When an American visited the UK, he said that there were five things that are definitely better in the UK than America, sharing his observations while he's been here
12:56, 14 Jan 2026
While America and the UK share many similarities, the differences between the two countries are also substantial. One American man reckons there are five things that are done better in the UK; however, the list he put together is likely to make any Brit chuckle (and maybe feel a little bit embarrassed).
Zach Lincoln apologised to his fellow Americans for saying that Brits do five things better than them, but he captioned his Instagram video: "This isn’t about bashing the US. It’s about noticing the small, everyday things that make life feel calmer, kinder, and more human. The kind of differences you don’t notice on a short trip but really feel once you live there".
1. Swearing
Zach shared that Brits can "slip in profanity so casually," and they'll make you question whether they just actually said that word. He also said that he's heard Brits using words that he's "not sure are swear words," but they are in America, and Brits use them "so casually".
2. Tea culture
He said that if you come to the UK, you should "absorb this part of the culture". Zach said he'd "never seen anything like it," joking: "Just have the cup and thank me later."
On the Reddit 'Random Thoughts' forum, someone explained that the ritual of tea drinking is "a social custom, ingrained in daily life and associated with relaxation, conversation, and hospitality". They're not wrong. If Brits are sad, happy, mad, whatever emotion, they'll probably have someone there to make them a good brew.
3. Football culture
"Yes, we like our football too. But these people love their football," Zach gushed. Again, this is correct. Football fans in the UK take it very seriously. Especially when it comes to 'derby' days between two teams in the same city - for example, Manchester City vs Manchester United, the rivalry can get seriously heated.
4. Work-life balance
Brits might feel like they don't have the best work-life balance, but when it comes to our pals across the pond, Zach reckons that we do.
Zach said that "here they work about 38 and a half hours, and when people clock out, they just leave their [work] phones behind them". He said that Brits go "back to their families," saying that Brits "take their kids to the park after school," noting that they are "not nearly as burnt out" as the American people, who often work a lot.
"This is a lifestyle that we should all be aspiring towards. The level of genuine happiness I've seen in this country is unlike [anywhere else]. And there's also not this like paralysing fear of going to work on Monday," he noted.
5. Social tolerance
He said that he couldn't say that Brits are "without their issues," but he did say: "As someone who has been called a bevvy of names in my own home country and been made to feel very unwelcome in cities just outside of my hometown, been ran off the road by massive trucks that were sporting my countries flag; being somewhere that does a really good job of granting equality at a glance rather than revoking it is a feeling that I would encourage every American person of colour to come over here and experience".
In the comments, someone wrote: "Watching your content has helped me see the UK with new eyes and appreciate it so much more. Thank you!"
Another said: "You are welcome in the UK. Welcome to compassion". A Brit said: "It's so great to hear Britain getting bigged up!"
A woman penned: "The only part I would somewhat disagree with is that though the work-life balance may be better than the US, a lot of people are still burnt out, and I would say that most 9-5 workers do dread Mondays.
"The burnout is in part due to the cost of living (housing, energy bills, increased cost of food), so many people are extremely strapped for money and struggle to make ends meet, so they feel burnt out, despite maybe working less or having more holidays than Americans. Interesting observations though!"