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?

Biggest difference?

We don't vote for nutters like Johnson or Farage.

Absolutely.

I split my time between Scotland and London for work and notice massive cultural differences.

i also find differences in different areas of England when visiting relatives.

generally I find I have more in common culturally with people from Northern Ireland than England.

i don’t know enough Welsh people to
comment on that.

Oh but there are a significant number that do.

The Scot’s vote for theSNP though who are terrible. We are taxed to the hilt for an appalling education system and an NHS where you are 100 times more likely to be waiting 2 years for an operation than in England. Scotland could be such a great country with a halfway competent government.

Scotland was involved in the slave trade.

Here

www.nls.uk/collections/scotland-and-the-slave-trade/involvement/

The 1707 union was popular in Scotland because it gave Scots access to the English Empire (after the Darien Venture failed spectacularly). You just need to walk round Glasgow city centre to see how enthusiastic the Scots were about Empire, 62 street names are linked to slavery. Some are obvious because they are named after colonies: Jamacia Street, Tobago Street, Virginia Street & Place, Kingston. Others are named after the 'Tobacco Lords', e.g. Buchanan Street (for those who don't know Glasgow Buchanan Street is the most prestigious shopping street in the city and Scotland), Cochrane Street, Glassford Street.

In the US there are cultural differences between all 50 states. Surely there would be differences between different countries.

Sadly, I think the culture is becoming more and more different in Scotland and England. I don't know how to describe it but I feel it (my brother lives down south and his attitude towards some things is definitely shaped by where he lives).

My Dad is Scottish and even though he has lived in England for over 45 years he will always say he is Scottish.

My Mum is half Irish half English - she takes great pride in the Irish parts but always states she is English.

Mu husband born in Wales but again has lived in England most of his life and will say he’s English- he does say he feel a cultural difference example is the Welsh language is used much more now but his Gran parents or his parents never spoke it (or learnt to). When visiting my family in Glasgow he also notes slight cultural differences. Especially with weddings- definitely had some fun learning the dancing and was amazed that all knew what to do!

I’m born and raised in English I say im British. I don’t notice cultural differences but it’s normal to me as I’m close to both English and Scottish family so it just feels normal & I don’t really see the differences.

"100 times more likely to be waiting 2 years for an operation than England"? Where have you got this statistic from?
Why do you feel the education system in Scotland is appalling?

Education in Scotland used to be highly respected. I am Scottish, and when we moved to England many years ago I was a bit disappointed that the DC wouldn’t go to Scottish schools.

But over the years there has been quite a decline in standards. Academic results in Scotland are lower than the overall UK scores. A bit better than Wales, but quite a bit below England.

datamap-scotland.co.uk/2024/08/scotland-declining-education-attainment-pisa-2022/#:~:text=In%20contrast%2C%20Scotland%20manages%20the,Reading%20score%20%3D%20494%2C%2013th

But English schools are taught to a test like the American system whereas Scottish schools are taught using the creative method like Scandinavian schools. If you teach children to a test their results will be higher but their overall ability to think will be lower.

I grew up in North Wales and have lived in South London for 25yrs now. But I see little differences, apart from what you’d expect with north / south.

How sad!

It was the British empire not the English empire!

Yes, but still happy to take from the English purse!

Meanwhile, England doesn't benefit at all from Scotland's oil and gas reserves, eh?

Subtle differences. But also commonalities between areas. Eg Glasgow, Liverpool and Belfast have more on common with each other than Glasgow has with Edinburgh or Liverpool with London for example. The East of Scotland and the East of England are both more Eurosceptic than other parts of each country. West Cornwall and the West of Wales share common concerns not felt in the Home Counties.

Surely the welsh are just england's pet? Never a kingdom or historical centrala government. Little 'englanders' essentially?

plenty of private schools in scotland!! and there are two non-English languages, Scots and Gaelic, the former having had a much more impact than the latter (but much less known outwith scotland...)

4 - incorrect (unless you are classifying by 'establishment' vs how many actually attend church. Bishops, Cathedrals etc in both Catholic and Episcopalian churches. And there are many 'church of scotland' churches e.g. St Giles which retain the name 'cathedral')
5 - incorrect, lots of people play cricket in Scotland
7 -didn't know, interesting!
8a - agree 8b a lot of Scots wouldn't say that about Edinburghers!

I think every nation will have multiple cultures within said nation (even homogeneous nations).

This will be true for the UK, Britain and the individual countries within the UK.

NI is not a country though...

The Welsh are the most genetically distinct people in the UK.

There were rulers that united Wales at times and parts of England. Until 1282. But to say it's little Englanders is just 🙄unless you are talking about Pembrokeshire