To think that the UK is not that bad?

[QuickCoralMoose]

My family is moving from the US to the UK next year. (One of us is British, the other American). From a religious red state to Northern England near Newcastle. But all of our family and friends are telling us that it’s a bad decision - the UK is dangerous, stabbings in every school, no one can afford anything, we won’t be able to get appropriate medical treatment if anything is wrong etc.

Bearing in mind all the issues the US has (and we wouldn’t be able to afford a super safe area in a blue state with good schools anyway), am I wrong to think that a village in the north of England is going to be a safer environment for our kids?

We are pretty simple in my opinion. Don’t need a fancy house, drive old cars, just want a community, volunteering opportunities and safe places to walk the dog plus obviously a safe school and friends for us and the kids if that makes any difference to anyone’s answer.

you’re much happier?! you don’t bloody sound it!!

I absolutely love the UK. But my experience of all of it has been positive, I know that's not the same for everyone

To who? To you? Maybe it's just because you're angry and negative.

I'm very happy thank you.

I'm just going for a walk on the beach now, in the lovely sunshine.

I've lived abroad, in a place where winter is more like our summer (but drier), and summer is consistently hot and sunny.

Honestly - when you are used to seasons, it gets really boring. When you experience rain, it's amazing.

I bloody love the weather here in comparison - and I'm in Scotland 😆

People talk about the UK as if their experience in their neighborhood is the same as everywhere else. It's really not. I bloody love where I live now, and have no desire to go back to the place I grew up as it doesn't suit me. But it's a place that many people move to and love and would never move away from.

It's all subjective.

I wanted to live in the US, however the many, many school shootings, human trafficking issues, food costs and medical care costs were quite off-putting to me.

Knife crime, yes its an issue, but not as widespread as your relatives want to believe. In fact I don't think I've ever heard of a stabbing in school itself. I'm probably wrong, but honestly, it's not even as bad as gun crime is in the US.

Food prices are far better than in the US and I think that you'll probably find you have a slightly better quality of life.

NHS care can be slow, and long term health management isn't great however, in an emergency you're generally in pretty good hands. A lot of people go private, or atleast go private for some aspects of their care. Others get really good at understanding the NICE guidelines and ensuring that their GPs adhere to them.

All the best to you and your family.

Wouldn’t choose it for myself. So many places to go with adequate housing, a functioning healthcare system, good food, good weather and happier people. In essence, it’s bloody miserable here.

I love living in the UK and am really happy here, but then it's my home. Ds owns a penknife that he used to take on Woodcraft Folk camp but that's about it for knife use. I wish the NHS was better, and if your kids have additional needs then good luck getting the kind of therapies that get provided as a matter of course in the US, but there are also still some areas of the health system that work well. In the meantime, youll be in a great area of the country, have a good time.

Stabbings in every school?🙄
I wouldn’t visit the US never mind live there …..far more dangerous and unhealthy

on the basis of your own thread

angry and easily offended

Yeah it doesn't suit everyone. What I love about living in a sunny country is just the freedom of being able to go outside at this time of year in a dress.

Not having to put on three layers, and a scarf and a coat like I did in the UK.

The price of groceries in the US compared to the UK, I'll take the UK prices thanks. Have just returned from a 2 week US trip, couldn't believe the prices in the supermarkets there.

The prices in the UK are not great either.

I went on a recent visit to the UK. I was so shocked at the prices of trains!

My flight to the UK was cheaper than the price of getting a train in the UK

If you live in an inner city area with deprivation on your doorstep, it will not be lovely. But most people don't. No stabbings where I live. I'm not aware of gang culture or no go areas. I have teenagers - there is all the usual drama (fallings out, school nonsense) but no one is weaponised. Behavioural issues in school are largely SEN-driven.

If you have control over where you live and enough funds to support any gaps in NHS and state school provision, then the UK is a fine place to live.

It isn't bad at all. It's an interesting fact that many of DD's uni friends are from the EU or the US and they all really want to stay here. They love the weather, the lifestyle, the culture, the job opportunities, the vibe. Who'd have thought, eh?

I can never get over how huge the US is!

Fine and dandy that the climate of the country you are in suits you.

Be upfront though - what country is it so we can read the cons as well as the pros?

There certainly aren't stabbings in every school! You'll be fine, if cold! There are things to grumble about of course but I wouldn't leave here. Probably..

I'm curious too! I'm in Gateshead. Some parts are nicer than others 😂

It's so subjective OP. I moved from the UK to the US and ended up in a conservative red state. Love living in the US, my quality and standard of life is significantly better here. I dont think I could live in the UK again.

The UK is a bit shit at the moment. But it is still a lot better than US (many parts anyway).

Knife crime in the U.K. is focused in a few mostly big city areas.

There are not stabbings in every school.

NHS is a bit overwhelmed at the moment especially where I am in the south east but I have family in Newcastle and last time they went to A and E it was virtually empty and they were seen within 4 hours and got treated.

Ime Americans and brits are both scared of the healthcare system in the other country.

If you want private healthcare in the U.K. is it available.

Some pros and cons:

• Nice countryside in UK.
• Extensive train network but trains are expensive and can be unreliable.
• Schools vary - some great, some mediocre, some crap.
• Never heard of knife crime in schools being a thing and I have a child in high school so might be area dependent.
• We slate the NHS but medicines are free or cheap.
• Emergency care/ITU is free.
• If you need to see a specialist and avoid long NHS waiting list, you can pay to go private for £200-300 for initial consult. You may need to travel some distance though depending on where you live though.
• Private medical insurance, private treatment and private elective surgery is far cheaper than the US and people often self-pay.
• Dental insurance is cheaper than the US.
• Wages are lower in UK.
• Rents/house prices vary - depends on area but you will get more land for less money in the US (depending on area)
• Flights to mainland Europe are relatively cheap still compared with internal US flights.

The US in my opinion is definitely portrayed as being much worse than it is, in the news.