13 Good Things About Living In The UK (And Why I Want To Stay)

Although moving to the UK from Texas was one of the hardest moving decisions I’ve ever made, it’s also been one of the best. Between all the concerns about leaving family, the weather, and England’s notorious fish and chips, I was worried I wouldn’t last. But living in the UK has surpassed any preconceived notions about what life on the island would be like.

6 months after the move to the UK, I emerged from culture shock and began embracing life in the UK.  1.5 years later, I feel certain I don’t want to move back.

If moving to the UK is something you’re thinking about but worried you might not like it, here are 13 good things about living in the UK. Cowboy boots included.

13 Good Things About Living In The UK

While I could certainly list more reasons (old Land Rover Defenders, British schools, the quirks…) these 13 repeatedly surface in conversations when people ask me if I like living in the UK!

1. Old English Pubs

The first week in England a fellow Texan expat took me out to lunch. Without hesitation, she suggested a pub for lunch. I was thinking more of a restaurant or cafe, but she said we had to go to the pub. Without understanding the fascination with going to a pub in the middle of the day, I obliged. After all, she had tenure.

It didn’t take me long after that to realize how special, unique, and cool the pubs really are in England. Not just a place to enjoy a beer – but a place to enjoy lunch, have tea, chat with locals or enjoy a rain-free day in the garden. (A garden isn’t where people grow vegetables but a patio.)

The older the pub, the better. The interior, the low ceilings, the uniqueness of each pub, the clientele…I could go on. An old English pub is unlike a “restaurant” in the USA.

2. Charming Villages

If there is a pub and there is a nearby church but not a lot of other shops, then it’s likely considered a village. I didn’t understand what a “village” meant when we were househunting in the UK. We were asked if we want to live in a town, city, hamlet, or village…wait, what? What’s a village? A village is bigger than a hamlet but smaller than a town and typically has a place of worship and only one shop or post office.

The idea of a village or even a hamlet sounded far too country to me, even though I was moving from Houston suburbs where longhorns graze along I-10.

But English villages are honestly the most charming parts of the UK. The thatched roofs, varying architecture, cobblestone streets, and shop or two make them desirable to add to any England bucket list.

For me, I get to live in one and absolutely love it: my neighbors (the pub), the church (founded in AD 948), and the sweetest waffle house on this side of the M25.

Check out 17 of the most beautiful villages to visit in Britain and decide for yourself.

3. The Food

There is so much criticism about British food in America that it’s one of the top 2 things people will talk or ask you about when you tell them you’re moving to England (the other is about the weather).

I was so concerned I would have to live on fish and chips or be coerced into blood sausage with beans. Thankfully I haven’t had to do either. While I fancy fish and chips on a Friday night, I haven’t tried blood sausage and don’t plan to. There are so many amazing food options in the UK I’d rather experience.

Biscuits and jams are at the top of my food list but so aren’t crisps, fish (as in fresh fish from markets and grocery stores), puddings (cakes), ice cream (Kelly’s of Cornwall is the best), and restaurants that are off the hook.

The food markets of London (like Burough Market or Camden) are an international foodie dream, and restaurants throughout the country never seem to let us down. From amazing Italian (including truffles!) to farm-to-market dishes, this country has far more to offer than fish and chips.

For a foodie adventurist, check out 8 Quirky British Foods To Try Different From America.

4. The Animals

If you’re an animal lover then England is the place to live. Dogs are everywhere! They are welcome on trains, pubs, shops…all you need to do is ask if they can enter the establishment and I’ve never heard anyone say no.

Our dog, Duke, moved from Texas to England and I swear that gave us an extra year of life with him. The greenspaces, the love that the Brits have for animals, and the weather make the UK dreamy for any four-legged friend.

But more than dogs, it’s hard to not be in awe of all the fluffy animals you see every day on a drive to school, a walk down your street, or simply out your back door.

Beautiful grouse adorn our backyard every day, in addition to sheep, an occasional deer, loads of rabbits, and a few neighborly cats.

Seriously, how cute are these 3!?! #whatlivinginenglandislike

But the most unique British and not uncommon animal experience I’ve had living in the UK is my up-close encounter with a fox.

One night a bright-eyed, big, fluffy red fox decided to join us to watch Harry Potter. He came right up to the double French doors, sat there for who knows how long until we realized it, grabbed for phones, and then tried to take a picture of him before he scuttled away to his den…only about 15 feet away.

Yup, that really happened…and totally common. In fact, if we had a dog door, it would have likely just come inside for a handful of popcorn and a closer watch of The Philosopher’s Stone.

5. Country Life & City Life – You Can Have Both Living In The UK

If you’re not sure about living in the country or the city, just drive a couple of miles. The most fascinating thing my husband and I discovered on our first trip to England was how you can be in the center of a city, turn a corner and suddenly be in the country. Drive a couple of miles and be back in a city, town, or village again.

We felt totally certain after exploring England the first time that we could easily achieve both needs for our family while living in the UK. My son is a country boy while my daughter is a city girl. Having easy access to both types of living was essential.

Transportation options in England make it easy to embrace whatever type of living you want. Even in the suburbs of Houston, it was incredibly hard to motivate the family to leave the perimeter. Because cities in the USA tend to go for miles and miles, achieving both without trains was hard and so it rarely happened. We drove into Houston only for special occasions, sporting events, and date nights.

So, if you have family members that are on the complete opposite ends of the spectrum, you’ll find living in England awesome.

6. Commercial-Free Telly

I forgot how amazing television is in the UK until I visited my parents in Maine. I’m certain I only watched about 19 minutes of programming for a 30-minute show. It made me realize how freaking awesome it is to watch telly in England.

Sure, it’s hard to get my favorite American programs like Fixer Upper and The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon, but after a week of evening programming in the USA I realize how fortunate it is to have advertising at a bare minimum in the UK.

It’s annoying to pay a television license, which is a British living expense Americans don’t have to pay to watch tv in the USA. But for under £100 a year, the expense is totally worth it and makes telly a lot more enjoyable.

7. The Markets

Americans don’t really know what a market is until they live in England. I had impressions in my mind of farmers selling pumpkins, fresh berries, and vegetables when someone told us to check out the local market.

After our first visit to our first market in the UK, I soon realized that market means anything is game. From textiles to food to flowers to art to toys…markets in England sell anything anyone is willing to rent a stand for. In fact, my son is begging me to open a whoopie pie stand at our local market.

Markets in England aren’t just a hobby but they are a way of life. It’s a mindset shift from, “I need to go to the grocery store today” to “I need to run to the market”.

I love it. Similar to having our milk delivered in old bottles on our front doorstep, shopping the markets has created a mentality that I would have never experienced without living in the UK.

My favorite markets to visit are the food and antique ones, like St Albans Antique And Vintage Market.

8. The Flowers

Oh, the flowers! I simply cannot explain the flowers. I always thought HEB was the best at flowers while living in Texas but now I know how ridiculous that must seem to a British expat in the USA.

The wildflowers in England are simply gorgeous and INEXPENSIVE. You can buy a bunch that will last for weeks for only a couple of pounds. The “reduced” flower buckets are always a steal and stay just as fresh as the ones that are full price.

In the USA I always felt guilty buying flowers for the house but now it just seems wrong not to! With beauties like this, flowers make living in the UK a bright one on any rainy day of the year.

9. Gorgeous Getaways

Newqay Seaside Cliffs

Naturally, most people gravitate towards associating London with the UK. It’s not that different from foreigners referencing NYC or LA with regard to the USA. The difference though is that you need to fly to get between those massive cities in the USA. In England, you don’t.

From London, you can get to the east, southern, or west coast within as little as 1 hour. Our favorite is Cornwall and that’s only 4. Or perhaps Scotland is where you want to be? That’s simply a 4.5-hour train ride away. My American stateside family never believes me about accessibility to wicked cool places in the UK, but it’s true. Where for them, a bucket list destination like Hawaii is at best a minimum 6-hour flight.

Our England bucket list is constantly changing over as we knock off a couple of things and end up adding more. Right when I think we might have seen it all, I learn about a fascinating new place we must visit while living in the UK.

Unlike anywhere I’ve ever lived, England offers so much to see and do without ever boarding a plane.  These 15 road trips are the best!

10. Fashion

Sorting out European fashion can take a while. But after enough visits in and out of London by train it’s not too hard to get a handle on fashion. I naturally wanted to buy some things to fit in. Like:

• Hunter Wellies – Because I actually needed them…not just because they are the most fashionable worldly rainboot.
• A Barbour Wax Jacket – Whether you’re a huge James Bond or Royal Windsor fan, this one’s a classic.
• Tartan Anything – The red plaid pattern is totally British and fashionable. Even Nike Europe released a Nike Tartan Air Max Plus for women, and a Nike Tartan Air Force 1. Neither is available anymore.
• Reiss – Kate Middleton made this dress shop famous.
• Jack Wills – Because my vintage wool coat wasn’t going to be enough for wet winter weather.

It took a while for me to really take the plunge on European fashion. And let me say it hasn’t really been a deep plunge because it can be a lot more expensive in England if you only shop on the high streets. But it’s totally different, interesting, and a fun challenge while living in the UK.

Even if you decide to wait or avoid British fashion altogether, your Texas wear will do just fine. My cowboy boots are always a topic of discussion whenever I wear them. The Brits love em!

For a UK guide on where to shop, read Dress Shopping In The UK: An Expat’s Guide To Where To Buy.

11. History

As much as I hated history in high school, I absolutely love everything about it while living in the UK. From all the heritage sites to the museums and castles to learning about the Tudors, I’m obsessed with English history.

Living in a country rich with so much history and knowledge has sparked my own passion for learning more about my roots and where my ancestors originated from England: seaside Norfolk.

12. No Guns

As a mother, sending my kids to their British school every day over a public American one is a gift I’m incredibly thankful for as a UK resident.

While there is certainly violence in Britain, it doesn’t even come close to the growing mass shootings in America.  Having peace of mind sending my kids to school, the cinema, church, grocery stores, concerts, or even a kids’ birthday party is a blessing and way of life all UK residents are thankful for.

For a story about the impact of USA gun violence on kids in the UK, read A British Lesson for America.

13. May

The month of May in the UK is simply spectacular.

After living in England I discovered how May might very well be one of Great Britain’s best hidden secrets.

• May has 2 holidays, a bank holiday usually celebrated on the first and last Mondays of May.
• Flowers and gardens come alive and take center stage from London to the Lake District – hysteria wisteria anyone?!
• Warm temps start to tease residents that summer is on the horizon.

With fewer crowds visiting the country compared to peak tourism months, May is the best time to get out and experience England.

Final Reason Why I Love Living In The UK

Living in the UK creates an appreciation for the past that I didn’t quite have while living in Texas. I suppose that hit home for me when I realized our neighborhood pub is older than the United States of America. Let that sit in.

Understanding that fear naturally comes with every new place you move to, this post demonstrates that England offers far more than fish and chips and grey skies. I’m sure there will come a day when I have to move on, which I try not to think about. And while I can always find things in common between here and there, no place will be quite like living in the UK.

For a perspective on living in the UK vs US after moving back to America, read 13 Things I Miss Most About Living In The UK As An American (+5 I don’t).

Looking for living in England resources?

• 12 Things About Moving To UK From USA You Need To Read First
• 19 Monthly Expenses To Live In The UK: A Guide For Americans
• Moving to the UK?  Use my detailed MOVING ABROAD CHECKLIST

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