Livin' in the UK....

[MasterSteef]

...so for a little while now I've been thinking about what it'd be like to move to the UK (not anywhere in particular just yet) and honestly my reasoning for doing so is completely careless and asinine. Basically what it boils down to is my newfound love for British humor, two years back I began watching the most recent series of Doctor Who and found the humor to be right up my alley. So I sought out more programming along those lines, Monty Python, Torchwood, Being Human, etc. and I found that I was hooked, I loved all the actors I saw, the (real-life) locations overseas that the shows often took place in and just began to wonder what its really like to live there...

Now I know that what I'm saying here is equivalent to someone from the UK dying to live in America just because they love "My Name is Earl" which, frankly is pretty silly.

But what I'm looking for here is an opinion, I'm looking for someone to bring me back down to earth and tell me how it really is and if its worth moving there someday. So From all my fellow escapist's who live overseas, is it a good place to be or not?

 

[Dogstile]

Humour among the young people involves simple taking the piss out of eachother. You're trying to move for the wrong reasons.

 

[Gruchul]

It really depends on location. Some areas are really nice, some less so. I love living where I do now and wouldn't want to move anywhere else. Are there any more specific questions you'd like answering? Wasn't entirely sure what you were looking for!

 

[Dexiro]

Nothing special here, though I would like to move to America. I guess you'd say the same to me.

Everyone wants to move to wherever they aren't :3 If you really want to see what the UK is like then take a short visit.

 

[Buzz Killington_v1legacy]

This is right up my alley--I'm an American who moved to England for grad school a few years ago, and they haven't gotten rid of me yet. (I'm currently starting my second year of my PhD program.)

I'll tell you right up front--it's hard to just pick up and move here. I'm on a student visa that runs out in 2013, and I'll still be very hard-pressed to stay afterward unless I can persuade an employer to hire me, and they can persuade the Home Office that there isn't a UK native who can do the job better. You're in for an uphill climb if you want to move here permanently.

That being said, I love it here. The history, the culture, the opportunity to see some of the best art and theatre in the world--it's all totally worth the long drawn-out process of getting here, and the people are for the most part fantastic. I say give it a shot if you can.

 

[Amethyst Wind]

You'll have to be very careful where you go then, as in most parts of the country the humour isn't that sophisticated or, y'know, at all funny.

Look towards the capital I suppose.

 

[CactiComplex]

Moving because of UK humour is probably going to turn out as a mistake. For starters, the humour isn't representative of the whole country. In fact, from my own experiences humour is as dogstile said, taking the piss out of someone.

I wouldn't say don't move to the UK at all, though, just find yourself a different, or better, reason to do it.

 

[Joshimodo]

I shit you not, the UK is doomed. EVERYTHING is falling apart right now, and I'd genuinely advise avoiding anything apart from visiting the UK.


Just watch our shows (and yes, our humour is superior) from abroad. Go live in mainland Europe, it's far, far, far better out there. Somewhere like Berlin or Gothenburg.

 

[6unn3r]

We have free heath care....thats somthing i suposse.

 

[cWg | Konka]

if your member of a ethnic or religious minority you will get a easy ride overhere, however if your a white christian you would be treated like shit by the goverment

 

[Mckeown]

You'll have to be very careful where you go then, as in most parts of the country the humour isn't that sophisticated or, y'know, at all funny.

Look towards the capital I suppose.

not london! everything is way too expensive down there, i'm a northener, born and rased in east yorkshire, and, although there are some lovely people over here, the majority are pricks. you want my advice? find another reason to move somewhere, because you are setting yourself up for disappointment when you get here

 

[F'Angus]

yeah we're not all joking and happy here, it's always raining too Lol

 

[g_hughes]

I'm on a student visa that runs out in 2013, and I'll still be very hard-pressed to stay afterward unless I can persuade an employer to hire me, and they can persuade the Home Office that there isn't a UK native who can do the job better. You're in for an uphill climb if you want to move here permanently.

If you conveniently lose your passport and any identification, the Home Office will come to the obvious conclusion that you don't exist and won't throw you out.
Just wait for a Labour Government again and you'll be given a house and benefits too =]

 

[Ghengis John]

You're in for an uphill climb if you want to move here permanently.

Killington, just out of curiosity how's marriage work? Can you obtain citizenship through marriage?

 

[Stasisesque]

...so for a little while now I've been thinking about what it'd be like to move to the UK (not anywhere in particular just yet) and honestly my reasoning for doing so is completely careless and asinine. Basically what it boils down to is my newfound love for British humor, two years back I began watching the most recent series of Doctor Who and found the humor to be right up my alley. So I sought out more programming along those lines, Monty Python, Torchwood, Being Human, etc. and I found that I was hooked, I loved all the actors I saw, the (real-life) locations overseas that the shows often took place in and just began to wonder what its really like to live there...

Now I know that what I'm saying here is equivalent to someone from the UK dying to live in America just because they love "My Name is Earl" which, frankly is pretty silly.

But what I'm looking for here is an opinion, I'm looking for someone to bring me back down to earth and tell me how it really is and if its worth moving there someday. So From all my fellow escapist's who live overseas, is it a good place to be or not?

You're right, that is the most asinine reason for moving to the UK ever.

Move here if your job prospects are better, if quality of life is better, if you're being persecuted in your home country etc. etc. but don't travel thousands of miles to set up permanently in a country you think is cool because humour of the 60s/70s was good. Most of those programmes were filmed primarily in Wales, anyway.

EDIT: Am aware Wales is part of the UK, merely mentioning it as people often only think of England - and Wales is quite a different place.

 

[Buzz Killington_v1legacy]

Killington, just out of curiosity how's marriage work? Can you obtain citizenship through marriage?

You can, but it's still pretty arduous, from what I understand. I haven't looked into it myself since I'm already married and brought my wife over from America. (Although sometimes we joke about getting divorced and temporarily marrying UK citizens just for the passports and then remarrying. Plan B is changing my name to something English like "Nigel Carruthers", buying a fake passport, and opening a pub somewhere in Devon.)

 

[andrew.wright16]

If you like British humour then by all means we can suggest some UK comedy classics like Blackadder or Father Ted.
The UK is a decent enough place to visit- but even though we're a small country you'd get a totally different experience depending on where you went.

If I were you I'd arrange a holiday to come to UK (its beautiful in Summer). Because its hard to describe a whole country to you im afraid- plus its your own opinion that counts!

And as for the humour... well its strange but like some people said, we like winding each other up and bantering and stuff, so you'd need to be prepared for that.

Anyways I would always reccommend visiting the UK its a unique experience...

 

[ramboondiea]

i love britian, i wouldnt trade it for any where, but i your basing your entire move over them shows, i should warn you, there is in fact a serious lack of mythical and/or sci-fi monsters roaming the country, although there is a good chance you could wonder into barrowman at some point, my frineds seem him 3 times

 

[Jazoni89]

*This post has been deleted by the poster*

Please don't quote it, i was having a bad moment.