When I first came back from studying in the UK, it was really hard to adjust back to living in the US. Thankfully, I had such a great support system, made up of friends and family, that listened to all of my stories and were there for me while I adjusted. Sometimes I still miss the UK and when I do, these are the things I miss most about living in the UK!
Primark
Primark is a fashion brand from the UK. While living in Aberdeen, Primark was extremely popular among university students. I loved that Primark had affordable, trendy clothes that allowed me to get into the UK fashion! I spent a lot of time in Primark while in the UK. There were some Primark stores in the US but they were all on the East coast and very far from me. However, a new Primark location opened in Chicago this past May and I am so excited to be able to shop there again when visiting Chicago.
Public Transport
The whole time I was abroad, I relied on public transportation. Before going to the UK, I was worried about how I would get around but after living there I found that my worrying was entirely unnecessary. The public transportation in Scotland and everywhere I traveled in Europe was amazing! There were convenient bus routes, that led to train stations, that led to other cities, that lead to airports that brought me anywhere I wanted to visit! After living with such efficient and convenient public transportation I hated having to drive when I returned to the US.
$30 Flights to Anywhere in Europe
When you live in the UK, you’re able to travel around Europe while sticking to a budget. I really miss hopping on a flight to a new country for the weekend. I loved flying EasyJet and Ryanair to explore new places in Europe. My friends and I found flight deals as low as 30 dollars round trip and booked flights to 6 countries while in the UK. It was so easy to take weekend trips even on a student budget.
Walkable Cities
When living in Aberdeen, I walked almost everywhere I went. I was able to walk to Morrisons, a UK grocery chain, that was right across the street from my flat. I could walk to cafes, restaurants, museums, shops, the train station, and even the beach. Walking every day also had me in the best shape of my life. I loved spending so much time outside and getting a daily dose of fresh air.
Cobblestone Streets
I’ll admit, I have a love-hate relationship with cobblestone streets. But here’s why they made the list, I love cobblestone streets because they are charming, adorable, and remind me of my time in the UK. However, I’ll also say that once you have fallen so many times because of them you may feel differently. I fell quite a few times and they get incredibly slippery when it rains but they also shine and glimmer when the rain hits the cobblestones. The romantic in me always dreams about the cobblestones and the cynic reminds me of falling in puddles and twisting my ankles.
Castles and Historical Sites
One of the things I enjoyed about living in the UK was the ability to visit the many castles and historic sites. Growing up in the US, I don’t get to see a lot of old structures that have withstood the test of time like the castles in Scotland. Seeing castles from the 14th century was absolutely mind-blowing to me. I’ll always cherish the memories I have of visiting such breathtaking historic sites.
Costa Gingerbread Lattes
Adjusting to living in the UK as a coffee drinker was interesting. For the first couple of months, all I could find to drink was instant coffee powder. Everyone offered me tea, which was endearing and adorable, but I was definitely missing regular old coffee. Eventually, I saw a coffee maker that I could buy but I decided it wasn’t worth buying for the time I had left of living there.
Instead of drinking coffee at my flat, I became rather addicted to Costa Coffee. Costa is a British coffee chain where the espresso isn’t as strong as a Starbucks brew that I was used to in the US. After a while, I began to really enjoy Costa lattes. Then, when I thought things couldn’t get better, they came out with the seasonal drink menu. The gingerbread latte itself was fantastic but the best part was the little gingerbread man they would put on top of the whipped cream. These lattes are just so adorable and I recommend getting one if given the chance.
Scottish or English Breakfasts
English and Scottish breakfasts are fantastic. They take their breakfast as seriously as I do, so naturally, they are a favorite of mine. If I had to pick a favorite between the two (yes there are differences), I’d choose the Scottish Breakfast.
In a Scottish breakfast, you’ll find eggs, toast, lorn sausage, black pudding, potato or tattie scones(my favorite), hashbrown patties, half a fried tomato, sauteed mushrooms, and tomato flavored beans. Scottish breakfasts are everywhere in Scotland so if you visit, you shouldn’t have a hard time finding them. Most hotels have complimentary Scottish or English breakfasts when traveling in the UK.
A Global Population
I honestly didn’t know what to expect of the population of the UK or Scotland before moving there. From everything I’d heard about the population prior to moving, I was under the impression there wouldn’t be much diversity. While living there I didn’t find that to be true at all.
When studying in the UK, I was able to meet people from all over the world. In my shared flat, where 5 of us lived, there were 5 countries represented. My flatmates were from Scotland, Nigeria, China, and Spain with me representing the US. Aberdeen was such an amazing place to live and I loved being able to meet people from all over the world while studying there. Being immersed in a diverse population really allowed me to learn about other countries and cultures while studying abroad.
No One Was Chasing the American Dream
This may seem like a funny one to list but living in the UK really opened my eyes to the effect chasing the American Dream was having on me. In the US, it seems that everyone is chasing something, whether it’s more money, a new car, a new house, or some other dream. That pressure and stress to want more instead of enjoying where you are and what you have is something I’ve struggled with and I’m sure I’m not the only American that has felt this way.
While in the UK, I found everyday life to be more laid back. Living there was peaceful. I had less anxiety and stress. I like to think it’s because they have a better work-life balance. It was just so nice to live somewhere so beautiful and calm.
I hope you enjoyed this list of things I miss about living in the UK. For a list of things I missed about the US while living in Scotland check it out here: https://creativeandambitious.com/11-things-youd-miss-moving-from-wisconsin-to-scotland/
