What would life be like if you moved from America to England? It’s easy to fantasize about a cosmopolitan life in London or peaceful days in a cottage outside a quaint English village.
You may decide, like I did, that moving to the UK is a perfect fit. I’ve looked back at my own experience and quizzed fellow expats to put together this list of the biggest pros and cons.
Pros and Cons of Living in England
Pro: Relative safety
Fear of gun violence is regularly cited as a top reason Americans want to move to England. It’s hard to overstate how much gun violence is associated with the American experience. Expats living in the UK often cite fear of gun violence as their top reason for not wanting to return to the US.
Gun ownership in the UK is subject to strict licensing laws. One of the bigger surprises for Americans is realizing that UK police do not typically carry firearms either.
Con: Missing out on family and friends
This is the top reason expats give for deciding not to move abroad or deciding to move back to the US. Don’t underestimate how difficult it can be to be far away from family and friends back home. Going back to visit is not the same as being there all the time.
In the years I’ve been living in the UK, friends have gone through many life events without me. This isn’t to say you can’t keep in touch remotely, but you will have a different relationship with people you can’t see in person regularly.
Pro: Work-life balance (compared to the US)
For Americans, 5+ weeks of paid vacation and bank holidays can seem like a dream. It was striking to me how often ads run on television advertising package holidays. Disney even runs ads here for 14-day theme park tickets in Florida. Brits heading to America for holiday are likely to spend more time on break than most Americans take off all year.
In the office, you’re less likely to encounter the American ‘always-on’ mentality in the UK. England is still way more work-obsessed than most European countries, but fewer industries seem bent on competing over who can stay at work the latest.
A number of sectors in the UK hire talent from abroad, making the sponsored work visa one of the top ways for Americans to move to the UK.
Con: Lower salaries than in much of the US
It’s common to be offered a significantly lower UK salary than you’d earn in many US regions. There are trade-offs in the overall cost of living, but there is certainly a perception that you’ll make more money in the US.
In recent years, the required salary for UK skilled worker visas has exceeded the median salary for the country. This can make it harder to obtain a visa in the first place, much less afford a lifestyle similar to what you’d expect in the US.
Once here, your right to stay on a skilled worker visa is tied to your job, which can make for an uncomfortable five years until you are eligible to apply for indefinite leave to remain.
Pro: Ease of travel
Flights to Europe and beyond are much cheaper from England than flying even within the US. Train and ferry options make the hop from England to Europe easy even for those who don’t like to fly. Expats from the US regularly mention travel options as one of the top perks of living in the UK.
Since we’ve lived here, we have taken holidays in Europe at least 1-2 times per year. If it weren’t for school break and activity schedules for my daughter, we’d probably go more often.
Con: Brexit has added to travel bureaucracy
If your goal for living abroad is to experience as much of Europe as possible, you may want to look at living in an EU country instead. Travel between the UK and EU is not as simple as it once was, though still easier than hitting that red eye flight from the US.
Both the EU and UK have begun to implement entry permission requirements for visitors, even those on a short-term holiday. This adds to the cost of travel and makes for more bureaucratic headaches when going back and forth between European countries and the UK.
Pro: High standard of education
British education is considered a high standard around the world. If you’re considering education for yourself or your child, you’ll likely be pleased with what you can find here.
I have a child in state school and put myself through a masters degree program in the UK. Both experiences have only built up my belief that education here is high quality.
Con: Private education is hugely expensive
If you are set on a private school education for your child, or if you’re hoping to put them into a system that mirrors US grades, expect a high price tag.
The average day school fees (non-boarding) for UK independent schools is over £18,000 per year. Fees increase with the year level, and a recent legal change means private schools will be required to charge VAT on tuition – leading to fee increases for parents.
Luckily, many state schools are also high quality options. We ultimately decided to place our daughter in a state secondary school.
Pro: NHS provides free healthcare at the point of service
If you live in the UK as a legal resident, you are entitled to care through the NHS. The NHS has a long and well-earned history of being a well-run public service in the UK. I’ve had some fantastic interactions with doctors here followed by no charge on my way out the door.
Yes, you pay into the UK healthcare system via taxes, but you never have to worry about going bankrupt due to an unplanned trip to the emergency room. Friends here are often horrified at the idea of deciding whether or not to seek medical care based on what we think it might cost.
Con: NHS underfunding and staff shortages
The NHS has been suffering from critical underfunding for a number of years. Time to be seen has steadily climbed, especially for non-critical health concerns. Reaching your local physician’s office can sometimes be a maze of buggy internet scheduling and long phone hold times.
Expats sometimes find that the medication they relied on in the US isn’t as readily prescribed in the UK. Moving your care can be a process that requires patience and self advocacy.
Many employers now offer a private insurance option for employees to supplement NHS care. However, insurance companies here are ruthless in their attempts to deny coverage.
Some people opt to pay for some of their medical care through a private provider. This is much less expensive than you’d expect to pay as an uninsured patient in the US, but still an expense. Costs vary by provider and the type of care needed.
Pro: Mild climate with seasons
England has a temperate climate with summers that don’t get (too) hot and winters that don’t get (too) cold. All of the seasons get to play a part in the year, whether it’s daffodils welcoming the spring, or crunching leaves in the fall. Rain comes and goes, but it rarely becomes a thunderstorm and no hurricanes to worry about here.
Con: Dark winter
Many American expats are shocked by the darkness in winter. In England, December often brings sunset just before 4pm.
The further north you go in the UK, the earlier the sun will set. If you plan to visit Edinburgh in December, expect sunset closer to 3-3:30pm. Sunlight lamps and vitamin D supplements are recommended in many expat groups for coping with the dark days.
Pro: Everyone loves dogs
Dog culture in England is really something else. Many pubs and shops are dog-friendly, and having a dog at your side is an instant conversation starter.
Whether you bring your dog with you from the US, or plan to add one to your life here, they will be welcome in many scenarios. If bringing your pet, here’s some mistakes to avoid when planning pet travel.
Con: Landlords do not love dogs
The love for your furry friend really flies out the door when you’re trying to rent a flat or house. It’s certainly not impossible to rent with pets, but know that it may take you longer to find a place.
Landlords in England cannot charge higher deposits for your pet, but they may ask for a higher rent rate. Some expats find luck by creating a pet CV that details your pet’s age, breed, training and vaccinations. You may also want to obtain a reference from your US landlord if you rented before moving.
Pro: Beautiful historic buildings
England is a beautiful country and you encounter history in the buildings everywhere you go. Whether you love palaces, old churches, or quaint country cottages, you will get your fill of beautiful old buildings here. Even everyday shops on the high street often fit into the ground floor of a building that’s stood on that spot for centuries.
Con: Home buying in England is complicated and expensive
While it’s easy to find historic buildings to admire, your day to day housing experience may look a lot different. Row houses and flats are very common, and often lack character.
The cost of buying property can be very high, especially if you are in or near London. If your hope is to purchase a home in England, you should also get ready for a long process. England’s property laws are incredibly confusing. As a result, most home sales take at least 6 months to finalize.
Pro: English countryside is beautiful and a hiker’s dream
Hiking in England is so much more accessible than in the US. The English countryside is absolutely brimming with beautiful vistas and historic sights. Thanks to a wide-ranging network of public footpaths, setting out to explore on foot can be incredibly easy.
Con: Many places are only reachable by car
There are quite a few places in England that are not serviced by nearby train stations. When you find a promising place to visit, it may be that the only way to get close enough for a day hike is to drive to the area or hire a taxi from the closest train station.
Train tickets can also be expensive and the trains are not always reliable for reaching countryside stations. While I take the train as much as possible, for a lot of my hiking I do drive to the area I want to explore.
Pro: Diverse culture in cities
Larger cities, particularly London, are incredibly diverse and attract people from all over the world. This has a great impact on each city’s culture as diverse viewpoints and lifestyles are welcomed. As an expat, it also can be easier to make friends in the cities because you are more likely to encounter other people who have moved to the UK recently.
Con: Diversity less common outside of cities
I think this is true in every country, but you can’t expect to live your cottage core English fantasy life and also find Mexican food around the corner. Villages and smaller towns are less likely to have expat communities, and may be less welcoming. This isn’t to say you can’t make friends outside large cities, but it may take longer to feel a part of the community.
Pro: Many cultural offerings
London is one of the top culture spots in the world – check out this post on why London is great for theatre lovers for example. Living here gives you access to a huge range of culture and art. Across England, you will find fascinating museums, theatres big and small, and plenty of art displays.
Con: Expect culture shock
It’s not uncommon for American expats to be excited for their move to the UK, but not be ready for the culture shock. Yes, England and America share a language and many ideals, but they are also very different.
Whenever you consider moving abroad, you have to be ready to feel out of place at times and disconnected from the local culture. If you’re struggling, check out my guide for coping with expat homesickness.
Finding Home as an American in England
England is a fantastic place to live. I like it so much I moved here twice! If you’re weighing the pros and cons of moving abroad, I hope this list helped. While living here is great, any big move is an adjustment that you should go into with your eyes open.