A community for Americans living in the United Kingdom, or Americans in the process of immigrating to the UK. Always be aware that any advice found on this subreddit is provided as is and IS NOT legal or financial advice. Reddit is not a substitute for advice from an actual credentialed, paid professional.
My wife (UK) and I (US) went to the Darius Rucker show in Leeds last night. It was a fantastic show, but like, that’s a really American act. As a southerner, loved seeing everyone cosplaying as cowboys - wranglers, Ariats, sun dress/cowboy boot combos, cowboy hats, trucker hats, etc.
Also, as a side question, can anyone else clock other Americans by sight?
Hope y’all are having a fantastic bank holiday!
Drank some iced tea once in front of my co-workers. They’re still in therapy from witnessing it.
I used to work for an American company and when one of the big bosses from New York used to come over he’d take all the juniors out to lunches in fancy London spots. I used to cringe watching him walk perplexed waitstaff through the process of making him an iced tea. It was a spectacle for all
You monster...
off topic but what even is this bank holiday about
why do they have such random bank holidays
Probably the most American thing I do is complimenting random strangers on their clothes/shoes/whatever while my British husband stands there and sighs.
LOL! Yes! My British husband witnessed a woman ‘fleeing‘ (his words) from the ladies shortly after I entered. When I came out he asked ‘what did you say this time?’ Me: ‘I told her she had cute boots’. Him: ‘And what have we said about terrifying the locals?’ Me: ‘but they WERE cute’
I see soooo many people with their bottom stitch still done on the their coats (the stitch that keeps the bottom flaps flat in the store, don't know it's real name). Every day I have to stop myself from telling them.
tacking stitch- omg its painful in London, so common here- I don't know if they don't know? or they think its the style???
I’ve never felt so seen! This is me and my partner to a tee! 😂
i just followed you. Moving to the UK this month and may need support 😊. Don’t worry, I’m not a Nigerian Prince and/ or want to marry you
How exciting! Good luck with the move 🤙🏼
It’s an adjustment but I love living over here!
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May 1st is Labor Day for pretty much every country in the world except for the US and Canada. For some reason in the UK the bank holiday is the first Monday of May rather than May 1st itself.
Well, we couldn't have it falling on a Saturday or a Sunday! 😂
ahhh okay that sort of makes sense. ish. Husband works retail so he also doesn't notice most bank holidays, which makes it hard for me to learn!
I complement both men and woman (I’m female) if I like their outfit or some part of their outfit. Most Americans have a hot second pause before going Thank You!! Especially men. Brits have all been like wtf is happening. 😅
(from memory) Today's bank holiday was created in solidarity with American workers who fought for labor unions and the 5 day workweek - the fact that the US doesn't take part and is anti-union is quite ironic.
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I followed up in another reply
That's mad. We have a holiday but you don't even get to enjoy it.
Well I do as I'm in the UK (went to a village fete today!) but yeah it's quite mad.
Thank you for explaining. I've never thought much about the fiest bank holiday in May just that it is a day off.
The US (and Canada) celebrate Labor Day the first Monday in September
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Labor_Day
I do the complimenting as well!
Though to be fair, I feel like a get a lot more compliment here than I did in the states, but I live in Scotland now, not sure yet if that affects it.
How do the strangers react?
Usually they say thank you and look a bit surprised, no like, tarring and feathering or anything. At this point he finds it endearing.
I just wondered as that has been my experience there. My english family have said i'll need to tone down the enthusiastic american side of me when working there. Which now makes it my personal mission to turn everyone into high fivers 😉
tbh I work for myself so I'm less worried about that. I would probably be a lot more reserved if there was a job on the line, but worst case, the random lady on the tram just gives me side eye and writes me off as 'that weird American' and life goes on. I am who I am, you know?
And despite immigrating here and planning to stay here, I still want to be who I am!
Does husband also Tut? or is it tutt?
I made pumpkin pie for my coworkers last Thanksgiving! But no one wanted to try it. Oh well, I also make it for my in laws and they love it 😄
I do this every year! Big Thanksgiving spread and invite all the locals over 😄 I've managed to make some converts of eggnog and sweet potato casserole, at least.
I did thanksgiving this year and my stepdaughter (British) came back from university to celebrate. Her boyfriend couldn’t make it but had a special request - could I possibly make “the weird orange gooey thing with the marshmallows and the nuts.” He’d gone to an American international school as a child and fell in love with sweet potato casserole.
I made pumpkin bread for my coworkers and they loved it. Maybe it'd be easier to start them off with that? 😯
I did this for that last 2 thanksgivings for friends of my American friend who hosted -- some love it and some hate it. It's so weird to them.
My friend visited me for Thanksgiving in the US when I had to go back for a couple years during the pandemic, she now begs me to make pumpkin pie on a regular basis
i went to a Chicago Cubs baseball game last summer in London which was amazing! I can usually clock American men easier than women - it’s very true that we tend to be louder than everyone else. I always hear Americans before i see them 🥲
If it makes you feel better, I’ve read that the way Americans form words naturally makes our voices carry farther. So even when we’re not actually being loud people think we are.
Aww I was at that same game. It was so fun!
Put hot sauce on my eggs. Horrified looks from everyone in the room.
Hot sauce is best in eggs!
I baked and brought in a coffee cake to the office. It took till after lunch till someone got the courage to ask me if there was coffee in it or if it was normal cake.
Went to a western themed club event yesterday in Aberdeen and taught my Scottish husband how to boot scoot and boogie.
Also got a VPN so I can watch college football in the fall. It’s one of the things I really, really miss. Watching it quietly on my laptop at 3am just isn’t the same as sitting at a bar all day to watch or even watching at home with the windows open, Game Day on, and ordering a pizza.
The only Americans I’ve seen out in the wild are tourists in Edinburgh or oil and gas bros in Aberdeen, and I feel like that’s too easy to clock people.
I got off a plane in Reykjvavik early one morning and was wandering around downtown waiting for my hotel to serve breakfast - heard the U of Oklahoma football game being blasted from a sports bar 😅
How are you watching college football these days? I had a subscription to ESPN player which was fairly good, but they discontinued it before last season.
I pay for a sling subscription. You have to be logged into a VPN with a US IP address though.
Interesting to know, thanks
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I never see or hear other Americans in Aberdeen (though I live slightly outside the town)
Made hot dogs and watched The Patriot on 4th of July with my British husband. Following year was KFC and Pearl Harbor. It's now become a bit of a tradition!
The Patriot is such a laughable movie. I made my British spouse watch it and it's hilarious how Jerry Bruckheimer wanted the British portrayed basically like they were nazis lol - the war for independence was a fairly gentlemanly war in actuality
Last World Cup, USA Vs England. We showed up to our local pub a few minutes late and everyone is already seated and staring at the screens. Total silence as they watch. I (American) reached into my bag and pulled out an American flag/Uncle Sam top hat. Wore it the whole game and got dirty looks every time we came close to scoring. Honestly, I wore it to be ironic. I thought for sure we were going to get killed in that match. And I would never, ever have worn it in a pub that I didn't know everyone. I'd have gotten my ass kicked 🤣
made eye contact with a stranger
I hugged somebody once
hahaaaa
hahahaaaa
Just saw Dave Matthews Band the other week. Watched the Falcons v Jags last year. Thinking of joining a beer softball league.
Went to Passyunk Ave whilst down in London. I’m not a Philly native, but I lived there for three years before moving here, and man that place was like teleporting back.
Hi fellow former Philadelphian ☺️ When I was living in Edinburgh I just happened to find another former Philadelphian, as she was explaining american football and the Eagles to her scottish companions. There are dozens of us!
Hello! Former Philly here as well!
I proudly wear my Eagles fitted cap, but i wear the all black ones. Don't want to be too loud about it :P
I had a Cobb salad and a few PBRs while I was there. Felt like home
Yes, I came here to say the same thing! I forgot I was in London the first time I was there.
I love British sandwiches, but nothing compares to a hoagie.
*Flashback to first Primo Hoagie experience
Passyunk’s great. If you haven’t, definitely go to their website and place an order - they’ll ship you all their Philly supplies so you can make their cheesesteaks at home.
Wait. What? Oh man.
Here’s the hook up.
But is it good? lol There's a "Philly Cheesesteak" truck here in Newcastle that opens on sundays at the food market, and uh...cheesesteak it was not lol My german gf tried to grill them about it, turns out they've never even been to the US. It was too hard for me to stand and watch so I pulled her away because I knew she was going to tell them that I'm from Philly and embarrass them even more lmao
Passyunk is owned by a Philly local, they make their own in house wiz and coat their fries in Old Bay - it’s as close to Philly as you’re going to get.
I'm sold. I have an embassy appointment in London at the end of the month, so I'll def pop in.
I went there in January and it felt like I had gone abroad.
I went right after the pandemic was winding down, and I hadn’t been home in ages. Literally no British accents in there whilst I was there. It was amazing.
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I went to watch my undergrad play in March Madness and it was so fun
I just learned something new...and I will be in London next month!
My dad is visiting and he has been Blessing all the sneezes.
I wear my cowboy boots with pride around London all the time. When I’m looking for other Americans in the city, I try to spot people wearing sweatshirts and shorts at the same time. That’s an American thing I think. Also sweatpants tucked into socks. Hats with American Football or baseball team logos are also a dead giveaway that someone is from home as well. It’s easy to tell an American fresh off the plane from Heathrow, honestly.
Google Gary P. Nunn song ‘Home with the Armadillo’
Seeing Bruce Springsteen in Belfast in a few days 🤘🏾 🇺🇸
The most American thing? I was at a Dave Matthews Band show recently mi always joke it's the biggest collection of Americans wherever they play. I've also given tips to smokehouse type places after I've eaten there.
I saw Dave in Manchester last week. Great show.
Saw them there in 2016 I think, was my first DMB show! Next time they tour I will hope to see them more than once. Royal Albert Hall was very special though.
What I can do is I'll tell you what the most British thing I do about Americans is: I avoid them like the plague if I can. Americans who live in the UK are fine (and hello to my American friends who are also on the subreddit lol) - I mean tourists. Americans who live in the UK attract Americans tourists like a moth to flame. Whenever I hear big dumb American voices (usually in London or Scotland) I make sure I say nothing out loud if I can, otherwise I'll invite shedloads of tedious moronic conversation.
Out of interest, what sorts of conversation? It’s funny you say that because I have noticed the American regulars at our best nearby coffee bar get constantly noticed by the American tourists and then not left alone for the entirety of their coffee lol
Yeeeep, it's a common thing. Mostly they want to tell me about them and their experience of the UK, which I find really tedious and silly.
It's like, hi yes Phil from Kentucky, glad you're enjoying your vacation to England, yes I am aware they drink tea all the time. Cool thanks.
Hahaha yeah I’m always hearing them say things like “Oh my god! Another American! What state are you from?” And then it’s the tourist talking at high speed for hours and the poor expats don’t get a word in
We went to a James McMurtry show. Also, I bought a smoker and have been doing pulled pork, smoked turkey, ribs, and beer can chickens. I draw the line at brisket, though, I've never been able to get it right so I stopped trying. I prefer the pork anyway.
I served British guests beer can chicken once. They were skeptical, but suitably impressed.
Fuck yeah, I’m smoking ribs as I type this. My garden shop just started carrying Traegers, another one down the road carries BGEs and Pitt Boss (both pellet smokers and flat tops). The UK bbq options have really opened up the past few years.
I miss the bronto beef spareribs I could get in the US. The beef ribs they sell in the UK are really nice and meaty, but I miss gnawing the giant bones (and the spare ribs are so much cheaper).
I'd love to do some ribs this week, but I'm having really bad stomach issues so I'm on a really bland diet. It sucks. I might smoke a turkey breast next weekend, though. That would probably be edible. If only I could find frozen cranberries this time of year. I like to do cranberry salsa with the smoked turkey, and jalapeno cornbread stuffing.
Yeah, I still have a lot of qualms with UK butchery. The cuts are never quite right, are they?
Fuck yeah, smoked turkey is fantastic! I’ve never had cranberry stuffing, but I know what I’m trying next. Thankfully, cornbread isn’t impossible to find here.
I especially hate the chicken breasts cut into two pieces. They're harder to eat and the ribs are pokey.
I always wonder whether a UK butcher could cut something US-style for me if I asked, but our current butcher, while great, isn't the friendliest. (They are really inexpensive, though! We routinely get two excellent free-range chickens for £6.99, and they intermittently have whole beef fillets at £20/kg. They'll cut it for you, but you do have to buy the whole fillet.)
drive on the wrong side of the road. I still do but thankfully realize in time
I jumped in the wrong side of my car yesterday. Surprise! No steering wheel!