There are many things that Americans and Brits have in common. Most notably, a shared language that makes communication between each other very easy. But we also have many similar values, such as a lot of individual freedom, an entrepreneurial spirit, and a love for many of the same foods.
Of course, there are also many differences between us too. Our systems of government contrast sharply, with the UK’s being much more centralised than across the pond. Our healthcare systems are also very different, attitudes to tipping vary greatly, and, of course, the UK has the Queen.
When you look beneath the surface, there are actually many more things that make the two countries distinct. Everything from the way many words are spelt (or spelled) to the most popular types of entertainment. For example, while both Brits and Americans love casino games, the rules can sometimes be different on either side of the Atlantic. In the UK, players are more likely to find
European roulette which uses a wheel with 37 roulette numbers, while a 38-wheel American version is more common in the US.
You may not notice some of these differences for quite some time, while others will be immediately obvious and come as quite a shock.
Two Taps (or Faucets)
In America, when you head to the sink, you turn a knob and out comes water from the faucet. In the UK, these water dispensers are known as taps, but the name isn’t the thing that will cause you the most confusion.
It will be the fact that many British sinks still use two rather than just a single one that you’d find in most parts of the world. It can be a little confusing and frustrating because one can be scoldingly hot and the other freezing cold, with no way to mix the two together.
The cause of this two-tap tyranny is historic. The UK was one of the first to install running hot water systems in homes, but when it did, the water was often stored in an unsealed tank in the attic. This meant that hot water may not be completely safe to drink, so needed to be separated from the cold water to avoid contamination.
Today, this isn’t an issue, but since Brits love their traditions, the transition to a single mixer tap is slow.
Only a Few Knights
In America, it is considered polite to refer to strangers as sir or ma’am. In the UK, these titles are generally reserved for people who have received a knighthood. This means that you may think Brits are being rude to you when they first address you, but just know that this isn’t personal.
In fact, in less formal situations you may instead be referred to as “mate” or something similar, which is perhaps a little more friendly than “sir”.
Everything is Smaller
The USA is much bigger than the UK. Having so much more space has allowed Americans to build their cities and towns over a much wider area, often designing them primarily for navigation by car. This is why road trips are such a big event, as you can spend hours or even days behind the wheel.
The UK, like the rest of Europe, has urban areas that are much more compact and often not practical for vehicle traffic. There is also a trend of closing off some city-centre streets to make them available exclusively for pedestrians.
This is great for visitors who want to explore on foot as you don’t have to worry about finding places to park.
It’s not only towns and cities that are smaller either. British people often drive much smaller cars than Americans, primarily because they’re easier to drive on smaller roads. You’ll also notice that food portions are much smaller, often just enough for one person to manage. Houses, too, are typically smaller than your average American home, though the difference is less noticeable in inner-city apartments.
Perhaps the most difficult thing for Americans to get their head around when they visit Britain is the fact that it is possible to drive the entire length or width of the country in a single day. While in the US, you can start in Southmost, Texas, drive for 13 hours, and still be in the same state, it takes roughly the same time to get from Land’s End in Cornwall to John o’ Groats in the north of Scotland.
