Americans reveal what annoys them most about living in the UK

While us Brits regard our customs and habits as one of the most superior ways to live, our transatlantic cousins apparently don’t agree.

Whether it be our love of walking or our rows of terraced houses with ‘tiny doors that open onto dangerous sidewalks’, there’s always something about British culture that leaves Americans scratching their heads or, in some instances, clenching their fists in irritation.

And there are that many, in fact, that when one Reddit user decided to ask what exactly it is that annoys Americans about the UK so much, they were inundated with thousands of responses.

Redditor WellFiredRoll poised the question: “Americans! Those who have deigned to settle in Britain – what annoys you about our country?”

The Reddit user explained that they weren’t posting the question to create a ‘sh*t-stirring thread or a thread to encourage Yank-bashing’, but simply out of curiosity after hearing an American colleague rant about Brits ‘not complaining enough’.

The replies from UK-based Americans were quick to flood in, with the reasons varying dramatically from grocery shopping to our apparent lack of spacial awareness.

One user expressed their confusion over ‘double taps’, saying they feel they have to ‘choose between hot water or cold water to do things like wash my face’. 

Another pointed out the UK’s ‘lad’ culture, writing: “Roving bands of lads on a weekend night. Get them one on one during the week? Perfectly pleasant, lovely chaps. However when they stand next to each other on a night out they get strangely loud, aggressive, and totally obnoxious.”

They have a point, I suppose.

@reinf / Unsplash

Another American admitted that when they first arrived in the UK they ‘thought they were going to starve’ thanks to our small portion sizes – at first they also thought the customer service was ‘shockingly bad compared to the states’.

However, they said that they now ‘really appreciate’ the chance to browse a shop without someone asking if they need help.

Read More: American claims Oldham and Rochdale are two of the worst places to live in England

Another shopping irk noted by one of the Americans was our supermarkets’ overuse of plastic. They wrote: “Fruit and veg wrapped in plastic at the supermarkets. So clearly designed to make you spend more and horrible for the environment. I don’t need 4 leeks, I need 1.” 

Not unreasonable.

A different Reddit user said our drinking culture annoys them the most, writing: “The drinking culture, especially binge drinking… A bit shocking on the odd occasion I’m in the town centre after 10pm or so.”

Wikimedia Commons

One American even found issue with our pennies, writing: “Two pence coins. Just why. Pennies are bad enough, but then a double penny?”

On a more topical issue, however, a number of Americans said their biggest issue with living in the UK was the cost of owning a home, with many expressing their disbelief over how long it takes to save up to buy a property.

One person explained: “Lived here pretty much since 1991 and I would say the lack of housing and the cost of what is out there. We saved for decades and only a year ago have been able to buy a home in our late 40s. So I feel the pain of other younger Brits trying to do the same.”

Another explained how they had just moved from Wisconsin to the UK, pointing out that in Wisconsin they had ten acres and a four bed house costing $189k (£139k).

They wrote: “We’ve just had an accepted offer on a small 3 bed with a postage stamp garden in Gloucester for £235k. It’s insane how cheap land is in the US.”

Read the full thread here.