17 differences between Brits and Americans I noticed in the UK

Americans and the British are often grouped together as being very similar. After living in the United Kingdom for a while, I’ve realized that we’re quite different in many ways as well. Lots of American behaviors stand out here. 

There are tiny variances in habit, like how we dry our laundry and do dishes. Along with more prominent distinctions, such as celebrating separate national holidays. Learning about the contrasts between Americans and Brits allowed me to feel more comfortable in the UK. 

I’m going to explain 17 of the most jarring differences I encountered and some of the reasons why they exist. Let’s get into it. 

#1 – Washing dishes: soapy bath in the UK vs. immediate washing in the US

The first time I saw an English person wash dishes, I was borderline insulted. Were my plates so dirty that you had to draw them an entire bath? I thought it might be my friend’s personal quirk. Then, I saw a video explaining the differences in dishwashing techniques between Americans and Brits. 

As it turns out, people in the UK prefer to soak their dishes in soapy water for a bit before washing them off. Whereas Americans just soap up a sponge and wash them under the hot water stream right away. 

#2 – Saying “excuse me” is polite in the US vs. rude in the UK

After a few months of shopping around UK grocery stores, I started noticing an odd occurrence. Every time I’d mutter a light “excuse me” as I moved around someone in an aisle, they would give me this weird, disapproving look. Something was up. 

When I asked a friend about it, they explained, “Well, yeah. That’s rude here.” In the United States, saying excuse me when you pass a person closely is common courtesy and even expected. 

It’s received very differently in the United Kingdom. Brits sense it as more of a “get out of my way” rather than a “sorry, I’m just passing by.” As an American, it took a lot of practice to dampen the impulse to say excuse me when I passed through someone’s path. 

#3 – Electric outlets are turned off in the UK vs. always staying on in the US

This is one of the differences that I absolutely love because it just makes so much sense. In the United Kingdom, all the outlets have an on and off switch above them. That way you can turn off the electricity to the socket whenever you’re not using it. 

American outlets don’t have this option and there is constantly a flow of electricity to every port in the home. When you think about it, the Brits have the right idea with this one. It seems like it would be safer and save a ton of money on the electric bill. 

#4 – Mold: Brits are unbothered and Americans are terrified 

I came face-to-face with the British stance on mold when I found a patch of it at one of my first Airbnbs. It wasn’t much, just a bit tucked away in a far corner, but that was enough to completely freak me out. 

In the United States, mold is treated as a severe health hazard. I’ve even had a friend pull out of an apartment lease after finding mold. 

The host apologized profusely and offered to clean it up, but I was surprised that they basically just wiped it down with cleaner. It would’ve been a much bigger deal in the US.

I came to understand that British homes are way more susceptible to mold because of the damp weather and style of most buildings. Due to this inevitability, the Brits just see it as a part of life and clean it up routinely. 

# 5 – Drying laundry: Americans need a dryer machine and Brits use a drying rack

After solo traveling around Europe, I already knew that most places around the region weren’t big on dryer machines. In the United Kingdom, it is a little too rainy to rely on outdoor clotheslines and most British people use a drying rack indoors instead. 

It can take up to a day for all your stuff to dry on one depending on how many clothes are on it. This can be a big change for visitors from the United States who are used to their laundry being ready to go in just a couple of hours. 

As an American who wants everything done in a flash, this aspect of British life took some getting used to. While I’ve learned to schedule my laundry around the drying rack, I still much prefer the convenience of a machine. 

#6 – Tipping: Americans tip 20% on average vs. British tip 10% max 

I’ve always been one of those people who believes you shouldn’t be going out to eat if you don’t want to tip. Working in restaurants since age 15 has strengthened that principle. 

Traveling around the world for years has changed me and my perceptions though. I’ve realized tipping is a very American thing to do. Patrons are typically expected to tip 20% minimum in the United States. However, tipping excessively in the UK will only make you look like a tourist. 

The Brits typically only tip for exceptional service during a sit-down meal and even then it maxes out at around 10%. I could really see this difference on delivery apps where the highest suggested tip was a measly £3. 

#7 – Kitchen appliances: the British have electric kettles and Americans have microwaves 

Every country has its little conveniences that they can’t live without. For Americans, that thing is most definitely microwaves. Practically every US home, big or small, is equipped with one. Most of my US apartments have had a microwave built directly into the kitchen. 

While microwaves exist in the UK, they’re much harder to find and simply aren’t the standard. The one thing you will find in every single British home is an electric kettle. 

I’ve never really met an American who owned an electric kettle, but they’re practically a requirement in the UK. Every single hotel and Airbnb I stayed at in the United Kingdom supplied an electric kettle for their guests. 

#8 – Greetings: “You alright?” vs. “How are you?”

On one of my first days in the UK, I strolled into a coffee shop and was promptly greeted by the barista saying, “You alright?” There was an awkward pause as I tried to figure out what exactly she thought was wrong. 

Soon, the realization dawned on me that this was just the British way of asking how I was doing. Americans only utter something like “You alright?” if they think something is wrong, but here, it’s akin to asking “How’s it going?” 

On the flip side, saying “How are you?” in the UK was often received with a similar moment of contemplation. It’s just one of those things that locals aren’t used to hearing on a regular basis and it takes a moment to adjust. 

#9 – Holidays: Boxing Day and Guy Fawkes Night in the UK vs. 4th of July and Veteran’s Day in the US

My dog and I were taking an evening walk in November when all of a sudden it was interrupted by dozens of fireworks shooting off into the sky. I had absolutely no idea what was going on until I did some Googling and realized it was a national holiday – Guy Fawkes Day. 

While the US has things like the 4th of July and Veteran’s Day to commemorate our history, the UK has its own set of festivities. This particular holiday is celebrated in remembrance of Guy Fawkes’ unsuccessful plan to blow up Parliament. 

I was just as surprised on December 26th to discover that the Brits were still celebrating Christmas with a tradition called Boxing Day. It’s sort of similar to America’s Black Friday with lots of stores offering major discounts. 

#10 – Food combinations: Tuna on a jacket potato in the UK vs. peanut butter & jelly in the US

Peanut butter and jelly sandwiches will immediately transport Americans back to their childhood. Yet this flavor fusion will just leave Brits confused. This classic food combination is practically unheard of in the United Kingdom. 

Likewise, many beloved British culinary combinations would likely be considered a food crime in the United States. I’m the type of traveler who will try any local specialty, yet even I was a bit worried about certain combos. 

For instance, I was skeptical when I was offered tuna as a topping on a jacket potato, but I actually ended up loving it. There is also the chip butty (french fry sandwich), black pudding with apples (blood sausage), dandelion and burdock (an herbal soda flavor), and many more. 

#11 – Humor style: dry British comedy vs. punchline American jokes 

A joke that cracks up a room full of Brits will likely be met with a beat of silence in the United States. The humor style in these places is completely different species. 

As someone who grew up on British TV shows, I appreciate the dry, satirical humor of the United Kingdom. It’s less in-your-face and wittier in my opinion. 

Whereas American humor is big, boisterous, and often topped off with a blatant punchline. I’ve also found that US comedy is more physical or situational. All you have to do is watch a few American sitcoms and you’ll start to spot these contrasts. 

#12 – Word differences like pub, loo, & lift vs. bar, bathroom, & elevator

English is the most widely spoken language in both the United States and the United Kingdom. However, each place has totally different phrases for the exact same thing. 

When I asked a waiter to point me in the direction of the bathroom, there was a moment of pause because they were so used to hearing the word loo. This situation would pop up pretty often. 

While a group of American friends would say, “Let’s go to the bar,” a crowd of Brits would call it “the pub.” Some of the other ones that tripped me up were shopping cart vs. trolley, backyard vs. garden, elevator vs. lift, and mail vs. post. 

#13 – Walking behavior: strolling Brits vs. fast-paced Americans 

I’m a New York City girl to my core and we have strict unspoken rules when it comes to walking. New Yorkers and Americans in general can be quite determined walkers. We’re on a mission to power through the streets as fast as possible and stay organized by sticking to the right or left. 

The British don’t adhere to these same rules. In the UK, people stroll around a bit slower on whichever side they please. They have less spatial awareness in my experience. On a near-daily basis, I’d get caught behind a meandering couple taking up most of the sidewalk. 

While it got on my nerves initially, I learned to appreciate the more leisurely style of wandering around in the United Kingdom. It gave me more time to appreciate my surroundings and relax. 

#14 – Pets: understated British owners vs. obsessed American owners

I’ve traveled with my dog all around the globe and we’ve both gotten used to experiencing new pet cultures. Americans are more obsessed with their pets than pretty much anywhere else I’ve ever been. They’re a part of the family just like the humans. 

While the British love their pets, they aren’t nearly as obsessive. People in the UK are always shocked that I bring my dog along on my travels instead of just leaving him back home. They just can’t grasp why I refuse to live without my dog. 

UK pet owners tend to be less social with their animals as well, usually pulling their pets away when they pass others. Americans want their little guy to stop and say hello to every dog on the street. 

#15 – Rain: The British don’t mind vs. Americans need to be suited up or inside 

It rains nearly 50% of the year in the United Kingdom [source]. This might explain why the British are so unbothered when a storm rolls through. In fact, many Brits just power through the downpour without an umbrella because it’s too windy for them to be effective. 

This is not the case for Americans who need to be prepared with a rain jacket, waterproof shoes, and an umbrella before they brave the rain. Lots of Americans won’t even bother going outside until the rain stops, but that would keep you inside forever in the UK. 

#16 – Home windows: curtainless British homes vs. private American homes

Call me paranoid, but I hate the idea of strangers being able to peer into my house through an open window. Most Americans would agree with me in this regard. In the US, we put curtains or shades over all our windows to hide the interior from the outside world.  

Brits are a little more trusting than that. I quickly noticed that the majority of UK homes had nothing to cover their windows even at night. Passersby could watch the occupants going about their lives and nobody batted an eye. 

It was an immediate culture shock because I couldn’t imagine exposing my private life to the main street. It was sort of endearing how open the British are, though. 

#17 – Sundays: everything shuts down in the UK vs. most things are open in the US

While Sunday is colloquially known as the day of rest, Americans don’t take that too seriously. Most American businesses will remain open on Sunday with their usual hours. At the very most, they might close up shop an hour or so early. It’s just like any other day. 

Weekend relaxation is a much bigger deal in the UK. Everything from grocery stores to cafes shut down in the late afternoon on Sunday. Most locals take the day to hang out with their family, do outdoor activities, or just appreciate life instead of focusing on work. 

While easing up my intense American work ethic took some practice, I’ve grown to love my laidback Sundays. Even if it means everything will be closed in the UK. 

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Although Americans and Brits are similar in some ways, we’re very different in others. Learning about these distinctions helped me be more respectful of the local culture and feel at home in the United Kingdom. 

If you want to fit in even more, read Ruthie’s piece about how to travel like a local in the UK next!