We have a lot to be grateful for in the UK, that much is true.
However, there’s also a lot that’s left to be desired. Those of us who have grown up in Britain remember when things were a whole lot better, and seeing the country (or rather, the countries) sliding further and further downhill isn’t an easy pill to swallow. In fact, it’s these things in particular that are making a lot of Brits want to move abroad—or at least dream of doing so. Of course, the grass isn’t always greener on the other side, but it’s hard to remember that when things are so dire at home.
1. Everything feels overpriced—and underwhelming.
Whether it’s your weekly food shop or your rent, everything in the UK seems to cost more than it should. Plus, what you get in return often feels lacklustre at best—bland groceries, cold flats, and long queues for anything remotely enjoyable. The cost of living crisis has quietly become a daily lifestyle, and most people are just expected to grit their teeth and adapt.
It’s not just about money—it’s about the feeling that you’re handing over more and more, while the quality of life slides in the opposite direction. Eventually, the maths stops adding up, and people start daydreaming about a simpler, sunnier, and frankly cheaper life abroad.
2. Public services are rapidly crumbling.
Things that once felt reliable—like the NHS, public transport, or even bin collection—have slowly turned into stress-inducing gambles. You brace yourself to be on hold with the GP for half an hour just to be told there are no appointments. You turn up at the station and half the trains are cancelled or delayed without explanation.
It’s not that people don’t appreciate public services—it’s that they’ve been so stretched and underfunded that basic expectations now feel like wishful thinking. And in other countries, where systems run more efficiently, it becomes painfully obvious how much we’ve normalised chaos.
3. The weather is soul-draining.
There’s a reason British people talk about the weather so much—it affects everything. Weeks of grey skies, biting wind, and damp air do more than mess with your wardrobe. They slowly but surely destroy your mood, drain your energy, and make every day feel a little harder than it should.
Sure, we get the odd sunny spell, but when you compare it to somewhere with a more forgiving climate, it’s hard not to wonder what it would be like to wake up without needing vitamin D supplements just to feel human.
4. Work-life balance isn’t really a thing.
In theory, we’re all about “self-care” and “switching off.” In practice, most people are constantly teetering on the edge of burnout. Long hours, short breaks, and bosses who love a weekend email have made overworking feel weirdly acceptable—if not expected.
The worst part? It’s glorified. Being knackered is almost a badge of honour. However, when you start hearing how other countries encourage real downtime, long holidays, and slower paces of life, it hits you how much we’ve been conditioned to tolerate exhaustion.
5. Everything’s becoming a subscription.
It used to be simple—you bought something and it was yours. Now, you need a subscription to stream, shop, drive, cook, clean, or even breathe, apparently. Every convenience comes with a hidden monthly fee, and before you know it, half your income is silently disappearing.
It’s not just about digital services, either. Even things like food boxes, pet care, or household essentials are bundled into auto-renewing “plans.” Abroad, there’s still a sense of ownership. Here, we’re locked into endless mini payments just to function.
6. High streets are turning into ghost towns.
The charm of the British high street has slowly faded into a mix of vape shops, charity shops, and sad-looking chain stores. Independent businesses have been squeezed out, and once-busy areas now feel deserted after 5pm.
It’s more than just empty shops—it’s the loss of community. Local cafes, bookshops, and quirky boutiques gave towns personality. Now, with everything moving online, the in-person experience feels transactional and joyless—not to mention limited to vape shops and barbers. Meanwhile, other countries still seem to value real, vibrant street life.
7. Renting feels like a financial punishment.
For the price of a modest flat in the UK, you could probably rent a three-bedroom place with a balcony and sea view elsewhere. And yet here, you get damp walls, mismatched carpets, and a landlord who thinks fixing the boiler is optional.
The worst bit is how normal it all feels. Renters are often treated like second-class citizens, despite paying a fortune. Abroad, there’s often more respect and regulation for tenants, and it becomes glaringly clear that we’ve just accepted poor treatment as part of life.
8. Politics feel stuck on repeat.
It doesn’t matter which party is in charge—public trust is in the gutter. Scandals, infighting, and constant backtracking have created a weird sort of national numbness. People still care, but they’re burnt out and disillusioned.
There’s no fresh energy, no sense of meaningful change on the horizon. Compared to countries that feel like they’re at least trying new ideas or taking things seriously, UK politics often feels like a never-ending soap opera where nothing actually gets done.
9. The food can be surprisingly depressing.
Yes, we’ve got great options if you know where to look, but for the average person, weekday meals are either microwave-ready or suspiciously beige. Eating well often feels like a luxury rather than a norm. Contrast that with countries where fresh produce is affordable, local, and celebrated. Where mealtimes are an event, not a chore. Suddenly, living somewhere else becomes not just about saving money, but savouring life.
10. Housing feels totally out of reach.
Even people with decent jobs are giving up on owning property. House prices keep climbing, and wages haven’t kept up. For many, buying a home is about as realistic as buying a yacht. There’s a brutal sense of unfairness in how much you have to sacrifice just to get a foothold in the housing market. In places where home ownership is more achievable, it’s no wonder Brits are starting to eye up relocation.
11. Social life is either expensive or non-existent.
Going out for dinner, drinks, or even a simple day trip has quietly become a financial decision. Socialising comes with a cost, so more people are opting to stay in, even if they’d rather not. Meanwhile, countries with lower living costs or stronger outdoor cultures make it easier to have fun without draining your account. When your weekends are more “Netflix and worry” than “spontaneous fun,” it starts to wear you down.
12. Constant bad news takes a toll.
Every time you check the headlines, there’s another crisis, scandal, or depressing statistic. It’s not that other countries don’t have problems, but the UK news cycle feels especially relentless and morale-sapping. That constant exposure chips away at your mental health. And when you see people elsewhere enjoying a bit of sunshine, community, or even just less outrage, it’s hard not to crave that emotional break.
13. The lifestyle gap is becoming too obvious.
More Brits are travelling and working abroad, and what we see makes it harder to settle for what we’ve got. Long lunch breaks, affordable healthcare, actual leisure time… it’s not a fantasy, it’s someone’s Tuesday. Once you’ve seen that lifestyle in action, it sticks with you. You start noticing all the ways your daily life feels unnecessarily hard, and the appeal of starting fresh becomes less dramatic and more practical.
14. The sense of ‘fun’ has disappeared.
There’s a subtle seriousness that’s crept into daily life. Everything feels like hard work, and even joy comes with admin. National events are either over-policed or underfunded, and spontaneity seems to be on the decline. Fun still exists, but it often feels buried under stress, planning, and a dozen hidden costs. That carefree spirit some places still manage to hold onto? It’s not just appealing—it feels like something we’ve genuinely lost.
