Things that surprised me about British Life that Don't exist in America

Moving from the US to England has been a massive learning curve! While navigating my expat life in the UK, I keep encountering small, everyday things that highlight just how deep the cultural differences truly run between these two nations. From public transport to social etiquette, British life holds daily surprises that simply do not exist back in America. In this video, I’m sharing my most unexpected observations as an American living in England. One of the most striking examples is the abundance of green spaces and public footpaths. Growing up in the States, my environment looked very different, and seeing how the UK prioritizes nature within its communities has been a major adjustment for this US expat. Subscribe to The Hickson Diaries for more stories about life in England and navigating international moves! Question of the Day: What is the biggest culture shock you have faced when traveling or moving to a new country? Let’s chat in the comments! ⭐ CHAPTERS/TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 Cultural Shocks for an American in England 1:08 The Freedom of Public Beach Access 3:12 Walking Through History on Public Footpaths 6:56 Dining as an Event, Not a Pit Stop 11:29 The Unique Role of the Local Pub 👉 WATCH THESE NEXT: https://youtu.be/tJhZZTe5Qa0 https://youtu.be/CjxdjDVQBEo https://youtu.be/PEgQqVEA8kA SIGN UP FOR OUR EMAIL LIST: https://www.hicksondiaries.com/lead-collection 💌 FOR BUSINESS INQUIRIES: [email protected] 🎖️ To find out more about our partnership with the Royal British Legion, visit https://www.hicksondiaries.com/partner 🌐 READ THE HICKSON DIARIES BLOG: https://www.hicksondiaries.com/blog https://www.hicksondiaries.com/blog/categories/british-quirks https://www.hicksondiaries.com/blog/categories/behind-the-diaries ** Links on this channel may contain affiliate links that at no additional cost to you, I may earn a small commission. I only recommend products I would use myself and all opinions expressed here are my own. ** 🌟 Copyright Disclaimer: © 2026 The Hickson Diaries/Mandy Hickson. All rights reserved. pov expatlife hicksondiaries livingabroad ukvsusa cultureshock Get vidIQ to grow your channel faster! 🚀 https://vidiq.com/hicksondiaries