US vs UK: 10 SHOCKING Differences | Cultural Differences as Americans in England

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

Have you noticed a shocking difference not covered in this video? Leave a comment and let us know! Watch our video: How we see the US after 8 months in the UK & Europe (REVERSE CULTURE SHOCKS): kzbin.info/www/bejne/nmrRc5ukd7abnsU&t

[@itsmephil2255]

Hey Guys, it's not a union jack...it's the union flag, it's only the U.J. when mounted on a warship and not in a harbour 🇬🇧

[@daveofyorkshire301]

The TV license is for live broadcast TV or BBC content via BBC player. Streaming is not subject to a TV license.

[@chippydogwoofwoof]

Quick reminder the UK misses you both.

[@Isleofskye]

Only 28 days !! I was getting 30 days in London,as a junior clerk in the 1980's so around 38 years ago:)

[@ront2424]

Watching from Australia, in regards to leave when I was working I was entitled to 25 days annual leave + the 10 public holidays. 10 days sick leave. I was also working 40 hours but paid for 38 accruing 12 days per year. An Australian unique leave is Long Service Leave which is 12 weeks fully paid leave after 7.10 or 15 years of service. This dates back to colonial days and would need an act of parliament to remove this entitlement.

[@markc1793]

The main “selling point” about the NHS isn't to do with if/how we pay for it, it's that it's free at the point of use, so in other words, if you're ill and need surgery or similar, you get it and you don't then get a bill. You don't have to decide if you're “ill enough” to go and get treatment, or decide to live with a condition because you'll go broke if you went and got the care you need. The NHS isn't perfect, however the majority of the reasons for that is due to us having had over a decade of governments underfunding it in a bid to get us all to go for an American style system, as that will make them, and their friends companies, more money. The actual quality of care you receive on the NHS is great, in general, obviously some people experience issues, but that's the same with everything everywhere in the world, nothing's perfect.

[@newfoundland3238]

Strong point,getting sick drives so many into bankruptcy.The USA has excellent medicine if one can afford it,with that being said it is a profit driven system and they go crazy with the testing sometimes I feel unnecessary.Got a estimate for replacing a tooth thought they where kidding 5000 dollars same at another dentists.So money hungry!Live in Connecticut moving back to Nova Scotia Canada 4 years is enough!

[@markhackett2302]

Compare and contrast with some woman lady BEGGING to not have an ambulance called for her, despite the harm she had to deal with, because she couldn't afford the cost of the ambulance. That's the benefit of "free at the point of use" healthcare. It stops people worrying about coverage and whether it will be paid out of insurance. Meanwhile insurance rates are higher than you would pay for a mandatory healthcare single payer system.

[@janecruden3665]

@@markhackett2302and the NHS doesn’t go up if you are ill too may times and it doesn’t exclude existing conditions

[@timempson2146]

About three weeks ago I had a bleed on the brain. Paramedics arrived and tested that it wasn't a stroke - but took me to the local hospital. There I had CAT scans and the following day I had an emergency ambulance ride to the major hospital in Oxford. The day after that I had an inestigative procedure which found it was a tricky bleed to resolve. 3 days later I had 7 hours of surgery with a multi disciplinary team as I also have AF followed by 3 days recovery in hospital. The grand cost of this was £0. I have paid my taxes happily during my healthy years and now the NHS is providing me the care I need and it isn't bankrupting my family.

[@garulusglandarius6126]

Our NHS frontline staff are absolutely wonderful but our government is slowly but surely mismanaging privatising and destroying our NHS 😡 It’s a system that should work extremely well but our government ( whichever party ) can’t do their job properly and as with everything they do waste vast amounts of money and completely mismanage !

[@justinlinnane8043]

🤣🤣No one in the UK think the "grass is greener" as far as American healthcare goes or with politics , food , working conditions , maternity leave , holiday pay , holiday , gun crime and I could go on. In almost all areas Americans are getting screwed

[@rbnhd1144]

If only Americans knew that, we have a certain political party who would disagree with you on every one of these issues, sadly people are brainwashed, its all for the greed and profit or Corporations. Here we are told the NHS is awful and that Brits come here for great medical care, its all bunkum but people never question it as its drilled into people.

[@LindseyGlasman]

I'm British. Worked in America for a few years in the 1970's. It was interesting, but I'd never live there again.

[@wheatnblue2419]

I went to the hospital recently. Was there overnight. Cost me nothing, including the CT and MRI.

[@DEEJAYWAL]

One American media outlet actually claimed that the NHS would have let Stephen Hawking die if he'd been British. Hawking replied by saying he calculated the NHS saved him six times. But what would he know about calculations? Who did he think he was, a Lucasian Professor of Mathematics?

[@julianbarber4708]

@@DEEJAYWAL Don't understand. Stephen Hawking WAS British!

[@megmcguigan3857]

I moved from the US to the UK Channel Islands to be with my husband about 12 years ago and I would never move back. I got diagnosed with MS while living here and it cost me nothing to get the MRIs and other things done. All prescriptions only cost about £4.50, including my main MS related drug, Tecfidera, In the US Tecfidera would cost me $2,000 a month. The US is a third world country wearing a Gucci belt.

[@pureb7235]

Politics in America seems to be based on personality and celebrity rather than policies.

[@antifugazi]

Just like Boris Johnson's whole career.

[@no-oneinparticular7264]

Yes, I have heard some ridiculous comments from people. I've not heard anyone say, I like their policies , yet.

[@grahvis]

@@toon9359 . Like the woman Trump supporter claiming Kamala Harris wasn't white and therefore not a true American.

[@paulag7634]

@@antifugazi Yep, BoJo got elected on personality and celebrity,. We'll not make that mistake again! Which is why Keir Starmer is now Prime Minister.

[@geoffpriestley7310]

😅I thought the political was based on money. forget the elections just see who has the most money and make them president

[@westboundno8]

Within walking distance of my house there are three Co-ops, two small Tesco, a Morrisons, a fish shop, a deli and bakery, a shop that sells organic food and four independent 'corner shops'.

[@admiralbenbow5083]

Within walking distance from my house is Tesco, and 8 boarded up shops.

[@ChrisShelley-v2g]

Last year I shuffled into my 60's and with that many "tests" become available to me, bowel cancer screening (to detect cancer early and treat it before it gets too bad/beyond treatable), last December I saw a nurse about my bladder, a two minutes chat that's all, I happened to mention the walking my dog I sometimes had chest pain, I was rushed to see specialist doctors and had tests etc, within two weeks I had heart surgery (I actually saw my own heart beating "on a screen"), I've had follow up tests and everything is fine, the NHS work well because of these tests, it is cheaper to treat early, so the tests pay for themselves so to speak.

[@geoffpriestley7310]

Same here bowl cancer scare . Saturday signs, Monday ring doctors, Tuesday poo on a stick test, Wednesday nothing, Thursday ultrasound Thursday pm appointment for a colonoscopy u turn back to hospital pick up the chemicals . Saturday sat on loo. Sunday camera up the bum and 1 small polip removed. The following Thursday the large polip remove job done. Come back next year

[@ChrisShelley-v2g]

@@geoffpriestley7310 "Job Done" made me laugh, poo on a stick also tickled my sense of humor and reminded me of poop on a stick and in the post, I'm pleased that things worked out for you, you are proof that this system works, it's sad that some are too scared or prudeish to do it, doffs cap to you, nice yorkshire rose too, Doncaster here :)

[@YesYes-xb6he]

Yet I can't even get a GP appointment, have to call in at 8am on the day (while I'm at work and not able to use phone) and might be offered an appointment later the same day but more likely to be told to call back tomorrow.Try and book an appointment for next week (so I can arrange time off work) is beyond the ability of the NHS. I'd scrap the lot and go to a US system because at least then I'd only be paying for healthcare if they actually provide it. NHS is an embarrassment.

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

Wow, that seems great.

[@nicolad8822]

⁠@@YesYes-xb6heBe careful of what you wish for.

[@suddone]

The reason the UK has more payed holidays and better workers rights is the union’s have fought for them

[@billdoodson4232]

Not quite. Some companies, I worked for one, found it cheaper to offer an extra days holiday, rather pay the %age wanted. The extra day was always taken up. I had 26 days plus bank holidays.

[@johng.1703]

actually the 28 days paid off is mainly from EU law. this is derived from 20 days of "Euro leave": This is based on the European Working Time Directive. 8 days of "UK leave": This is granted by the Working Time Regulations.

[@TheEulerID]

Not really. The minimum paid holiday laws came about from being part of the EU at the time.

[@chriscookesuffolk]

Jolly well said Sir.

[@GarethT902]

​@johng.1703 we were getting the right to paid time off long before we joined the EU. Mainly because Unions fought to give workers two weeks a year off.

[@melissamurray1712]

As an American who lives in the UK, this was a very interesting video. Thanks for making it. Another big one, is the culture around kids and independence. Most British children walk or take public transport (usually a bus) to school. In the USA, you’re bused to school, or your parents drive you. I think it makes young people more independent, at an earlier age.

[@weejackrussell]

At the age of eleven, I used to go to a school at the other end of the city I lived in. This was because I had passed an exam to go to that particular school, It involved catching a bus to the city centre, walking across the city centre to the bus station and then catching another bus there. As the school was more than three miles from where I lived I had a free bus pass to cover the cost of the travel. I was at the school for seven years and sometimes, during that time, I would make that return journey twice a day because I attended the school's folk club which took place in the evening. Up to the age of eleven, I walked to and from school, which, again, was a substantial distance from where I lived.

[@blotski]

How interesting you should say that. An American friend was visiting us earlier this year and he commented on the usual (for us) stream of school children walking past on their way to school morning and afternoon. There are two primary schools and two high schools within walking distance (for us) of our house. We drove past one of the high schools at home time once and he was amazed at all the kids streaming out the gate and waiting at the bus stops or just walking home. Of course, there WERE parents waiting in cars but they are not allowed on school premises and have to find somewhere else to park so it's not hugely convenient. He told me that at his kids' high school the car park was enormous.

[@daveygee434]

You may want to chat about Kirsty Alsop on this subject 🤣🤣🤣

[@jillosler9353]

​@@daveygee434I'm with Kirsty - although it does depend on the child.

[@markyexley9440]

But toddlers can play with guns..

[@SNORKYMEDIA]

Made me laugh out loud last time we were in the US and visited a gift store at an attraction and nearly everything had the US flag on it , and ALL of it was made in CHINA.

[@rbnhd1144]

Isn't that the truth.

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

It is the case a lot of the time.

[@joanne26]

I am from England and worked from 1996-2016 for an 🇺🇸 hydraulic engineering who wanted to open up a 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 based hub When a China manufacturing hub was opened in 2011 we had to train the girl from China so for around 2 weeks we took her everywhere and she wanted to buy a London bus, some Wedgwood China She was shocked- ALL MADE IN CHINA 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇬🇧🇬🇧🥴🥴

[@angelawhitehouse8066]

I remember reading that Walmart is one of the biggest employers and almost all that they sell comes from China.

[@diannahagerty5692]

Because profit rules America.

[@fidgetspinner343]

The holiday (vacations) thing in the USA is so weird to us Brits. How you literally get hardly any days and are even looked down upon for taking vacation days. No wonder loads of Americans have never left the country!! Its such a shame. Enjoy life and travel you lot!!! ✈️

[@diannahagerty5692]

Another way Americans are being gunned, this culture of 'days off is for wimps' - just let's them get exploited.

[@diannahagerty5692]

Conned, not gunned!

[@kevinrandle1339]

In the last few years I've had 5 skin cancer operations and never waited more than a week for an operation. The NHS are very quick treating cancer.

[@admiralbenbow5083]

We also have the worst cancer outcomes in Europe.

[@korma9732]

Everytime I've needed the NHS it's been there for me, I have no complaints!

[@FalcomScott312]

Congrats on 63K subscribers here & you guys deserve it! I love and enjoy watching your videos & keep these videos coming!

[@melelenath]

NHS: just taking my own experiences, I have had cancer, a difficult birth, many long-term chronic conditions, fractures, a heart attack and much more, ALL treated free and with as much follow-up and rehab as needed. We also have many tests for early detection of illness. There is much to be dissatisfied with in the UK, but this is the jewel of our society!

[@dirtywaterpj_dj]

The thing about the "drinking culture" in the UK is that it's not just about drinking, not just drinking to get drunk, it's about socialising. The pub is a hub, where people come together.

[@lyndoncmp5751]

Cannot beat a cosy English village pub. 👍

[@irismarshall6881]

Thanks to both of you for calling the NHS ‘universal healthcare’. Many of your country call it ‘socialists ’ or ‘communist’ which is really unnecessary. On one US talk show, the audience were asked to ask questions about the NHS. Someone asked ‘are the doctors fully trained?’ You don’t engage in economies of scale and the insurance companies wouldn’t want that. So you have one doctor with one patient, we have one specialist with about 15 patients in clinic or more and the doctor is paid enough for consultations. These pay rates are agreed nationally. The Australian system is similar to the NHS but people are only covered to a certain level unless they are poor or old. The Uk has reciprocal health agreements with many countries with comparable healthcare systems but we can’t have one with the US due to cost.

[@marshac1479]

I know. A lot of Americans have a strange idea of what communism is!!

[@maxjjackson]

US politics has so successfully demonised any healthcare that isn't a profit-led financial industry that just happens to take place in medical businesses. Unfortunately, the current arrangement means US citizens will pay significantly more for medical insurance than UK citizens pay for their National Insurance contributions and still be faced with a bill at the point of service for the majority of medical procedures. This 'freedom' has somehow been sold as a bad, liberal anti-socialist system...

[@wolfen210959]

@@marshac1479 Agreed, I've heard many US politicians and celebrities describing socialism as communism, and it seems very ironic for Americans to decry socialism, when many of their systems are in fact socialist. Americans can get very confused when it is pointed out to them that the basis for a socialist policy is everyone pays in, everyone benefits, important things like law and order, state infrastructure, roads and rail etc, are all socialistic in nature. Everyone pays for them, through taxes, even if they don't actually use the services themselves, but many Americans don't like the idea of paying for a health service that will treat their neighbour too. Of course the whole debate around a national health service is higly politicised, purely due to the amount of money that Health Insurance companies make from not really providing any sort of health service at all, it's solely about money. The example of the gashed finger is an instance where the medical centre would have wanted to do a more extensive examination, including scans or x-rays, but were prevented from doing so by virtue of the Health Insurance accountants being unwilling to authorise payment for a more expensive treatment. One American commentor stated, and I'm paraphrasing "if you can afford to pay for everything yourself, you will receive the best treatment that money can buy, but if you are relying on a Health Insurance policy for your health care, you will receive the bare necessities and they will charge you a fortune in extras".

[@IsisBarom]

It's interesting, many people arrive in the UK and think because it is 'free' at point of delivery to UK citizens, it is generally free to everyone. It isn't, you must be insured if you are travelling here. So many get an unexpected invoice from the NHS!

[@nickclarkuk]

@@marshac1479I’ve seen Kamala described as communist by republicans 😂

[@joyridgway6398]

During Covid, my husband had blood in his pee. He had a telephone appointment, and he was referred to a specialist. He had a cancerous kidney, which was removed. This took just a little over two weeks He is still under the care of the specialist. He also has regular tests.

[@melelenath]

Bad news for him, but such good fortune that the NHS moved so quickly on treating him and the care and monitoring continues.

[@joyridgway6398]

@melelenath thank you. Thank goodness for the NHS.

[@rickconstant6106]

I'm in the UK, and over the last 15 years, I have had a number of problems with my heart, starting with arrhythmia, which ended up needing 2 fairly lengthy procedures, involving a number of highly qualified medical professionals. That fixed it, but a few years later I had coronary artery issues, needing several angiograms, angioplasty treatments with stents, culminating 6 years ago in open heart, double coronary bypass surgery, which has so far fixed the problem. All of this was done by the NHS, and the treatment was first class (even the hospital food was pretty good), and cost me nothing. I dread to think how much it would have cost in the US, and I would probably be dead if I'd had to pay.

[@stevieinselby]

Food shopping ... in the UK, I almost always walk to the supermarket, and usually shop about once a week. I live on my own and it's less than a 10 minute walk, so it isn't too much hassle to carry it home. Occasionally I'll take the car if I need something particularly bulky or heavy, or if it's raining heavily, but that's only a few times a year.

[@jamiekelsall4094]

Before 2012, legislation prevented you from flying a Union Jacks or any other flag unless planning permission had been granted. This is because a flag was considered a form of advertising and a permit is required for advertising, unless it is mobile such as on the side of a vehicle.

[@user-tonywright1]

Absolute nonsense and you know it. Simply google "Before 2012 permission was required to fly a union jack " and you see the answer

[@EppingForest304]

28 days holiday in UK is minimal, larger employers give more! Shocked that US don’t give compulsory paid holidays!

[@nicolab2075]

We also have paid sick leave, for a set number of days, but most employers give sick leave longer than just a few days, many for weeks or even months.

[@Isleofskye]

I got 30 days as a junior clerk in London in 1986 !

[@citizenpb]

Paid 🤣 They're just giving us our own money back.

[@iainlaskey7285]

Yup. I get 35 days paid leave and if sick, 6 months full pay and 6 months half pay

[@elizabethmadron1336]

In the US some employers give a week after a year or two weeks. Better employers offer sick days. The trick is getting them approved to take. After your year you lose them. Some of the major employers let the days build up but those are getting fewer and fewer. Also with layoffs at companies are you going to be around to take the days off? The US has a total different approach to work. I am disabled due to arthritis and an accident. When I worked I worked at least 2 hrs Overtime a day.

[@lemming9984]

I have 38 paid days off. 30 days Annual Leave plus 8 Bank Holidays. That's pretty much standard across UK.

[@orbtastic]

Aye, 28 days plus banks. The same company I used to work for awarded an extra day per year service after a few years and some of us had up to 35 days plus banks. It was hugely unpopular with newer staff so they made it 28 days for everyone.

[@crackpot148]

28 days leave is the statutory minimum.

[@loullabelleuk]

I work in the public sector and get 30 days annual leave (+1 for long service) plus 8 bank holidays plus up to 15 flexi days per year. Almost makes up for below average pay and lack of bonuses etc lol

[@rickconstant6106]

@@crackpot148 The 28 days includes bank holidays.

[@svartmetall48]

22 days plus bank holidays for me in the UK.

[@CUFC247]

I don't drive, I have my groceries delivered from the supermarket after doing my shopping online, usually once a week or every ten days.

[@MazzaEliLi7406]

Snap. Much cheaper than a taxi. Such a boon.

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

That's great. We usually order our groceries and pick them up. We spent less that way not picking up random things while shopping.

[@markhackett2302]

A lot of shopping is done for 2-3 days, even for large families, with some things being weeks of supply, but the "main meals" are usually "What do you fancy tonight?" things, so a few alternatives for that tonight and you get your 2-ish days of purchases. A lot more walking, so local shops are important, but there are more cars REQUIRED in places because public transport gets cut back (because it is a private business) driving people out if they can't afford a car or a friend who HAS a car, and making any public transport or local shops, including the post office, less and less relevant. The marginal cost of driving is tiny, even compared to busses, but it has a large up front cost to enter. Once you have "had to" buy a car, you use it instead of public transport, and the local stuff becomes less relevant.

[@martinarscott3524]

My wife has worked for the NHS her whole working life, and we've both made extensive use of the service for various reasons. Urgent cases tend to be seen to quickly but if it's non urgent there can be a fair wait, I've had to have surgery on my neck twice to have 3 discs removed in total, each had a wait of nearly 12 months, however when I had to be admitted to hospital on 3 occasions for acute issues I was taken straight in and was given a bed the same day, I stayed a week with severe glandular fever (I couldn't swallow any fluids....), and a week with a bad ulcerative colitis flare up. I have zero complaints! Doctor's surgery (clinic) issues lately are another matter entirely.....With regards drink driving, if you're caught even a tiny amount over the limit it's a 12 month ban minimum

[@Paul-yh8km]

The TV licence funds some of the common broadcast infrastructure including Freeview and Freesat, some upgrading of broadband infrastructure, BBC world service as well as the BBC TV, radio, web sites and streaming services. It's not just BBC radio and TV.

[@alisonjones1]

By the way Alton Towers is 4 miles from me, you have to check out the Pugin Church in Cheadle. Pugin was the architect who designed the clock tower for Big Ben in London. If you stay in Leek, you are on the edge of the Peak District, Alton Towers, Buxton, Bakewell etc

[@SIartibartf4st]

Some people might moan about the NHS but I have nothing but praise for them. I wouldn't be here now if it wasn't for the NHS, I bled from my femoral artery and lost 8 pints of blood, how I survived is all down to the amazing doctors and nurses in the NHS. I was in hospital for 22 days and my bill was zero..

[@IsisBarom]

I worked for the NHS for many years before I retired. It does great things in saving peoples lives. However it is under pressure, post Brexit it is difficult to staff, promises of additional doctors and nurses is fine, but it takes years to train them. Much of the NHS estate needs an upgrade, and we are treating more people than ever as our population grows, people live longer and the growth of dementia. The NHS does it's very best under difficult circumstances. It is still one of the best healthcare systems in the world.

[@JamesRaybould-q9y]

It’s not fit for purpose anymore

[@diannahagerty5692]

The abiding principle of everyone pays a little and they get care according to need free at the point of delivery needs constant repeating - its the last thing we have that values humans as equals not rich have value, if you're poor you don't matter.

[@admiralbenbow5083]

8 pints of blood means you only had 2 left. You must have looked like a spent party balloon.

[@melelenath]

Shopping: if we want to buy a lot of food but it's heavy or it's difficult to get to the shop (I don't drive), we can have a delivery. In our household we have a delivery of bulk items once a month or less, and then buy locally the rest of the time. That is not just convenient, but enables us to support local shops.

[@amyrider5574]

The American health system isn't scary to me, it's disgusting. Such a shame that there's this worry for many about what would happen if you get ill or injured. The NHS is not perfect but it's a service which is very much appreciated in the UK.

[@charlisays]

I agree. It blows my mind that one of the wealthiest western countries doesn't provide its citizens with health care.

[@Paul-yh8km]

Before Covid hit the UK I did a weekly shop (for one person) on my bike. During Covid lockdowns I discovered the supermarket home delivery services and have continued using them. I do a big shop every two weeks using home delivery, but also visit the supermarket once a week for one or two things that run out.

[@AncientHyperGeek]

If you went to A&E in the UK, you would have: Triage and antibacterial gauss and temporary bandage. X-rays. Assessment for repair of the tendon. Seen by a specialist or surgeon if available. Surgery if available, if not outpatient appointment for surgery or surgery assessment. Wound dressing and splitting or other needed care. Any drugs, pain killers, antibiotic’s for a short time, and prescription for full course. Follow up outpatient appointment, or your GP contacted for ongoing care. Bill/cost would be zero pounds.

[@crackpot148]

Gauss.Wtf is that? To me it is an electro magnetic field. Hence degaussing is a process of ridding a metallic hulled ship of an electromagnetic signature which could detonate an anti-ship electromagnetively activated explosive mine.

[@janewilson8676]

@@crackpot148they meant gauze!

[@svartmetall48]

And it would take 8-10 hours to get it if you're lucky.

[@ChrisParrett-qo4sx]

@@svartmetall48 It's prioritised depending on the seriousness of the case. If really urgent, you'll be dealt with immediately. That's what 'triage' is for.

[@irismarshall6881]

My husband had cancer. He had all his scans, all his consultations (doctor part of a European working group on stopping cancer spreading) all his meds - a supermarket bag of them for the month, aids such as a stirrup so he could pull himself up to a sitting position, three operations including post operative care, when he became weak we even were loaned a bed so the provided carers could be near sinks. This was before the pandemic and the NHS is in a state with many taking out loans to pay for treatment. The NHS is very dear to we Brits but it needs a new funding.formula. It was a brave move by the Labour Party in the middle of World War 2 to want to offer people universal healthcare. We were broke so guess who agreed to loan us the money? America did. So thank your grandparents. It took about 70 years to pay it off. I would not be here if the returning troops had not swung it for Labour as I was a premature baby and not expected to live given the knowledge at the time. Equally, the NHS gave my husband 4 years - enough to see two more grandchildren born. He had been a healthy man and our screening service discovered the abnormal cells. So thank you NHS.

[@barrysteven5964]

Similar story for me. I have had cancer treatment for three years now including various tests, biopsies, several different scans, a big operation in a specialist cancer hospital, a course of radiotherapy, two years of injections not to mention the several appointments and blood tests. It seems to have been successful but of course unlike some countries like the USA of all the worries I've had paying bills has not been one of them. I even got a car park pass for my daily radiotherapy sessions.

[@JohnyG29]

During the war there was a consensus by all parties to introduce an NHS and it was actually a Conservative MP (Henry Willink) who first advanced the notion. So I'm not sure we can really say Labour created the NHS, they just happened to get voted in right after the end of WW2 and therefore we're able to implement their final version of this previously agreed idea.

[@ArthurShelby481]

Don’t think America did lend the U.K. money after WW2, we were seen as communist.

[@chrysalis4126]

@@JohnyG29 The conservatives consistently voted against Bevans NHS bill. Willinks white paper would not change GPs from private to NHS and the many voluntary hospitals would be left to decide whether or not to join the NHS and it was assumed that private practice would continue to be the norm.

[@diannahagerty5692]

On funding the NHS ...all it needs is that we ALL pay our proper taxes, not dodging them.

[@UnknownUser-rb9pd]

One thing often not mentioned regarding the NHS is that it is far more "joined up" than private health care. It's not perfect and mistakes are made but my understanding is that in the US you are effectively dealing with a series of private clinics with their own set of medical records. In the UK your medical records are more likely to be recorded centrally. Also, during the pandemic, having centralised healthcare allowed the rollout of vaccines and statistical information to be more readily available.

[@IsisBarom]

Many people in the UK do online shopping for a bulk buy. Many of the supermarkets offer this. Personally I use a local butcher for locally sourced, lamb, chicken, beef etc. It costs more but the quality is significantly better than what you get from the supermarket. I also visited farm shops for vegetables. I walk up to our local store if I need a top up such as milk or bread, but do make my own bread too.

[@barrymiller3385]

Another reason you won't see yard signs in the UK is that very few people have yards. Lots of us have gardens of course!

[@diannahagerty5692]

Yes, I hate the description of gardens as 'yards' ... yards are where we keep the bins and other unsightly stuff!

[@richardheaton3787]

Great channel . Really bright knowledgeable, fun people 😊

[@billydonaldson6483]

I had 28 days annual leave plus 8 statutory days such as Christmas, New Year and Easter etc. A work life balance is necessary if you want a happy workforce. The NHS is generally free at the point of need, dental treatment is partly subsidised unless you are on government benefits.

[@rorkycorky]

Lovely to hear you on the Ellis and John show!

[@overthehillmountainbiking]

I had a heart attack last year. I was rushed into hospital and had a stent fitted. I spent two days in hospital. The cost was zero to me, and I don't have health insurance. I would hate to think how much that would have been in the States

[@InfoBB]

True! But we do pay high-ish tax and national insurance so we do pay for it throughout our lives in instalments. Much better system though that treats all equally!

[@xandermarjoram8622]

I'm proud that my taxes go towards treatments like this

[@jamesforrest8993]

I have been watching you two for a couple of years. From the very first videos of you trying some UK chocolate. I have a lot of respect for you two. Going places and experiencing new things and doing it as a couple. And just being generally honest on the internet. I had an accident last year and also severed a tendon. I had a couple of follow up appointments, my tendon has had it but I didn't have to pay.

[@butenbremer1965]

I, as a single person household in GER (Frankfurt Metro Region), do my personal grocery shopping strictly on a daily basis by just walking to my local supermarket down the street.

[@karenblackadder1183]

Please do more difference videos. It's always a good idea to see how other people see your country and lifestyle. Because of the time you've spent here, you are very well placed to give a balanced view.

[@JJ-of1ir]

The BBC (British Broadcasting Corp) is the National UK Broadcaster for, first radio (once called the 'wireless') and now also TV. Neither the many BBC radio stations nor BBC TV channels have any adverts or programme sponsors. We have 'commercial' channels - like ITV - and they do have adverts, but not sponsors. They are highly regulated though and are only allowed so many minutes of adverts in an hour.

[@rickconstant6106]

Commercial channels do have sponsors, but branding is limited to a few seconds as the programmes go into and out of breaks.

[@ChrisParrett-qo4sx]

@@rickconstant6106 I think you'll find that it's individual programmes, or 'segments' (like 'evening entertainment', or a sports series' broadcasts) which are sponsored, rather than the channel itself. The programmes aren't allowed to be simply long adverts for the brand, in fact the same show might be sponsored by a different business on a different day.

[@BenRattigan]

TV licensing is fairly common across Europe, the BBC is restricted from advertising inside the UK hence it’s funded through licence fee. We do have state owned commercial broadcasters such as Channel 4 and S4C. The BBC also now has to fund the World Service which previously was funded by the Foreign Office.

[@daffyduk77]

road traffic densities on average are bound to be much higher in the UK, so being affected by drink whilst driving is far more likely to result in an accident

[@quillerpen]

I enjoy your videos; I like the way that you compare the cultural differences but without being judgemental

[@Wynos2500]

I’m an American that has been in U.K. for nearly 15 years. I also manage 2 orthodontic practices providing NHS dental care to kids here. I have also been had ongoing care for a medical condition since arriving and have never received a bill. I’ve been in the hospital for a night at no additional cost. My partner has a heart condition that requires quite a few stays in hospital and monitoring, again with no additional cost. Is this system perfect - no! But I’d never move back to the US due to the security of knowing I will never be homeless due to healthcare. I also get 6.5 weeks off per year with the option to “purchase” 3 additional days equalling over 7 weeks. The purchasing is actually just reducing my hourly rate of pay by about £0.20/ hr.

[@peterjackson4763]

For medical reasons I don't have a driving licence currently, so I use the bus to go shopping, except when visiting the SPAR (small supermarket) at the end of the road. I will normally get a taxi back. That will normally be once of twice a week. Recently I have tended to make one order per week from Morrisons via Amazon. It was Covid that started me ordering groceries online. The delivery charge for a normal order (£20+) is £4. The bus is £2 each way, so it is cheaper online. I just had a telephone appointment with a cardiologist this morning, and was discharged, so I may be able to get my driving licence back soon, I blacked out when driving and had a lot of tests to try to find the cause. The only costs being for journeys to the hospital, though I didn't get a bill for the ambulance that originally took me there.

[@muddlepond]

The BBC, which is the one we pay for, shows absolutely no commercials. Can you imagine watching something with no breaks in them? When we've visited the states, we've never watched tv because there are far too many breaks.

[@diannahagerty5692]

I agree, very intrusive

[@sharij3711]

Had to laugh at the “you alright?” topic 😆 That caught me off guard more times than not.

[@Talkathon408]

I know Americans like constitutions so you'll love to hear about the NHS constitution and what it says. For example: "The maximum waiting time for non-urgent, consultant-led treatments is 18 weeks from the day your appointment is booked through the NHS e-Referral Service, or when the hospital or service receives your referral letter." Whether this happens in practice is I guess another matter but there's a lot of political pressure to meet these deadlines and obviously various avenues down which to complain. And I must emphasise, this is 'non-urgent care'. Urgent care can be very fast. To be clear, in this context, I'm not talking about the emergency room but tests, consultant visits etc., as an outpatient.

[@wolfen210959]

Agreed, urgent care is almost immediate, but non urgent care has waiting lists. My grandaughter was diagnosed with leukaemia, and within 24 hours she was in a hospital bed, undergoing all kinds of tests and scans.

[@svartmetall48]

Non-urgent. Waiting for a year and a half for treatment in the UK. Still waiting. Also had a spider bite that needed treatment. Dermatologist appointment 4 months away. Now got horribly infected and I am on Doxycycline and had to have it drained. Now is an open wound and still can't get seen. The health system is a total disaster in the UK right now.

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

Thank you for the information.

[@denniswilliams160]

Birmingham is most definitely NOT a non-cathedral city. It has the Cathedral Church of St Philip which is the oldest building in the city centre still used for it’s original purpose. It's home to some remarkable treasures and the largest green space in central Birmingham. It's one the younger cathedrals in the UK as it started life as a parish church in 1715 but became the cathedral of the newly formed Diocese of Birmingham in 1905.

[@nicolab2075]

There's also St Chad's Catholic cathedral, so it has two!

[@gennytun]

I think the point is that it was called a city before it had the cathedral(s).

[@raymondporter2094]

In UK terms, 1905 is very recent history....

[@AdamGaffney96]

The idea of having only 1 week sick leave is terrifying to me. I just went through an ordeal where I ended up in hospital, and was off work for 2 months. But because I work for the NHS, I get 6 months full pay and 6 months half pay sick leave. So I was off for 2 full months and still got my full pay, meaning I wasn't stressed about losing my home because I was unfortunately ill. Couple that with the fact I was also in the hospital for 2 weeks and took an unreal amount of antibiotics over the 2 months, I can't imagine the stress if I both lost my income, AND had to pay for the healthcare. Instead the healthcare cost absolutely nothing (prescriptions are free in Scotland) and I got my full pay. Also as someone that works in the NHS and is very passionate about it I'm always happy to have conversations about it! The hustle culture is also a super interesting one. Because I've worked in my place for 5 years I get 2 extra days, so I get 8 public holidays, 29 days to take freely, plus we have what's called Flexi, where essentially every minute I work over my core hours I get back to use as extra holidays later on. I tend to work on a little bit each week, maybe an hour or so, and so that equates to around an extra 6.5 days off. So in an average year I get around 44 days off, or almost 9 working weeks. I mean just this year I took a week off for a trip, 2 weeks off for a different holiday and then several long weekend trips, and I still have around 15 days left to use. It encourages you to live life, not spend your entire life at work.

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

I know that the NHS doesn't always move smoothly, but I still feel overall we woefully behind a lot other countries in the US when it comes to our system.

[@blotski]

It's impossible to get over in writing but "are you alright?" can mean just 'hello' or be a genuine question about whether or not you're OK according to how you say it. It's in the intonation, stress and even pace. A small example is 'y'oright?' with the voice falling at the end is 'hi'. "You alright?' with the voice maybe rising at the end is a show of concern. Re- the drink driving thing. It's interesting to compare the accident/death rates on US roads compared to the UK. The death rate for both people in cars and pedestrians is dramatically higher in the US and the incidents of DOI is also way higher. As you say, in the UK it's due to a culture set decades ago by hard hitting TV campaigns, harsh penalties plus easier public transport and walking options.

[@davidbarrass]

There's also nuance in the reply to "are you alright". A simple "fine, how's you" is a simple greeting, a slight pause before answering or a falling tone at the end is an invitation for a concerned friend to find out if there is something wrong, if they want

[@hdruk1]

Regarding shopping, I think most people alternate between big shops and little shops, with the big shops to stock up on your toiletries and cupboard staples while the little shops being to refresh your fresh produce. Getting groceries delivered is much much more common here as well, so the car point is a bit less relevant that you made out. If you don't have a car you likely have your occasional big shop delivered rather than going out and getting it, hence all the supermarket delivery vans on our roads.

[@applecider7307]

We do a weekly shop and get it delivered for the huge cost of £1.50.

[@martinnorth2680]

Really interesting, great video 🇬🇧

[@doctorf1144]

The TV licence funds the BBC which doesn’t show commercials at all. You need one to operate a television set and to watch BBC iPlayer by any means but you don’t need one for watching other channels online on catch-up as they get their income from commercials.

[@StephenWestrip]

It funds BBC radio too which is also commercial free.

[@andrewbell1105]

The BBC does advertise. Click on any BBC KZbin channel you get adverts. Double Standards BBC

[@djlads]

All BBC tv channels including local areas news and local news, all 6 national and tons or local regional channels, plus The Proms, T in the Park and multiple other things. The issue with the licence, the Tories said they would scrap it, however that's not the plan the plan was to move it so that no one could avoid it paying via taxes.

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

I realized we must have gotten the BBC confused with some of the other channels having adverts.

[@markhackett2302]

@@TheMagicGeekdom ITV and Channel 4, for example, are not advert free, but the BBC doing an exist means that the cost of those things are reduced and the adverts are limited because there's an alternative: don't buy cable. Remove the BBC, and suddenly there's only Hobson's Choice: how MUCH adverts are you going to watch, not whether you have to watch adverts.

[@donnadrouin5259]

My husband has just received his long service holiday award , he now has 6 full paid weeks off a year

[@dominique8233]

One difference I noticed was motorway driving rules. In the UK if you hog the middle lane instead of using it for overtaking you can be fined.

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

People can be pretty bad about it in the US.

[@NmpK24]

Never heard of anyone being fined for this in the UK and I do a lot of motorway driving.

[@JohnPilling25]

Undertaking is also illegal in the UK- in the US they pass on whichever side they please which is just asking for an accident as one pulls into the inner lane after overtaking and some jerk in a pickup steams by on the inside where you aren't expecting them to be going hell for leather.

[@maxinemuhammad5979]

Great vid love this very interesting and informative 👍🏿👍🏿👍🏿❤️❤️❤️💯💯💯😍😍😍🫶🏿🫶🏿🫶🏿

[@daffyduk77]

As a UK-er I think the "are you alright" from strangers like in shops etc is a relatively recent thing, I can' t recall it 20, 30, 40 years ago

[@jaclam1]

I think it started out as a London thing (specifically East London). I have heard it pretty much all my life (as a Londoner). And it wasn't "Are you alright," but simply "Alright???"

[@pureb7235]

American politics seems to be based on personality and celebrity rather than policies. A lot of supermarkets in the UK deliver now so people will do their weekly shop online and get it delivered. Especially in big cities if you don't drive and don't want to carry lot's of bags full of heavy food and cleaning stuff on public transport. There is a much bigger selection of stuff from companies like Ocado also.

[@SNORKYMEDIA]

and $$$$$$$$ LOTS of $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

On a national level you're not completely off base. Local politics don't focus so much on that.

[@Family_joneshx]

I do a big shop once a week (probably not big in US terms) but it gets delivered - online food shopping is common and then top up in store another time or two for specific things / fresh items

[@arnodobler1096]

Well, I can walk to the pub and back in 3 minutes without being run over or someone calling the police because someone is walking around the houses at night. I have never felt unsafe or anxious at night.

[@bill-wd7zs]

I live about 5 miles from Birmingham, I've been in this area for over 30 years yet I didn't know that Brum was the first non cathedral city in the UK. So ta for the info. ! Great that you came over here and spent loads of time in each location to get a real feel for the place and probably have shown some of us Brits things we didn't know about ourselves. Really enjoyed all your vids, hope you keep them coming!

[@philipdickinson8177]

St Philips Cathederal. B3 2QB

[@grahvis]

I cut the tendon at the base of my thumb, went to A&E where it was repaired, however after a couple of months it broke. The doctor decided even if it was repaired again, it was unlikely to gain any movement and I had the option of leaving it as it was, or having the bones fused in a slight bend which would make it more usable. I opted for the latter and, about a year later, had the operation. The thing which amused me was when the time came to take out the wires which were holding the bones together. Two junior doctors were discussing whether it should be done under a local anaesthetic or a full one. The specialist came in, so they asked him. He replied that if it was his thumb, he would opt for a full one, that's what I got. Of course, no bill.

[@charlisays]

Brit living in Europe here. We shop every 3 days or so. We walk to the local fresh fruit and vegetable shop and mostly just pick up the ingredients we want to cook with as we need them xx

[@gillianmeehan3206]

I think that you could make a WHOLE video about the way USA homes will use a tumble dryer without any thought about hanging the laundry, even just hanging the socks and undies. Or taking plastic bags from the supermarket on every trip and then not reusing them. Or not composting veggie scraps at home. Or washing dishes under a hot running tap with a soap-filled sponge thing on a stick instead of filling a washing up bowl. Or not urging their local authorities to set up kerbside recycling. Or serving so much food that it's wasted such as mile high sandwiches that don't fit in your mouth? Or packs of crisps (chips) that are only family sized not in portion size in multipacks etc etc.

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

That's not a bad idea. Some of those things happen in some places, but aren't generally the norm.

[@simonspeechley2859]

We have Yard signs - usually for Estate Agents when you are selling your home.

[@tomsenior7405]

How do. Television: I do not pay for a TV License, because I do not watch live Television Programmes (i.e. Anything broadcast by Traditional Television Programming Providers, such as; BBC, ITV, C4, or Online TV, etc). I have not paid for 6 years now. I complete a declaration every two years and that is that. One time a so-called "TV License Inspector" called. I closed the door and politely smiled at him. That was 4 years ago. Groceries: I order online and have them delivered. This is every 2 weeks. I find it cheaper to pay the delivery fee than pay for an Annual Pass. Online offers are better than in-store. The Delivery Driver will bring my order into my home. Vouchers are still valid. It is much more convenient and hassle-free. I can not recall the last time I went into Tescos, Morrisons, Sainsburys, et al. Well, you did ask. Cheers.

[@raymondporter2094]

I think the TV licence is one of the best-value items in life. For about £3 per week I get the 4 BBC TV channels, the "red button channels", BBC local radio stations, free coverage of EVERY County Championship and limited overs county cricket games and commentary on all Middlesbrough FC league and Cup games which will be great when team plays away at Cardiff & Portsmouth, all the national BBC Radio channels (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, PLUS all the digital only channels which often have an "X" in the name, like 5LiveX and Radio4X...), the BBC Website which is ENORMOUS..... I am allowed to complain about the BBC and its coverage of some news items because I pay the licence fee. If there is a major issue - let's say a massive local road crash or an electricity power cut, most people are likely to put on the BBC news or local radio rather than a commercial pop radio station to find out the details, how long the power is likely to be out etc.

[@rachellovell7332]

You can still watch ITV and C4 without a licence, it's only needed for BBC

[@markhackett2302]

@@rachellovell7332 No, the license is to be able to connect and display "broadcast services". That includes Sky or ITV etc. I've got one that has NO tuner, so it cannot get TV, and another that I have not tuned in and superglued a cap on its co-ax input so IT can't get a signal. But if you can get sky, you still have to pay a license, even though "I don't WATCH the BBC!!!!", you still use a TV, and THAT is what the license is for. It doesn't matter if you never take the car on the road for a year, you still have to pay that years' road fund license. Same for TVs.

[@Jim230176]

I’ve seen loads of videos explaining why the UK is better than the US, but not one the other way round. Nuff said!

[@etherealbolweevil6268]

Sadly, in the UK children at school are not taught how to cope with attack by assault rifle bearing assailants. That's asking for trouble.

[@ElmoElmoSWAZILAND]

stop trying to compete w the US. Also America’s geography slams the UK’s..

[@badofcheese]

When you started talking about cities/towns, I was instantly thinking “they need to watch that Map Men video”.

[@alexshapley8331]

TV Licence is really a tax that you have to pay to watch ANY live TV or any BBC whether live or catch-up (note: many other countries have a similar licence/tax too) - however, because it is called a licence and not a tax, non-payment can lead to criminal prosecution which unfairly impacts on the very poor and frequently single mothers

[@mathewlowe2551]

It is common to shop once a week in the UK and to do a full weekly shop. If you don't drive, a lot of the chains like Tesco or Sainsbury's, have an option were you can book a grocery home delivery slot. (do your shop online on their app and they will deliver to you).

[@doctorf1144]

You will see political signs in the UK in the run up to General Elections. People tend to put them in their windows if they really want passers by to know how they’re going to vote…. Most people keep that confidential.

[@brucewilson4350]

In the uk there are strict rules about political signs and by law they can only be put up during an election and they must be taken down no later than 2 weeks after the elections.

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

I wish we kept it a bit more personal.

[@notreyf]

Fab vid, thank you. We still have more in common than divides us.

[@markjakeway2035]

Below village size there is hamlet. Difference between village and hamlet? Village is a small collection of houses while Hamlet is a play.

[@Isleofskye]

I thought Hamlet was a Cigar.

[@gaynorhead2325]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@markhackett2302]

@@Isleofskye Close....

[@kathchandler8189]

Like most folk in the uk I have a fridge freezer in my kitchen but I have also always had a chest freezer in my garage. Almost all the families around me had too! The way we, or myself have always used that freezer is to buy fresh foid in bulk, especially, fruit and veg from farm shops nearby here in Northumberland, I used to batch bake for a few hours over a weekend once a month (payday) and stock my freezer for 1 to 3 months , gorgeous soup is akways there, on tap for coming in on a winter's day, lovely pies & puddings for summer days , picnics on the beach mainly. Of course we stock up on cans (I love M&S chicken curry in a can, handy if I want a quick meal without defrosting first) I couldn't live without my M&S , we've actually got a thriving M&S food only shop in our local shopping centre, within walking distance ... the only reason to bulk buy? To eat better quality food & save on power by not starting meals from scratch every day 😂🎉

[@DJfragLANd]

A cultural surprise for us (UK) when trying to set up a US office was how prospective employees hated the idea of UK/EU style "notice periods" and employment protections, and wanted "at will" labor contracts that can be terminated by either side with immediate effect (which would be illegal here). We thought we were offering job security, but it was viewed like indentured service!

[@jeannettekingstone4603]

Another good video, love you guys

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

Thanks so much!

[@bobbralee1019]

Birmingham has two Cathedrals

[@Isleofskye]

and one football team...(sorry WBA) lol

[@catherinebent5101]

So does Liverpool

[@AnotherPointOfView944]

And a broke council.

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

But not when it became a city in 1889

[@yvetteharrington8763]

Tipping is definitely a shocking difference. I have just returned to the UK from a two-week visit to the Pacific North West and was surprised by how much worse tipping has become. In one place we stayed, breakfast was mostly self-service, with the server only pouring coffee, providing juice and taking orders for special menu items not on the buffet but we were still expected to leave a 20 pc tip.There's also a new development in tipping (since covid, I think, as people now pay everything by card) where if you just order a take-away coffee you are invited to add a tip before swiping your card to pay.

[@markhackett2302]

Tipping was a way for the US to continue to pay the melanin enhanced less. It's really quite a sad state of affairs.

[@paulhanson5164]

Birmingham has two cathedrals.

[@susanashcroft2674]

As does Liverpool.

[@AnotherPointOfView944]

And has a lot of people.

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

It didn't when it became a city in 1889.

[@paulhanson5164]

@@TheMagicGeekdom St Chad's is the lesser known Cathedral, it was given Cathedral status in 1852. But if you want to see a really beautiful church in central Birmingham then take a look at JRR Tolkien's childhood church The Birmingham Oratory.

[@johnhowell8779]

The colour coding information on food item packaging is called the 'traffic light' system. It is designed to tell you whether a food has high, medium or low amounts of fat, saturated fat, sugars and salt. It will also tell you the number of calories and kilojoules in that particular product. As a voluntary scheme, it's not mandatory for products sold in the UK to use the traffic light labelling system. However, most major retailers and many major brands have opted in.

[@michaelmcdonald5631]

I think one of the easiest ways to differentiate between THE N H S & the American health system,is you don’t need a credit card to use The N H S IN THE UK

[@BlueFire-d3r]

I do a weekly shop online and have them delivered or drive and collect at Tesco. I get a monthly shop which is slightly bigger for non perishables.

[@lightwoven5326]

An US friend who had recently moved to the UK phoned me up for an emergency lift to the hospital as he said he was broke. I told him call an ambulance its free! He was so shocked that I rang for him.

[@lucyj8204]

He was right to ask a friend for a lift if he didn't need a paramedic, though. It's great that you let him know he doesn't have to worry about the cost.

[@gillianmurray8053]

Online food shopping is common in the UK and most supermarkets offer this giving you a one hour slot where your shopping will arrive. We do this a couple of times a month and then small top up shops between times.

[@alansmithee8831]

Hello Cara and Jeremy. You pretty much get the UK spot on, better than many here would. Some of the things that are different would not have been years ago. Drinking and driving for instance. Some of the older residents of my girlfriend's family adopted Spanish village were British who would happily drive home after a few pints, up in the mountains, back when they only saw the policeman on his donkey probably once a week and did not want to live under the stricter rules in UK. Listening to you reminded me of being out in the desert in Texas, with no real law enforcement or health care anywhere nearby.

[@TheMagicGeekdom]

Thank you for the kind words. We're not too far from the Texas desert now.

[@alansmithee8831]

@@TheMagicGeekdom . When the van we were in broke down in the desert, returning from Cuidad Juárez, we were picked up by a former USAAF flyer. Our good Samaritan had turned devout Christian after what he saw in WW2. People often judge Americans without meeting them or understanding the difference in scale of "not far" and why you might need to be self reliant in all things.

[@radarvictory1]

An American living in Australia and we normally buy enough for a two week span, we also pay for any extras when we run out of something.

[@simple_naildesigns]

Enjoyed watching.

[@nicola.p]

I'm UK. I drive to the big supermarket and do a big shop once a week. I think a weekly big shop is quite common, but lot's of people order online and have it delivered.

[@lizzyhunting8313]

Birmingham is a city and has had for many many years - since 1889. Birmingham is England's (and UKs)2nd largest city and has not only a cathedral but also three universities.

[@MetropolitanStudiosLondon]

NHS waiting lists tend to be for non-urgent / non-critical issues. I have a good experience of the NHS - a number of emergency situations which have been dealt with quickly and efficiently. And for chronic conditions (like blood pressure and diabetes) they are good at monitoring and at making sure you get the right drugs. Prescriptions are a fixed cost but no charge for people such as pensioners and those on benefits. I think that's a great thing - I remember hearing of people in the US choosing which drugs they should have from their prescriptions because they couldn't afford all of them. I also read that the NHS is such a big purchaser / negotiator of drugs prices that it distorts worldwide prices!

[@djlads]

Yes and those elective surgeries and that are done by private organisations, like Bupa and Virgin, they charge the NHS a fortune and when the government tried to sort it, Virgin sued the NHS for trying to remove their contract.

[@kevinh96]

There's normally an easy way to tell if the place you are driving into in the UK is a town or a city, road signs. The vast majority of towns will have road signs pointing to the "Town Centre" whereas cities will have signs pointing to the "City Centre". Villages, even larger ones don't have such signs although they might have signs pointing to "Local Services" or "Local Shops" in some areas although it's not very common.

[@MetropolitanStudiosLondon]

I live in London and buy one bag full a couple of times a week. Tend to go for smaller packs so they don't go off. Commercial time on TV is limited here by regulators.

[@graemeanderson1851]

I have just come back from the US and loved the lack of congestion on your roads. What I missed are the bends. If there is light traffic in the UK, it is so much more fun driving and riding. Also, so much of our country came about without a driving culture, so roads are much less straight.

[@etherealbolweevil6268]

About 12,000 years of the country came about without a driving culture. Roads, mostly, adopt walking and pack animal trackways.

[@timaustin2000]

NHS personal example: wife told me that she thought a mole on my back might have changed. Went to the doctor the same day and they reassured me it looked fine. But what if it hadn't? In America, uninsured or under-insured, I simply wouldn't have bothered. For a $200-300 deductable? IF it was covered at all?! No. What if it had turned out to be a melanoma? THAT is the benefit of a system that is free at the point of use. Nobody hesitates to be seen when they feel like they need to be seen. Many, many more minor issues are picked up long before they become major.