To think England is a bit boring?

[Annalikesblue]

I'm from England originally. I was working abroad for a long time.

I moved back recently to work, and for a family reason. I probably won't stay here forever. Maybe for two to three years max.

Do any of you think that England is a bit boring?

Every street, wherever you go,
has the exact same shops.

The Weather is bad. People are miserable. When you go to groups, people are so serious.

It just seems so dull and lifeless

Not where i live!

Granted, we can't do much about the weather but the people are happy, there's lots happening socially and there's lots of fun to be had!

Teenage grandson got soaking wet fishing last week (in England) when the forecasts had all said dry/bit of sun. His opinion of living in the country that's always been his home were unprintable! Another day he'll be playing his favourite sport, his team will win and the sun will shine and he'll be a total convert. It all depends on my overall mood as to whether I agree with him on the day or not.....

I can on to say that lots of England has beautiful countryside and fascinating history, and large towns have a lot going on, but my small Home Counties commuter town is ridiculously boring with little to do unless you're over 65.

My Grandad used to tell me “only boring people get bored”

Which, as I’ve grown up, I’ve realised is the absolute truth.

You're right about the Leeds area, @SallyWD . Loads to do there.

No, I don't find that at all. There are places im really not keen on, and definite flaws but no, it's not dull. It's a beautiful and complex place and mix of cultures. The industrial revolution and other factors mean that some customs and things have got a bit lost rather than being worn proudly on the surface like some countries but it's nice to rediscover them and new ones that have been introduced. 'the high street ' and shopping centres are a bit samey but there are loads of interesting independent shops and places to eat and drink.

If you don't like the area you're in, explore. Dig deeper into the culture, nature and countryside.

The weather isn't hot all the time but it isn't shit, it just isn't hot. That isn't a surprise if you look where the UK is on any globe. Its gentle changeability is a big part of the culture and conversation.

Brexit was a terrible idea but there are several nations and many cultures here. It isn't some remote outpost. I think you may benefit from getting yourself out more OP.

So it's quite a reserved culture. Try a different area or activity. Yoga and craft are quite solo activities. What about a sport or book group? I've found these very social

Re weather, the heatwaves, fires and floods that some countries are getting is making parts of the word unlivable for many months.
I'm on Merseyside, there's loads to do. The reception that you got at the craft group is just the luck of the draw.

I do understand what you mean. But i love all those things, is being reserved and polite and our queues make us quirky.
the buildings that surround us, our roads etc all steeped in history.
we are an old country with a lot of fascinating history.
our weather can be shite, damp, cold, wet, but it’s the English humor and the way we look forward to seasons etc that makes us us.
same shops everywhere I don’t mind. I live in a little market town and there is a Costco, Nero, boots, supermarkets etc. but also quirky family run shops. Paper shops, chip shops etc.

I think for you learn more about your country you may appreciate it more.

having said all that, I do have friends who have the same view as yourself and they just don’t like England, move elsewhere. 🌞

I suppose it depends what you consider good weather though. I'm not a huge fan of hot weather, and I actually don't mind the rain. The weather is one of the few things I still like about the UK right now. Lovely sunny, but crisp and cool day today!

As others have said, this isn't about location, but personality. I'm never bored, the problem is fitting it all in! I'm retiring soon and I can't wait. There's loads I want to do, and discover.

You know in mainland Europe, you feel so connected to a lot of other countries and you can just hop on a train anywhere.

You can also hop on a train in London that takes you to France, and from there, on to wherever else you want to go.

I love the UK. Yes, the weather is often grey/wet/windy but we don’t tend to get forest fires, hurricanes or earthquakes, so we’re lucky. As climate change creates more dramatic effects around the world, the UK will likely become even more desirable to immigrants thanks to our temperate climate.

As for boring- depends where you are. London isn’t boring- it’s one of the most fantastic cities in the world! Where I live is quite boring but that absolutely suits me; I don’t want excitement, thank you very much.

Then how come people are bored in one country, and not another one.

That saying doesn't make sense.

I know a lot of older people who said that saying to their children and grandchildren too.

It was usually when the children were saying that they were bored,

And the older people would say that saying - as a way out of having to do anything to entertain the child!

Eg I remember my aunty's son saying

"Can we please go to the park, I'm bored"

My aunty said to him "only boring people get bored!"

Hear hear.

I’m not British, but lived in different parts of England, including London, between 1997 and 2019 (when Brexit and a job offer contributed to our decision to leave — it had become increasingly unpleasant being a foreigner in a very Brexitty area). But there were great things about living in England. London and Oxford are great cities, and studying and working there was a privilege. I still miss the network of rights of way and bridleways of rural England, and the landscape. I miss ordinary villages with Saxon or Norman churches with crusader tombs and medieval stained glass. My husband misses Waitrose.

And I agree entirely with your second paragraph, @Thepeopleversuswork And I’m sad to watch from afar the current clusterfuck, and hope Labour are able to pull things together politically and economically, and that as a country, it will figure things out in terms of what it is/wants to be. But I think it’s still a fundamentally rich and interesting culture, even if I saw its uglier side before we left.

OP, I wouldn’t go looking for the interestingness of England in high street shops. And after living in the ME, English weather (actual seasons! Variety!) is definitely not ‘terrible’.

That will be because the UK is an island and Europe isn't, although we are now connected buy.the channel tunnel
I do love the weekly how dreadful is The UK ( particularly England ) compared to rest of the world threads..

People in England are also taking exception to the "boring " label.

I do wonder where you lived abroad - whenever I've travelled, I've naturally gone to more interesting, vibrant, beautiful places. So Paris, Barcelona, etc. etc. however if in the UK you just return to where your family is from, that is more likely to be a 'boring' town! Does that make sense?

I'm sure there are plenty of really boring villages in all countries that are miles from anywhere and everyone is grumpy!

Incidentally your description of depressed high street, grumpy locals doesn't sound like my town at all, but as a PP has pointed out, it is very middle class touristy place, so we have the benefit of lovely independent shops, cafes, and it is beautiful - we're very lucky.

Oh sorry just read your other post- are you talking about UK or England?

Then how come people are bored in one country, and not another one.

Perhaps because you’re not making an effort?

What exactly is your idea of exciting/interesting anyway? You’ve mentioned yoga which is perfectly fine but far from what I’d call exciting.

I also think it's strange when people use England/UK interchangeably, seeing them as similar. Scotland and Wales are absolutely fascinating, so varied and interesting. I'd never been to N Ireland, but what a beautiful place. I went to a coastal nature reserve which was so amazing, I spent hours there in the wonderful countryside and met such friendly people.

There’s so much going on and natural beauty. Have you been to Bath/Bristol/London/Exeter? All my favourite cities. Or the Jurassic coast. So much free stuff as well as paid for options. Not really sure how you get bored. I’ve travelled quite a lot but find England a lovely place to live. It would be nice if we got a bit more sun but you can’t have everything.

Quite! However, she seems to be extending it 😂

I think it is about location to some people though.

I know a friend who lived in a different country to the UK. She hated it. She moved to another country and she loves it and she said she would never go back.

Location can make you happy

Because not everyone is the same? I’m not British and have lived in several countries, including France, a couple of different parts of the US, Ireland and the UAE, so it’s not that I don’t have other places to compare England with, and I certainly wouldn’t call it ‘boring’. I’m still wildly nostalgic for my decade in London and go back to visit when I can.

It mainly is an attitude thing though. It sounds like you’ve just decided you’re going to be bored and miserable here, so you are.
Very little would bore me more than a ‘craft and chat’ group, so I avoid those things and find things I do enjoy. I’ve spent my weekend in a lovely city, saw some beautiful sights, had some fabulous food, met up with friends, visited galleries etc. It was fab.

I think you're generalising a lot and maybe you need to get away from the high street. I live in a very beautiful part of the UK and the scenery is fantastic. I've been on holiday to two other parts of the UK this year (Cornwall and Hebrides) which were also very beautiful but quite different.

I'm close enough to the main rail network to be able to take a day trip to London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow and lots of other cities which isn't feasible in a bigger country.

As for the weather, I'm happy to live somewhere without massive extremes of temperature, regular forest fires, hurricanes and earthquakes.