Sunny in London

A behind the scenes guide to London's food, life and culture

The CONS of Living in London as an American

Would you believe something as simple as doing laundry can be harder in London? After 10 years of living in London as an American there are some things about life that just don’t get easier through time.

Through these years I have really had a chance to form opinions about life in a different country. However, I wonder if there is a chance now of being so far away from life in the USA that the recollections of what I experienced and what it’s like now could be blurry?

Keep this in mind as you read through the ‘hardships’ I am listing and please write in the comments whether or not you think the facts I’m presenting about my experience are becoming cloudy.

If you would rather watch what I have to say about my experience living in London as an American, you can see it in this Sunny News YouTube video.

And- remember- just because I’m indicating that some things are harder doesn’t mean I’m not happy. You will always find pros and cons about a change in your residence. No place is perfect.

Living as an American in London- Doing Laundry

I’m coming clean with my first con- and that’s laundry! Americans, if I listed all the steps I had to go through just to do laundry, you would be shocked.

Most places in London have washer/dryer combos. This elongates the process and puts you at a one load per day pattern. For this reason, coming home from a holiday gives me a lot of anxiety because I am really OCD.

Additionally, the dryers in London don’t work at the same capacity. It takes like 3 hours to dry stuff and when you take it out- it could melt your hands. Or- you can let it hang for a day. To me, having all that laundry hanging around in a space that’s already smaller than where I grew up is suffocating!

There are dryers that work better in the UK and are closer to what we have in the US. British people please list in the comments what type of dryer that is because a lot of Americans moving here will want to know.

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Living as an American in London- Getting a Job

Next- you will struggle to get a job unless you are moving here on an intra work transfer visa or a visa through the Skilled Workers list. Once you do get a job- know that the salary you made in the US will likely have been double. And that’s after calculating the currency exchange.

Living as an American in London- The American Dream

The American dream is true and I didn’t really understand it until I made this move. Mobility both professionally and socially is not as fluent. Maybe this is due to English history and culture? Again, give me your thoughts in the comments.

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Living as an American in London- Making Friends

Making friends can be hard. If you’re in any of the American expat Facebook groups, you will see that there are often posts from people inquiring about how to interact with their neighbours. People as a majority aren’t overwhelmingly open when you first move. I think the English are curious but initially cautious- so it does take time to establish yourself. I’ve certainly had an advantage with a British husband and all of my experiences have been lovely.

But Wait-

Let’s take a quick pause to say that if I didn’t love London and my husband, I wouldn’t still be here. I actually even got my UK Citizenship in early Spring of 2021. If you follow me on social media, you’ll get daily doses of all the pubs, restaurants and events we visit. But, the best way to make sure you stay informed about London is by subscribing to the Sunny News email.

Living as an American in London- Getting Wifi

Of course- all that involves a high use of wifi, so if you’ve recently moved in London you might not have any. A true con of living in London is that it takes FOREVER to have your wifi connection installed. Like you could literally wait 1-2 weeks. So- boost that data plan before you relocate.

Living as an American in London- Seasonal Allergies and Dust

And- you might want to boost all your prescriptions around April and May too. I have never had seasonal allergies until I came here. Many Americans experience this too. Hayfever season is brutal!

This leads me to the amount of dust I find in my house. What accumulates here in a week seems like what you would see in 2-3 weeks in the US. I attribute this to the fact that there are no window screens here. British readers- what do you think?

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Hyde Park, London

Living as an American in London- Do You Know What I Mean?

Finally, it is tough to understand what British people really mean. Americans are often criticized for being too confident or rude. However, British people speak with a lot of hidden meanings. For example, when they say something like ‘Oh I’m sure it’s my fault’ they are actually thinking, ‘It’s entirely your fault. I’m just being nice’. So it is literally harder to understand people in the UK.

Living as an American in London- Final Thoughts

Whether you’re American or British, I would love to know what you think. Ha!Ha!Ha! Now did I mean that as an American or a British citizen???

Either way- please be respectful and nice in the comments. And if you’d like to know more about behind the scenes of London’s food, life, events and culture- below are the most recent articles on the blog.

Thank you for reading, Sunny friends!

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American Drinks Not in the UK

When you move from one country to another, naturally there will be things you miss. Ironically, hardly any of the items we’re listing here are actually natural! When you refer to American drinks not in the UK, you will see that most of them are high in sugar. So, get ready for a really sweet blog, Sunny friends.

You know that you can order nearly anything in the world and have it shipped to your house. However, it certainly comes with a high cost. The American drinks featured here are never available at restaurants or cocktail bars in London. I’m guessing if you can’t find them in England’s capital, that you won’t find them on menus around the rest of the country either.

American Drinks not in the UK- Iced Tea

You probably guessed this one would be first, if you know British people or have ever visited England. They certainly love their tea here. However, they are quite fussy about how it’s served. So, it’s only fair to assume one would never, ever, ever drink it cold.

If you want to kick off your restaurant experience with a look of horror from a server, ask for an iced tea. Needless to say, you won’t find mini-marts or corner shops with shelves of Snapple either.

There’s no doubt you could make it at home if you really were craving it in the hot summer months. But, with the size of their small refrigerators here, I don’t think you’d have room for much else once you put your tea jug inside.

If you’d like to see examples of all the drinks I mention- you can watch this YouTube video instead.

American Drinks not in the UK- Certain Sodas

You can find tons of sodas, or as they call them ‘fizzy drinks’ on grocery store shelves in the UK. But, you won’t find many of the popular flavours that you know from the US.

Let’s start with Mr Sunny’s favourite American soda, which is naturally root beer. Due to strict European legislation relating to permitted levels of certain soda ingredients, for a long time they couldn’t sell A&W soda in Europe. It was banned in 2014, but now you might find it at larger Asda or Tesco stores (like the size of Walmart in the US). It’s not easy to get.

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Another drink you won’t find on shelves here is Cherry Coke. Luckily that one is my favourite and I can easily make it at home with regular Coca-Cola and some grenadine if I crave it.

Mr Sunny seems to think that ‘Ginger Beer’ in England is nearly the same as Ginger Ale in the United States. However, I don’t agree. I don’t feel it tastes the same at all.

Two other sodas you won’t find on a shelf in a London grocery store are Mountain Dew and Dr Pepper.

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American Drinks not in the UK- Energy Drinks

You’ll find a variety of energy drinks like Red Bull to be common in the UK. But one American drink you won’t see is Gatorade. I hesitate to mention it or give it any recognition due to its origination.

If you’ve read my About page, you know that I met Mr Sunny when I did an internship at NBC News- London Bureau through the Florida State University Study Abroad programme. Gatorade was invented at my rival university- the University of Florida.

It was originally made in the mid-60’s for the ‘Gators’ at the University of Florida. The drinks was designed to replenish the carbohydrates that student athletes burned during their practices in the extreme Florida heat. Additionally, it helped give back a combination of water and electrolytes that they lost through sweat during rigorous outside sports activities.

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Also not popular here are Yoohoo and Jolt. Yoohoo is a chocolate drink. I actually don’t think Jolt is made anymore in the United States. When it was created, Jolt promised to be all sugar and twice the caffeine. It’s billed as the original energy drink. However, I think I’d vote for Gatorade on that- even though I hate to admit any wins for anything to the University of Florida!

American Drinks not in the UK- Coffee Cream

In Facebook groups for Americans living in London you frequently see inquiries about coffee cream substitutes. There is no Coffee Mate or flavoured types of creams to put in your morning cup of joe in the UK. I guess if you wanted something like that you would have to start adding Baileys. And, that’s obviously not a good idea if you’re heading to work!

You’ll find it hard to directly to buy something like Half & Half also. Apparently you can make it with whole milk and single cream. However, I can’t take that kind of time in the morning, so I just add a dollop of single cream to my coffee each day and get on with it.

American Drinks not in the UK- Kool-Aid

You have probably gathered that many of the American drinks not available in the UK are likely because they aren’t too fond of all that sugar on this side of the pond. Therefore, don’t expect the Kool-aid Man to smash through any walls in London and yell, ‘Oh yeah!’

You also won’t find grape juice readily available either. Well, at least not the kind that isn’t crushed, pressed and fermented in barrels.

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American Drinks not in the UK- Final Thoughts

If you’re British, I would love to know if you’ve ever had any of the drinks mentioned above when you visited the United States. What are your favourite drinks here that you didn’t find in the America when you visited?

For more about behind the scenes of London’s food, life, events and culture, read the Sunny in London recent posts below. There is also a ton of information on Things to Do in London and a Guide to Food and Pubs too.

Recent Sunny in London articles:

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Secondary British Schools vs American Schools

Whether the memories are good or bad, your secondary school experience is something you can discuss with any British or American person. That’s probably why the differences between British schools and American schools is one of my most popular blog topics and YouTube videos.

Everyone can connect- but few people have experience on both sides of the pond of being in a school as a teacher and/or student. Therefore, there aren’t many people who can articulate what happens in both secondary British school vs American high schools.

But- I can!

In the video below, I explain that I was a teacher and high school assistant principal in America and have experience in six London schools.

It’s part of my UK vs USA playlist and is the second video I’ve made on the topic. While the content of the first video is all still accurate, I have learned so much more since then and included it for you above. If you watch the first video below, please forgive the ridiculous graphics. It was several years ago and in the spirit of education, it’s fair to say I was in the beginning stages of learning video editing applications!

Before we dive in to all the new ideas, you might want to know that the topics below are covered in a different blog post on Differences between British and American Schools :

  • School Year and Holiday Calendar
  • What Students Wear to School
  • How Students Get to School
  • Year Groups, Grades and University Entrance Exams
  • School Food
  • Extra-curricular Activities
  • Teachers’ Schedules and Classes
  • Myths

Secondary British Schools vs American Schools- Course Structure

In British schools, courses are group together in a two year path. Year 10 and 11 are referred to as GCSE. During this time students ideally have the same teacher and are with the same other students for the entirety of the two years. At the end of the two year experience they take exams for the course. Currently this could be close to or more than 20 exams during the month of June of their Year 11. They receive study leave time, which means their last day of school is around mid May. However, the experience is still extremely high pressure.

Students return in August for what’s referred to as ‘Results Day’ and learn the outcome of these exams. These grades determine whether and where most of them can continue their last two years of secondary school.

Their next step is to take their ‘A levels’ or some may choose to take vocational equivalents. Again their Year 12 and 13 are grouped together in to a two year experience, culminating in exams at the end. However a major difference is that most are only taking three different courses, so they will only have around six exams at the end of the experience.

American students at this equivalent time would be in 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th grade. They are also referred to as their freshmen, sophomore, junior and senior year, respectively.

Courses at this time are at most one year in length. Some can be half year courses. These are commonly called electives and take place over a semester. Their school year includes four quarters and many courses have a final exam at the end that is either created by their specific teacher or an entire department. Rarely would this exam be the same as what students at high school in another district would take, much less the rest of the state or country.

Their grades are usually determined by a breakdown of 20% for each quarter and 20% for the final exam. So, this means their final grade represents a far more balanced picture of their caliber. In comparison, British students face nearly 70% of their grade being determine from their exam and maybe 30% from a project they did- referred to as non-exam assessment or course work.

Secondary British Schools vs American Schools- Curriculum

You may have already started thinking that in comparison, British schools are far more uniform in their offer to students. To me, this is most evident in the curriculum.

Teachers, or rather a Head of Department, chooses an Exam Board for their subject. Examples include AQA, OCR, Pearson Edexcel and WJEC. From this exam board, the teachers will follow a very prescribed list of what they teach. For example it will have a Specification that lists the novels and concepts students must cover in an English course.

If you teach GCSE English in one school and get a new job, it means it’s highly unlikely you could use your same lesson plans if the new school has chosen a different exam board.

In America, it’s far different. At least it was in the two states where I worked ten years ago. At the time, in Florida and New York teachers were really left to their own devices to choose what they taught. For example, some schools had all students read the same plays and novels in a freshmen English courses. And some schools let individual teachers choose whatever literature they wanted to use to meet benchmarks or learning criteria.

In this sense, if you’re British and go to America you are really going to feel like the curriculum is chaotic and varied in comparison to what you think a school experience should be.

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Secondary British Schools vs American Schools- Student Work

However, lack of solid consistency in America does have some overall benefits, in my opinion. I would love your thoughts in the comments.

Since students in secondary British schools have such a solid outline of what they are to do, they rely heavily on models and examples for everything. Literally, they feel like they need to see previous examples of work and exam essays before they can even process how to begin a task.

There seems to be quite a bit of ‘follow this template’ on a daily basis.

In comparison, American students can launch a project or essay structured with a fairly low level of ‘hand-holding’. They don’t need a starter sentence for every paragraph and can function quite well with just a basic outline or idea, as a whole. Work seems to be far more inquiry based and in an entrepreneurial spirit.

Of course I understand that students with special needs don’t neatly fit in to this opinion on either side of the pond.

Secondary British Schools vs American Schools- Student Identity

Again the concept of prescribed curriculum and modeled work affects overall student identify when comparing British schools vs American schools at the secondary level.

Given British school students must wear uniforms and work to the same standard for their grades, there seems to be a squashing of their individual identity.

American school students have so many opportunities to be recognised for their unique personalities. Whether it’s running for student council or congress, decorating their locker, or reading the announcements over the PA system as a leader representative, they have so many chances to establish their individual style.

And no- I’ve never been in a London school that has morning announcements. I’m not even sure if they have a PA system in the buildings.

Secondary British Schools vs American Schools- Parents

In the new video I recognise that all parents in both secondary British schools and American schools care about their students. While primary schools on both sides always feature more involvement in comparison to the older students in secondary schools, there are still some other big differences.

Can you guess in which system I feel the ‘helicopter parent’ is more prominent?

I share my thoughts in the video and would love to know if you agree.

Secondary British Schools vs American Schools- What’s Next

I always try to end my blog posts with a final thought or summary statement. This time, I would like to know which topics that I haven’t covered in the first blog post and video or this blog post and current video that are still ones for which you are curious.

Would you like to know more about teacher interview differences between British schools vs American schools? Contracts and unions? Administration/Senior Leadership Responsibilities and Structure? Staff Meetings?

Anything else? I can’t wait to hear from you, Sunny friends.

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American and British Christmas Movies

What is your favourite thing to do during the holiday season? If you’re like me, one of the annual holiday activities you love is watching Christmas movies at home. I was crushed when I first moved to London because I couldn’t see all my childhood favourites on television regularly. However, this also led me to discover some specifically British Christmas movies.

Classic and New British Christmas Movies

A Christmas Carol

The most obvious title that you think of when listing British Christmas movies is A Christmas Carol. There’s an 80’s version with George C. Scott, a musical with Kelsey Grammer, the Muppet Christmas Carol and even Disney has jumped on the opportunity to make money from that most famous miser Ebenezer Scrooge.

Of course, this classic British movie (obviously based on the Charles Dickens novella) has inspired many parodies. Some of these are Scrooged with Bill Murray and Ghosts of Girlfriends Past featuring Matthew McConaughey and Jennifer Garner.

My family’s favourite is the 1970 Scrooge starring Albert Finney, thank you very much! Each year when I’m in Florida for the holidays, I sit down to watch it with my mom. Through most of the beginning I giggle about the hideous ‘special effects’ that were probably really terrifying when it was produced. However, the songs are really catchy and I usually sing them for a few days after we watch it together.

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory

This is actually classified as an American film. However, it’s based on a popular British novelist’s book. And that is Roald Doal. If you aren’t familiar with his work, it also includes: James and the Giant Peach, the BFG and Matilda.

I’ve chosen to list it in the classic British Christmas movies category because it is one of the most popular items to watch on television on Christmas Day in the UK. That is- once the Queen’s Speech has been broadcast.

To be honest, it’s not one I would watch. I’ve seen both the one with Gene Wilder and the remake with Johnny Depp. Neither represent images I want to associate with the holidays. Each is a little creepy, in my opinion. But- you’re free to add your in the comments below!

Love Actually

How could I not include one of the most iconic romance films ever made? Love Actually features an unforgettable cast of stars and narrative that hits all those holiday feels we crave.

With the amount of long awaited airport reunions many of us are experiencing after the Covid impact that delayed our travel- this classic British Christmas movie will be even more moving this year! Don’t you agree?

The Holiday

Yeah, you got me again if you are searching IMDB to catch me on a technicality. However, if you’ve seen the film and researched it at all, you know filming took place in Surrey, England.

That counts doesn’t it?

I find this one has me watching every time I am flipping through the channels and need a tiny reason to stay on the couch. There are a LOT of issues with the editing that make me cringe, but I still love it. The concept on the surface is fun, but the narrative is very unrealistic. Some of the scenes just aren’t physically possible due to the georgraphy.

But romantic comedies aren’t supposed to really represent real life, right?

Get Santa

This is without a doubt my favourite British Christmas movie on this list. Mr Sunny and I discovered it the year the year after it was released. We love it!

The film is about a father and son who team up to save Christmas once they discover Santa Claus sleeping in their garage after crashing his sleigh and finding himself on the run from the police. If there was only one British Christmas movie on this list that I said, “You must watch it!’- it’s Get Santa. And yes, that was the link to it on Amazon.

Trust me, it has just enough suspense to keep you entertained and the ending is quite jolly too.

Last Christmas

This is a curious one. As a huge Game of Thrones fan, I can’t tell you how excited I was to see this film when it hit the cinemas in 2019. However, when it arrived with mediocre at best reviews, I decided not to drag Mr Sunny to it and instead waited for it to show up on Sky rentals.

In fact, one of the last major Christmas events I attended in 2019 to film for my Sunny News YouTube channel was the Covent Garden Christmas Light Switch On. Emilia Clarke and Emma Thompson were the featured stars who turned the lights on and it was quite a festive night. Little did we all know what was on the way in London.

Based on the George Michael song, which actually is my all time favourite Christmas song, the film was a flop initially.

Mr Sunny and I caught it in winter of 2020 when we were on lockdown and had already binged everything on Netflix. Twice!

It’s actually quite dreadful initially. Once you reach the end, the film does become very heart-warming. If you’ve seen it- pun intended!

So now I watch it nearly every time I see it in the television schedule. Let me know if you think Emilia Clarke can sing in the film. I’m voting no, but I do find the scenes when she does float a tune to be endearing to the narrative.

American Christmas Films

I hope you aren’t let down by the quick list at the end. But aren’t you already familiar with the plethora of American Christmas films available?

Highlights include:

  • It’s a Wonderful Life
  • Miracle on 34th Street
  • A Christmas Story
  • Home Alone
  • National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
  • How the Grinch Stole Christmas
  • Die Hard
  • Elf
  • Santa Clause
  • Bad Santa
  • Fred Claus (my personal favourite)

Which of the above would you say is your favourite? Which films aren’t on the list that you are shocked I didn’t include?

Final Thoughts:

Something that has really surfaced as an entire genre of American Christmas movies in the past decade is the Hallmark Channel Christmas films. Netflix has tried competing with this canon of cheesy, predictable plots that showcase washed up 90’s television stars, but it hasn’t succeeded.

I’m guilty as charged when it comes to choosing them for holiday entertainment. Why? They are mindless and good spirited. Plus, as a person with media industry experience (how I met MR Sunny at NBC News London Bureau is on my About Me page) it cracks me up that this formulaic narrative with scripts predictable down to the minute has seized such an accessible demographic. Their marketing strategy at Hallmark is pure genius.

If you don’t know what I mean, you can catch Movies24 on Sky to see past Hallmark Christmas movies. Sadly this year, they haven’t featured any of the new ones that are airing in the USA. It’s actually really puzzling because they are debuting 41 of them in the 2021 holiday season!

However, I do think you can use Amazon Prime to watch a lot of the Hallmark Christmas movies. Have any of you tried it? My plan is just to binge them when I am in Florida in December- and then again for their ‘Christmas in July’ run.

At least it’s safe to say I don’t have to worry about any internet spoilers. They’re all the same!

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Christmas Differences between the UK and USA

‘Do they celebrate Christmas over there?’ My American grandmother asked me this question once during our weekly phone call.

I think what she meant was, ‘What do they do for Christmas in England?’ or rather, ‘What are the Christmas differences between the UK and USA?’

Most Americans have visions created by Charles Dickens dancing in their heads. They think Christmas celebrations in London involve Brits eating goose and hoping Jacob Marley doesn’t knock on their door.

So, just to keep things real, I asked my London born husband to explain what he thinks Americans do for Christmas. His response, “Watch silly television. Have pancakes and syrup and bacon that isn’t really bacon for breakfast. Eat dinner which is roast turkey with mashed potatoes and country gravy that’s thick like what you get at KFC and corn, like creamed corn.’

He also added, ‘Being American you probably don’t drink too much, like us English.’

Well then.

To learn more about what he means, you’ll want to watch this video on London pubs at Christmas.

Christmas Differences between the UK and USA

Christmas- Differences between the UK and USA:
Santa?

First, the Brits refer to Santa Claus as ‘Father Christmas.’ It’s a very tough thing for me to remember when I am in a conversation with my English mates. Next, they say ‘Happy Christmas’ instead of Merry Christmas.

Ok then, that’s sorted.

Christmas- Differences between the UK and USA:
On Your Mark!

I still can’t figure out when Christmas starts England. I’ve had staff members in London pubs approach me about booking a work Christmas party. They start planning for the celebrations as early as then! In October, it’s common for #Christmas to trend on Twitter in London.

Americans are notorious for excessive advertising and gluttony, but we still have an official line for the start of Christmas celebrations. Thank you, Thanksgiving.

In America, once the dinner dishes are cleared at the Thanksgiving table, it’s time to get your Christmas gear on.

That actually could mean battle gear for beating crowds at malls. Up until recently, Black Friday was only an American shopping phenomenon. It didn’t really exist in England. However, for some reason England had an onslaught of sales and super deals the day after ‘Thanksgiving’ back in 2014 which was the first year I lived here. I still can’t figure out why but now it’s become the norm.

Christmas- Differences between the UK and USA:
Decorations

You’ve probably all seen National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and Home Alone.

Most Americans decorate their houses entirely in lights and other festive ornaments. That’s not just a Hollywood portrayal.

In suburban areas of America, great rivalries take place during the holidays to see who can have the most glorious display of Christmas covering their house and yard. It can be quite a competitive atmosphere. And, then there’s some that take the decorating opportunity to raise money for charitable causes. Check out this YouTube video which features the ‘Best of Star Wars Music Christmas Lights Show’

In the suburbs of London, I rarely see houses decorated on a street. Usually 2-3 houses out of both street sides have some lights. The lights seem to be tossed haphazardly around a tree.

What are the Christmas differences between the UK and USA

However, if you travel just 20 miles outside of London, you can see Hogwarts in the Snow, which is the Warner Bros Studio Tour (AKA Harry Potter Tour) covered in Christmas decorations. It’s one of the things you would want to book ahead if you’re planning on being in London during Christmas. This video below should help give you an overview of the the most important things you need to know about London at Christmas.

There are tons of events that sell out fast. One that I highly recommend researching for any time of the year, but especially December holidays, is the Candlelight Concerts. You can read my review of their Coldplay tribute to learn more about what you experience.

Christmas- Differences between the UK and USA:
Television

One of the toughest Christmas differences between the UK and USA for me is television. I just can’t seem to find Christmas specials on TV in London, except for an occasional channel offer. Movies24 runs old Hallmark Christmas movies. But, I need my claymation and old school Christmas shows on constant replay to really get in the spirit.

In America, the titles below (Christmas Classics for Kids, How The Grinch Stole Christmas, and Fred Claus) are each on a few times a week. I had to buy them in London because they are never on television during the holidays.

Christmas Differences Between the US and UK

Christmas- Differences between the UK and USA:
Christmas Crackers

I learned about Christmas crackers the first Christmas I spent in London. Its concept is similar to a Thanksgiving wishbone but much prettier.

A Christmas cracker is a cardboard tube which has a present inside it. The tube is wrapped in colourful, festive paper. There is a banger inside the cracker, two strips of chemically impregnated paper that react with friction so that when the cracker is pulled apart by two people, the cracker makes a bang. This causes a loud snapping noise. The person holding the larger end gets to keep the prize inside. Note- since these are ‘explosives’ you can’t put them in your suitcase. So, unless you buy them in the US, you can’t take Christmas Crackers home as souvenirs if you’re visiting from America.

These are some of my favourite themed Christmas Crackers:

Christmas- Differences Between the UK and USA:
The Pub

It is tradition to go to your ‘local’ in England on Christmas Day. The times I have been to our local pub on Christmas, it is absolutely packed. People bring their kids and dogs for a few hours to celebrate the holiday. It’s open from about 12-2pm.

What are the Christmas differences between the UK and USA

No, the kids and dogs aren’t drinking. Well, the dogs might get a few licks of beer here and there, but please don’t think the Brits are freely giving beer to their little ones. However, entire families are present and it’s joyous. The beer is also flowing pretty steady.

Christmas Differences Between the UK and USA

In this video, I show you the most iconic London Pubs to Visit at Christmas and fill you in on everything you need to know about festive drinking in London. (As if it’s any different from any other day!)

Christmas Differences Between the UK and USA

Christmas- Differences Between the UK and USA:
Boxing Day

I still don’t understand Boxing Day. Traditionally, December 26th was a day that servants received presents. Literally, they would receive boxes with presents inside from their employers.

What I do know is that since it’s a Bank Holiday, not much is open. Well, the pubs are open. Oh, and slowly there’s more and more shopping going on here on this ‘Bank Holiday.’

In America, the post-holiday sales kick off on this day.

Christmas- Similarities between the UK and USA:

Despite these differences, there are also some things that are in fact the same on both sides of the pond.
– There are major sales after Christmas. In London, they’re referred to as the ‘January sales’ and last a little bit longer than American retail sales.
– Stores play Christmas music throughout the season. In England, it seems Paul McCartney’s ‘Wonderful Christmas Time’ and George Michael’s ‘Last Christmas’ are rotated around every other song. I’ve never once heard Madonna’s ‘Santa Baby.’ I’m grateful for that.
– All those ‘happy holidays’ tend to drive some of us over the edge. Family arguments are at their peak in both the UK and USA over this stretch of time.
– Ugly sweaters/jumpers exist everywhere.
– We all like to open presents for Christmas.
– The red ‘Starbucks’ cup arrival is one of the most anticipated events of the holiday season in the UK and the USA.

I write often about Christmas Things to Do in London on my blog.

The best way to make sure you don’t miss behind the scenes news about London’s food, life, culture and events is to subscribe to the Sunny News email. If you’re planning a visit to London, the Sunny News YouTube channel has regular updates which shows you what’s happening here and gives advice for things to do and what you’ll need to know about London.

For example, the video below outlines what you need to know about the changes to Winter Wonderland due to the pandemic. And I publish daily updates on my TikTok account too, if you’re seeking the most current London food and events news.

If there is a specific topic or question you want covered, you can always request it in the comments section below or in a video’s comments.

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What can you add to these Christmas differences between the UK and USA? What do you think of Mr. Sunny’s guess that there’s more drinking in England for Christmas than in America?

How Accurate are English Stereotypes?

Is England a nation of tea guzzling, football-loving, heavy drinkers? Do English people all have bad teeth and charming accents? If you have ever wondered whether English people live up to their stereotypes, then take a look with me. Is it myth, legend or reality that the population of England loves queues and apologising?

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The English Love Their Tea

Most of these stereotypes apply to the whole of Britain and not just the English, and this one is no exception. British people do indeed love their tea. In fact, studies show that the Brits consume over 60 billion cups of it every year. It is no surprise that English drink menus are so long, what with the hundreds of tea options available. With everything from ordinary English Breakfast tea, to Lapsang Souchong and Darjeeling, you can bet all you have that there is a tea for literally everyone. And, of course there are rules to follow when you are drinking it. But, Sunny friends the blog has a complete guide to afternoon tea etiquette in London, if that’s something you fancy.

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English People Have Bad Teeth

In films, English people are often made fun of because of their supposedly ‘bad teeth’. So, do English people really have bad teeth? Well, it depends on what you mean by bad teeth. The English certainly don’t go gravitate to the bleached white Hollywood smile. But on the whole, their teeth are healthy.

The truth is that America’s obsession with teeth straightening and whitening can be dangerous, what with reducing enamel and increasing tooth sensitivity. The UK and EU have strict health and safety laws which prevent many of the American topical whitening products from being sold in England. This means teeth may be a little yellower than their American counterparts, but they’re probably healthier. The NHS England (the national health care system) also doesn’t offer dental care to everyone as a part of its benefits.

Everyone Has Met the Queen

Does anyone actually believe this stereotype? Of course most English people haven’t actually met the Queen. Most English people have never even seen the Queen. Despite being a lot smaller than the US, England is still pretty large and spread out. London and the areas surrounding royal buildings encompass only a tiny fraction of the landmass of England. So, the chances of seeing or speaking to the Queen as you pop out for groceries are next to none.

For more details about this, you can watch the Sunny News feature about myth busting.

The English Live for Football and Beer

One of the best ways to fit in with locals is to simply do as the locals do. So, if you are in England, then this means going to the pub and having a few pints as the local football team is playing on the TV above the bar. Although football (soccer) and beer are both popular in England, this isn’t so much a national stereotype as a global one. In most countries the people enjoy beer and sports.

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The English are Polite

Much like Canadians, the English have a reputation for being polite. If you visit England, you’re almost guaranteed to find a local willing to have a pleasant conversation about the weather with you. Of course, there are rude people wherever you go, but in England, you are much more likely to be met with a disapproving glance than be subject to verbal or physical abuse. English reserve is a very real thing, and people will often suffer in silence rather than offend anyone or cause a scene. But, be warned – if you push into a queue, you may be met with several sighs and disapproving looks.

Final Thoughts:

If you’re worried about what to do while in London, I have you covered on that too.

Sunny friends, what stereotypes about the English do you think are true? Are there any American stereotypes that come to mind? Please, add your ideas and questions in the comments.

And how many of these do you agree with, Sunny friends?

This is a collaborative post on Sunny in London.

British vs American Stereotypes: Myths Busted!

What are some popular British vs American stereotypes? As an American living in London married to a British man, these stereotypes and their validity are a part of my every day life as an expat. After four years, there isn’t a day that passes that I am not fully aware of how Americans are perceived and judged. Further, learning which British stereotypes are true and which ones are myths has taken time to sift through as well.

Maneuvering between perception vs reality is a tricky trail. At times, it is frustrating and discouraging. Sometimes, it’s quite humorous. In the video below, I identify the most popular British and American stereotypes I have encountered during my time living in London. It’s part of my hugely popular UK vs USA series on the Sunny News YouTube channel.

Discussions and feedback in the video comments can be quite lively! In fact, you’ll find the comments will give evidence supporting some of the British and America stereotypes you already have. 😉

British vs American Stereotypes- Final Thoughts

What questions do you have about American life in London? Are you visiting London and need a more information to plan your trip? Leave your questions and advice for people either on the blog or YouTube channel.

The Sunny News YouTube channel has a playlist full of videos comparing life in the UK vs USA. Some of the topics include differences on: television options, grocery store and food shopping, schools, cultural exchanges, and choosing a hotel in London. The most popular video is below. And it sure has some interesting comments!

 

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British vs American Television Differences

When comparing British vs American television differences, you might jump to some standard stereotypes. After living as an American in London married to a British man for five years, I have enjoyed watching British television and know that I still have much to learn.

I make two to three trips back to Florida a year. It’s funny but I had never thought to write about the differences in television topic until recently.

You must understand though too that some of the differences are non-debatable facts. Other points are my observations based on my experience, and yours can certainly be different.

In the video below, I identify the most popular British vs American television differences. It’s part of my hugely popular UK vs USA series on the Sunny News YouTube channel. Discussions and feedback in the video comments can be quite lively! You’ll find in the comments that people have added many other observations in addition to what I have noticed.

And as always, I extend the invitation to you to add your own thoughts and questions too.

UK vs US: See More!

The Sunny News YouTube channel has a playlist full of videos comparing life in the UK vs USA. Some of the topics include differences on: grocery store and food shopping, schools, cultural exchanges, and choosing a hotel in London. The most popular video is below. And it sure has some interesting comments!

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Differences Between American vs British Grocery Stores

When it comes to differences between American vs British things, you’ll find tons of everyday life occurrences listed. You wouldn’t think that a country that originated from the other would be separated by so many things. While generally, grocery stores have a lot in common when you compare the US and UK, for example, the layout is often the same.

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American vs British Grocery Stores:

As an American living in London, I learned quickly that somethings just had different names in my new home. For example, I now use a Spiral Slicer to make courgette spaghetti a few times a week. Any guesses what that is, Americans? The word for zucchini in England is ‘courgette.’

There are also some products that you next to impossible to obtain cheaply or at all in London. For example, American expats will really drool over this picture…

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You simply can not find this many options of peanut butter in a UK grocery store.

Through time it is getting better. I’ve noticed that the Hispanic section of an international aisle of the UK grocery stores is becoming larger. This is what you’ll typically find in a Publix in Florida. It’s far bigger than anything I’ve seen yet in London.

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Something that really surprises Americans living in London when they do their first big shopping trip to a supermarket is what happens at the checkout section. Yes, you have self-checkout options on both sides of the pond. But in England, you won’t see this…

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That’s right. There are no people bagging your groceries. I get that Publix baggers are an exception and not the norm in every grocery store in America. However, in England, you are all on your own. It really causes anxiety when you’re trying to pay for your items with a currency that looks like Monopoly money to you initially and bagging your stuff all at the same time. Ok- it’s not third world problems and I appreciate that life could be worse. But, it is a big difference when you’re comparing the two different places.

And, I’ve never, ever seen a British person drink cold tea. I’m not saying that it hasn’t happened. BUT- this shot from Publix in Florida would probably horrify most UK citizens…

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For more American vs British grocery store differences, take a tour with me through both supermarkets in this YouTube video.

The Sunny News YouTube channel, shares even more differences between the UK and USA, plus advice for things to do and what you’ll need to know about visiting London.

If you have lived in both America and England, or another country, please leave your ideas about differences in grocery stores or other things in the comments below. The Sunny YouTube community is pretty lively, so feel free to start a discussion there too. 😉

Want a Food Freebie in London?

Subscribe to the Sunny in London weekly email and immediately get the ‘Local’s Pocket Restaurant Guide to London.’ It’s the ultimate free travel accessory for your London trip. The Guide has top recommended restaurants from a local, organised by neighbourhood. With it you can easily find a place to eat when you’re on a London street. Downloading the file to your phone means skipping Wi-fi and finding a fab foodie place- fast!

As part of the welcome, you will also receive several other free downloads that will guide you through trip planning, plus a weekly edition of the hottest happenings in London.

How to Exchange Money for a Trip to London 

When you are planning a trip to London, what do you think about first? Chances are you are looking at attractions and shows to see. Next, you are probably researching hotels and restaurants.

One of the last things you probably plan is how to exchange money for a trip to London.

How to Exchange Money: Extra Fees

At the time I am publishing this article and YouTube video, the rate is £1=1.25 on an interbank rate. That’s the lowest possible exchange. You likely wouldn’t get that when swapping money because nothing is free, especially money 😉

This means that whatever company handles your exchange from American dollars to pounds sterling will charge a handling fee. However, some methods are cheaper than others.

How to Exchange Money: Tips for London

This video will give you 10 smart tips on how to approach spending money in London. It lists things you can do before you leave, while you are in London and when your trip ends. Yes, I know that sounds a bit too good to be true. However, I have left Heathrow airport with a refund for purchases in my hands. This VAT video shows you how.

I have received money back when I visited London to see Mr Sunny, before we got married and I moved here.

There is something you must keep in mind as you watch the video. There isn’t one plan that fits all. Some people prefer using cash only so they stick to their budget. Some people like credit cards for rewards programs. I give you tips for exchanging money for all these options below. Well, except Traveler’s Checks. Does anyone even use those anymore?

How to Exchange Money: Video Advice

Please leave your strategies for what you do to save money on exchanging currencies when you travel either in the comments here or on the Sunny News YouTube channel. I love learning about other options to save money while traveling and know that others appreciate the ideas too. You’ll find a great community of travelers on my Sunny News channel, so subscribe if you’d like to join us!

The blog article I wrote last year based on the debit card from Travelex is How To See Four Attractions in One Day in London.

The Sunny News YouTube channel, shares even more advice for things to do and what you’ll need to know about London. This includes safety tips, advice for visiting hidden pubs, and a shopping guide. The blog also has a Guide for Americans Visiting London which is a collection of the top experiences I recommend. You’ll definitely want to bookmark it and visit the Pinterest boards created to help trip planning too.

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