lead with no goddamned earthquakes of note. It's easy to take for granted till you get get caught in one and develop a renewed appreciation for geological stability.

@ Pumperthepumpe

No idea

@CallMeAChopper

@ Pumperthepumpe

No idea

A few though, probably?

London and Radio 4!

Having lived abroad (and I do miss aspects of it) here is what I do like about the UK...

The friendliness of people in shops and the fact that you can exchange a bit of small talk with the cashier which just brightens up the day (admittedly maybe not true in London), but certainly was not true at all in the other country I lived.

The tap water!!! I love the tap water where I live. Buying water which I had to do when I lived abroad gets old fast. Plus I felt so guilty buying so many plastic bottles. Tap water is very much underrated.

Attitudes towards recycling and general environmentalism and being relatively green. In the other country I lived if I bought a single bar of chocolate like a twix the cashier would put it in a plastic bag... it was so annoying. Of course I always took it out and said "save our oceans" but really... very annoying.

Trust. We are a trusting nation. If I get in a taxi and need to stop at an atm to pay the fare, no problem. Do that in some countries and there's sheer panic and locking the doors thinking you're going to run away or something.

Politeness- people generally hold the door for the person behind them and say please and thank you, queue up etc.

Equality/tolerance/open attitudes... okay we're not perfect by a long shot. But some places still pay people different wages based on nationality. Arrest people for being homosexual. etc etc.

The live and let live attitude, and generally more introverted, quietness of our nature. Sitting on trains quietly etc. Whereas some nationalities love to squawk loudly on loudspeaker the whole journey. No, I don't wish to hear your conversation thanks!

The fact things are so easy... I know people moan about customer service but honestly, it is a dream to just be able to say can you fix the boiler and someone come and fix the boiler without ripping you off or not turning up or turning up a day early or not having the right equipment or coming and not having a clue but being too afraid to admit they don't have a clue...you get the point!

The fact we're allowed to criticise and moan about our governments shortcomings and hold them to account. (I do think our tabloids have gone way too far with the negativity and vitriol though).

Proximity to Mainland Europe and short flights so can get city breaks at long weekends etc

Countryside, I love the quaint countryside! The perfect little villages. Rabbits! Deer! Sheep! Cows!

The fact that in a thirty minute drive you are likely to be in a totally different town/city/village/forest/castle etc etc- I like at weekends being able to explore different places.

The cheap shops. Primark. Wilko. Poundland. I love being able to buy a new lightbulb or whatever I need and not having to pay the earth or barter for items.

National Insurance, state pension, NHS, free education.

Fish and chips by the seaside. Yum.

Family.

@Pumperthepumper

I really have no idea, I’ve never had to use one as the UK has been kind to me

Ignore the self-flagellating people that pop up saying they hate the UK (well, move!), and it is a wonderful place with an incredible landscape, from world class cities to incredible scenery and landscape all within easy distance since it's relatively tiny!