Is there cultural differences between the 4 countries of the UK?

[Lynsey953]

I often see a lot on the news about British Culture and UK culture but I know that Scotland has a different education system to England and Wales as well as higher taxes paid to the government and a lot of "free" things paid for by these taxes i.e. free prescriptions, free university tuition etc ... A lot of people in Scotland also identify as Scottish, not British. Do you think this means Scottish people have a different cultural identity than English or Welsh people?

Yes of course. As do the other nations in the UK. And different regions in England etc too, I think.

Absolutely! I can’t believe anyone would think otherwise (but I expect some posters will be along soon to prove me wrong). There are many similarities but also some pretty big differences.

Yes. I'm Welsh and I love England but it does feel like a different country culturally and historically to mine.

The War of the Roses and the Pennines are a perfect example.

I feel, that the Scots, Welsh and Irish are proud of their history and culture. The English seem ashamed of theirs; the empire, etc. Could be wrong but my Gaelic relatives are proud of their heritage.

Of course! The class system is much less relevant in Wales. Not enough Welsh people to dice up into different groups that don't talk to each other. Northerners are far more friendly than Southerners in England. There are significant cultural differences.

Of course there is!

Speak for yourself. I am English and proud of it. Just like the Welsh, Scottish, and Irish are proud of what they are. I am not ashamed of anything.

What a ridiculous comment from you!

Perhaps we know very different people. It was a personal reflection and not intended to offend.

I'm surprised you've put Scotland vs Eng & Wales, I would think Wales and Scotland (and to some extent NI but due to its specific history that has its own very distinct culture that is separate again to any of the other 3) have more in common than either of the others and England - Wales also has things like free prescriptions, most people I know would identify as Welsh over British if given the choice, we also have our own parliament and representatives rather than 'just' Westminster, etc.

Even in terms of the education system, while E&W have the same system of GCSEs/A levels etc, Wales is more similar to Scotland in that there are no grammar schools (and far fewer private schools) which I think is much more relevant/impactful in terms of social class/diversity and therefore overall 'culture' than starting/finishing school a few months later and having slightly different exams

Wales is also different in that Welsh is compulsory, and there are lots of welsh medium/joint language schools, whereas Scots Gaelic may be taught in some schools but afaik isn't compulsory - a different language (even if not all of the population is fluent) has a huge effect on culture.

Definitely! All 4 countries are the same but very different. I'm Scottish and feel insulted to be described as English. When on holiday abroad I always make a point of saying I'm Scottish not English.

Yes. Now as a nation we are fabulous. Been together legally for many centuries, but culturally very different, both historically and more recently. I might mention 31st Oct/ 1st Nov / 5 th Nov. These dates are significant in the British Isles, but different countries and different counties have such different experiences. For events that are at least four centuries old and many are much older. My personal experience: south east England. 31st Oct, halloween american. 5th Nov, bonfire night, penny for the guy, longstanding tradition without even being part of the county that does the parades. Elsewhere: posters will tell their glorious tales of guising and their customs. So lovely to hear, it sounds amazing, but not my experience at all. My experience is equally valid.

Lived in Scotland for most of my adult life, Parents and my sibling all born in Scotland but I was born in England. I’m British.

Nope not me. I’m English. And the Scot’s Welsh and Irish were also involved in the empire building.

Yes I think the different countries have very different cultures. I'm English and have lived in Wales for 20+ years. There is a great affinity with the arts here, music, singing, poetry etc and they have a wonderful cultural festival called Eisteddfod which all schoolchildren participate in that celebrates Welsh language and culture. The Welsh people are very warm and funny and community/family minded.

While there are cultural differences between the nations of the UK, I think there are many more similarities between us and across boundaries than within them.

I find it faintly ridiculous when people say that Welsh people love their families or English people don't talk to strangers. We're all different!

British here. I have relatives throughout Britain. No cultural differences they’ve have noticed whatsoever. Each country has their more affluent areas and poorer areas, and the culture between the wealthy is the same in all 4 parts of the Uk, and the poorer areas likewise.

How rude

I find them very different culturally. It seems like a strange union of countries tbh, the UK.

It seems strange to me that you would consider four neighbouring countries that have been tied together in a political union for hundreds of years "very different."

Cuba. Morocco. Laos. The Netherlands. That feels more like four countries with very different cultures.

Wales Scotland Ireland Cornwall and the Isle of Man are Celtic nations - as are Brittany and Galicia. The Scandinavian influence is very strong in Newcastle and York.

Some diverse traditions.

To be fair we often seem to be made to feel guilty for actions hundreds of years ago. I am sure all four nations can feel guilty for their involvement in owning slaves and profiting from that and the British Empire.

Big generalisation there. I live in a Yorkshire city where some of it is much less friendly than say Essex for example.

Not rude. Grow a thicker skin.

Indeed. Best to play the victim though! Scotland were huge players in the early stages of the British Empire.