I Just Need to Say It. I Fucking Love the UK

I need to put this into the universe. I absolutely love your country. I cannot stay away.

Every country has its merits, of course. I’ve seen some incredible things as I travel. Historic medieval towns, amazing architecture, jaw dropping world famous art pieces, ancient ruins, etc. But the UK just hits different. Even with the tree lined streets and the music and the aperitivos, none of those places hold a candle to how I feel when I’m here.

Every time I come back, I try to go somewhere new. I’ve been to the southern coast and Brighton, wandered London, gone all the hell the way out to Margate, explored bits of the north (not Scotland yet), ol Manny and Liverpool, and now I’ve come all the hell the way over to St Ives. And what gets me every single time is the people, the culture, the beer, and yes, the food.

In a lot of countries, when you’re travelling solo, it’s easy to feel alone. But in the UK, I never feel that sense of hopeless aloneness because people are so willing to help. It’s offered politely, willingly, without making you feel stupid or like a burden. (Okay, maybe not in the very heart of London, but London makes up for it by having every cultural event imaginable happening every two feet, every day.)

Even when I stay in smaller towns, quieter places, or spots that are cheaper, near bigger cities, there’s this sense that something interesting has always happened there. There’s always a plaque about an interesting and usually important bit of history, or ruins from some ancient pagan religion, which blows my mind every time.

The landscape. The rolling fields, the sheep, the stone walls that have been standing for centuries, all the way over to the phone booths and double decker busses, the Dr Who shit, the Beatles, the British cartoon characters in vintage shops, the tea. The meal deals and the M&S ready food. How you call them wheelie bins instead of garbage. How some people have a washing up bowl. The differing accents that tickle my ears. How you “pop round to the shops” instead of driving to the store. The different taps for hot and cold. The friendly little house spiders. The ubiquitous and artistic wildlife home decor. The historical mysteries and the checkered past of some of the rulers. I fucking love it all.

And about the food. It pisses me off when people trash UK food. They’ve clearly never been here. What the hell is wrong with potatoes, chips, cheese, fried fish, meat pies, beer, crumpets, scones, clotted cream, afternoon tea… everybody likes that shit and if they say they don’t, they’re lying. A place that Mary Berry calls home has to have good food. & it’s very interesting to eat these pies & other pub food that originated in times gone by, I feel closer to history when I get a chance to have a pie and a pint & imagine how things used to be.

I’m not under any illusions that the UK is some magical land where everyone is perfect, every country has its weirdos. But the overwhelming feeling I get here is welcome. Not just that I’m happy to be here; it feels like people are happy that I’m here as well.

Today I came over from Bristol Airport to Cornwall, and honestly, I only made it because of the kindness of several strangers. The last train was held for us and I have a lot of shit and several people helped me rush to the connection with all my shit. That kind of thing does happen in the US every now and then where I’m from, but here it feels more instinctive and more common. If you’re struggling, someone will just step in. People go out of their way, and they do it with such a natural warmth.

Plus you all are so funny, and you don’t take yourselves too seriously, which is a refreshing change from the US. I know the saying is stiff upper lip but coming here after being in northern mainland Europe is amazing seeing people embrace a night out and their joy in being together so publicly and it’s really heartwarming honestly. Im a little devastated that I have no pathway to immigration here to be totally honest. I guess I’ll just have to keep visiting! ❤️