Now that we’re feeling very much at home (it’s been five weeks, after all!), we thought we’d take stock of where we are. The UK, and especially Oxford, feel like a second home to us, but we still notice lots of ways in which they are different. So in the spirit of appreciation of new things, here’s the top 25 things we love about living in England.
- Excellent cheeses, especially the blues
- Sheep everywhere, especially in spring when the lambs are born
- How old everything is, especially the stone buildings (like pubs!)
- Beautiful public spaces everywhere: squares, memorials, parks, gardens…
- Excellent looking fruit and veg, costing less
- Older people out in public
- A sense of humour like ours
- Blue plaques pointing out the Famous Who Were Here (mostly in London)
- Nobody notices when you drink with lunch
- Walking everywhere
- Fish and chips
- The accents: posh ones, lowbrow ones, the whole lot of ’em
- Meat pies and pasties
- How every spare bit of green space is turned into a gorgeous garden
- Boots the Chemist
- Tea, especially afternoon tea, with all its appurtenances
- Eco-friendly packaging on nearly everything
- The joy and gratitude felt at every sunny day
- Public libraries, accessible to even temporary residents
- The keeping of a stiff upper lip
- Every damn one of those fantastic actors that grow like weeds here
- Fabulous Indian food
- The frenzy surrounding the royal family
- Excellent (if costly) transport systems
- British mysteries, many set in Oxford
Plus a Few Things We Don’t
Into every life a little rain must fall, and here is a wee group of things we do not love quite as much about England (though rain isn’t one of them):
- Two-faucet taps (especially without a sink plug): why?
- Cobblestones: so picturesque, but a real pain in the feet.
- Mushy peas: we prefer the ones that keep their shape (and flavour)
Those of you who have been to the UK but aren’t from here: what do you love?
I can’t quite place it or find the words but all my memories of brief visits to Oxford and Cambridge, a week in Scotland, and multiple visits to London are full of colours. People, road signs, clothing, gardens, buildings, scenery, etc.
Yes! Maybe it’s the rain? We’re not sure but things do seem more vibrant here, from flowers to stones. Thanks for the insight Micah!
The best dumplings we ever had were from a Chinese restaurant in London, and British museums are awesome.
Yes! We love getting dim sum here. And we’ve just had some visitors, so are reminded about the great museums, most of them free. Thanks for writing!
Ciders on tap.
Roman ruins
Swans on the Thames
Agreed, all counts!
The Royals are a plague. Off with their heads! (The French got that right.) On the positive side: British cask ale is one of their greatest gifts to humanity and ought to be on that list!
No comment re the first. And re the second – don’t tell anyone, but we’ve been drinking a lot of cider these days…
Senses of humor like yours…..this should be a tourism selling point.
We could not agree more!
The best thing about England?
Ireland!
One of us has both English and Irish blood and the other has neither. So we’ll just say them’s fightin’ words and let others duke it out. (PS the current plan is to head to Dublin next summer…)
Boots. Think of that place every day. Who knew it could be a joy to go to the pharmacy/chemist?
Right? What is it? We don’t know either but somehow it is magical…