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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think England is a bit boring?

354 replies

Annalikesblue · 14/10/2024 12:44

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

OP posts:
SallyWD · 14/10/2024 14:51

Mydogsleftearishalfcocked · 14/10/2024 13:32

This is such an unhelpful reply.

Reverse culture shock is a real thing.

And why is it not possible to say one word of complaint about the UK without someone saying, “well leave then”.

You don’t know the op’s circumstances, and it’s just a really crass and ignorant thing to say. Most people live where they do because of economic circumstances.

Op, having lived in several countries,
I wouldn’t describe the UK as boring.

I absolutely love the countryside, the seasons, the Stately homes, the architecture, the relative friendliness, the diversity, the sense of humour, the variety of food, the creativity.

However, in comparison to other EU countries, the running down of basic public services, makes the bits which make life worth living very hard. Things like affordable transport to see family and friends, accessible and affordable arts, good health care, basic security, nice public parks and libraries. The absence of these basic things which the state should be able to manage, and are managed well in other countries, make life a bit stressful and hard.

And the COLC makes things even harder when there is no money to spare and everything is run down to the bone.

People daren’t risk starting creative projects or social enterprises because of the costs.

I also think what it is lacking atm is proper leadership with a vision.

Post-Brexit I think the UK is going through a bit of an identity crisis tbh.

When you decide to leave the centrist left mainly Christian democratic EU, it kind of means you need something else to replace that position? But with what exactly? We don’t want to be Singapore on Sea or have a right wing society largely based on capitalist tenets to the exclusion of everything else?

But who and what do we want to be?

And even if we had a government with vision and competent, compassionate, capable, common sense politicians, we don’t really have the economic resources to follow their ideas through atm, so we are stagnating.

Spot on

Getitwright · 14/10/2024 14:52

I’d have to know which bits of England you consider boring before I could comment really. Where do you live, work, holiday for example? Don’t need specific town city, but area would suffice.

MrsAvocet · 14/10/2024 14:54

I don't think the weather has to stop you doing things here. Not very often anyway. I live in the far North of England and I can't remember the last time the weather prevented me from going out. Yes, there's days when I change my plans because of the weather- I wouldn't go up a mountain in snow and ice or deliberately sail in a gale for instance - but it's rare that the weather is so bad that you can't find anything to do or that it's dangerous. My niece in Florida, having just had to face 2 hurricanes in as many weeks is probably longing for a bit of boring British drizzle.
And as for the weather in Spain not being restrictive...come on, in large parts of the country things shut down for hours in the middle of the day because of the heat! In Madrid it's often oppressively hot in the Summer and really cold in the Winter. In the more northerly provinces like Galicia and Asturias it rains nearly as much as here.The weather has an impact on life everywhere but at least we don't often see the extremes that lots of countries are now doing where the weather doesn't just impact upon people's lives but threatens them.

RedToothBrush · 14/10/2024 14:58

Ok.

Where's better?

The UK can be dull, but drive just a couple of hours and you can do so much stuff.

Large parts of the USA do not have this option. Does this make the USA really really dull?

It's a stupid generalisation.

Not liking the weather is subjective too.

I find some European countries great to visit but even more 'dull' in terms of mediocrity and blandness. They are 'nice'. I'd rather have a bit of edge at times rather than a culture that leans more towards conformity.

And even if I lived somewhere with 'great weather' all the time it wouldn't be great. For starters I hate real hot days and sunshine cos I can't do anything because I burn so easily and it's too hot to do anything at all. At least the rain doesn't stop me doing things most of the time. It's just a bit damp.

EmeraldRoulette · 14/10/2024 14:59

Annalikesblue · 14/10/2024 13:02

What part of the UK are you in out of interest? There don't seem to be many activities near me

So you live in a particular spot that doesn’t have many activities? That’s the issue maybe?

Feelingathomenow · 14/10/2024 14:59

I’ve travelled far and wide and in my opinion England is the best place on Earth and I consider myself very lucky to call it home.

Even if all the shops were the same (which they are in city centres) this is quite common across the whole of the developed world. Many towns have lots of independent shops though.

The English countryside is exquisite and it has some of the best coastline in the world. due to its size you are never that far away from either in England.

Our weather is changeable but not extreme , the plentiful rain is an asset, it provides us with fertile land. We don’t get extreme weather events on any major or regular scale such as droughts or hurricanes - this is good.

British culture is generally more reserved on the face of it, but actually something totally different beneath the surface, it’s got a cheekiness and intelligent humour behind it. People not brought up with it need to make a bit of an effort to understand it. Generally people are as friendly to you as you are to them.

Moving anywhere new takes a lot of effort to understand what is actually on offer and the idiosyncrasies of the people.

Abitofalark · 14/10/2024 15:04

You are talking about England specifically but mention only the general 'abroad' - in which countries did you live abroad?

bryceQ · 14/10/2024 15:04

Mmm i don't think this is my experience. I'm from northern England and I love in the south now and both communities were lovely with loads going on. I think I have a very varied life with activities and lovely people.... I don't mind the weather to be honest... I think I'd find 40 degree summers really tough.

MonkeyToHeaven · 14/10/2024 15:04

How can you think a country that's voted Ant and Dec as their favourite TV hosts 20 years in a row could be boring?

Garlicbest · 14/10/2024 15:07

@MonkeyToHeaven 😂😂😂

RedToothBrush · 14/10/2024 15:07

MonkeyToHeaven · 14/10/2024 15:04

How can you think a country that's voted Ant and Dec as their favourite TV hosts 20 years in a row could be boring?

I present BoatyMcBoatFace as another great example.

DogInATent · 14/10/2024 15:07

MonkeyToHeaven · 14/10/2024 15:04

How can you think a country that's voted Ant and Dec as their favourite TV hosts 20 years in a row could be boring?

😂

HotSource · 14/10/2024 15:08

Luckily I don’t look to going shopping for my sense of excitement, cultural interest, etc etc.

England (and the whole UK ) are great. Huge range of history and culture, starkly contrasting landscapes within a relatively small area, quirky, eccentric, tolerant people (and others, obv). World beating theatre, galleries and museums all over the place (and so much free).

Hop on a train at St Pancras and keep going… cheap flights all over the place.

Weather’s a bit shit but we have appropriate clothing for that.

Find your mojo op, sort out what’s going on for you, get out there and enjoy it, and you might feel less isolated.

Crikeyalmighty · 14/10/2024 15:11

I would also say when people find somewhere boring ( and I find plenty of the UK a bit of a dump if I'm honest both urban and rural ) but other areas excellent in varying ways - What is it you actually want to be doing that you can't do - it pays to have a think about this - because if it's that you want BBQs on the beach/lying around on beaches- you will struggle in the UK with that most of the year- it's rare we get long spells of beach worthy weather
If you want lots of food/theatre/ book/music festivals going on you need to be living somewhere that has plenty of this year round and be reading the 'what's on' locally

If it's just you think the high street isa bit boring- move somewhere that at least has a smattering of independents, and regular street markets be it craft/artisan etc - there are still places like this

If it's that you simply don't know anyone to be able to have a social life- use meet ups - don't let one crappy event put you off . Your feelings could well change if it's the social connection you are missing

Sorry about the weather though- it is I agree mainly utter pants

Feelingathomenow · 14/10/2024 15:13

Feelingathomenow · 14/10/2024 14:59

I’ve travelled far and wide and in my opinion England is the best place on Earth and I consider myself very lucky to call it home.

Even if all the shops were the same (which they are in city centres) this is quite common across the whole of the developed world. Many towns have lots of independent shops though.

The English countryside is exquisite and it has some of the best coastline in the world. due to its size you are never that far away from either in England.

Our weather is changeable but not extreme , the plentiful rain is an asset, it provides us with fertile land. We don’t get extreme weather events on any major or regular scale such as droughts or hurricanes - this is good.

British culture is generally more reserved on the face of it, but actually something totally different beneath the surface, it’s got a cheekiness and intelligent humour behind it. People not brought up with it need to make a bit of an effort to understand it. Generally people are as friendly to you as you are to them.

Moving anywhere new takes a lot of effort to understand what is actually on offer and the idiosyncrasies of the people.

I would add on the plethora of Arts,( theatre, music and galleries) often free museums, history, outdoor pursuits etc. some great places to eat and of course the amazing British pub culture, what else do you want? What do you actually want to do? If you give us a rough area of where you live I’m sure we can help

Mydogsleftearishalfcocked · 14/10/2024 15:22

Crikeyalmighty · 14/10/2024 13:43

@Mydogsleftearishalfcocked I don't think it's proper leadership with a vision that's the issue- I think it's previous leadership over the last 12 years or so that concentrated on Brexit to the exclusion of other things( although covid on the mix didn't help) and bled the country dry by focussing on things that really were not important in the scheme of things but the right wing press liked them .

Any leadership and vision now is severely tempered by hard cash to make anything a reality. Brexit has not exactly made us 'top of the list' to invest in by any multinationals unless the UK has a large enough market on its own etc and our credit rating internationally has fallen dramatically making borrowing quite expensive.

I was trying to say exactly the same thing Crikeyalmighty!

I meant past leadership really but obviously the current one hasn’t had much time to prime itself!

  • *I think we agree with one another!
Chattenoire · 14/10/2024 15:34

It depends where you live... London absolutely not! Cornwall heck yeah, most boring place on earth

Crushed23 · 14/10/2024 15:36

Not RTFT but came on to say that I don't find England boring at all, and where I live - London - is one of the greatest cities on earth.

However we are in a bit of a rubbish place right now - stagnant wages, confusion about identity etc. - and so I, like so many people I know, am emigrating very soon.

I'll definitely miss London!

coffeesaveslives · 14/10/2024 15:38

Crikeyalmighty · 14/10/2024 13:56

@coffeesaveslives you def aren't here in Somerset- it's drizzling , cloudy and grey and quite cold

I live in Cumbria @Crikeyalmighty - we get our fair share of miserable days but I don't let them ruin the good ones!

coffeesaveslives · 14/10/2024 15:38

This thread is a prime example of MN being a negative place!

Feckedupbundle · 14/10/2024 15:40

I live in England and I can't honestly remember the last time that I felt bored. I can't remember these last time that my kids said the same thing either,and we live very rurally,with not even a shop or pub.I suppose if your hobby is shopping,seeing the same shops on each high st might be a bit samey.
It's horses for courses. The thought of spending my time shopping,at a craft group or doing yoga would send me screaming,but I wouldn't call them boring though.

HRTQueen · 14/10/2024 15:44

England is so rich in history and culture its surprising how much you can miss it when you live abroad

the bigger cities and particularly London are so diverse

I feel as we are building more shipping centres or those out of town shopping areas they lack interest

but life can be boring at times doesn't help with short days and the winter months ahead of us

Crikeyalmighty · 14/10/2024 15:46

@Mydogsleftearishalfcocked yep we do- the fact is that the previous gvt pissed away over £300 billion on a Brexit that serves no particular purpose and was designed to keep Reform votes down and didn't work and split their vote anyway because it starved the country of cash and actual governing - plus horrendous amounts of cash spent and a total lack of any governance related to covid expenditure.

We are now in a position where there is a will to improve things generally but very very large holes in the public purse

There are far too many illogical things too- the cost of renting ( particularly private renting) has meant for many on lowish incomes it doesn't actually pay to work full time , particularly if you have children - we also have a whole bunch of disillusioned folk in their 50s too getting out of the rat race early cashing in pensions, drawing down on equity ( and I don't blame them by the way) and the country is losing their tax and NI contributions as well

It's a whole raft of stuff and it feels like a country that has lost its way- personally if I was Labour and they could agree decent terms I would be seeking a Norway type deal asap at minimum - it would be a quick boost to the economy and ok the right wing press would have a field day but the fact is what we have isn't making economic sense

Savingthehedgehogs · 14/10/2024 15:47

I really can not understand posts like this. After decades overseas there aren’t many places that compare to the variety of activities in the uk, especially in the winter.

Our beautiful market town has a theatre, cinema, bowling, horse riding, shopping, a cookery school, sailing, water sports, tennis and very cool wine bars. We take a train to London at the weekend which is a world city, and to Paris a few times a year.

I can’t fathom how you can be bored, however the thing that makes my life really happy are my friends, I guess you might not have any/many anymore and it is impacting you.

There is nothing more spectacular than a ride or walk through the forest in autumn. It’s genuinely amazing. It sounds like you have some deep rooted issues - definitely a perception issue.

Why not move back overseas?

Savingthehedgehogs · 14/10/2024 15:53

We have live music every weekend too, festivals in the summer, and a great itinerary of lit and art festivals. I have problems fitting everything in!

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