Moving to America from the UK can feel like stepping onto a different planet sometimes.
Sure, there’s excitement, adventure, and the occasional over-the-top experience, but once the novelty wears off, you start realising there are a few very British things you miss more than you ever expected. It’s not always the big stuff, either. It’s the little everyday comforts that sneak up on you when you’re least expecting it and make you miss life back home. Here are just some of the things you’ll definitely find yourself feeling desperate for once you’re living across the pond.
1. Proper cups of tea (made properly)
It’s cliche, sure, but only because it’s true. Americans have a lot of great things going for them, but their idea of tea isn’t one of them. Expect lukewarm water, a teabag floating sadly on top, and very confused looks if you ask for “a builder’s brew.” Nothing hits quite like a strong, properly brewed cup of tea with a splash of milk, especially when you’re feeling a bit homesick or it’s raining outside (which, ironically, still feels weirdly comforting).
2. Being able to walk everywhere
In most UK towns and cities, popping to the shop, strolling to the pub, or grabbing a coffee usually doesn’t require driving. Walking is built into everyday life without even thinking about it. In the US, unless you’re in a handful of cities like New York or Boston, you’ll quickly realise that cars are king, and that quick trips on foot are a rare luxury, not a given. Goodbye spontaneous corner shop runs, hello endless car parks.
3. Supermarket meal deals (and actually good sandwiches)
Three quid for a sandwich, snack, and drink? Absolute magic. And somehow, even a basic BLT from Tesco or Sainsbury’s still tastes better than a lot of sad, soggy options you’ll find Stateside. In America, a quick lunch often costs the equivalent of a small mortgage. You’ll find yourself daydreaming about those lovingly predictable meal deals while staring at an overpriced turkey wrap in a gas station fridge.
4. Pub culture (without it being all about getting smashed)
British pubs aren’t just drinking holes—they’re cosy, familiar places where you can meet mates, have Sunday roasts, or just sit with a pint and unwind after a long week. In America, bars tend to be louder, more about partying, and less about relaxed conversation. You’ll miss that easy-going, community feel that makes every pub in the UK feel a bit like a second living room.
5. The NHS (even when you grumbled about it)
Waiting lists might be long sometimes, but when you move to the US and get your first hospital bill, you’ll have a new, passionate appreciation for the NHS. Healthcare in America is confusing, expensive, and a source of constant low-grade anxiety. Suddenly, even the slow, slightly grumpy GP you once moaned about will seem like an angel sent from heaven. Free healthcare at the point of use isn’t just convenient—it’s peace of mind you’ll miss every single day.
6. Real seasons without extremes
British weather gets a lot of stick, but at least it’s relatively gentle. Spring feels like spring, autumn feels crisp and cosy, and even winter usually just means a bit of slush rather than a full Arctic survival challenge. In the US, depending on where you live, you might be dealing with hurricanes, tornadoes, desert heat, or blizzards so brutal your eyelashes freeze. That mild drizzle back home will start to look downright charming.
7. People respecting the queue
In Britain, queues are sacred. You join at the back, you wait your turn, you silently judge anyone trying to skip; it’s an unspoken social contract everyone honours. In America, queuing is… well, different. It’s more chaotic, more flexible, and occasionally rage-inducing if you’re used to orderly lines. Nothing will make you miss British queuing etiquette like a chaotic airport boarding gate in the US.
8. Sunday roasts (and Yorkshire puddings done right)
Nothing says comfort like a proper Sunday roast: crispy roast potatoes, fluffy Yorkshire puds, lashings of gravy, and a bit of stuffing on the side. It’s a ritual, not just a meal. In America, “Sunday brunch” usually means pancakes and mimosas — lovely, but not the same soul-warming, gravy-drenched experience. You’ll be Googling Yorkshire pudding recipes before your first autumn away from home is over.
9. Humour that’s actually dry and sarcastic
British humour thrives on understatement, sarcasm, and subtle digs that make everyone laugh without spelling it out. In America, the humour is often bigger, louder, and way more earnest. You’ll find yourself cracking jokes that land like lead balloons, and you’ll miss the beautiful British ability to insult your friends affectionately without anyone taking it personally.
10. Greggs (yes, seriously)
It’s easy to take Greggs for granted when you’re at home, but when you move to America and realise there’s no quick, affordable place to grab a decent sausage roll or steak bake, the longing hits hard. In the land of $7 donuts and artisanal bakeries, you’ll dream of that glorious moment you walked out of Greggs with a hot pasty, a caramel custard doughnut, and change from a fiver.
11. Proper biscuits (and dunking them)
In America, “biscuits” are flaky, savoury bread rolls — not something you dunk into a cup of tea. Good luck finding a proper chocolate digestive or a packet of custard creams without tracking down a specialist shop. You’ll miss the simple pleasure of a biscuit tin, a strong cuppa, and the precise timing it takes to dunk without catastrophic biscuit collapse. It’s a lost art that most Americans simply don’t understand.
12. Compact towns and villages
British towns are charmingly walkable, full of history, and packed with character. Even the smallest villages feel rich with stories and quirky corners to explore. In the US, urban sprawl means everything is huge, separated by highways, and built with cars in mind. You’ll miss the feeling of stepping out your door and immediately being somewhere interesting without needing a GPS.
13. Bank holidays that actually feel like a break
In the UK, bank holidays are national events — a chance to relax, see family, or escape to the countryside for a few days. In America, public holidays often just feel like another day off, with many people still working or businesses staying open. You’ll miss that collective “switching off” vibe — the long weekends where it feels like the whole country has agreed to chill out together, whether it’s rain or shine.
14. That quiet sense of shared culture (even when you’re grumbling)
There’s something comforting about being surrounded by people who just get it — the weather jokes, the sarcasm, the tea obsession, the casual moaning about trains. It’s subtle, but it binds you together in ways you don’t fully appreciate until you leave. Living in America is exciting, but you’ll sometimes find yourself quietly missing that unspoken, slightly grumbly, deeply comforting sense of Britishness that you didn’t even know you carried with you.
