What's Really Different for Americans in the UK
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 6 ส.ค. 2024
- Today I'm going to share 3 big differences between the American way of doing things and the English way. Some British customs are very different to life in the US and it's good to be prepared if you're considering traveling or moving to the UK from the US in the future.
In this video I focus on the differences between DRIVING IN THE UK, CUSTOMER SERVICE and attitude and buying and renting PROPERTY. Hopefully being aware of these differences will help you decide if moving to the UK is right for you or at least understand some of the challenges Americans may face when relocating or moving abroad to the UK!
For more moving abroad tips and advice: www.hipoverfifty.com/
![How I See the UK as an American Abroad [CULTURE SHOCK]](/img/n.gif)
I’d prefer you to say “drive on the left” not “the wrong side”
Absolutely. We've been driving on the left before America was discovered.
Nobody really wants the type of customer service where some stranger is hoping you have a nice day every couple of minutes. It’s annoying. And insincere.
I couldn't agree more .The insincerity of it drove me mad when we went to America 😠 😡
I really dislike when people say, have a nice day, I mean employees that don’t know me at all. Sounds like something that is positive but for example, when I am stopping for my last minute things before I go to the hospital when a relative had in an heart attack and of course I’m not having a nice day.!!!
I’d rather strangers just say thank you for example instead of have a nice day.
There's a lot of curmudgeons in here
@@oaktree1626 You Brits have no understanfding of all the cultures of the USA sorry about the spelling
It is NOT the wrong side of the road in the UK !!! Maybe different not wrong.
The customer service thing.. as a Brit I will say, we don't want to be constantly greeted etc .. we much prefer employees to just leave us alone to do our thing. And we will leave the employee alone to do their thing. They're human. They don't need to pretend to be a robot with a fake smile here. I hate that fake smile fake customer service weird stuff that happens in the US. Really bothers me. It's like what you see in North Korea.
It puts me off shopping when employees are hovering around. Hate it.
@@loopyloo788I know what you mean, it's so unnerving. It's as if the staff don't trust you and think you are going to run off with the contents without paying. I also find it rather rude if they continually come up to you when you are trying to eat please just go away and let me eat in peace, stop interupting my private conversations with my dinner guest. If I require assistance I'll call you. If they were to do that in a shop I'd be please leave me alone I'm looking I'm quite able to call you if I have a question or can't find what I'm looking for. Go away grrr.
Coming up once to check all is well is one thing but when they keep pestering I begin to wonder if there is something wrong with the food.
@@eileencritchley4630 I was in Florida looking for clothes for my grandson, trying to see what size would fit and comparing etc. Everytime I picked something up she asked ‘do you need assistance.’ I kept saying no thank you she’d then stand next to me and refold the things I was trying to compare. Seriously, this went on for ten minutes and I was starting to feel flustered and pressured. It was a really horrible shopping experience. I would even say it was quite intimidating. Like you say, just leave me alone and I’ll ask if I need help.
@@loopyloo788 What on earth I think I would have become extremely annoyed. It would make me feel like she thought I was about to steal something. I'd either end up telling to stop hovering and leave me alone or tell her this shop has lost a sale as you've made me feel like I was a criminal. Before walking out in total disgust.
In America, the customer is always right …..but the staff want to kick them out as soon as possible to get the next customer onto the conveyor belt.
Yes, always felt that customer service in the US was insincere. Whereas it's real and not over the top in the UK. Rather have UK customer service.
@@xhogun8578 “have a nice day” means far more if a British server actually says it. 👍
are you crazy? DISS my culture? then go home n
I was stationed in England for 4yrs. I shipped my car from the US and the day I picked it up from the port I learned to drive on opposite side immediately and learned what a roundabout is real quick. For my military job I had to drive a big supply truck on narrow roads and I survived
But did the oncoming traffic survive?
@@merseymarineimages6283 Until she hit them :)
@@richard6440 Not nice !
@@merseymarineimages6283 A minor detail !
@@welshpete12 Being hit by someone driving on the wrong side of the road is usually not nice. Sometimes it can kill. Ask Harry Dunn. You cant . He's dead.
Another major difference in service is your customer is very unlikely to be carrying a gun...
As a Brit who lived in the US for just over ten years I do feel qualified to comment on your points. Firstly the driving test; the UK driving test is much more involved than the US but it has paid real dividends in terms of road safety (I have taken both tests) the deaths on the road rate in the US per 100,000 people is five or six times higher in the US than the UK and that is a lot of lives lost that really don't need to be lost. I think that a lot of problems on the road in the US is caused by the fact that there is no 'road worthiness' checks on older vehicles along the lines of the annual MOT test in the UK , I have seen many vehicles in the US frankly held together by gaffa tape and prayers! Buying a house? My goodness in the US that is a costly business, whatever the merits of the two systems the charges in the US are just mind blowing. Customer service? Yes in restaurants the service is very attentive probably more so than the UK, in shops I sometimes found that the customer service could be a little 'invasive' for my taste. I was surprised by your comments on consumer protection; I know in the US they can very from state to state but I think the Consumer Protection laws in the UK are much stronger over all (do all US states have a 'lemon' law yet?). I did enjoy your video.
Yes all states ha ve lemon law
also it is not generally allowed to park on pavements in uk. unless so marked, that will incur a penalty.
and please could you say, the other side of the road; calling it the wrong side sounds like the stereotypical american, insular, thinks they are the whole world
It's true. Most drivers in the US are unqualified to drive IMO.
In the UK we don't drive on the "wrong" side of the road we drive on the "correct" side of the road for the UK, as do many other countries in the world, which happens to be on the left. We were using the left long before European settlers even landed in North America. It dates from the times of knights on horseback. You can get cars with automatic transmission in the UK and Europe it's just that most drivers here, tend to prefer manual gear changes. I have an American wife and lived for a time in California and experienced service there. There is always the extra charge, you. Sales tax is never included in the price. As for servers, or waiters, in the US being so welcoming they are also so irritating with their insincerety, always trying to con customers into giving them a larger tip. No one expects a tip in the UK, whereas if your tip is not as much as expected in the US you're likely to be served by a stream of abuse by the server who so welcomed you when you entered the premises. Staff should be paid a proper salary and not have to subsidise their income from tips. The price on the menu is the price you pay in the UK, including tax, without any additions. Even if the check includes a "service charge" it's not compulsory to pay that and if you do pay it usually goes to all staff equally including those who actually prepared the food and not just to those who served it. Only today, my wife met her friend in the pub and they were talking about old times for over 4 hours and in that time ate a light lunch and a couple of drinks with no one hassling them to move on or order more food or drinks. She would say "So different to back home" (in LA).
I’ve lived in Canada for well over 50 years & in the beginning it absolutely petrified me to be driving on the wrong side of the road ...
Driving on the LEFT was invented when the ancient Romans invaded Britain... driving their chariots on the left side of the road, allowed them to hold onto the reins with their left hands while leaving their right hands free to defend oncoming enemies with their swords when needed....to me it makes perfect sense....
I don’t know why the Italians switched to driving on the right. However, I have noticed that there’s an awful lot of screaming that goes on in Italian traffic. IMO 🇨🇦🇬🇧
Are you telling us what's different in the US compared to the UK for our benefit, or yours?
Why can’t we just see the other side of the road, that way nobody would be offended.
@@fionacampbell5584 It's one thing Americans like to say. Absolutely agree there is no wrong side just the other.
@@markwolstenholme3354 unfortunately Mark it is not just Americans that say it. I am a Brit, living in Canada and I hear it on both sides of the pond.
No Tessa, you will be driving on the left hand side of the road, not the "wrong" side of the road. It does rather tick off us Brits when we hear that. 30% of the cars in the world are driven on the left.
Also, it is most certainly not legal to park on the pavement. If you do so you could end up with a hefty fine. Also, it is selfish as you are obstructing pedestrians, some of whom may be disabled or with children.
Property sales in Scotland are different to the rest of the UK. There is no gazumping there. Once you have agreed a sale you cannot change that.
If you're driving "on the wrong side of the road" you're going to get arrested or cause an accident. Don't do that.
joke of the day mate. thanks
I don't think I've ever driven on the wrong side of the road! I have driven on the other or right hand side whilst in Europe and the States.
driving on the wrong side is illegal and highly dangerous. don't do it folks !
in britain we drive on the right side which is the left. just remember that.
I'm pretty sure it is technically illegal to park on the pavement in U.K. It is just that it is often overlooked.
For parking with two wheels on pavement/sidewalk my understanding is that in London it is not legal, outside London it is 'legal' but not permitted/encouraged especially if you are 'obstructing' vehicles or pedestrians. There are proposals to make it illegal everywhere. Parking with all four wheels on sidewalk/pavement is not legal.
@@postie48 Not sure about England and Wales but it was made illegal in Scotland a couple of years ago and the one-year grace period has expired - and although there definitely seems to be fewer people doing it, I don't think the police are actively picking up on it (maybe a note through your door if you keep on parking on the pavement outside your house or business, etc.). That said, I'm sure it would quickly cause or add to charged should parking on the pavement cause or exacerbate an incident like someone being hit by a car when they had to walk on the road to get round one a car illegally parked on the pavement.
I don’t know if it’s still the case, but at one point the car owner was given a variable fine depending on how many wheels were on the pavement. I live in a rural area and motorists don’t seem to get penalised for it. In fact it’s amazing the parking habits that motorists get away with. In London they would get their cars towed in an instant.
In fact, technically it is illegal for any wheeled vehicle to be on the pavement (at least, it used to be) even prams and pushchairs. Obviously some discretion is used here!
@@Pippins666 I have checked web sites from RAC, lawyers and others. The opinion is that outside London it is not technically illegal (see below as an example of advice), unless there is an obstruction or a local bylaw forbidding it. It is my understanding if the Highway Code says 'must not' there is specific law; if the Highways Code 'should not' it is advised against but may be used against you if there are aggravating circumstances such as obstruction or an accident. BUT local bylaw may be in place to make it illegal. I also believe that vehicles over 7.5 ton are explicitly banned.
It is also a devolved matter so the devolved authorities could/may have changed the law in their areas.
Currently the DoT (England only) is consulting on a law to clarify.
Do you have any reference that confirms your contention, that any wheeled vehicle is forbidden. I am aware that subject to installed speed limiters mobility scooters are explicitly permitted to drive on pavements if limited in capability to 4 mph.
Of course, as an ex-Highway Engineer I would advise against parking on the pavement; it is not what they are designed for and they can be damaged by parking, may cause obstruction to pedestrians, prams/wheelchairs/mobility scooters etc. AND/OR block sight lines potentially initiating or aggravating an accident.
But as noted above I understand the actual law is complicated. In fact the latest letter from the DOT published on the Gov.uk web site indicates that parking two-wheels-up may be necessary in certain places to avoid obstructing traffic on narrow roads.
Rule 244: advisory
While the Highway Code states categorically that drivers ‘MUST NOT’ park on the pavement in London, for other parts of the country the law says drivers ‘SHOULD NOT’ park on the pavement, unless doing so is specifically signposted.
This means that legally, outside the capital, you have the right to park on the pavement as long as doing so doesn’t break any other driving laws.
In many pubs, in Britain, you go to the bar to get your drinks and go to the bar to order your food. The waiting staff bring you food, but a pub is not a restaurant. If you want another drink, go back to the bar. If you want a dessert, go back to the bar and order it. Although some pubs behave like restaurants, it's not the norm.
I was once in a bar down in Nottingham and overheard the dissatisfaction of some Americans who thought the service was awful! They thought they were being ignored, which of course they were, but not for the reasons they thought.
Once I explained 'the rules', they were so relieved. They were lovely - we had a good laugh. They left a HUGE tip! (Not for me, but for the waitress).
well done for aiding cross cultural understanding !
My brother failed his UK driving test 5 times back in the seventies. Went to Canada to live (age 22 with no licence) and got a Canadian licence almost on arrival.
I’m British and I don’t mind if shop staff greet me when I go in ( although it always seems artificial so I’d rather they didn’t) but I can’t stand when staff keep approaching me to ask if they can help. It just makes me leave quickly. If I want any help I will ask for it.
I always have a stock reply to shop assistants who do this...I always say 'I'm just looking, if that's ok with you. that is?' and keep eye contact as if waiting for a negative reply...Might seem a mouthful but including the 'if that's ok with you, that is?' puts them instantly into the position of thinking if their actions had a potential customer wondering if he was welcome or not...It always seems to work...They tend to back off very quickly being apologetic and keen not to offend me with hassling therein...My wife doesn't like me doing it as she says they are just doing a job and are often told by managers to be pushy...and I understand that...My wife doesn't get easily rattled like me...;0)...
Agreed! It s even worse in some parts of Europe. In Istanbul we stayed right beside the Grand Bazaar, but never bought a thing. There was lots we were interested in, but as soon as we stopped to look we were mobbed by salesmen trying to push us, showing us things we weren't interested in, so we just moved on. And the same in touristy parts of Italy and Croatia. If you stop to look at a restaurant menu immediately a waiter comes to witter at you so you can't concentrate on the menu.
The modern greeting in shops now is "Are you alright there! (So irritating) just walked in, hardly had time to focus. I usually say that I hope so, otherwise I'm in trouble. I have walked out on one occasion. Was an opticians.
@@lewistaylor1965 I agree with you. In United States I is looking inside of chocolate shop and it was very small. And I said I just wanted to browse when she asked me if I needed help. But she followed me the whole time and soon I decided to leave because I Felt that she was following me because she felt like I was going to steal some thing and I didn’t look like a gang member or anything.
I really had intended to buy some chocolate, but I felt so uncomfortable. I walked out without buying a thing.
It’s funny but I’ve never said of a country that their driving on the wrong side of the road as it’s just where that country drives,we have a lot of consumer rights here as well,enjoyed listening to you
Thank you! I love living here, maybe because I was born here 😀
My ears pricked when I heard her say this. Lots of people get triggered when all she's trying to say is that's it's different. Brits do this all the time when travelling abroad BTW, so......
I was never keen as a Brit travelling around the US that waiters and staff may be being super nice to me because of the tip I was going to give...That felt insincere to me...I remember a female bar girl in Fort Lauderdale in 1990 the first time we went going from super nice to loudly aggressive to us because we weren't aware of the tipping tradition and we went to walk away after being served, so we tipped her even though she was vile to us...That really stayed with me...As for restaurants and cafe's, Brits don't usually make a fuss if something isn't to their liking...they just don't go back
Agreed, the first time I was in the US I had not really taken on board the tipping, I knew it was the thing to do but evidently didn't give enough (I think I gave around 10%) as I was challenged very aggressively by the waitress and felt obliged to give a bigger tip.
The prices displayed by restaurants etc, are false due to the requirement to tip.
A friend of mine who is an American gave a much smaller tip because her food was bad and the waitress aggressively followed her and gave the tip back!!! She said you did not give me enough. I decided I’d support her by going back to the table and taking my tip back.!!!:)
There was a restaurant in New York that banned tipping. They just put the prices up to what the bill would be if tips were included. It wasn't a success because customers just took note of the higher prices on the menu.
If my meal is bad, I tell the buggers. There is a consumer law for restaurants that states that the customer does not have to pay if the meal does not meet basic standards. So if your soup is cold, and it shouldn't be ...
I used to be a branch manager and then regional manager for a building society, your home loan lenders. As a branch manager I would do 125 mortgages a month so alot of experience in this field. A few things you said that I would agree with and a few I feel are misleading.
Many view estate agents with caution, but to say they are not licenced suggests it is a free for all and unsafe. Not entirely the case, though over the years there were many I fell out with.
There is currently no legal framework for an estate agent to have any qualifications before setting up a business, but this is set to change. However, they are all are regulated under the Estate Agents Act 1979, which lays down their duties involving:
Property buyers;
Property sellers.
The Act makes clear the right for an estate agent to charge a commission, and states that sellers and buyers should understand their contract’s terms before entering into it.
My experience tells me not a large number of people change the terms of the purchase at the last minute - in fact very few. Normally prices and terms change following a survey because of a problem with the property, from damp to rot issues. Legal problems can also cause issues following searches. Some properties sit on titles that are hundreds of years old and identifying issues can take time.
I would estimate the average house buying process in the UK excluding Scotland which has a different procedure and law, is 3 to 4 months. I bought my last house in 1 week.
Estate agent commission - someone has to pay for it and when average house prices are high, a lower percentage is appropriate also when turnover due to huge demand is fast, then agents can still make and do, a good living wage.
Thank goodness, someone who knows what paragraphs are. I'm no grammar nazi, (english is my second language) it just makes it so much easier to read.
When you say you don't get the 'customer service' you get in USA I think you mean we don't get constantly hassled by staff hovering about - I'd find it really annoying to be bothered every few minutes - just a different culture it does mean customer service is worse 👍 but as you say they depend on tips to make up their wages which is unheard of here tips are extra 👍
Totally agree.
I agree, when I have been to the USA, 4 times, I actually find it annoying that in the middle is eating I have to stop the conversation with the people I am with to speak to the server to confirm all is ok (apart from the fact that they keep f**cking asking me if all is ok)
@@paulluperto4342 exactly 👍😆
@@paulluperto4342 Who wants wait staff buzzing around like wasps at a picnic?
Hi Tessa welcome to the UK. If we are sarcastic to your face then you know you have been accepted. 😲😄😁
Yep , it means we really like you . But by law we are not allowed to tell you !
I've heard this humbug before. You might 'pull someone's leg', or use irony, or banter, or other expressions of light humour to show warmth and matiness, but sarcasm is not an agreeable quality in a person. It can offend or wound. Stop it right now.
@@2eleven48 😀
Years ago I ran sales training courses for an upmarket clothing brand and the first thing I taught was never to start with "Can I help you?" Because the standard automatic response is "No thank you", even when the customer actually does want some help. I also used to teach that the customer is not always right, but it always helps if they feel like they are.
True. I just like to be acknowledged when I walk in the door... even if it's just a head nod! Just seems more courteous. I agree ...asking if someone needs"help" puts people off. I prefer "let me know if I can be of any help" and then leave you alone.
Agree JP- we were in retail for years and the art is to appear to be approachable if someone needs help, but not 'attack' them the moment they walk in. For me the same applies if eating out- I don't want to be asked every 5 minutes if everything is OK- I'll say if I need something or if there's a problem.
SPOT ON!
@@HipOverFifty , Like your videos alot but sometimes just explaining the reason why things are done a certain way would help more to ease any American worries , you do mention it sometimes like in restaurants were you will not be harassed by waiters trying to get the turnover bigger , one thing that I mention is that the UK is approximately the size of Alabama but instead of 6m population it's 67m hence the size of roads , cost of housing etc . Sometimes you'll go down a road were the sides are tall these might of been Roman roads and were worn down by Anglo Saxon farmers taking their sheep , pigs , cattle , ducks etc to market.for over 1000 years.
@@lawrenceglaister4364 I appreciate what you're saying. Thanks for watching!
I think the U.K. is a country for introverts lol. People are reluctant to impose on another person’s privacy bubble, or at least more so than in the US. I would hate to be spoken to or questioned when going into a shop, I’d avoid it in the future. The same with restaurants, I would be irritated by waiting staff being overly familiar. If I need assistance I will ask. It’s just a cultural difference. British are friendly but worry about imposing themselves on others and pull back.
Exactly it's called respecting the other person, it's not being unfriendly or standoffish, it's recognising that other person may not want over attention from someone they don't know.
Depends on the person and the place and maybe your mood? Most clothes shops etc. no greetings. A tiny little independent shop kinda rude not to smile and say hello no? Restaurants I goodbye and a greeting is nice and not to be left standing. You're probably right about the introvert thing. Even when asked if we want help most well, "men" will go "no it's fine" despite knowing full well they need it! ;)
Not introvert just respectful of other people's possible feelings about contact with strangers.
100%, I have visited the US and noticed a lot of day to day differences, I felt Americans were very 'socially brave'.
Randomly starting conversations on the street would be a little weird or rude. But in the US, it felt kinda natural and nice about it, ngl I got in the spirit of it and struck up conversations, and it felt pretty nice to be fair.
The UK is just a very 'to yourself' lifestyle. Even when being social, it's YOUR group, and not many invade that social bubble even in the pubs.
We Brits are not a country of introverts!
Parking on the pavement is illegal. It's just rarely enforced. Gazumping is a phenomenon only in England. Scotland has different laws.
I think that rule 244 of the Highway Code states that it is illegal park on the pavement anywhere in London. However, it is not illegal to do it anywhere else, it's just frowned upon. I could be wrong.
I think she is using "pavement" in the US sense
@@nicholascarrington7912 It is also illegal in Sheffield. Elsewhere parking on the pavement is not illegal, however driving on the pavement IS! I would love to see all cars parked on the pavement ticketed, and the onus put on the drivers to prove that they did NOT drive onto the pavement to park. An invoise from a crane company would suffice. No one worries to much if you can get by with a pushchair etc, it;s the few that park completely across the pavement obstructing all pedestrians I object to.
It's not the wrong side of the road it's just the opposite side, works for both countries.
I had my own business and would always try to greet people as they came in. Obviously if you're busy with someone else that's not always possible, but a simple "Hi, how are you?" goes a long way.
The point about acquiring a UK licence is really important. As a driving instructor in London, I work with a lot of people needing a UK licence conversion and the biggest thing that is misunderstood is the time scale needed, particularly now after CoVID as there is a massive backlog of tests. Start early in your preparation, do a UK familiarisation course and get assessed on how many hours you need to get used to UK driving as soon as you can. It is a hard test but not impossible and majority of my clients have passed first time, but only because they are well prepared! As mentioned in the video the biggest difference is that are roads are more constricted and narrower, which requires a different cultural style of driving, we cant just push through as everything gets jammed up, there needs to be a considered approach and more defensive driving styles.
Having done my test in the USA I totally agree with you. I almost failed the first time over there because I used the handbrake and put the car (manual) into neutral at the lights. I was told that I should hold the car on the clutch instead! If that's what the tester is like then you can imagine how competent the average American driver is.
I HATE obtrusive service. I don't want a shop to pay for people to greet me- I'd rather they save the money and give me cheaper products. And in a restaurant I want to be left alone until I want to either order or have plates removed.
Completely agree,who wants staff pestering all the time to get you in and out quick so they can collect more in tips
Why do Americans always say " the wrong side of the road", it's the left side of the road. We also speak English with the wrong accent and spell certain words wrong.
Agreed! Some Americans do think the world revolves around them.
I also love the fact that people who work in service.. catering etc dont have to grovel to get a big tip. They are paid a living wage.. people still tip if they feel they get great service but they dont have to. My mither abd aunt worked as waitresses for most of their working lives .. tips were very welcome.. service was important but they never felt the need to go over the top. When i was at college i also worked as a waitress.. in some dining restaurants.. good discreet service earnt tips... grovellingly over the top service did not
NZ and Aussie we drive same side side like UK it CALLED THE RIGHT SIDE OF ROAD
Ooh, don’t drive in the wrong side of the road! Bad advice; you’ll hit stuff coming the other way 🤣
You missed the fact that Scots property law is completely different from English law once you cross the border into Scotland .
You said virtually as you know its not the same at all.
Its the same as in its a legal process over property but everything after that is different
Scotland had its own laws before the union so much can be different. Solicitors are far more involved in the Scottish property market and In most towns there will be a solicitors property centre where all the properties for sale or rent will be in one place, although you would then deal with the solicitor handling the property. Also once an offer has been accepted it is legally binding so far less opportunity
for gazumping.
@Mark Hepworth It isn't. My brother was in the RN and was reposted to seven or eight different bases around the UK during his 25 years' service. He and his wife bought and sold a number of different properties moving from Scotland to England and vice versa. Conveyancing laws are very different in Scotland, the legal process is far more transparent, and - as @Ken Rundle said - once an offer is accepted it is legally binding. Gazumping is hardly ever a factor.
@@kenrundle4225 It's basically the same, and it shows how ignorant (or hopeful maybe this case for some) can be on any subject. Offers are not legally binding. A solicitor working on behalf of a seller can't accept a new offer as a technicality, but a seller can. The solicitor just has to withdraw from acting on their behalf. It makes gazumping slightly less common just because it adds an extra pointless step, but it still happens and house sales are not binding until the same point as in England.
And it just happens to be the case that more solicitors deal directly with house sales in Scotland, but this is not required you can still go through a normal estate agent, and only use a solicitor to deal with everything else after the offer just like in England.
It's also not some historic law that makes this slight difference, its just random guidance (not even a law at all) from the law society of Scotland that solicitors prefer to stick to if you are using one directly.
@@wyterabitt2149 The critical difference is that contracts are exchanged much sooner in Scotland (usually), so the legally binding point is reached sooner. Better for all parties really.
Yes, it irritates me so much to be told we 'drive on the wrong side of the road'! We don't... we drive, as others have commented, on the OTHER side of the road.
Correct side of the road!!!
Why do you say wrong side of the road,surely you should say opposite side of the road to America
In the UK, driving on the right hand side of the car is the right side.
The history goes back to traffic congestion on London Bridge a century ago. Horse drawn carriages were directed to one side of the road to stop crossing in front of each other and creating chaos. Castle stairway bends are designed in such a way for men to access their swords more easily and fight off the enemy, as most people are right handed. But we stand on right side of the escalators on the underground because the turn off the first underground escalator was at Earl’s Court where it was easier to access the exit if you stood on the right hand side and allowed the impatient to walk up and down on the left.
Research shows that driving on the left of the road is safer as it accesses the more appropriate part of the brain for driving actions.
it goes back many centuries, not a century ago
Although a small country by comparison to the vastness of North America...the UK has many geographical variations...and a huge linguistic range...from the Highlands of Scotland down to Cornwall..south west England...Wales and Northern Ireland ..its a fascinating amalgam of differing cultures and local customs...
Agreed!
We don't drive on the 'wrong' side of the road; we drive on the left side.
Although they do not need a licence. Estate Agents are regulated under the Estate Agents Act 1979. Must also belong to an approved redress scheme. Either the Property Ombudsman (TPO) or the Property Redress Scheme. Both have systems to investigate complaints. The regulator for estate agents is. National Trading Standards Estate Agents Team (NTSEAT) The remit of the NTSEAT is to assess whether an individual or business is fit to carry out estate agency work within the terms of the Estate Agents Act 1979
In England most estate agents are run by a surveyor who has a degree plus professional exams and has unlimited liability there is no where in the world with high qualification. In the USA a real estate licence is a six month part time course
US customer harrassment is obnoxiously intrusive to me, so much so that I'm often willing to say that 'go away, get out of face. if necessary 'bring me the cheque now and and your tip just went south!' Then pay up and leave and don't go back. I just can't stomach it.
In Scotland they can't play the gazumping game, once your offer is accepted the deal is closed.
WKK
But you have to be careful when you put your offer in, you have your survey and then offer so there are costs if the market is hot and you try several times and fail. True? I think you also do some legal work. From my memory of the Scottish system some years ago.
I regularly drive in Europe. Driving on the wrong side of the road, however you define that term, is absolutely no problem. For some reason it seems to terrify Americans - as do roundabouts (one of the best traffic inventions ever)
Why drive? In the UK there's not as much need to do so! The public transport is good enough!
@@dinerouk No it isn't! It might be in London (and it is), but not out in the country - and by that I mean most small market towns, and all villages. And anyway, trains in Britain are the most expensive in Europe (thank you John Major). Might be OK for one, but taking afamily - NO CONTEST!
Hi Tessa, hope your enjoying your time in the UK. It's my home country but I'm now living in Australia and loving it.
On the customer service side of things, I have been to America a few times and for me someone not used to the greeting or constant attention when in a shop asking if I need help it's rather intimidating I found. As long as someone is there for me to ask for help I'm more than happy with that.
Just what your used to I guess. Australia I put as a half way house between the UK and America which is just nice.
Look forward to seeing more videos of your travels and thoughts
Thanks Michael, I love it here! But I'm a little prejudice as I was born here too. I agree that American style greetings can seem a little aggressive at times, but I do like customer service!
You're right it is what you're used to, and that's all I'm saying.
I expect things to be different because well... you don't move somewhere to get the same do you?
I've heard that about Oz... somewhere in the middle. Glad you're enjoying it!
@@HipOverFifty
In reality.. Australia looks at all the ideas available and chooses the crappiest option !
Seriously, I'm not joking.
Think of a brand new housing estate.. first they put in the infrastructure and roads (Before any buildings)... good idea except they then, instead of putting all the electrics etc underground, they put them on a telegraph pole.
Looking for the street name... Look halfway up the telegraph pole !!
Phone & Mains.... Yup.. On the same pole. Then lets bare connect 240 volts from the pole down to your house... Just be careful where you put your ladder !!
btw.. MOST Aussie houses are single storey (Bungalows to UK people)
Changing gear is so easy, I got the hang of it my first time driving.
We were the first country to set laws regarding which side of the road to drive!
Really interesting insight into what I guess is different in the US. Thank you.
I'm American AND British. You can like beans on toast AND tex mex, the two are not mutually exclusive. There are no sides, no right and wrong (well except the side of road you drive on - just kidding! 😆) but we do some things differently and that's all I'm saying. Life would be pretty boring if we were all the same!
Saying that your PART British doesn’t exonerate you from being arsey about our Country.. and just being BORN here holds no sway.. 🙄
As for driving, this little island is overcrowded, I believe the most densely populated area in Europe. The result of this is it makes driving much more complicated, you need eyes in the back of your head and I have driven for a living almost my entire working life. Getting a licence is therefore a lot harder now, I feel a sympathy for the learner today it must be a lot more stressful.
That's the correct size of the road hon
My husband does the driving when we're in the UK. Eventually he might get a UK drivers license, but I would prefer to just try to walk and bike and otherwise be a passenger whilst someone else is driving😊
I hadn’t planned on getting a car here but the pandemic changed my mind… I don’t blame you!
there is no such thing as a uk drivers license. but he can try for a uk driving licence
@@acommentator4452 one of those American/British nuances
It’s not just the UK where people don’t tip or do if the service merits it, Europe is the same. People have a living wage.
living in england for a year you will find this a challenge our weather and the fact the amount of daylight during the year is very different were i live in england on the 21st of june the longest day of the year there are 17hours 40 minutes beetween sunrise and sunset on the 21st of december the shortest day of the year there are 7 hours 55minutes beetween sunrise and sunset
Turning on the wipers when you try to signal 🤣
Cars are not allowed to park on the pavement.
You should come down my road!
British people don’t want to be greeted in shops, we rather be left alone. UL laws on consumer services are much stronger than the US.
Interesting video. Thanks for doing it. For buying a property when you say 1% for estate agent fees that would usually be a considerably amount. Getting 1% (plus VAT) for a 400k house is £4,800. I'd quite like to be paid that several times a month! The usual process is you exchange your contracts 3 months before and complete at the end. So once you exchange and pay a large percentage of the asking price it is unlikely the buyer would pull out later on as they will loose this money. I agree it is bad to exchange and complete on the same day as that's asking for trouble! Looking forward to more videos xx
You do know that the estate agent doesn't get to keep that £800 VAT, and it does not count as income. Still, it's a fair chunk of money.
I passed my driving test in the UK in 1969 and within six months emigrated to Australia. I have returned on several occasions and although we drive on the same side do find driving in some parts of the UK challenging.
I sold my parents' house in Wales after they died and the only delay was having to co-sign documents with my sister who lives in Sydney which is about 600 miles from me (Brisbane Queensland).
All my interactions with staff in shops, cafes, hotels and restaurants in the UK were polite and usually quite engaging. I've never been to America but I've never met an American I didn't like so I guess they're the same over there.
Americans are on the whole nice people!
@@welshpete12 Just like us Welshmen eh?
agreed@@welshpete12
i prefer welsh people. @@Parawingdelta2
The Theory Test also has a Hazard Perception Test as well.
Very interesting, concerning customer service. When it comes to stores it can be hit and miss, I do remember a couple of awful experiences in Bloomingdale's in New York. I was always told American customer service is the best. In restaurants it can be over-bearing and intrusive. The nicest customer service I experienced was in an old fashioned diner in San Francisco, the waitress was well past 70 year old and full of sassy charm. In the UK, it depends where you go. I personally find independent stores and restaurants service far superior, to services in chain stores or restaurants. Attentive but discreet.
70% of cars in the UK are automatic!
When I was in the US the server’s helicoptering constantly at the table drove me mad! A cafe in my town started to do that but soon stopped. The third time the waitress came to the table we told her to leave us alone!
Most people are right handed and it makes more sense to have that hand on the wheel than the shifter
I've never thought about that with working for tips thing. It makes sense if your income is from tips you're going to want as many people at the tables in an hour as possible. If you're getting paid a wage it doesn't matter if people sit there all day its one less table to clean up
That’s a management issue. An employer should pay its employees, its not the customers responsibility to do so. If a company can’t afford to pay its staff, it doesn’t deserve to exist.
I’ve driven in the US and other countries who drive on the right multiple times and got used to it in less than half an hour every time. It can’t be that hard to just do the same thing the other way around?
It's not driving on the wrong side of the road, it's driving on the other side of the road.
Servers are usually on a lower Minimum Wage, rather than a Living Wage. Tips matter.
Fun fact - they're not actually driving instructors doing the 'real' tests - although a lot of them were once, but dedicated examiners from the DVSA in England, Scotland and Wales (Northern Ireland does things a little differently).
For the uninitiated - Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency - 1/2 of the equivalent to the US DMV offices who are responsible for setting the curriculum and tests for all motorbikes, cars, trucks (lorries) and commercial vehicles. They also set the regulations for vehicle safety and MOTs for cars (a mandatory annual mechanical check for vehicles over 3 years old to ensure the core bits meet a safe standard).
Not to be confused with the DVLA (the other half of the DMV) who are the licensing agency that give you the actual learner's permit and full license when you're done) and are also responsible for the registration of your vehicle and the plates on them.
As a Brit who moved to the US to be with my wife, it's always interesting to hear about those that went 'the other way' and the differences found in culture and living just as I am discovering life across the US.
We should clarify that cars are not allowed to park on the pavement. Drivers just do and it’s so endemic that we struggle to enforce the law properly.
I think that, in Britain, cars have steering wheels and brakes to ease driving nn roads and not paved plains.
Very interesting, practical, and well presented. Thank you.
And you have only just scratched the surface! Just wait till you get on to the language (vocabulary, accents… oh and not forgetting SARCASM 😂!)
Hope you enjoy your stay - and remember to get out of London if you want to have a real experience. (The North is best!)
Thanks. You're right ... I've just scratched the surface! More to come .... from far outside London ;)
yes but up North , you have to buy a Whippet{Dog} wear a Flat Cap and Eat Black Pudding for Breakfast.
@@johnhorgan9295 black pudding is bloody lovely I'm from Northumberland and its gorgeous up beee especially in the spring and winter
@@johnhorgan9295 Nothing wrong with any of that, but you don't need the dog, all else is mandatory though. lol
The most important thing to me in shops or any we’re is please and thank you it’s a big thing to me and I use it all the time
One of the reasons of gear stick on the left and not on the column is to make you able to use your left hand more and we have the lights drip, fullbeam and full fog lights on one side of the column and on the other side windwipers front and back. Because of breakdowns and to repair on the road side, you need to get to parts of the engine, filters and stuff. Have you ever seen a right handed person or mechanic who has to more more left more than necessary or they are up against the windscreen or the bonnet, because they will not use their left that's why they build them that way, that are on the left sometimes, wheel nuts for changing a tyre, electrics, filters and other things, makes sense yes.
Love mum
You will not be driving on the wrong side of the road you will be driving on the opposite side to what you are used to. Some 76 other countries drive on the left.
Companies in the UK, often do not to pass cover charges on to the staff in a restaurant. Don't confuse that with tipping directly to the staff, its basically just a 'tax' added to the bill.
I’ve driven left and right hand manual transmission vehicles. Changing gear with either hand really is not that hard.
Very informative
Glad you liked it
Regarding estate agents, a friend of mine was buying in the US and because the agent is terrified he would buy with a competitor they tried to spend the weekend with them, and be out for dinner etc, so they didn’t swim off, really really tedious, eventually he told the agent he needed some privacy and asked him to leave the, alone. Also regarding American agents being more “professional” the exams are rudimentary and their sales details far less professional, they have however spent a lot of time developing the “open day” viewing concept and helping customers present the properties, fine if you want to buy into that, but for me rather intrusive. The service is a reflection of the personality of the customers, and many British people wouldn’t like it, not that it’s better or worse, we are just a bit different from each other. All the best from the U.K.
appreciate your Intellect, and your beauty.
Yeah right 🙄..
The remarks about buying property do NOT apply in Scotland. Scotland is part of the UK but it is a different country and has a different legal system. For instance in Scotland, if you make an offer for a property, you can be held to it.
Remarks about service and driving are accurate for Scotland.
By the way, we are quite happy to be greeted and to talk to staff in shops, but we want it to feel unforced and spontaneous. Having greeters at the door saying have a good day to everyone would drive shoppers away.
The property market in Scotland is legaly different from England. You can't be gazumped in Scotland, once the solicitors have been contacted, the deal is done.
Nice one Tessa. The property buying process is different between countries. In Scotland, its a closed bidding process. i.e., the property is on the market and closes on a certain date. You put a sealed offer to the solicitor, and all the offers are only opened on the closing date and the highest offer wins.
Also, rentals are now very different in Scotland. Tehre is no end date if you rent a property.
But yueah, very different cultures with Customer Service .....lol.
Good point! Yes I'm aware the process is quite different in Scotland and IMO I think it's more consumer friendly.
@@HipOverFifty It wasn’t for friends returning to live in the Shetland Isles. The vendors kept holding on to their offer for months so they couldn’t look elsewhere. There are always people who will bend the rules to suit themselves.
Manual's to Auto's is 70/ 30, customer service totally depends upon the person & estate agents can get up to 2.5%.
Tips are at your discretion if you don't want to tip then don't, if you feel like you want to tip then do
II know "the wrong side of the road" is an easy expression but it is also perjorative how about the other side of the road?
Fair comments. One thing I do wish was more common in the UK is waiter/waitress service. Normally when you walk into a restaurant or cafe here you dont know whether to sit down or go directly to the counter to order food. And if you do have to order from the counter you have to remember everybody’s order - not convenient. Also, if you are on your own and have to order at the counter you usually need to either find a seat whilst loaded with your food/drinks and if it is busy then good luck with that!
Agreed… can’t argue with that!
I get why the customer service differences are something that you've highlighted in this video - to an American it must seem culturally very jarring compared to what you're used to. From a native point of view, having travelled in the States, I much prefer (or am just much more relaxed) with the way we do it here. Whilst there's no denying that Americans appear to bend over backwards to be helpful to customers, I always got the feeling that it was incredibly fake and they were just doing it because they had to in order to get a tip. That was the other thing that made me paranoid in the US - constantly worrying that I was expected to tip literally anyone and everyone who offered to do something for me, no matter how small. It got to the point I would literally try to avoid service staff in restaurants and hotels and chose to eat at self-service buffet-style eateries and carry my own luggage about everywhere because doing otherwise made me panic about how awkward it was.
I think it's all in what you're used to. While I too have been annoyed by the tipping culture in the US, unfortunately it's a product of the poor wages for the service industry. I don't remember ever feeling like I had to tip and so would only tip if I felt the service warranted it. It may be a perception that other countries have that Americans always expect a tip! I think the idea of customer service or a friendly attitude goes a long way though and if I don't feel welcome in a shop or ignored, I'll likely just leave! Thanks for commenting.
Where I live in Scotland, it is illegal to park wholly or partially on the pavement. You can be fined for it.
Really interestong!
The price advertised is not only clear in UK it is legally enforceable in court I believe
Any service charge imposed on your bill is optional, you can ask for it to be removed
Why do all Americans harp on about driving on the opposite side of the road? We go to the continent and do not bat an eyelid.
The driving is just something you will get used to, driving on the left is something you quickly get used to, as long as you drive a LHD car.
Good point about the taking the test in a Auto, although with more hybrids and electric cars on the roads there is less need to drive a manual.
My car is a petrol and can only be bought as an auto, they don't manufacture a manual version, this is becoming more common.
The customer service, the way its done in the states would be regarded as a bit in your face here and being greeted as you set foot over the threshold is often looked at as more of an intrusion.
3 months is sort of the norm on buying and selling a house. Most people think it not a great system, but they don't want to change it either.
But we don't drive LHD cars (left hand drive) in the UK. We drive cars sitting on the right (right hand drive) i.e., the controls are on the right. The one exception is road sweepers where the controls are on the left so the driver can see out of the window to get close to the kerb.
I drove in Florida on the other wrong side of the road. It was a bit daunting at first but after a couple of days I got accustomed to it. I must say I found other drivers were considerate, kept their distance and observed the speed limits.
I used to live in FL and thought the traffic was horrible and that was 20 years ago. Of course we blamed it on the new residents and tourists ;) Glad you had a good experience.
I went for breakfast with some friends we got there about 9am at 11.30am the waitress asked if we were staying for lunch
I don't agree that service is better in the US, it entirely depends on which resturant, pub, or shops you are in in either country.
Who the hell wants to be greeted every time they walk into a shop let alone a pub.
My wife and I are planning on building a canal boat to cruise the English canals. At first we thought we could use the ancestry visa (5 years) to stay, but have recently found out that it's not available to us. How are you able to stay in the UK for more than 6 months? And how difficult is it to leave and return to the UK with a brief visit to the EU? AND... how brief is too brief?!?!? Thanks in advance. We love your presentation style and accurate information.
What a great idea! I love the canal boat idea. Sorry to hear about the visa. It can be tricky to stay without one, but as long as you don’t abuse the 6 month rule…. there is no set time to leave and come back. I’ve done some other vids on this…. How You Can Easily Become a Part Time Expat Living in the UK
th-cam.com/video/LgXSADqrvcU/w-d-xo.html
that may answer some questions. And thanks for your kind comment!
I always been greeted in restaurants here in the U.K., the waitress or waiter will normally introduce themselves. In pubs it may be different as they don’t normally take orders at the table, you order at the bar or through the pubs app on your phone, you will then be served at your table. Tipping is quite normal in the U.K. but we tip good friendly service.
I just got back from the US and I think can vary there too. Generally you’ll find good proactive wait staff in both countries 😃
You don't *have* to get a lawyer/solicitor to do the house conveyancing bit. There are people called conveyancers & also, for very smart people, you can even do your *own* conveyancing, you'd obtain a kit with all the forms & instructions. But I wouldn't, myself ...