Americans love to romanticise the UK — they love our tea, castles, and charming accents — but once they actually spend time here, some things leave them a bit confused.
From outdated systems to things that just don’t make sense outside of Britain, plenty of Yankee visitors (and expats) find themselves wondering, “How is this still a thing?” While we’ve adapted to these quirks (or rather, we never had to because they’re just normal to us), here are just some of the things about life in the UK that Americans often see as a bit backward.
1. Separate hot and cold taps in the same sink
Why do so many British bathrooms still have separate taps for hot and cold water? To Americans, this feels like a design flaw from the Victorian era that never got updated (and frankly, sometimes many of us feel the same). They’re used to mixers, where you get warm water straight from the tap — not a choice between freezing your hands off or scalding them. Brits will argue it’s all down to old plumbing laws and historic houses, but that doesn’t stop Americans from wondering why modern bathrooms are still clinging to this bizarre setup.
2. The lack of plug sockets in bathrooms
Need to charge your electric toothbrush or use a hairdryer in the bathroom? Tough luck. Americans are used to convenient plug sockets near the sink, but in the UK, strict electrical safety laws mean you’ll rarely (if ever) find a standard outlet in a bathroom. While the safety reasons make sense, it’s still frustrating for visitors who just want to dry their hair without having to relocate to another room.
3. Paying for a TV licence
Americans are used to paying for TV, but usually through subscriptions like Netflix or cable packages they choose. The idea of being legally required to pay for a TV licence just to watch BBC channels feels outdated and bizarre to them. Plus, the fact that inspectors can theoretically knock on your door to check if you’re watching TV without paying feels even stranger. Many Americans see this as an old-school tax that doesn’t belong in the streaming era.
4. No air conditioning — anywhere
Source: Unsplash To Americans, the UK’s resistance to air conditioning is genuinely baffling. Even during heatwaves, most homes, shops, and even public transport remain stubbornly A/C-free. Most of us claim, “We don’t need it! It’s only hot for two weeks a year!” but Americans are not convinced. Coming from a country where air con is standard in almost every building, suffering through a British summer with nothing but a tiny desk fan feels uncomfortably old-school in a way they just can’t jibe with.
5. The endless obsession with carpet
Wall-to-wall carpet in bathrooms, staircases, even rented kitchens — Americans are horrified. While modern British homes are finally moving away from this trend, thank God, there are still too many places where carpets dominate. Americans just don’t get why we would willingly put something so hard to clean in places that really should have easy-to-wipe surfaces. To them, it feels like a 1970s design choice that somehow never died.
6. Drinking culture taken to the extreme
Americans enjoy a drink, but our drinking culture is a whole different level. Pints at lunch, after-work pub visits that escalate into full-on nights out, and entire towns turning into chaotic messes on a Saturday night — it’s a bit much for most visitors. Even American college parties don’t compare to the way we treat alcohol as a full-time sport. Many Americans find the UK’s attitude towards drinking shockingly intense, especially when it’s seen as weird to turn down a pint.
7. Tiny fridges that barely hold anything
Source: Unsplash Americans are used to massive fridges stocked for the entire week. Then they come to the UK and realise they’re expected to survive with a fridge that looks like a hotel minibar. The British habit of shopping multiple times a week instead of stocking up in one go makes sense when you’re used to it, but for Americans, the idea of not having a freezer packed with enough food to survive an apocalypse feels wildly inconvenient.
8. Washing machines in the kitchen
Source: Unsplash Americans will never get used to this one. Our habit of shoving washing machines right next to the oven feels all kinds of wrong to them. Laundry belongs in its own room, not sharing space with food prep. Of course, this mostly comes down to space. Our homes simply aren’t big enough to have separate laundry rooms, so the kitchen wins by default. But that doesn’t stop Americans from side-eyeing it every time they visit.
9. Reserved but weirdly passive-aggressive customer service
Our customer service is polite, but it’s a different kind of polite than what Americans are used to. In the US, friendliness is big — smiles, enthusiasm, “have a great day!” energy. In the UK, it’s polite but distant, and occasionally borderline rude if you ask too many questions. People from across the pond sometimes mistake British customer service for being cold, when it’s really just… unbothered. And God help you if you try to return something without the receipt — our shops do not play when it comes to returns.
10. Separate taps are bad, but the two-button toilet is worse
Most Americans hate separate hot and cold taps, but even those who accept that can’t wrap their heads around the dual-flush toilets. A big button for one thing, a small button for another, but no one’s entirely sure which is which. It’s meant to be eco-friendly, but our Yankee friends still find themselves standing there, debating which button to press while hoping they don’t flood the place. In the US, you flush, and that’s it. No decisions necessary.
11. Extremely unhelpful road signs
Americans driving over here often complain that road signs are maddeningly vague. Instead of clear exit signs with distances, you get something like “The NORTH” — which is wildly unhelpful when you just want to find your hotel. Some signs are also placed so late that by the time you spot them, it’s already too late to change lanes. Combine that with roundabouts and narrow roads, and it’s easy to see why American drivers often feel completely lost on our roads.
12. The way queues form out of thin air
Americans are used to queues being obvious — marked-out lanes, clear entry points. Over here, queues form magically with no barriers, no signs, just an unspoken agreement that everyone understands. For people used to the US way of doing things, this silent queuing system feels like a social test they weren’t prepared for. God forbid they accidentally cut in line because we will judge them into oblivion.
13. The absolute nightmare of renting a flat
Trying to rent a place in the UK is brutal. Huge deposits, endless references, estate agents who ghost you, and houses disappearing from listings within minutes. To Americans used to straightforward rental processes, especially outside of big cities, the UK market feels like “The Hunger Games.” And don’t even get them started on places that still come without basic appliances like a fridge. The idea that you might have to buy your own fridge in a rental? Utter madness to most Americans.
14. How early everything closes
To Americans, the UK’s habit of shutting down so early is just bizarre. Shops close at 5 or 6 pm, and good luck finding a decent meal after 9. Pubs might stay open later, but actual shops? Forget it. In the US, 24-hour diners, late-night supermarkets, and shops open until at least 10 p.m. are common. In the UK, if you need something late at night, you’re probably out of luck.
15. Our obsession with roundabouts
Americans are terrified of our roundabouts, especially the massive, multi-lane ones — and to be fair, they are pretty confusing. They just aren’t that common in the US, and the idea of trying to merge into chaos without stop signs feels like an accident waiting to happen. We handle them like second nature because we’re used to them, but Americans would rather take an extra 10-minute detour to avoid the stress.
