Is there a cultural difference between North and South?

[Thepo]

Dh and I have decided we are going to leave our home counties home and move ‘Up North’ to a Cheshire vilage close to Manchester. We’ve spent time in Manchester but not for extended peiords of time. We like the city. Our commute will be slashed in half and our house will be much more comfortable.

I’m of course expecting there to be slight differences but at the end of the day the North is still England. So how different can it be? Right? We get along with pretty much every one we meet.

Am I just in denial?

the set of Kes! 😂that made me laugh

Love that film

Londoner here, spent time in Liverpool and Manchester. They're mostly a friendly bunch, I'm naturally gregarious so it was a breath of fresh air to have people chatting to me on buses, at bus stops. Was told Gorton is very rough & dangerous & to avoid (I believe Shameless is filmed there) but I found the locals friendly & helpful if a bit bemused by our accents, however it does have a high crime rate. Scousers generally very outgoing and open, comedic. I've noticed the northern people are on the whole a lot more polite, say please & thank you on public transport, in hospitals, restaurants etc. Obviously there's good and bad in all areas of the UK but just my take as a southern Jessie.

Yes and?

If you live in Knutsford car is king. There isn't a barrier at the border preventing you from driving 20mins away.

Why so aggressive? I was just responding to a PP who was trying to locate nearby John Lewis stores. I don't think the OP actually mentioned that their close proximity was a prerequisite. TBH I don't think their stores are all that now. The last few times I have been there I have been told what I want has to be ordered online anyway.

Oh and I am familiar with Knutsford and you would be lucky to get from there to the nearest John Lewis in 20 minutes I think.

That’s Lancashire rather than Cheshire. Although that’s probably too advanced Northern for the southern OP. She’ll learn. 😉

More friendly in the north.

I hate Manchester though! So much harassment in Piccadilly Gardens and the public transport is always a shit tip as some cultures don't think twice about throwing their bus tickets, chewing gum, sandwich packet etc on the floor or seats of the bus and trains.

I already did!

I think people in London are so insular and rude and talking to strangers is taboo unless you're a beggar or charity mugger. My mate moved to Manchester about 25 years ago and says people are much more talkative and friendly. She sounds a bit northern now too.

Londoners aren’t remotely ‘insular and rude’. I commuted daily on the tube when pregnant, and then lugged a pushchair around on tubes, buses and the Overground, and always had unobtrusive consideration and help. And to really encounter ‘insular’, I had to move to an East Midlands village as a foreigner.

Where can I find this good sushi? I think the main thing that gets newcomers to York is the fact that it is quite isolated, and it takes an hour to drive to any other city.
Also that the whole six degrees of separation thing is narrowed down to about 2!

There are so many and much better independent coffee shops than Gail’s in York! Plenty of great Asian restaurants options there including a massive supermarket in the city centre catering for the (many) international students, and visitors. Dressing up to honour is a purely personal choice. Some do, lots don’t.

Try Sushi and Bowl on Lendal.

Leeds to York is around 30 - 40 minutes.
There isn't a lot to The east of it though I will agree

Leeds is only 30 minutes away and then even shorter to Harrogate and Knaresborough which are both gorgeous and vibrant and have brilliant restaurants museums, walks etc to choose from

Well I'm glad that's not your experience of London. I've never known many other cities where people don't talk to eachother as much. I can imagine an East Midlands village coming from another country could be a culture shock definitely.

Southerner who lives in the north west. It’s not that different, people are friendlier but also more suspicious of “outsiders”…I know that doesn’t make sense. I’m guessing you’re looking around the Knutsford or Mobberley area. They’re nice areas, can be a bit snobby in my opinion but not a big issue. I find there’s more differentiation between areas…Liverpool and Manchester are 35 miles apart but very different for example.

You’ll have to learn to accept a bit more banter as you’re shown on here you struggle with that.

What??

India and China are actually in Asia so i am pretty sure their food could be described as "Asian"

We've had an influx of southerners moving to our village. They love it. Coastal with cheap houses. They all seem very friendly so far? Maybe they're just integrated 😅

Talking of York. We found this place recently. You eat in a carriage and stay in one. They don't move though. Greek food not sure if they do anything else? Super friendly too.

https://thesidingshotel.co.uk/

Watch out for the whippets and the ferrets! Develop a liking for black pudding and chip butties and you’ll fit right in.

Seriously, I was born in Manchester but I lived all over the place. Generally it doesn’t matter where you live most people are lovely.

My friend has a whippet

He's southern and lives near Bedford.

OP, I moved to the Midlands to be with ex after having DS. The jobs market was completely different - it was 2009 after the global crash.

Despite having 20 years experience and a good business degree, I found the only jobs open to me were cashier, cleaner or carer, unless I wanted to work in local govt or the NHS. Not really my strengths.

After a year of fruitless searching, I gave up, moved back home to Hampshire and found a job within two weeks.

Different areas are stronger in different sectors, automotive, technology etc. Employment norms differ too. Be sure of your work before you move.

ah yes, because people living in Tower Hamlets, Brighton, Oxford and Cornwall all have the same sense of humour, lived experience, lifestyles and personality traits?
Which are completely different to those in the equally homogenous "North"

There are cultural differences everywhere you look - between Surrey and Sussex, between Manchester and Liverpool.
There are none that are insurmountable if you generally get along well with people.