5 Things I Love About Expat Life in England
Our family moved from American to England in pursuit of a simpler life. These are the things I love about expat life in England
In 2021, we were average, middle-aged Americans with two teenagers, a dog, and full-time jobs. I had a wonderful life, but it often felt like I was in a constant state of busyness, struggling each day to get through an ever-growing to-do list.
I put a sign on my bathroom mirror with one word: SIMPLIFY. I was craving a simpler, more peaceful life but had no idea where to start. I read self-care books, meditated, ran, hiked, made schedules, and meal-planned.
No matter what I did, I always felt like I was drinking from a firehose.
But then a cancer diagnosis made us realize that if you want your life to change, you jut need to make it happen. In 2023, we sold, stored, or gave away everything we owned and boarded a place to London to start our new life as American expats in England.
If you asked me what I love about expat life in England, I don’t think I could give you one, simple answer. Just like my stress in the States stemmed from many little things, so does the calm I experience here.
These are some of the reasons I love expat life in England.
1. I spend more time with my family.
In the past when visiting European cities like Paris and Amsterdam, I noticed the parks filled with people relaxing together every night of the workweek.
Parents lounged on blankets, engrossed in books while their children played nearby. Friends shared bottles of wine, making genuine connections and savoring their time together.
I wondered how were they all just lounging around on a weeknight? Didn’t they have laundry to do? Homework? Chores?
In America, it was common for me to be trying to get everything done until late in the evening. In the UK, I’m not expected to stay at work late or answer emails after hours.
Many stores close between 5 and 6, allowing everyone to go home and spend time with their families. This practice is widespread across Europe and creates clear boundaries around family time.
Now, we eat dinner together most nights—something that was difficult for us to do consistently in the past.
2. I don’t spend as much time in my car.
In the US, we had three cars- two for my spouse and I to get to work and one for my teenagers to get to school. For 8 years I had a one-hour drive commute to work each way. We spent a lot of time in the car.
In England, we have one car, and we don’t even use it every day! We walk to work, school, and university, past historic building and beautiful gardens, and many days it still feels like I’m on vacation.
Exercise and time outdoors in nature are naturally built into our day and this alone has made a huge difference in my stress levels.
If we go to London or Edinburgh, or even the beach for the day, we take the train. Trains are comfortable, reliable, and much more relaxing than driving. We sit at a table with our coffee and talk, or just enjoy the view or a book, until we arrive.
3. There are beautiful shops, restaurants, and cafés everywhere.
Europeans generally don’t eat on the road or guzzle large sodas in their cars. You rarely see people walking around with to-go coffees. People see a coffee or tea break as a time to really take a break from the business of the day.
Europeans sit together for hours, slowly enjoying a meal and coffee or tea. Everywhere you go there are pretty, little cafés that invite you to sit and relax.
I am learning to slow down, too.
4. Everyone gets 5.5 weeks of Annual Leave Every Year
All workers in the UK get at least 5.5 weeks of annual leave (paid time-off), not including sick time. If you are unlucky enough to get sick while on holiday the annual leave will be credited back to you.
Taking time off to to travel or just be with your loved ones is the cultural norm. Your job isn’t your life, it’s how you pay for your life.
It took me about six months to stop feeling nervous or guilty when I put in my holiday requests. But there really is no expectation that you prioritize work ahead of your family. Having all that time, and actually getting to use it, has been one of my favorite things about life in England.
5. Traveling to mainland Europe is CHEAP
You know makes having 5.5 weeks of vacation time a year even better? Being 2 hours away from PARIS! My favorite thing about expat life in England is how easy and cheap it is to get to the rest of Europe.
The cost to fly between counties in Europe is cheaper than any regional flights you could take in the United States. The first time I flew to Paris for $36 roundtrip, I felt like I was living in a dream.
Within the first 6 months of moving to England, we went to Wales, Scotland, Italy, and France.
Expat life in England does feel simpler and less stressful. I have more time to stop and enjoy the day, and be with the people that I love in meaningful ways. I don’t know what happened to that long to-do list I had in America, but I sure don’t miss it.
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