Americans in England: 10 Things That SURPRISED Us About the UK

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

Have you noticed these contrasts between the US and the UK? Or have you experienced your own surprises when traveling? And what are some good footpaths we should check out on a future trip to the UK? Let us know in the comments! Watch our reverse culture shocks video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nmrRc5ukd7abnsU&t Why the UK feels like home: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i3S2pp19mb2ZgK8&t Americans First Time Driving in the UK: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z5eZeHtvfK54nJI Our first time in Dorset: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pGOudaSdqZKZga8 3 days in Cornwall: kzbin.info/www/bejne/sHOXaKSNZsxgotk&t Exploring Newcastle: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f3PWXqWnZaqdg80&t

[@paulhenman9907]

When washing your hands in the sink just use a plug,

[@alisonrodger3360]

Check out the Fife Coastal path, lots of lovely harbour villages along the way.

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

@@alisonrodger3360 Thanks for the suggestion!

[@tonys1636]

The South West Coast path is a good one to do but allow a minimum of 21 days, 28 or more is advised as over 380 miles from Dorset through South Devon around Cornwall back through North Devon and into Somerset. It's the longest continuous path in England. Passing through many towns and villages worth exploring. Everything from cliff top paths to sandy beaches and rocky coast.

[@patriciachirgwin3238]

As someone who was born in Canada but has lived in the U.K. for 37 years, I think your courteous way of dealing with people is why you found people courteous and kind to you. Also, about the taps, sinks in houses built here up until the 1980s regularly had two taps (which I think is crazy), but as loos and kitchens are modernised, people tend to have ‘mixer taps’. Thank goodness I say! Love hearing about your experiences!❤

[@christineharding4190]

Many footpaths are not just footpaths, they are 'Public Rights of Way'. Which means that no matter where a public right of way meanders across private land, the rights of the walker are paramount, but the walker is expected to be respectful of the property. Many footpaths are hundreds, and even thousands, of years old and provide links between communities.

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

Great point about footpaths being protected public rights of way. Even the long distances paths we have in the US are not set up like this. It's a very unique and amazing thing!

[@Bob2020...]

Going down a country footpath with live Stock running try keep dogs on a lead farmers don't like it when dogs attack there sheep

[@alanmon2690]

@@TheMagicGeekdom Most Public Footpaths are unused and ignored except when the land owner (who is responsible for maintaining the footpath) tries to get permission to (re)move it. Then they feel the aggressive ranting of the local PFuser. It cost a local farmer £10000 (in the 1980s) in legal fees and went bankrupt. That foot path was a few yards from the adjacent road.

[@gillianrimmer7733]

​@@TheMagicGeekdom, also the landowner has a legal obligation to keep them in good order - mend stiles and gates, and cut down any overgrown plants /trees to keep it accessible. We had one that ran through the end of our cottage garden - we just cut our garden a bit shorter and built a low wall to create a nominal barrier to our house - most people respected it, and we didn't get many people walking past : just a few dog walkers . Although it would annoy me when an occasional person wouldn't pick up after their dog. The only real problem we ever had was a woman who let her 2 dogs off their leads and they both ran straight through our open conservatory doors and cornered our terrified cat in the lounge - I was less than gracious with her !

[@fade.2.black.ffd8ff]

If a footpath is not used for a certain time duration, think it is 5 or 10 years, it can be declared no longer used, so use it or loose it

[@chockergram]

In the UK, bringing the bill/check before you ask for it is seen as INCREDIBLY presumptuous.

[@fuhqsideways]

Don't think I've ever had someone just bring me the bill...I would feel so pressured to leave...would result in bad review

[@timenchanter1983]

Only time I've ever had it happen was at a restaurant that was fully booked and had people waiting outside and they were very apologetic about it, even offering us free dessert to go if we didn't stay for a third course.

[@hazelmeldrum5860]

Only if the restaurant is popular and had time slots then I have been asked to pay even then sometimes it has been would you take your coffee in the lounge e

[@christianx8494]

If the waiter/waitress came back each minute and asked if you wanted anything else the message would be clear: order or get out. But otherwise you can sit there even after you have finished your coffee after your desert for a long time.

[@jasonchamberlin1532]

Totally right - i would never go back to somewhere that rude!

[@Rik77]

Many land owners would very happily get rid of the paths through their land. But fortunately these paths are ancient before land ownership and are preserved in law, so it's a real treasure in the UK

[@Anon54387]

We've the same here in the USA even though it isn't as common. For instance, here in California there is a row of privately owned houses some miles long (nearly 20 if I recall) but on the other side of those houses a public beach with good surfing. As such, there are right of ways across those house lots to the beach. It annoys some of the owners, but they knew this when purchasing the houses.

[@richardwebb5317]

In Scotland we don't have so many rights of way, but have a legal right, subject to behaviour expectations, to walk most places that are not residential or on crops. England feels restrictive to us, so thanks for the reminder to count our blessings. Always good to be reminded of good fortune. Ironically, Madonna would have won her case here.

[@evzevz06]

​​​​@@richardwebb5317You also have the right to camp wherever you want which doesn't extend to England or Wales. The only place ive been where I have seen a restriction on a public right of way was across the border in England. Theres a old path over the sandstone trail and it goes through someones house, the 2 parts of the house are connected by an arch with a big courtyard door in it, which is where the horses used to be kept while people visited the estate, But they make it look locked and try to force people to walk all the way around. Don't buy a house with a public footpath running through it, if you don't want the public walking through it

[@evelynmacmillan2485]

As a Canadian who has for a long time gone to the UK just for the footpaths, I can tell you that sometimes there really is a bull in the field. Fortunately, the one time a bull came roaring down the hill towards us, he was only interested in the cows on the other side of the footpaths. Some farmers would rather not have people crossing their land, possibly as people have not closed gates or have left litter. 😅

[@DavidLee-yu7yz]

@@evelynmacmillan2485 I tend to keep an empty carrier bag on me for when I come across litter which is annoying and disrespectful, the litter not the carrier bag! Take it to the nearest bin on the way.

[@helsbels]

I think dislike of Americans is from the visibly brash, loud, self-centred ones that visit who are the most visible. I think in general we don't really care if you're American, we care about how you act! If you're interested and thoughtful and considerate, WE LOVE YOU. If you're not, you ain't gonna have a nice time!

[@painstruck01]

It's like how the Spanish don't hate the Brits. But us Brits know the types of Brits the Spanish don't like and we all know why.

[@user-ed7et3pb4o]

@@painstruck01yep and none of us could blame the Spanish for disliking those Brits - those poor folks really have to put up with some of the worst representatives of our country 😬

[@mattjames4358]

​@@painstruck01and most of us Brits don't like those kind of Brits either.

[@Dean-t9g]

American is built on the genocide of the indigenous population, Nazi Germany attempting the same thing within living memory. We tend to forget this.

[@eamonquinn5188]

An absence of arrogance makes a difference in people's attitude to you, you guys are genuine

[@LordBilliam]

Yeah, some Americans use words like "weird" or "wrong" to describe the differences, these lovely people use "surprising" or "different". I think we Brits are more precise with words, but Americans use tone of voice more to show feeling, so it's also half our fault when we don't get along, haha

[@DavidLee-yu7yz]

@@LordBilliam There is no blame or fault, just differences and i have found Americans mean what they say and are direct and it's us who say things that we do not mean to act on in conversation. Not all but it is something I have noticed among acquaintances and when you accept or thank them, they will ignore you and if pushed they look at you as if you have not played the game but I am direct myself and treat people for their strength of character, but I am Asperger's so in the minority and was told by some people from across the pond, that I would get on well if I lived in the States. At least where they lived as there are many regional differences and ways.

[@blugru6366]

They are so lovely.

[@paulbromley6687]

When Madonna lived in the UK her large house had a public footpath running by it and she couldn’t believe that she couldn’t get it rerouted or closed . It was because it was a right of way for so long and couldn’t legally be affected.

[@mypointofview1111]

Can't stand her

[@jontalbot1]

You can usually get them diverted but rarely is permission given to extinguish a right of way.

[@KNIGHTSTEMPLAR13]

I've read that comment so many times and I'm starting to think it's fake story..

[@ivandavies1388]

​@@jontalbot1even rerouting a path is not that easy, which is how it should be.

[@lordcharfield]

@@KNIGHTSTEMPLAR13It sounds perfectly feasible to me!

[@cloverite]

I’m not surprised you had a positive reaction in the UK. You are both incredibly respectful, you are some of the few, if not only, American KZbinrs who describe driving in the UK as being on the opposite side of the road instead of the wrong side.

[@billgaytes6845]

We drive on the left side of the road... which of course is the right side.

[@daisydavis-x3m]

Surprise no English found lmfao

[@marieparker3822]

It was Napoleon who made everyone in Europe drive on the wrong side of the road.

[@globalizemeuk]

@@marieparker3822 correct. Because he was left handed and held his sword in that hand. The US being a primarily European colony had to follow Europe.

[@iainmartin1757]

@@globalizemeuk What are you talking about. The original thirteen colonies were British colonies - have you not heard about The American War of Independence.

[@sxr_WhiteRose]

You didn't have a problem with anyone at anytime in the UK because you're just nice, open-minded people and people respond well to that. Really glad you had a good time in the UK and got off the "beaten track" and experienced the real UK.

[@anthonyeaton5153]

And quietly spoken and polite.

[@WeWillAlwaysHaveVALIS]

I agree with you, these two seem (this is the first time I've seen them, so I ofc can't make a complete judgement) like friendly, open and respectful people; who are exactly the type of people that we welcome here with open arms, regardless of their origins.

[@Venti1388]

@@anthonyeaton5153yeah I think the volume is a really big thing. I don’t think Brits are against Americans, but I think we don’t tolerate people being loud in public well. I don’t know what it is about American accents but they carry. So if you have a loud voice and an American accent, it’s going to be really loud in British public spaces where people are being quiet. And then you’re going to get Looks. 😂

[@davidmarshall6616]

It's not that our roads are too narrow, it's that cars have got way too big. Car parks don't seem to have adjusted their spacings accordingly.

[@faithlesshound5621]

A personal note: I have owned four Volkswagen Golfs, and each has been slightly wider than its predecessor. My garage has remained the same size, so parking has become more difficult. I have to fold the wing mirrors first now.

[@philiptaylor7902]

Here in the Chilterns there are plenty of tiny lanes. Bigger modern cars obviously don’t help.

[@joc6516]

No, British roads are narrow. I've lived in other countries around the world and they are especially narrow in the UK. British cars are also quite small compared to those in many other countries.

[@troglodytestroglodytes220]

Unfortunately, where the US leads the UK follows. In this case the unfortunate rise of the SUV. And now pick-up trucks are vehicle of choice for the bell-end. Our roads and car parking spaces are not designed for these oversized vehicles.

[@CiCodiCadno]

To be fair the video did show a single lane road when she said "roads are too narrow". It's intimidating on the best of days as a native, let alone for a foreign who's unfamiliar with them. Though in regards to the car parks you're absolutely right - the car park sizes are just fine... For now. We're seeing more and more people buying American style cars which take up far too much space. I hope they'll be banned one day as they can barely fit in regular parking spaces

[@eamonquinn5188]

In a pub, when they ask who's next, you point to the person who arrived 2 seconds before you.

[@stonkr]

​@wallycustard1281 Don't think I'd be happy drinking in a pub that didn't do that.

[@Warentester]

​@@stonkrunfortunately that's most of London's pubs. They increasingly feel like every man for himself.

[@MsStevieWoo]

Pub etiquette goes a long way especially if you end up sharing a table in a busy pub 🤣👌

[@coffeeguy6673]

You do if you are decent.

[@Savagetechie]

In my local I don't even order, the pints just appear.

[@tibsie]

Customer service in the UK is based on the principle that people don't want to be bothered and if they need something they will ask for it. We value our independence and having a waiter or shop assistant come over and constantly ask us if we need anything or need help with something, makes us feel like children who can't cope with adult life. The vast majority of us just want to be left alone to do what we need to do, it's why self-checkouts are popular. And in the UK you NEVER EVER hand your card to anyone else, except maybe the cashier at the bank. It's one of the most basic security measures alongside not writing down your PIN. You never give it to a waiter for them to take away to process the transaction because you don't know what they are doing with it. You need to enter your PIN anyway, unless it's contactless, so you ALWAYS put it in the machine yourself. This lets you inspect the machine for suspicious modifications, confirm the amount is correct, and make sure the transaction only goes through once.

[@Louisyed]

Yes, I hate when shop assistants crowd you as soon as you walk through the door - it makes me so uncomfortable that I usually just leave! Not a good sales technique to use with Brits. I don't like being rushed into a decision.

[@DavidLee-yu7yz]

I concur with your comment but I differ in I detest the self checkout and rather be served by a human in shops and always use cash but card should always be an option.

[@ArthurTanner-d7s]

Have a gold star for writing 'PIN' and not 'PIN number'. 😉

[@SKHool84]

I've travelled to the US several times 7 states (a few more to go 😂) and I think we adapt well even though I don't agree with certain things (massive tipping increases in recent years) I still follow the rules and never have n issue. The only thing that I just can not understand is why everyone allows the credit card to be taken away in restaurants, it's the oddest thing. I got around it by joining Chase and they don't have numbers printed on the card so that helps me feel more secure.

[@Roadent1241]

​@@ArthurTanner-d7s Shame that's not even needed anymore, you just tap it now, bloody stupid. If it was biometric I'd understand but...?

[@123fakestreeeet]

In the UK we're taught never to let your credit card out of your sight, it was such a huge shock in the US that not only do you let servers take your card to the counter and input the transaction themselves, but that you decide the tip AFTER you've received your card. That means more money is coming out of my account without an additional use of my card. That felt really weird...

[@MrJacobThrall]

It's not all that long ago that handing your card over was completely standard in the UK. 20-ish years ago, cards were swipe-and-signature, so it was impossible not to hand them over. You could ask to accompany your server when they took it to the till to take payment, but that was unusual - people routinely stayed at their tables while their cards were taken. When chip-and-PIN came in, you were told to safeguard your PIN - the focus of that message wasn't initially on the card itself - so there was no longer any meaningful reason for your card to be taken from you. It took a little while for this behaviour to catch up though, as cards could still be signed for too, and card machines were often still wired in. It's interesting how quickly there's been a complete cultural shift, from "completely standard" to "you should never do it".

[@ClintDawg]

@@MrJacobThrall i still remember those swipe and sign things. I don't even think it is even legal to authorize a payment with your signature in Denmark anymore. At least there is nowhere to put your signature on the back of your card any longer and I haven't signed for a transaction in at least 10 years. It is contactless or PIN every time.

[@andrewsimpson5848]

This completely through me, I could not understand it at all.

[@triplem9805]

A lot of us in the UK seem to like to complain, and it's really nice to hear about people being impressed with our public transport! It's not always the cleanest and best-maintained, but at least it's there.

[@theyouofyesterday6254]

I agree! This made me appreciate my home country more. Whenever I come back from abroad I appreciate the UK's railway network and trains. Much cleaner than Italy, for example, which are covered in graffiti and the toilets... 🤢 But I'd never thought of how nice it is not to be pressured to leave a restaurant, as that's just what I'm used to, and I tend to get irritated when I need the bill and can't find anyone! Or that not everywhere has public footpaths - I do take them for granted.

[@felixhenson9926]

I'm disabled (a wheelchair user) and can't drive (wouldn't be granted a provisional bc of my disability) and travel EVERYWHERE by public transport. I've lived in London before but I'm from Manchester and I'm back there now and i stg, every time i hear my London friends complaining about their public transport i feel like shaking them and telling them they have no idea how lucky they are haha!

[@nidgem7171]

@@felixhenson9926 Its your taxes that pay for Transport for London too 🙄

[@carlapilbro1344]

When there aint no train strikes 😂😂

[@triplem9805]

​@@carlapilbro1344 Of course - it's much better to have a half empty glass than a half full one.

[@chrissugg968]

The hot/cold tap thing is because traditionally hot water was taken from a heated water tank in the attic. As this would sit around full of warm water for hours at a time, it wasn't safe to drink. So the hot and cold were entirely separated so you could drink from the cold tap without contamination. As a kid, it was drilled into me that you should never drink from the hot tap as it would make you sick. Nowadays, most hot water is just mains cold water that's run through a heater as and when needed so it's fine, and mixer taps are far more common.

[@NormyTres]

I remember that too.

[@shadowprincess7801]

The other reason was because we used to mix the water in the sink/bath until it reached the desired temperature. Now people seem to just run their hands under the tap.

[@andylane247]

Yes !! Don't drink the hot tap!! My parents said.

[@2Sorts]

This is true. Cold water tanks in attics fed the hot water system. Those tanks were usually minging and you’d not want to drink water that had been sitting with maybe a dead pigeon or something! These days of course the water is heated was you use it so those hot and cold tanks are no more and you can quite safely drink from the hot tap, although why would you?

[@fumbel1997]

Lead pipes for hot in older houses , sometimes with copper attached to sink so you don't know

[@johnavery3941]

In Scotland we have a law called "the right to roam" you can go pretty much anywhere, you do not need to stick to footpaths.... golden rule is "leave it as you found it"

[@fuhqsideways]

Also...wild camping and fires. It's very rare you can wild camp and light a fire in England....whereas Scotland are very cool with it (as long as you respect the area like you mention)

[@fuhqsideways]

Was living on border and Scotland side...my friends camped down by a river near me, had a fire etc etc. We went just across border into England and there were so many signs NO CAMPING..NO FIRES..etc etc

[@Eis_Bear]

A lot of European countries have something like this, it's a remnant of a time long gone by. But still cool that we retained some aspects of it.

[@cultfiction3865]

Exactly I don't know why English are on here bragging about their dinghy footpaths when in Scotland you can walk anywhere at all

[@charlestaylor3027]

@@cultfiction3865 because a footpath in England is the responsibility of the land owner to maintain.

[@scullocrusho]

When British rail is comparatively “really good” compared to America, you have to assume their trains are pulled by oxen.

[@BeanSandwiches]

From what I heard its worse, they barely have passenger trains at all. Most trains and train lines in USA are owned by cargo companies

[@sydryi3086]

To be fair, the train aren’t that bad all things considered, yeah the timing and delays are ridiculous along with the prices but once you are on the train it’s quite nice.

[@jamesbunch8932]

There is one passenger train company nationally: Amtrak. They’re not bad, really. The problem is that all the tracks are privatised and passenger trains are regularly delayed or stopped on the tracks to let commercial goods trains get around. Also, there just isn’t enough coverage of the country. Public transportation in general in the US is incredibly poor. Even big cities can be bad, but smaller towns are abysmal. My home town has a bus service that just stops running at 6pm.

[@stevenbreach2561]

Trains in'Murca are for freight and poor people

[@andreaconroy3623]

We NEVER lose sight of our credit/debit cards here in the UK - no-one would even think of taking them away these days.

[@stephenwilliams1486]

Absolutely! They can be CLONED! I would never let go of my card. Nowadays it's not really needed. 'Contactless' works in so many places and if it doesn't you can still put your PIN in the machine. Steve

[@timenchanter1983]

Many people don't even carry them around these days and just use their phones with Apple Pay or Google Wallet

[@MarkUKInsects]

I remember working in a retail place is the days when card were just getting popular in the UK, and you needed training to take them, one thing that was drilled into you was that card should never be out of the customer's sight. I hope that is still drummed into people?

[@heatherfruin5050]

Same in Australia.

[@lizroberts1569]

I nearly freaked out the first time that happened in the US

[@nerdmaid1240]

I think the reason people in the UK haven’t always been to other parts of the UK so much is the close proximity we have to Europe. If you can afford a holiday, it’s often cheaper to get a package holiday to somewhere warm than it is to stay in UK resorts like Cornwall or Dorset.

[@davidevans3227]

it's so easy to overlook the stuff 'under your nose' isn it.. sometimes it takes a visitor to point things out.. 🙂

[@ALifeOfWine]

It's not just money but also travel time, I can fly to Barcelona, have lunch and fly back in less time than it takes me to get to Cornwall. Which is quite ridiculous now that I'm thinking about it.

[@jacqueline8559]

And , when people have so few Holidays, they're precious. Who wants to visit somewhere and be rained on all the time?. We went to Cornwall for 2 weeks and only had 1 dry day. No, sorry. That was our last UK holiday

[@phylroberts8830]

Also the likelihood of rain in the UK is high - you can just never depend on planning a trip and having good weather.

[@cheriegoodwin6819]

Americans want everything NOW, everything for their convenience, too lazy to walk and oversized portions...the list goes on...

[@darthwiizius]

A tip about footpaths: Stay somewhere outside the big cities and if the weather's nice find a footpath connecting to a nearby settlement a couple of miles away, walk it and grab a pint. It doesn't matter where it is, you'll be walking in footsteps going back thousands of years.

[@Tali5899]

@darthwiizius.'Settlements'?? As in the British must be colonisers then😱

[@HoleyMoleyAlex]

@@DM-ur8vc A pity that's not so true now, our pubs are really suffering and shutting down now.

[@1gerard47]

​@@DM-ur8vcthe way back from the pub is the problem 😂🥴

[@davidevans3227]

some lovely coastal paths, west wales.. along the tops..

[@sitokiaba5404]

@@HoleyMoleyAlex Likely depends on the area. My local town has 4 pubs on the main street alone, all visible to each over. Their pints are £3.50 max, and all are pretty busy most days.

[@quicksilver2510]

My biggest surprise about the UK from Australia, is sitting in a 12 century pub in Southampton , when an old pub in Australia would be 150 years old.

[@kevingreen8581]

You are very lovely people. Thank you for praising us Brits and how we do things in the UK. It is nice to hear such positive comments.

[@BibTheBoulderTheOriginalOne]

I strongly suspect they didn't visit Brixton, or Bradford, or anywhere else that is becoming a Muslim area.

[@fbiain9505]

@@BibTheBoulderTheOriginalOne Your point being? I was in Brixton most days when I lived in Kennington and also worked in/around Bradford for 15 years without any issues. I suspect your racism is just coming to the fore.

[@MechanicaMenace]

​@@fbiain9505yup. Brixton is great and Bradford gets a lot of shit but parts of it get bugger loads of tourists so obviously not all that bad. That idiot probably believes there are really "Sharia law zones" in Bradford...

[@humblescribe8522]

​@BibTheBoulderTheOriginalOne I strongly suspect you've never visited Brixton. I live about a mile away and it's fine.

[@duncanbedford4765]

​@@fbiain9505 I think the person isn't racist but just is honest....❤

[@BevandEdMusic]

Sometimes it's very easy to be annoyed about the place you live, but hearing your kind words about the UK has made me appreciate what we have here. Thank you and I'm glad you enjoyed your stay - hope you come back again soon!

[@Enhancedlies]

this is it

[@melindawells4248]

You are both clearly such lovely people that I am not surprised at all that you were welcomed and well liked. I hope you come and visit again. If all visitors were as delightful as you we would be truly blessed. x

[@LM-qr3kn]

You guys are awesome tourists, you've really taken the time to understand it here and it reflects super well. This was a really fun watch, come back any time!

[@emocelot]

as someone who works in retail in the UK. We are explicitly told in our training to never handle a customer's card directly.

[@lordyhgm9266]

It’s actually jarring to have someone touch my credit card

[@1171karl]

Its interesting to see how times change, but it makes sense. I used to work in retail: I got out of it 20 years ago and despite enjoying it, would recommend anyone to do the same.

[@Tomwithnonumbers]

Oh when I was in the US I felt a bit uncomfortable when people took my card and didn't know why, I hadn't clicked that it's because we have a different tradition in the UK!

[@imperatoriacustodum4667]

@@Tomwithnonumbers Won't lie, if someone took my card to scan the transaction I'd think they've just done that to hide additional fake charges or something.

[@MikeLeFish]

An interesting change, I worked retail back before even chip & pin was common, customer would hand over the card, you'd swipe it through the reader and a receipt would spit out, hand that to the customer to sign, then you'd check that the receipt signature matches the card one before you return it, so the cashier would maintain control over the customer's card for the entire duration of the transaction.

[@nicholasbell9017]

My old mate Jed was enjoying an after-work pint in his local pub in the New Forest, UK. A very large American couple came in. The guy asked to see the menu. When it came, he read it for a while, and asked the barmaid " What are these New potatoes? She answered " they're small, early crop potatoes. We grow them in our veg garden round the back. So they're fresh today" The American looked around and rolled his eyes upward. He made a large "O" shape with his hands and said:"In the States we have potatoes THIS BIG"... Jed turned to him and said quietly, " Around here we grows 'em to fit our mouths!"

[@Medusa13579]

Quality over quantity wins again 👌 😊

[@jennyli7749]

🤣🤣🤣

[@ConsciousStudies]

Sounds like a little Britain skit

[@CosmicLightSource111]

😂😂😂😂

[@fayewhite7541]

He doesn’t know what he is missing. Small, new potatoes dug straight from the garden and boiled are one of the best things along with fresh yellow beans with lots of butter.

[@JohnResalb]

In UK, if I'm brought the bill before I've finished eating, my feelings would be "these are very tight people, more interested in the money, than in the quality of the food".

[@cultfiction3865]

It does happen here though. Recently I ordered breakfast in a local cafe and they charged me before serving it. This was only a few weeks ago. Then even worse I took a taxi a few days ago and he wanted paying a few minutes after setting off just in case we might arrive there and I get out and do a runner without paying. So both those incidents fly in the face of the claim that we are the ones that ask about the bill. It's not true

[@Warentester]

​@@cultfiction3865The taxi drivers sometimes offer to close out the fare early, so you're done with the payment upon arrival and can just jump out - especially if you are heading to the airport or train station and you're stuck in traffic. This is, however, a courtesy, not fear of doing a runner.

[@judiharris8796]

Unfortunately, many cafes and restaurants are prey to the growing 'dine and dash' culture so need to present the bill early so as to safeguard their business.

[@LordBilliam]

I tend to deliberately stay as long as possible if they try to rush me off a table by bringing an unrequested bill

[@maggiecoles5377]

​@@cultfiction3865there are a lot of eating places where you pay before you eat - cafes, teashops, coffee shops, pubs where you order at the bar etc. I've never been in a restaurant that asks for money before you get your food

[@leighbishop6213]

I am seriously impressed you finding Robin Hoods Bay! It’s on the list of one of the UKs hidden gems to British people so welcome! It’s tiny but so special thanks for the shout out ❤️

[@v0w1x2]

I have a photo of my brother and I in swimming trunks shivering to death on the beach there. Dad had a firm grip on both of our heads for the photo. I’ll always love Australia…

[@jacobr1787]

I wonder if they did the cliff walk to/from Whitby that’s how I learned about robin hoods bay from my grandma

[@sami2503]

Yea I only live 2 hours away and I still haven't got round to going yet, it's nice to see people actually visiting the smaller less touristy places.

[@TheAyrix]

As a British person I've been there once, courtesy of Whitby folk week, definitely optimal fish and chips territory. For hilarity my home town in Wales has been a stone quarry since the neolithic (late stone age) we have multiple footpaths/ roads that date to Roman conquest.

[@claredunne7897]

Love Robin Hood's Bay ❤

[@noradinneen1]

You two are delightful! You reap what you sow-you sow positivity, politeness & kindness, thats what you will reap!

[@lindybeige]

Yes, footpaths are great! One of the worst things about the USA if you are British is that we never know what something is going to cost. In Britain, The sign says "Three ice creams for £4" and you go in and pay £4 and you get three ice creams - done. In the USA you have to add on some random sales tax, and then there's tipping to worry about, and then they might hit you for some surcharge for eating the ice cream on the premises.

[@alextilson9741]

For the Americans who read this thinking "not tipping!??!?!" (and I know you're out there), just remember, we actually pay our workers a decent wage, we have service charges, they have very well regulated holiday time, and we have free healthcare. Also, huge fan @lindybeige , didn't expect to find you here XD

[@callum105]

Hey lindy, big fan of your channel.

[@christinewilson1411]

I'm from the u.k and just found your channel and really found it interesting and how nice you are about the u.k

[@thelazychefuk4410]

Please tell me where I can get three ice creams for 4 quid! These days that would be £10 at least! ☺

[@joanmackie1735]

Most Brits would tip for good service in a restaurant, but it wouldn’t occur to them to tip when buying an ice cream, or a sandwich, or any take-away snack, nor is it expected. You must have got some very surprised looks while you were in the UK.

[@graham9881]

I think sometimes people in Britain do not appreciate what they take for granted, thank you for the reminder.

[@lizzy-wx4rx]

Having lived in both places, a lot of the differences they are describing boils down to the UK being more public minded and the US more individualistic. There's an almost palpable feeling of being part of the web of a society in the UK that simply does not exist in the US, where you are just a floating atom bouncing around among other atoms.

[@stretfordender11]

Agreed. Especially the youngsters of today

[@timbirch4999]

​@@stretfordender11"Kids these days!!!" OK grandad.

[@harbl99]

@@stretfordender11 Play fair. They've got no basis for comparison.

[@sydryi3086]

I love living in the UK

[@evmarley4746]

Love this vid guys it’s so lovely to hear how our country is seen by visitors! You should try the South Downs Way if you’re looking for a long distance footpath to start with, it’s fairly easy and level, with lots of villages along the way where you can stay in pubs/b&bs. The views of the ocean one side with the rolling hills the other side is so worth it!!

[@karlstanc4444]

I lived for 11 years in the UK and it was the best time of my life! Thank you UK!❤

[@HanChap2]

What a lovely thing to say ❤️ Thank you for appreciating our little island 🥰

[@stephena1196]

You"re welcome.

[@KP-mb9jx]

I’m delighted you had such a positive experience in the UK. Please return soon.

[@harbl99]

Any time m8. Nice to 'ave ya.

[@Pinkyorkie13]

@@KP-mb9jxngl you sound like a pilot or flight attendant

[@leighwalton8190]

The serving / waiting service in uk is not rushed because their pay is not dependent on tips. They are paid a reasonable wage. You do not need to tip. Any tips might even be shared among all the waiting staff. Sometimes the bill says 'service charge not included ' but this does not mean that staff are reliant on tips. Also in a pub people can stay for hours with just one or two drinks or a meal because its a 'public house'. So thats why you have to ask for the bill.

[@JohnTCampbell1986]

I'm not sure anyone who doesn't have 10 years at uni is getting a "reasonable" wage, and I'm not some loony lefty who thinks people in entry level jobs should get £20/hour at McDonalds, but I was looking on Indeed the other day and there was multiple companies in my area who all wanted a minimum of level 3 college certificate AND 5 years relevent experience for a whopping £11.75 - 12.00 per hour. Friendly reminder for context that the minimum wage (aka entry level job wages) is £11.44

[@davidmellish3295]

​@@prva9347Well luckily we have a GENUINE minimum wage in the UK, unlike in the States where they get a lower minimum wage in the food service industry which totally takes away the point of minimum wage. The whole point is you must be paid a certain amount for your job no matter what it is, the American system is so wrong, forcing the customers to pay the staffs wages and not the company who employs them

[@paulm2467]

⁠@@JohnTCampbell1986that’s exactly what a high wage economy (as promised by Boris) should do. The McDonalds workers in Switzerland earn about $31.45 per hour, a living wage, it’s not ‘loony left’ it’s civilised.

[@Tony-lj5lr]

@@davidmellish3295 waiters in the us make way more than in the uk and the customer service, us wins on both counts actually

[@Brookspirit]

Have you thought of renting a Canal boat in the UK, they go through pretty countryside and you can walk next to it as you go along, jump back on when you get tired.

[@wessexdruid7598]

Excellent idea. You might not go very far - but you will experience a very different pace to life.

[@denverspin]

Or ride bicycle.

[@LoremIpsum1970]

The Cheshire Ring is an idea, in good weather...

[@debsb2017]

A canal boat trip is an excellent idea. I think you'd love it.

[@prow9999]

I've just made the same suggestion.

[@Haaambuurger]

Something that always annoys me about American companies that open shops in England is they always get staff to approach you and ask if you need help. I’d rather be left alone and ask a staff member myself if I do need help. My default response is “just looking thanks”

[@scragar]

So weird that some american stores do the whole flip this on your basket/cart if you want attention thing and it gets praise. Who wants to be bothered when shopping? If I wanted help I'd approach you.

[@andreaconroy3623]

Yep, it's rude to give the bill before asking for it.

[@wessexdruid7598]

It gives the impression that you're being pushed out. Which, in the US, is the desired intent. In the UK, that's seen as very inhospitable.

[@cultfiction3865]

In my experience in UK we are often asked to pay when we make the order so there is no asking for the bill. They want payment as soon as we have ordered

[@denverspin]

In busy touristic areas, yes, they may ask for payment as you order. Just so no one walks off with a free meal, either accidentally or on purpose.

[@garysmith4425]

You ask for the bill when you're all done and ready to leave ...it takes the rush out of the eating out experience and is much more civilized.

[@mothturtle7897]

​@@cultfiction3865that's normal in a pub but unusual for a restaurant

[@dave1994jones]

As someone who's from the UK, typically restaurants will only bring the bill over without you asking for it only if they are super busy and need the table (normally told before you sit down they need the table back in like 1.5 hours etc) but otherwise the last thing they want to do is make you feel rushed

[@richardfurness7556]

I had a rather surreal experience on a footpath in northern England that crossed a wide stretch of open pasture. About halfway along I stopped to check the map, glanced to my right and saw that several dozen sheep had formed an almost perfect semicircle about thirty yards in diameter with me at the centre. For a moment I felt like I was being worshipped. Later I realised that the lambing season hadn't quite reached its end and that each ewe had instinctively taken up the best position she could find in order to protect her young. Emergence is a fascinating thing.

[@repletereplete8002]

I'm from rural northern England and have a great piece of advice. Be very careful walking through a field of cows especially with a dog and more so during calving season. I once got surrounded by a herd of cows and it took me a best part of an hour inching back to the gate praying they wouldn't spook and stampede and crush me flat. Keep your dog on a lead at all times. If it's off the lead around farm animals there's a good chance it'll be shot by a farmer.

[@hebdenmags]

An issue is taking dogs through a field of livestock. Be very aware that particular cows are very protective of the calves and can be aggressive.

[@LezDentz]

@@repletereplete8002 Better still, you can minimise the chances of cow attack by picking up your dog and carrying it if that is possible

[@MaryKane-qv5vz]

Highly dangerous if there were cows and their calves. Cows kill in those circumstances. Luckily for you there were only ewes.

[@stevejrose]

If you do get chased by a cow, let your dog off the lead. The cow will chase the dog which is likely to be faster than the cow.

[@jeanhill3387]

My family, parents and grandparents and others, were living in south-east London during the blitz, so I heard many stories of their experiences. I grew up playing in areas that had been bombed but, honestly I don't think we even thought about how it happened. My mother got fed up with running down to the air raid shelter every night and eventually just dived under her bed when the sirens sounded. My father in law built a really elaborate shelter in the garden for his family. The first they needed to use it, my mother in law spotted a spider and never went in it again! Two of my husband's aunts were buried under rubble when their family home was bombed. When they were eventually dug out, they were uninjured so they dusted themselves off, had a cup of tea and then reported for work. I have lived in Australia for more than 60 years, however I still remember with pride and grateful thanks the amazing spirit and fortitude of those wonderful people who withstood the Nazi onslaught and gave us all our wonderful futures.

[@davidgray3321]

Don’t forget the Aussies though steadfast friends and hard as nails, ditto New Zealand and Canada, we would have sunk without them, it we who should be grateful, and to the rest of the commonwealth’, the West Indies, India and Africa.

[@mark5444]

A good walk is Hadrians Wall. You really are walking in the footsteps of history, and the scenery is dramatic and stunning. The section around the Haltwhistle area is easy as there is an old military road that follows the wall so you can find a base, grab a bus and travel for a few miles, get off and walk back to your b and b etc. Vindolanda is a huge Roman Fort and an archaeological gem.

[@prow9999]

Good suggestion !

[@christophertaylor2564]

Just mentioned that as live in Wallsend a few mins from segedunum roman fort ruins

[@MiaHerssens]

When our US family came over from Michigan, we visited Gent ( Belgium) and the medivial (11th century) castle. They were amazed that the walls were not secured. You could fall off and drop a few meters. My brother answered that we generally don't fall off and if you do then you learn about evolution the hard way.

[@LilyGazou]

Too many lawyers in the US, too many people looking to sue. That’s why every place has warning signs.

[@joc6516]

Yet Brits constantly fall from balconies in hotels in Spain. It's sort of a norm there when staff hear someone has fallen from a balcony they always nod to each other and know it's going to be a Brit. We really need to learn some of that castle evolution and transfer it to modern buildings.

[@markhepworth]

@@joc6516That is because they engage in the very dangerous game of drunken balcony climbing..NOT because they just happened to fall off the balcony..🤦‍♂️🤡😆

[@masada2828]

Do u mean, gravity.

[@joannagodfrey5111]

@@masada2828 not a good thing when mixed with copious amounts of alcohol

[@amfwelsh]

As a frequent traveler to the US from the UK I love most Americans. Soon as they hear a British accent they want to talk to you. I love conversations starting that way.

[@mikesaunders4775]

Every time I have been there I have been mistaken for an Australian (I'm a south Londoner).They seemed disappointed when I revealed my true nationality.

[@markhepworth]

@@mikesaunders4775Same,most Americans think an English accent is something from downtown abbey 🤦‍♂️😂

[@danganbeg7225]

They ADORE an Irish accent

[@repletereplete8002]

@@mikesaunders4775 Had that loads too and I'm from Yorkshire. I'd have to really slow down talking and still they'd struggle.

[@lindabrown8421]

@@markhepworth Downtown? LOL!

[@michaelrossiter4724]

Having lived in London for years, I've had nothing but positive experiences with Americans visiting the UK. Always polite, interested and charming. Lovely people

[@gnutlahcsg4434]

I agree, but having lived in America, I think it's because we're seeing over here the more broad-minded, open-minded, educated, cultured Americans (like these guys). The others won't leave home.

[@antonymash9586]

Walking in a field with cows with calf. When you have a dog with you. That can be a little risky. Cows are big animals, and they are protective of their young.

[@mypointofview1111]

The same can be said of any creature with young ones. The main thing is when you go across fields on a footpath with your dog keep the dog on lead. It's your dog, your responsibility to keep it under control. Farmers are tolerant of ramblers but a dog that's not on a lead and bothering sheep, cows etc can be shot legally by the farmer as the dog will be deemed to be a nuisance. Just something to be aware of

[@robertwhite3503]

Yes, several people died each year. Often it is the dog that is seen as dangerous by cattle. Dogs can usually outrun cattle. People cannot.

[@tefalhead7396]

Even without a dog. I've had a couple of close calls

[@edf6607]

Cows are incredibly protective of their calves and round our way many farmers put signs up at calving time to warn of this. They do see dogs as more of a threat than humans but even so I would give them a very wide berth even without a dog because you never know. I have seen signs telling you always to keep your dog on a lead but unleash it if you get chased by cattle

[@chrisstone8210]

@@robertwhite3503 Which is why it's better NOT to have dog on lead when in with cows and calf, or at least, let go of the lead if the cattle approach. They are more likely to go after the dog!

[@robertgrimsted877]

You both are beautiful people glad you like our country

[@moggz9949]

oh wow! Respect for driving in central London and rural roads on your first visit. That's probably some of the most difficult driving you could do! If you do want to drive more in the UK, you are certainly well prepared for it now :) The parking thing, because everywhere is so old and we don't have much space, parking space is at a premium here.

[@moggz9949]

Hot & cold taps. In older UK houses, hot water is not necessarily drinking water and may be from a storage tank in the attic/loft space. the old house I'm in has a single mixer-tap in the kitchen, which means in order to get drinking water, you have to run the tap for a while (wasting water) until it runs cold and you know it's drinkable water coming out. So really, seperate taps make more sense in old buildings unless the hot-water is also definitly potable.

[@claymor8241]

Yes I know a lot of people that won’t drive through central London. And I’m not keen on those little rural roads either lol.

[@damedusa5107]

18:17 on contactless pay. Many places now can even do split payments for large groups who are together but want to pay separately, it’s so much easier. Than haggling around the group who’s paying what

[@rosfow]

When you eat a meal in the UK, or Europe generally, its considered rude to rush you out after you finish. Its totally normal for people to continue drinking and talking long after the meal is finished. They dont necessarily expect to get more that one or two seatings out of a table. No tip culture so no pressure to leave.

[@annecaunce]

So many Brits moan about our way of life, so it's really interesting to hear your point of view. Personally, I'm proud to be British and love my country. Everywhere has problems, but ours are nothing compared to some countries. As a nation we're very polite and bad manners are one of my big bug bears. If I'm in the supermarket queue with a huge trolley of stuff and the person behind me only has a basket, I always offer to let them go ahead of me, i hold doors open, I say please and thank you always because it's respectful and my kids do the same. And you're right that if someone is friendly towards you, it's because that's who they are and not because they want something. Being nice to people costs nothing and it's surprisingly contagious. You're obviously genuine folk and that's why you've had good experiences. Like attracts like. On the subject of toilets, there's a pub in my local city of Liverpool called The Philharmonic Dining Rooms with the most amazing victorian toilets. People go in there just to use them and take a photo. You should Google them and see what i mean.

[@rwentfordable]

I love our nation. I've had a ukrainian lady with me over a year and she was so surprised how consistently friendly and polite we are. You don't get this in Europe to the same level.

[@timbirch4999]

Some people will moan about anything.

[@cgdimension]

A lot of the things brits moan about are imported from the US via the media or companies bringing working practices with them, consumer habits, technology etc

[@wolfen210959]

Regarding the level of service in bars or restaurants, I believe the difference is because service staff in the UK are guaranteed a liveable wage, unlike in the US where service staff rely on tips as the main portion of their wage, hence their sometimes overzealous attention.

[@T3sh1k]

I fully agree with this. Service staff in the US are actively chasing tips, where as in the UK a tip is seen more as a bonus not a necesity.

[@briecheezy4119]

And what is the expected amount in the US for a tip. Is it around 30 per cent? Any lower and you get raised eyebrows or did I get that wrong? It was ten years ago now that I was a Brit driving around in the US on hols but tipping always made me nervous in case I came across tight.

[@holdmyhand2009]

@@T3sh1k yeah, i got quite offended on my visit to America, that i was expected to pay their wages. it's a disgrace when the company is clearly making a fortune.

[@ceejay0137]

Yes, being asked every 5 minutes during the meal whether everything is OK can be really annoying and intrusive. The server is angling for a tip by being attentive but it does come across as fake concern.

[@gordonsmith8899]

What Americans refer to as 'good service' is in fact some poor, underpaid soul trying his/her damnedest to get the customer fed and out as quickly as possible. A Canadian cousin visited my family some little while ago and together we visited a friend living in France. On one of our earliest days out we stopped at a cafe - we ordered, ate and drank and sat and chatted. I noticed my cousin kept looking at her watch - she was clearly uncomfortable. On asking her why she was looking so anxious she said she was expecting the waiter to come over to ask us to leave.

[@BongoBaggins]

Robin Hood's Bay is amazing. We were there one stormy day, and local teenage lads were sliding on their feet down the slipway into the rough sea, and swimming out again.

[@smarr72]

That's funny that you noticed the toilet/bathroom situation first, that's exactly what I noticed when I first visited the US! I was horrified by the gaps 😂😂

[@patriciahope2]

Me too!

[@sheepcow36]

Me too 😳

[@wackthegood8884]

Same!

[@lulaboola74]

Omg me too. My (teenage) daughter had worn a playsuit on the first day which meant she basically was naked going to the loo. Trying to hide with the gaps was not easy😅

[@smarty6090]

I noticed it at the airport and thought it was for security reasons but then was horrified to find out that it was normal. The thing is mums often take their young male children to the ladies loo and the whole gap thing doesn't seem right.

[@MrKapeji]

The Pembrokeshire coast path is probably the most stunning you'll ever walk. So varied.

[@stephrichards4611]

The Ceredigion coastal path is my favourite. Huge cliffs

[@BarryChumbles]

Definitely. Coast paths generally are lovely, but Pembrokeshire is hard to beat (if the weather is kind).

[@Belaugh]

@@BarryChumbles Pembrokeshire, known as Little England Beyond Wales, is one of the most beautiful places in the world, with some of the most wonderful people - and with the most remarkable history and antiquities. I love it, and wish it was home. Home from home in Pembrokeshire? Strumble Head.

[@jeremyenglish8484]

@@Belaughyou have impeccable taste! I live in Pembrokeshire and we go on holiday to Strumble Head and camp at Tresinwen.😊

[@alecquail9275]

I think that you had a largely positive experience in Britain because you are both very open and accept that things are different when abroad. Too many travellers - not just Americans - focus on how uncomfortable they are when it’s “not like it is back home” even though new experiences are at the heart of why we travel. You guys just go for it which is refreshing and helps me see my country in a new light. I hope we get to welcome you back before too long.

[@davidjones6209]

I think it has been said over and over, if you are nice to others they will be nice back regardless of your origin. I am really glad you had a positive experience, it is a reflection of yourselves as positive open minded people.

[@SusanRoseArt]

Because I live in the UK, I take all your choices for granted and don't give them a second thought. The privacy of the public loo to footpaths over private land - it's all normal stuff to me lol. But I do want to say thank you! I felt your film was really positive and and it was such a pleasure to listen to. Come back here again soon! Xx

[@TheChiraagG]

I would say, growing up in a household in London that had mixer taps since the 80s, seeing separate taps when I'm out and about is jarring to me. We do take some things for granted indeed.

[@marjon1703]

7:22 I'd like to suggest the 'Sandstone Trail' in Cheshire. It's 34 miles long, heavy with history, awe inspiring locations and stunning views. The route has been around since arguably the stone age but definitely bronze age. It's a bit steep in places but not hard going. The website has split the trail into roughly 5 mile links with hostels and hotels at each stop but there is so much to explore around that some people stay at each stop for a day or so or plan shorter links. However, few of the place names are pronounced as they are spelt (some of them are way off). Enjoyed your video! Thanks :)

[@bobmabel8543]

I grew up next to the Sandstone trail. I go back when I can and when I do a pint in the Pheasant Inn at Burwardsley is a treat - highly recommended 😊

[@katydaniels481]

I would say that footpaths are mostly not disrespected and we consider them very precious. I would also say that in England and Wales we are very envious of Scotland's right to roam 😊

[@theotherside8258]

In England we do have some access rights beyond the Public pathways too but where i live the network of public right of ways is so extensive and dense i don't see a need to access rights on the scale of Scotland's.

[@stephenlee5929]

Yes, English here, I'm jealous.

[@katydaniels481]

@@theotherside8258 Yes, that is a very good point. The difference between where I live, and my parents in a more rural area is quite big 😀

[@johnavery3941]

Yes Katy, I am from Scotland and had a friend up from Jersey and she said would it not be great if we could climb up that hill, I said "lets go"...she said "won't the landowner be upset us walking over their land".. I said "I doubt it, as long as we treat their land, animals etc with respect they do not care" .... she was amazed lol

[@Bleugdnskslshna]

@@johnavery3941 I’m only just learning this is a Scotland specific thing! I’m Cornish mind so probably on a bit of a different planet to further north aha

[@angelajrawson]

Most houses have mixer taps, not separate hot and cold taps. Public toilets sometimes have separate hot and cold, but increasingly, you find smart taps that switch in when you put your hands underneath them.

[@kendee4421]

Lots of visitors don't realise Britain has a national bus service. National Express coaches travel from Victoria in London all over Britain, with presence in most major cities. They also pick up and drop off at airports. If you book in advance, fares can be incredibly cheap! London to Bath or Weymouth for example for £10 to £20 return etc. Much cheaper than rail fare. See the countryside in comfort. Much better than hiring a car. They are 'Express', so stops are limited. Air conditioned, leather seats, WiFi and on board toilet. NB more than one suitcase per person need a small extra payment. Make sure you read the luggage T&Cs They also operate the Flixbus service that will take you into Europe for low prices if booked in advance.

[@lindaj5492]

But be aware that they are private companies: there are very few publicly-owned bus companies.

[@avancalledrupert5130]

If you are over 6 feet tall you can't use them. You cant physically fit in the seats . I went from Newquay to Heathrow on one once. Took me 3 weeks for my back to recover from being all twisted up .

[@OrangeDog20]

If you go with Megabus then you can get tickets for £1

[@kendee4421]

​@lindaj5492 Yes, you have to book your exact journey with them. You can't just get on the bus and pay the driver. Easy to do online and you just show a code on your phone when you board. Much cheaper than rail.

[@kendee4421]

​@@avancalledrupert5130I'm over 6 foot and have no problems.

[@veronicavickery6518]

The Kennet and Avon Canal (opened in 1810) towpath walk is a beautiful and historical 80 mile walk from Bristol Docks to The Thames in Reading, Berkshire. River and man made sections, liberally sprinkled with flights of locks and passing through towns, villages and open countryside. Many waterside pubs and brightly decorated narrow boats to watch as well as wild life and historic buildings. Hearing the cuckoo on an early spring morning and seeing drifts of bluebells in the canal side woods was magical.

[@christianx8494]

Lots of older British houses have a hot water tank/heater under their roofs from where the water simply falls down by gravity. That means the hot water has a lower pressure than the cold water that flows directly from the net to the tap. This different pressure makes mixing taps useless. The higher pressure in the cold water pipe would simply pump the hot water back into its tank and not mix with it.

[@davidevans3227]

our mixer tap didn't mix, hotter one side, colder the other so we've gone back to using the sink 🙂 lol..

[@bekaemery2918]

I really enjoyed this video! You guys are so sweet and positive, and you brought up more interesting things that i think ive heard others talk about. Obviously the classics will always be there!

[@moxymoe]

The taps situation is so you use the plug, you fill the sink with hot and cold water to the required temp wash then remove the plug and let the dirty water drain ,this preserves water rather than running one tap and washing, as clean water constantly runs down the drain,. the plumbing for two taps is exactly the same as it is for one mixer tap. i have a mixer tap on the bath and two taps on the sink

[@stevetaylor8698]

"the plumbing for two taps is exactly the same as it is for one mixer tap. " It depends. For many years, hot water systems in the UK relied upon there being a cold water tank (usually located in the roof space) which acted as a header tank for the hot water boiler. This tank was not sealed and it was feasible that the water in it could become contaminated. Therefore, water from the hot tap, even if it wasn't actually hot, could cause illness from contaminants if it was consumed. Since circa 2000. all water systems newly installed must provide all tap water to be potable. However if your house has a plumbing system which dates from before 2000, then it is possible that hot water is not potable and should have a separate hot water tap.

[@derektighe5131]

The reason for two taps on a sink is historic. Cold water is pure and high pressure. Hot water is not pure and low pressure. If the was one tap the high pressure cold water would go up the low pressure hot water. Don’t drink from the low pressure hot water. It’s from a tank in the loft and could have a dead cat in it

[@timenchanter1983]

Not strictly true, cold and hot water used to come from different sources with treated, clean cold water coming from the mains supply while hot water was stored in a water tank and heated on demand and so could be sat for weeks at a time and was not potable. Combining them is illegal as stale water could backflow into the mains supply and contaminate the water for everyone. Few places still have such plumbing and so can be easily converted to a mixer tap but you can still find older houses that cannot be converted without replacing the water tank first. The plug is the solution to the problem of overly hot water. Saving water is a fortunate by-product rather than the goal

[@matthelliwell]

Or just wash your hands very quickly under the hot tap before the water gets too hot.

[@joc6516]

I've heard that before but it's not true. To just wash hands it uses more water to run two taps, fill it up, latter up with soap and then rinse. Besides, you can do that EVERYWHERE ELSE IN THE WORLD AS WELL. On a combined tap, you're not FORCED to wash under running water, you can also put the plug in and fill it up. You have the choice of doing it both ways. Sorry, there is no excuse. When only one country does something one way and not only do no other countries copy, but every one of them knocks it, and even when the entire rest of the old "British Empire" switch to the way the rest of the world does it the moment they left the empire, it has to be evidence that we're doing it wrong here.

[@chidsta]

You're so nice and complimentary. You said trains were efficient in the UK! Never heard anyone say that. You must have been lucky.

[@霊像子]

In the US there are barely any trains, and they might only run once or twice a day, with the need to check in luggage, so being able to get a ticket for a train near anywhere, anytime is efficient.

[@20chocsaday]

Comparison is the reason for this video.

[@Eilavamp]

Also it's a bit different waiting for a train on holiday to waiting for work. Often if a train is delayed by a minute or 5 it isn't an issue on holiday but it can impact your commute if you're reliant on the timings. So it feels efficient on holiday but ask any London commuter and they'll tell you our trains are awful.

[@patrickmoore5580]

If you try Amtrack you’ll know why the Americans love British trains

[@paulm2467]

@@Eilavampthey are better than nearly everywhere else, the Japanese, Swiss Dutch are higher but the UK is ranked 8th in Europe in performance. It’s also third best in the safety rankings, fractionally behind the much smaller systems of Denmark and Luxembourg but much safer than any of the other major countries’ systems.

[@Ben77cr]

History lesson for footpaths, there is a blue plaque on Flixton House: The plaque commemorates a famous court victory by Flixton residents who successfully stopped Squire Ralph Wright from closing Bottoms Footpath in 1827. The case marked the culmination of several years of campaigning by villagers opposed to local magistrate and land owner Mr Wright’s decision to block up footpaths across his land. In 1826, the ‘Flixton Footpath Battle’, as it was known, resulted in the formation of the ‘Manchester Society for the Preservation of Ancient Footpaths’: one of the earliest examples of a society of this type. The court case made the national press and was a watershed moment in the history of rights of way campaigners in the UK.

[@LoremIpsum1970]

You also had the protests in the Lake District that led to roaming rights...bet Windermere with 300k people per day wishes it was otherwise...

[@astronomenov99]

@@LoremIpsum1970 If other places were opened up to access, would that not spread the visitors about a bit thinner? I'm in Aberdeenshire though and when I go mountain biking at my local 'trail centre' I see about 10 other people on a weekend day and midweek less than 5. And that's on a 3 hour ride.

[@ianker7143]

7:30 Just about all the longer-distance public footpaths can be broken down into smaller distances, usually with villages or small towns along the way that will have good accomodation and, quite often, train access - so even without a car you can just walk part of the route. Don't feel you have to do the whole thing.

[@stevieinselby]

The public footpath network is definitely one of the very best things about the UK, the fact that everyone has local paths that they can go out and walk on close to home, even if they don't all have dramatic scenery just being out in nature is so good for physical and mental health. I'm booked to do the Coast to Coast next year, and really looking forward to it! If you want something a bit shorter and easier to get started, the West Highland Way (Glasgow to Fort William) is fantastic, that's about 8 days walking, so about half the distance of the Coast to Coast. Other great options include the Dales Way (Yorkshire to the Lake District) and Hadrians Wall. On a lot of the more popular trails, you can get tour companies that will organise your accommodation and transport your luggage from one night's accommodation to the next so that you only need to carry a day pack with you, which I would definitely recommend doing.

[@lisahenry20]

I've been missing where I used to live when I was in high school. It was pretty much on the edge of nowhere, regular roads on one side so you didn't feel completely removed from society but all fields on the other side. So many interesting walks, I regret not doing some of them more than a couple of times. It was also fairly close to the greenway, which is probably the thing I miss the most, I never realised how big of a difference it makes. At least where I currently live, I have easy access to canal walks (although it's making me really want a house boat).

[@pogleswife7572]

We love our footpaths. I went to walk on a couple of footpaths which go around 2 fields and the owner had ploughed right up to the hedgerow making it very hard to walk across. I went onto the local councils website and there was a page especially for reporting problems with footpaths. After a few days I was called by the council to say they'd contacted the owner and given them 2 weeks to restore the footpath to make it useable. Brilliant.

[@NickNick-tp5cr]

@emiliefreakinbrown1812 Great, because you wanting to walk somewhere is far more important than the farmer doing their job. Terrible, just terrible.

[@TheDaern]

​@@NickNick-tp5crActually, in an entirely legal sense it *is* more important. The farmer made an error and will have had to put it right, even if it means some minimal loss to his usable arable land (which they should never have used in the first place). They will also have an awareness of this for next time when they hopefully won't do it again. Rights of way only remain rights of way of they are used and defended. IME most farmers know and understand this and live very happily alongside these rights of way without any problem at all.

[@martintemplot6765]

@@NickNick-tp5cr The right of way existed before the farmer purchased the land, and he did so knowing that and the legal obligation to maintain it. The right of way will continue to exist after he sells it. You can't actually "own" a part of planet Earth. The law gives you temporary use of it, but there is only one planet, it belongs to and is home to every one of us. Now and for ever.

[@SarahBakewell-pq7pb]

It is sometimes to the farmer’s benefit to have responsible walkers crossing their land. Walkers occasionally find problems that need the farmers attention eg; a sheep stuck on it’s back with its legs in the air! Found out who owned the land from the nearest house who was very grateful.

[@lindaj5492]

@@NickNick-tp5crFarmer was breaking the law and thought he’d get away with it. Fieldpath Society often organises walks to check on condition of rights of way.

[@jasonlloyd3335]

It's separate taps because our hot and cold water come from different water tanks in the house. You can drink from the cold water tap because its not mixed with the hot water from the boiler.

[@hannahk1306]

Only in old houses - anything built in the last few decades or that's been updated the water is perfectly safe to drink at any temperature and usually have mixer taps. I don't think we have any separate taps at all in our house.

[@mintymushrooms8025]

Its always nice to see people appreciate the UK. It makes me remember I live in such a beautiful country. I’ve met one or two US citizens in the UK and loved talking to them. Glad you had a great time and yall come back now y’ hear!

[@_chrisr_]

As a brit travelling to US I was shocked when "using the bathroom" at the Empire State Building and the stalls not having even half height doors on them - it is most disconcerting to be able to make eye contact with someone on the other side whilst sat on the toilet! We are pretty good at queuing but not in every situation - e.g. if you travel on the london underground it is usually every man/woman for themself when boarding!

[@ThEhObBiT1959]

Well, that’s put me right off going to America, I can’t perform if I’m being watched. How can you have a decent 💩 if you are being watched?

[@timbirch4999]

That is SO weird. Why would you make them like that?!! I don't want someone being able to look at me while I shit.

[@lisahenry20]

Public transport (especially trains and trams) tend to be a free for all. People should let people off before getting on, but it rarely happens.

[@simmer484]

@@ThEhObBiT1959 it's not like someone is just stood there eye balling you for the entire time

[@dannystaples2832]

It is not ”every man /woman for themselves” when using the London Tube. With rare exceptions Londoners are respectful on public transport and that includes TFL buses. I’ve lived in London over 70 years and use the bus and tube in Brixton regularly.

[@Mike-James]

With the two taps, you will find a plug and using it you put water into the sink to mix it it.

[@susansmiles2242]

🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️ not the separate tap debate again is using the plug inconvenient

[@KathyBarnett-mv5vg]

You haven't lived until you've swapped your hands between hot and cold water taps, ahh my childhood days are a calling! 😂😂

[@rundmk00]

hand bowl method, fill hands with cold then top up with hot, then throw it at your face

[@Mike-James]

@@rundmk00 I remember one time the heat went out, that was fun.

[@denverspin]

To conserve water, and the energy that makes it hot.

[@chippydogwoofwoof]

The fact that you was treated well doesn't surprise me in my experience people are generally treated how they deserve to be treated and of course you both deserve nothing but the best.

[@cultfiction3865]

Doesn't everybody deserve good treatment? Even by treating seemingly unpleasant individuals well we might cause them to think about their own behavior. But by treating them with contempt all we will do is reinforce their own oppositional attitude

[@annother3350]

@@cultfiction3865 You dont have to pander to imbeciles and bad attitudes though

[@helenbrown6527]

I love how these two are talking about the differences but respectful and not being derrogatory. People don't have to like everything in another country, but those people who put up content with a constant whingeing mindset naturally get people's backs up. Well done you two.

[@NickfromNLondon]

The standard for car parking bays is 2.4 m by 4.8 m (8’ x 16’) and that was set when cars were smaller.

[@richardwebb5317]

Car bloat is a big problem now - it is as if the roads are getting narrower.

[@tezscanlan6418]

That's what basins and plugs are for, put some hot in the plugged sink, add cold for comfort and wash hands, face ect with the bowl of water infront of you. Yes I've called the sink a basin, bowl and sink... all are aceptable tems to use. And who wants to fill a glass of water (to drink) with a mixed tap, its good to know cold water only comes from the single tap.😊 We do love to spend time with our food and drinks.

[@MsGbergh]

Wash basins in public toilets ten not have plugs though.

[@kh23797]

@@MsGbergh Agreed. Idiots tend to nick 'em, so they are absent by design.

[@AnnCannon-bt1yx]

Put the cold in first then add hot otherwise you risk being scalded!

[@John-b4v2d]

You were asking about footpaths? There is a hiking trail in southwest England called "The Cotswold Way". This is considered one of the prettiest trails in England which stretches 102 miles from Chipping Camden to Bath. If you Google it there are companies which organise hikes along the Way including baggage transfers and pre-booked accommodation in pubs and guest houses along the route. A more adventurous hike is called "The Pennine Way". The Pennine Way National Trail is a 268 mile (431 km) walking route from Edale in Derbyshire to Kirk Yetholm in the Scottish Borders. It crosses some of the finest upland landscapes in England, from the Peak District, through the Yorkshire Dales, across the North Pennines and over Hadrian’s Wall in Northumberland to the Cheviots. All the trails in UK can be catered to by Holiday companies if you want to check them out! Hope you come back soon, you'll always be welcome! 🥰

[@LilyGazou]

These would be my dream to hike. Meanwhile I just do parts of the Pacific Crest Trail.

[@LynnBanks-k4n]

You might find this interesting - a young American couple walking the Cotswold Way. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oqvEcnSki7Npa7M

[@John-b4v2d]

@@LilyGazou Ah! A kindred spirt! Hope you realise your dream! 😁😁😁

[@kalonymos]

Thanks for mentioning that. There are many companies thar arrange hikes that range from one day to ten and sometimes even more. You can start small and work your way up.

[@claredunne7897]

Its so refreshing to hear of Americans visting other parts of the UK. I recently went abroad and met some Americans. We said we were from the UK and they asked us if we lived in London, as if there are no other places!

[@gracejasmine4338]

Well, you two are a ray of sunshine! Absolutely loved watching this video, it's so great to hear about the UK from your perspective and really lovely to hear how much you enjoyed your visit. 😊

[@Glassy1979]

Totally agree with the toilet comment. As a Brit, it amazed me how few places in the US have a proper door Can I also say again. Thank you so much for all your videos. I hope you come back to UK again soon

[@Anon54387]

There was a problem with, ahem, people getting up to things they shouldn't be in public restrooms so the door doesn't go all the way to the floor. Yet another case of a few weirdos ruining things for the rest of us.

[@ceejay0137]

In US toilet cubicles the toilet itself and the cubicle dividers are all supported off the main wall, which makes it much easier to clean the floor because there are no obstructions. However, even with that type of construction it would be easy to make the door wider so there was no gap to see through. I definitely prefer the British type, though!

[@lizgardner7239]

It's lovely to listen to the positive comments about the UK, makes me view it in a better light, thank you.

[@eamonlyons9900]

Lovely video as it is a nice to have an honest assessment of what is good about the UK as well as some of the quirky ones ........the footboard item is one thing we are passionate about - the "ramblers rights" were hard fought for in the 40s and 50s and we don't realise how fantastic they are so well done for shining a light on that ..........I reckon you were well received by folks in the UK because we take people as we find them - you guys are great people - honest and open ......can't quite believe your transport feedback though I think you got lucky there our airports and trains are going backwards ..........loved your feedback on politeness and genuine friendliness (as opposed to fake for a tip).......

[@helenhemsworth8484]

It’s so lovely to hear your positivity and that you aren’t completely running your own country down at the same time. Just a comparison. It’s also a good reflection of things we might not even see ourselves about our little country…. Thank you. Enjoyed listening to your experiences!!

[@Yates000014806]

I’m British. Your opinions are accurate. You seem like really nice people and I hope you enjoyed your travels. It’s great you’ve visited places outside of london

[@rogerhigman7568]

What a lovely couple! ❤❤❤ . It's so nice that they reacted positively to the things that surprised them. I can't help feeling that they were so well received because they are so likeable - and that they'd probably be well-received wherever they went.

[@hogwashmcturnip8930]

I clicked on this with some trepidation, as most of the "Yanks in the UK," vlogs have been everything that gets Americans disliked" But this couple are wonderful. It is Their manners and willingness to accept and learn about a different culture that got them received. it works for all nations anywhere. I live in Spain and the behaviour of some Brits here is appalling. It makes me ashamed and dislike my nation. I have been asked more than once "Are you Sure you are English? You are nothing like Them! You are one of us!" I feel that this couple would get that same reaction in the UK. It´s a pity that some people don´t grasp that how they behave to their hosts is seen as an example of what their nation is like, and if you behave like a dork, your nation will be seen that way. Even by people who have never met an American or British person before. Because all they have heard are the horror stories. If a Yank is loud, rude and ignorant in London, it filters down to some little town in the Midlands. If Brits get drunk and rampage around Benidorm, that gets back to a tiny village of 93 people in Extremadura. It is the bad behaviour that gets talked about and creates the National image.

[@denisenoble4010]

from a Brit to an American, thankyou for your kind words, alot made me smile but your right about so many things that we take for granted. Coast to coast walk, you have to do it. there are companies that, at a cost, take your luggage from place to place so that you can concentrate on doing the walk. i did it many years ago with my cousin and fer daughter. My dad did the driving between overnight stays. all the planning was done before as rooms in bed and breakfast do get booked up in certain times. so we planned how far we would walk and then my dad would be at our stop for the day, drive us to our b and b then after breakfast drive us back to where we walked the day before, we did it in 12 days averaging 15 or 16 miles a day. there is so much info on the coast to coast walk, it was an amazing experience, the scenery was stunning so if you can do it, it was amazing. loved your videos xx

[@bonglesnodkins329]

Like a lot of things in the UK, the hot and cold taps are the result of having to retrofit old housing stock. So many British houses are a hundred years old or more, and they weren't built originally with hot water, or for washer/dryers etc. Those were bolted on later, and the first iteration of hot water typically used a tank in the attic that meant the water wasn't safe to drink and couldn't pass through the same outlet as potable water. Also, when old British houses had washing machines installed, typically the only place that had the space and the plumbing was the kitchen.

[@StephenHann-fh4lj]

I'm not going to read any of the other comments yet as I don't want to be influenced before I write mine. Firstly, I'm a Brit. I live in Surrey which is just south of London. This is an absolutely delightful video. I'm so pleased that you were able to appreciate the differences and discuss them in such a polite manner. I'm proud of some of our ways... but, of course, I know there are plenty of things we get wrong. Thank you for your enthusiasm and for making the video. Not that it's down to me - but I'd welcome you back anytime. Good luck with your adventures 😊

[@sarahchatters381]

I was a little surprised to hear you say the public transport in the UK is good. That's certainly not what most Brits think! 😂

[@silviavousden3316]

You have no idea how bad it is in the USA.

[@jimtaylor294]

The couple here are indeed [unfortunately] mistaken on the "don't need a car" part, as in reality it's far harder to get a job (more thsn three times harder) or be promoted to management without one. That, and public transport is both expensive and patchy in coverage. Has been a mess ever since the 1960's.

[@lisahenry20]

​@@jimtaylor294it very much depends on where you are. I live in a large town, my job is a 20 minute walk away, the supermarkets that I go to are between 10 and 40 minute walks, there's a large shopping centre that's a 1 hour walk, and the city centre is 30 minutes using public transport. Sure, a car would be nice for when I want to go to the lake that's about an hour's walk away, but it's also not a huge deal.

[@FamilyWeir]

​@@jimtaylor294it is variable, but since areas you really don't need a car as much. I lived and worked in Manchester for a while, and I could get almost anywhere by tram or bus and ten minutes walking for example. In small towns and rural areas it can be very different - but even there, if you're not so time critical, it can be possible. We're in North Yorkshire now, and the trains aren't running early enough to commute (although there are buses) - but if you say wanted to get the train to Whitby because you're going there for a break or even a day trip it's perfectly possible. I get the impression that in the US, outside major metro areas the only buses are school buses or long distance, in the UK it would be unusual for two neighbouring towns not to have a regular bus between them.

[@TheHaighus]

​@@jimtaylor294 Neither of those are factors for tourists though. By and large, if you are not in a rush and enjoy/are prepared for walking you can reach most of the UK via public transit as a tourist. Especially the popular places. Even more so if you have a bike. Obviously if you are a UK resident a car can be really helpful or borderline necessary, especially if you live outside the biggest cities, but this video is for tourists.

[@petercollins7848]

Thank you for your kind comments about the UK, we do try on the whole to make visitors welcome. I’ve travelled to California and found it a wonderful experience and everyone was very friendly and helpful too. I think it depends a lot on how you present yourself to others.

[@jaymefraioli5141]

Spaces in car parks are small and narrow- not so they can squeeze in more cars, but because cars used to be a lot smaller. I've lived in the UK for 13 years now- when I moved here SUVs and other large vehicles weren't as common as they are now.

[@grapesodatravels]

You reaped the kind behaviour you sowed through your own positivity and respectfulness! Haha at the loo cubicles! We're in NYC later this year so we will compare and contrast!

[@_M_K._]

Please don't think New York City is like the rest of the USA. NY is more grungy than most other parts.

[@sandrapearson728]

I suspect the reason you find car parking difficult is the same as we do, cars have got so much wider but car parks haven’t kept up. It’s really interesting that you think our public transport is good, generally we don’t, compared with other countries. I suspect bigger towns and cities are better served than our rural areas, certainly our village bus service is very poor. Footpaths are great, and the organisations that keep them maintained are much appreciated. Thank you for your positive responses.

[@Ellie-rx3jt]

I think of our public transport in a small Kentish town as abysmal, but then I think back to living in a small town in Missouri for ten months and realise where they're coming from. Our public transport runs at bad times, theirs doesn't exist (in certain locations).

[@scottstevens4633]

Modern cars are 'too' big. I saw a 1972 lancia fulvia the other day. Gorgeous car. On the road between two modern motors it looked liliputian

[@nlwilson4892]

Generally the bigger towns and cities have pretty good public transport and more rural areas don't have any, or a bus in and out on a Saturday or something that is often cancelled or late.

[@sharnadixon-scott710]

Compared with other countries UK public transport is brilliant in certain areas in the north of England even the smaller villages it's pretty well served. In highlands of Scotland it's a few buses a week

[@glzgowlass]

Brit here. Lived in USA for the last 34 years. I’m bowled over by your video. You are the best of America!

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

Wow, thank you!

[@courtsr5649]

You both seem so so sweet! You’re the kind of tourists we love to have ❤

[@V8Adam]

English lad here. Loved your video! 1. You are both really respectful, diplomatic and informative. 2. Really interesting hearing your perspective. 3. The bathroom difference is apparently to do with emergency access. In the UK we have a different emergency access route so we enclosed stalls more. 4. I hope you come back to the UK sometime as you’re very welcome here 💖

[@cketts8128]

When my family and I went to the States a few years ago we noticed: toilet doors hiding nothing, fear of tipping incorrectly, every room was huge, the amount of land in the middle of the highways which you could build a housing estate on, lack of vegetables with a meal, wonderful air conditioning, great service, lots of trucks and not many cars, employees pledging allegiance before starting work, lots of appreciation for the armed services, and lastly being continually asked if we were Australian! 😂🇬🇧🇬🇧💚🧡

[@Rearda]

Employees pledging allegiance before starting work? 😳 I thought the indoctrination ended when they left high school.

[@megbond]

That's funny. When I went to the US, I was continually asked if I was English. I'm Australian!

[@annbeth6730]

@@megbondthe irony

[@nimbinguy]

I’m an Aussie, when I went too Britain was constantly asked if I was a New Zealander(Kiwi)

[@sarahchatters381]

In UK you usually expect to get veg with a meal, not have to order them as sides. Is this the difference?