Travelled most of the UK and northern English people are generally warm and very friendly, but for overseas tourists watch out for the quick dry humour, it's not too bad for Americans most get it, but if you're from mainland Europe it can sometimes be misinterpreted as a personal dig.
I grew up in London and live here now and it is definitely worth a visit, but I would recommend that tourists spend most of their time outside London in the north as you get so much more for your money and can see loads of great things. Small pretty like Canterbury are nice but they have northern equivalents like York that are just as impressive and much more affordable.
Chester can better Canterbury,most days of the week…and i can take Birmingham all day long….its lovely..if you know what to do with it..Liverpool is smashing also…Stratford upon Avon woo hoo..Kenilworth..Leicester,Shrewsbury…i could go on and on..
I just went to England for the first time in November, and I was in Manchester. My boyfriend is english and he lives in Manchester. Can you do a video about Manchester, England??
I agree - there's definitely a north vs. south thing in England, and I'm speaking as someone born in the north of England who has also lived in London and the south as well as in East Anglia. You mentioned York several times, and I used to live there. I would definitely recommend a visit to that beautiful city. Or, as an alternative that's closer to London, check out the city of Norwich in East Anglia. I lived there too and it's gorgeous. However, as regards football (soccer) - yes, it is certainly very popular across England, but not with every English person! I have little interest in it.
The North was where the Industrial revolution happened but the northern workforce has never been treated well by a London-centric government. In the north you'll find poorer standards in housing, health, wages, infrastructure. Pupils and teachers alike have less expectations of educational attainment and careers. There is anger building that the promised 'leveling up' between north and south isn't happening. Most of a major northern rail project HS2 has just been cancelled. People feel disenfranchised and that the divide is getting worse.
Sadly that's not going to get better any time soon I'm afraid. In the past some areas in the North benefited greatly from EU urban improvement subsidies, but all that's gone now. And the current government couldn't care less.
@@JootjeJ and today the Dept. for Transport has announced £235 million from the cancelled northern HS2 project will go to filling in potholes in London.
Nature in the South seems to be "prettier", more manicured than in the North. Nature in the North tends to be more rugged, as if you can almost feel the millenia through the soil. I also find the accents in the North easier to understand for people from Germanic countries, whereas the South has a mor Romanic lilt to the speech. Also: there's an M1 (motorway) service station that has a ye olde looking signpost with one sign pointing to "The North" and one to "The South". I think it's the Pegnall Newport service station but I may be mistaken.
The north (outside of northumbria) has far less forest cover than the south. Most of it is farmland. Lake district, Peak district, the dales etc. All just scrubbed clean of natural vegetation by grazing animals.That's what the rugged look is- soil erosion from lack of vegetation cover.
York, Liverpool - both well worth visiting, but there is a lot more of England further north than both. The magnificent Lake District and the stunningly beautiful Northumberland (with castles to spare) and the wonderful Pennines for those who love scenery. The fabulous city of Durham, with the unparalleled beauty of its wondrous cathedral, Newcastle upon Tyne (if you think they love soccer in Liverpool wait till you go to Newcastle) with its industrial heritage, etc etc. and the people are even more friendly again. And it’s cheaper! To all tourists to England - go North!
It's a myth that people in Newcastle love their football more than certain other places. It's a passionate Footballing City but no more so than Liverpool or Manchester. The difference is that at Anfield and Old Trafford there are more tourists from outside the cities going to watch them. Newcastle being a 1 club City means they never hear any other opinion than their own supporters. 3 great Cities though, Newcastle, Liverpool and Manchester although i'd say any American should go to York, Durham and the Lake District too as they are all among some of the best places the UK has to offer.
@@evertonfc5380 I think you're right there. I'm from Liverpool, but have lived in newcastle. They definitely love their footy, and like you say it helps that they're a one club city with their stadium slap bang in the city centre, which means there is no hiding from a match day. But likewise I think there is something they miss by not having a proper derby. There is only so much you can chat about how great you think the Toon are, or why you think they're playing so shit. It just doesn't compare to daily interactions with the other half (for better and worse).The whole Newcastle-Sunderland thing always felt a bit confected to me. I've no doubt they hate each other, but it's not really a derby. I spoke to an old bloke from Gateshead in a pub in Liverpool once, and he reckoned that the rivalry was comparatively recent anyway, and that when he was young there was never much bad blood between the two clubs or cities. I guess that sprung up in the hooligan era (likewise with Liverpool and Man United)
I wouldn't say Southerners are less passionate about football - you only have to look at Millwall's reputation and I think that is disproven. Having said that rivalries between Newcastle and Sunderland, Liverpool and Everton, or City and United are more well known. Overall I would say the South is more expensive but more easily accessible for tourists. Public transport in the North is shaky at times and often very expensive so if you're not thinking of hiring a car I would recommend the South but as said in the video many of the bigger cities in the North and South have train links so visiting both is fairly viable. Also worth mentioning that almost all of the major flights from outside of Europe land near London or Manchester so that is also worth factoring in to the equation.
Millwall's 80's hooligan reputation shouldn't be confused with football passion. North definitely has more passion for football, go check league 2 matches up north to see what I mean.
I think the South doesn't compare in terms of football passion for one main reason. In the North, football and your wider identity are tied up in your town or city. Supporting your club is an extension of supporting your city. In general, Southerners I have met are far more likely to support clubs other than their hometown clubs, and more widely, besides a few exceptions (Portsmouth, Bristol, perhaps Brighton and Plymouth), the towns and cities in the South don't have such strong identities. Identity is subsumed by proximity to London and the South East, to the extent you have younger people in the West Country affecting London/South Eastern accents because they are embarressed of their own. In the North you know where someone is from the second they open their mouth. I have mates from the South who genuinely think it's crazy when I tell them that anyone brought up in Liverpool will support either Liverpool or Everton, almost without exception. Whereas up here, supporting one or the other isn't just a matter of football, it's a key part of the Scouse identity. And most Northern cities are the same in that respect. And yeah, I'd echo the other sentiments in here. Millwall being notoriously violent is not the same as passionately supporting your team.
you should visit cornwall or devon, one of the most friendly places in the whole of the uk, only just found your channel and been watching a few as you have a really interesting outlook on uk and pretty much spot on, its quite cheap in the west as well and mythical with some of the best beaches and coastlines, my home town is crawley in sussex and i moved away from london areas for simple fact peeps can be offish , down here its all about having a life of work and play and a cheaper slower pace, in summer, its so the place to be for festivals and events and camping ect
Funniest thing is watching Downton Abbey and they are supposed to be in Yorkshire. Ha! I'd need subtitles if that were the case. The Red Ryder Trilogy required me to turn on the subtitles for the first time ever. Great video! (Psst: There's a job opening at Rick Steves for the graphic designer that does the maps. Nows your chance to recommend someone.) :-)
Having lived in London half my life and Leeds the rest I think we joke about the North South divide it’s more to do with the proximity to London. What I find fascinating is when I meet Brits that grew up on the coast and were at the beach all the time had incredible experiences growing up to others that grew up in a city and vice verser
Oh this video made me laugh so much, you've really got us Brits down 😂 as a proud Northerner, it's so lovely to hear all of your positive comments, and yes we do love any sauce on our chips!! Someone has already mentioned Newcastle which is absolutely amazing, but would highly recommend Durham too if you like York, very similar and only 45 minutes away! Would love to host you and show you our Durham sights if you ever visit 😊
Hi , you need to put the south east as London Brighton etc and south west as Cotswolds, Bristol, Bath and Cornwall. The south East is much expensive than the south west!
I'm from London but have now moved away. I remember growing up and every time I had Fish and chips I made sure it had curry sauce on it 😂. What I really miss is me pie, mash and liquor (Parsley sauce). I still get cravings for it even after all this time living out of London.
Good tips there Sir, except you mentioned that museums are more expensive in the South, most museums are free to enter all across the U.K. Some ask for a donation but that is not compulsory
Used to love London but hate the place now. Been to Liverpool three times inside a year and love the place. Yorkshire is worth a visit. Prefer the north these days, south just want to charge you for driving your car
As someone who’s lived for an extended amount of time in the north, midlands and south; I think this video is conflating a lot of stereotypes and tropes about ‘the south’, with London.
A'reyt Mark. I have seen reactions from US UA-cam channel hosts, who were coming to UK. They seem really fond of York, near me, as if to prove your point. Do you ever watch travel videos of such channels, that use your videos as a pre trip taster and to learn from?
@travelingcatman. The bit of the south where this northerner goes for holiday. The folk identify with Cornwall first, so they seem to think like northerners. Less divide, more in common. I entertained some of them with "Four Yorkshiremen", when locals went on about the days before there were so many "English".
Yes, Cornwall always gets forgotten in the North/South question - we’re far more like the North than the South East, or wealthier west: Wild, rugged terrain, very low wages and very strong communities where people know and support each other. You can always tell when holiday season’s started because people look right through you when you’re out on a walk instead of greeting you
I'm not sure I completely agree about the BBC and the Southern accents. What most people are thinking of with BBC is 'Received Pronunciation' or 'RP'. This was considered standard British English and is not region specific. I do agree it is more common in the south, but the are many very strong southern accents. I'm from the south west and the Somerset, Devonshire and Cornish accents can be very strong, and are no closer to RP than the northern accents.
traveling around the UK as you get near London it gets crowded so we have to invent personal space that why we don't talk it preserves our personal space.
Fan of your videos, I've always had the impression you've never done the SouthWest (Cornwall/Devon/Dorset) besides Bath - a shame when this is arguably the nicest part of Britain, despite having fewer major tourist sites than Wales or Scotland.
From a cost perspective, you're better off flying into Manchester Airport on a direct flight and staying in the North. If you have to go London remember you're only 2 hours away by train and the best way to see London"s landmarks is with a river tour away from the crowds! If you miss the soldiers in London, dont worry as there are wartime weekends put on by various towns and cities. Quite a few of them are by Steam Preservation Railways and you get a real vibe for how it was 80 years ago and these are the best ones to aim for. You maybe surprised many people who don't live in the South see themselves as being from the town/county first then from the country. The further away from London the greater the sentiment. Please, please dont forget our islands there are nearly a thousand of them, the majority of them being off Scotland. A great event is the Isle of Man TT races, this is where motorbikes literally fly down country lanes at speeds up to 200 mph. Yes up to 200 mph is correct and not a typo!
I'm from Derby (Midlands) and have lived all over. I can get on with people wherever they live. At one point there was a misconception that the South was rich and sort of problem-free but in reality the South has many problem areas and acute poverty. One of the places I used i to live in was HASTINGS on the south coast and it, like a lot of our holiday resorts around the country, has a lot of problems because of second home ownership, homelessness, etc. We have allowed uncontrolled immigration and the creation of social policies that have damaged instead of helping the country. And now in some places we are reaping the unfortunate result of these policies. It will take a long time to fix and I hope that we can do it. My first point of meeting people from all regions was at university in Yorkshire but it was a real eye opener for me at the time. I had never really been further than Nottingham or Sheffield but here I met Londoners, people from the south-east, from Bristol, from Cardiff, from the north of Scotland, etc. etc. I loved finding out about their homes and their lifestyles. The places I have lived are: Derby, Huddersfield, Hastings, Cardiff, Rugby, Trowbridge and the south of France.
I'm from Scotland which is the friendliest country in the world 😄. England has a lot of great places but in my opinion North is best. Definitely friendlier people and so many great cities. I would recommend anywhere in Yorkshire, Durham, Cumbria and Northumberland, Liverpool, Manchester, Lincoln..to be fair the south has some beautiful places too..Cornwall and Stratford on Avon plus Bath are stunning. Most areas of UK have great places to visit. Fair warning tho weather sucks!
The North is more industrial my home town of Oldham had over 200 cotton Mills back in the day this town produced more wool than the rest of the world combined but its not just famous for Wool Seddon Atkinson trucks were made here from 1937-2004 and vehicle batteries in World War II Plates brothers made artillery shells The North West has so much history but the South is very beautiful and as my cousin lives in Portsmouth I often go down to see her it takes about four hours but it's so beautiful and there's the very historic Dockyard.
Actually there were more than 400 mills in Oldham (I live near there as well) although I wonder if that also includes mills in outlying areas like Royton etc plus they produced more than 25% of the fabric (cotton not wool that was Yorkshire) exported from the UK in their hay day
Lots of southerners have a strong southern accent which does sound like a london accent. There are a lot of middle class people with BBC English in the south as that's where the high paying jobs are.
As a Londoner I would say that the biggest difference is that the North is friendlier than the south, and that London is more international and corporate in feel. The money thing is over stated a bit, the centre of London is of course much more expensive than the centre of any Northern city but then London is very different from places like York & Leeds in that most Londoners live in the suburbs, which are a bit cheaper but also more mundane than the centre. The Northern cities are easier to feel comfortable in and since locals use the centre more they are more of the place than say London. IMHO a tourist might even be better off staying in a big town near London then travelling in for the big draws, for example the British Museum but then using the local hotels, pubs and restaurants of a nearby provincial town or outer suburb where there is better value and a more welcoming atmosphere.
Not to tone things down a bit, but it's really not a good time for the average person in the UK financially and even socially. I live in London and I love seeing tourists visit, but I overheard some tourists mention how everyone looks a bit miserable. In London it's already difficult to manage and we don't need to feel like we're thespians for them ;)
Bit different up north to London lol or most places. I would say over all the quality of life in London is some of the worst in the country.Give me the beautiful Yorkshire countryside any day
I wouldn’t say we’re less passionate about football in the south. When people talk about the south they often mean London and the South East. The big clubs in London tend to get a lot of tourists and glory supporters which means less atmosphere than at clubs which are less successful. I’m from Bristol which give its size performs poorly at football and support Bristol Rovers and we’re renowned for having quite passionate supporters. As for differences between north and south I thought given the video cover you were going to discuss the differences in ale in public houses. Up north they tend to use sparklers which makes for a frothier taste whereas down south they tend to not use them which means it’s flatter.
I'm from the North myself, I will not try to be biased, I've been living in the US and Mexico for near ten years but come to back to visit and I bring American and Mexican friends with me - and they agree you get to see a more authentic British culture up North. London is fun from a historical tourist aspect but it's too multiculturally hectic and global. London looks British but it doesn't feel British anymore. To be fair most capital cities are like this now. I think to experience any foreign culture you have to get out and away from its capitol. My American friends where actually a little disappointed as they were expecting Mary Poppins clichés in London and what not. I think anyone coming to visit should definitely visit London maybe for a weekend but spend most your time up north in Liverpool for a more relaxed and authentic British experience.
I don't think that is too uncommon. I'm from the North, and have lived in Barcelona for years now. I can count on one hand the number of English people living here that I have met from the North. Nearly every other English person you meet here is from the South. And it got me wandering why. After speaking to a lot of Southerners who have never been North or don't know anything about it, I realised that most people in Southern England would never dream of moving or visiting North, barring some kind of family connection. For them it's either go abroad or stay.
Starting the video off on the right foot! "talking about the North of England..." [insert B-Roll of Canada House] "...and the South of England..." [Liverpool Central] I just absolutely lost it and had to restart it again. lol
Hiya Mark, the North and South divide is defo there, I went to London and nobody wanted to talk to you, I went to Liverpool and I asked a Scouser, "where's John Lennon's ex house"? he gave me directions like you would never believe, plus I went to Ellenore Rigby's buriel plot, say Mark, the reason Arsenal and Chelsea have a quieter crowd is that loads of millionaires go to their games and have no real passion for football (aka soccer), I'm a Newcastle United supporter and we definitely have a very loud home (and away) crowd, this is Choppy in Whitehaven, Cumbria, England
If you're an introverted reclusive type London is ideal because of the lack of social interaction. I live in East Anglia and there's no way I would live in London or the south-east.
as a southerner i love riling up northerners it's so funny, just english banter hating on each other i think - doubt many english people have an actual hatred towards each other so be prepared to hear some jokes and don't take it to heart!!
No doubt about it, the North is best. We have by far the best countryside in the land, and its where I live!! Not sure about there not being much difference between accents. So many southerners can't understand Scousers and Geordies!
I’m from London and this pretty accurate to be fair to Walter. For things to do and variety London as a city is a million times better than the rest of the uk but the people atmosphere and cost of things are a million times better in the north of England. And 100% the midlands is the worst place in England I think even people from Birmingham would agree.
You’re forgetting the far West. In Cornwall, our towns are so grim that they had to film the ‘town scenes’ in the Cotswolds for the Poldark TV series - not warm and romantic enough for their sensibilities, but out scenery is incredible
the North is much cheaper....just go into a pub and order a pint and you will see immediately the difference in the price...another example, same chain of hotels, three nights in Hull cost less than one night in London and not speaking of central London, but suburb....
You're 100% correct. Coincidentally I've just booked a room in an Ibis in Hull for £35. I'd struggle to get half a dozen pints for that in London these days, even in a 'Spoons.
@@michaelscott7166....may be it is the same Ibis near the station where I stayed for £ 28 a night...and 3 nights at the Premier Inn Kingswood for a total of £ 99 ....then I moved to London, same Premier Inn chain, in Chiswick - so not central London where the prices are impossible - one night at £ 110
Your first sentence is very debatable - is Manchester more friendly than Bristol? Not really. Far too often Northerners say "the South" when they mean London.
Not sure I agree with either statement. The North has a lot of interesting sights and sites, often for less money than in The South. And honestly even if you visit for a year you still won't have enough time to visit every place of interest in either half of England. And then there's still Wales and Scotland to explore.
In English cities, you will be surprised by the amount of every day people in the streets who don’t speak very good English at all as it isn’t their first language. Lots of stereotypes here, maybe back in the 1980s what he says would have been correct, but not so much these days. Weather in the south of England is also very dry and can be very hot in summer.
There's a custom everywhere in the country where as an outsider you go into a pub & offer to buy everyone a drink...OK, just the very old man ( not ageist: it just will be) next to you & the barman/ barwench, er..barperson.(?)...
The accents in the south of England are no more Queen's English (now King's English) than those in the north, you are wrong to think that a southern accent sounds like Queen's English this is not true. There are strong dialects and accents all over the UK.
If you mention the North of England, don't forget Newcastle! Beautiful city full of interesting sights to see around, including Hadrian's Wall.
What happened to that tree then..?
TOON MENTIONED 🖤🤍🍻🥯
@@jdarlington8841 tsunami
Best nightlife in Britain too imo. People are friendly, drinks relatively affordable and pubs and bars are mint.
Travelled most of the UK and northern English people are generally warm and very friendly, but for overseas tourists watch out for the quick dry humour, it's not too bad for Americans most get it, but if you're from mainland Europe it can sometimes be misinterpreted as a personal dig.
I grew up in London and live here now and it is definitely worth a visit, but I would recommend that tourists spend most of their time outside London in the north as you get so much more for your money and can see loads of great things. Small pretty like Canterbury are nice but they have northern equivalents like York that are just as impressive and much more affordable.
York is not particularly affordable except in comparison to major tourist traps in the South East.
Chester can better Canterbury,most days of the week…and i can take Birmingham all day long….its lovely..if you know what to do with it..Liverpool is smashing also…Stratford upon Avon woo hoo..Kenilworth..Leicester,Shrewsbury…i could go on and on..
Birmingham isn't very English now, though, so be cautious on that point.
As a Midlander I'm so glad you remembered us at the end and you're correct we are not Northern or Southern. 🙂
So what and where is Midlands?
In the middle. The clue is in the name.@@eigrontopediax
My girlfriend is from the Midlands I affectionately call her a flatlander.
Not forgetting the Midlands! Plenty of interesting towns and cities to visit.
I always found it strange that my nan's hometown of Shrewsbury never became popular with tourists. It's a very picturesque little place.
I just went to England for the first time in November, and I was in Manchester. My boyfriend is english and he lives in Manchester.
Can you do a video about Manchester, England??
I love Liverpool
Been to Liverpool and Chester, as a southerner myself, I think the locals are definitely a lot more friendly and less reserved in the North.
Derbyshire is great Derby is cool and the Peak District is amazing 🤩
I agree - there's definitely a north vs. south thing in England, and I'm speaking as someone born in the north of England who has also lived in London and the south as well as in East Anglia. You mentioned York several times, and I used to live there. I would definitely recommend a visit to that beautiful city. Or, as an alternative that's closer to London, check out the city of Norwich in East Anglia. I lived there too and it's gorgeous. However, as regards football (soccer) - yes, it is certainly very popular across England, but not with every English person! I have little interest in it.
Haha, I love how you said 'it's not a huge difference' with accents when every 20 miles you hear a different accent 😅
From North Yorkshire! England up north. You are right, we are so very friendly!
York is a beautiful place 😍 I agree we live about an hour away
The North was where the Industrial revolution happened but the northern workforce has never been treated well by a London-centric government. In the north you'll find poorer standards in housing, health, wages, infrastructure. Pupils and teachers alike have less expectations of educational attainment and careers.
There is anger building that the promised 'leveling up' between north and south isn't happening. Most of a major northern rail project HS2 has just been cancelled. People feel disenfranchised and that the divide is getting worse.
Sadly that's not going to get better any time soon I'm afraid. In the past some areas in the North benefited greatly from EU urban improvement subsidies, but all that's gone now. And the current government couldn't care less.
@@JootjeJ and today the Dept. for Transport has announced £235 million from the cancelled northern HS2 project will go to filling in potholes in London.
Nature in the South seems to be "prettier", more manicured than in the North. Nature in the North tends to be more rugged, as if you can almost feel the millenia through the soil. I also find the accents in the North easier to understand for people from Germanic countries, whereas the South has a mor Romanic lilt to the speech.
Also: there's an M1 (motorway) service station that has a ye olde looking signpost with one sign pointing to "The North" and one to "The South". I think it's the Pegnall Newport service station but I may be mistaken.
The north (outside of northumbria) has far less forest cover than the south. Most of it is farmland. Lake district, Peak district, the dales etc. All just scrubbed clean of natural vegetation by grazing animals.That's what the rugged look is- soil erosion from lack of vegetation cover.
York, Liverpool - both well worth visiting, but there is a lot more of England further north than both. The magnificent Lake District and the stunningly beautiful Northumberland (with castles to spare) and the wonderful Pennines for those who love scenery. The fabulous city of Durham, with the unparalleled beauty of its wondrous cathedral, Newcastle upon Tyne (if you think they love soccer in Liverpool wait till you go to Newcastle) with its industrial heritage, etc etc. and the people are even more friendly again. And it’s cheaper! To all tourists to England - go North!
It's a myth that people in Newcastle love their football more than certain other places. It's a passionate Footballing City but no more so than Liverpool or Manchester. The difference is that at Anfield and Old Trafford there are more tourists from outside the cities going to watch them.
Newcastle being a 1 club City means they never hear any other opinion than their own supporters.
3 great Cities though, Newcastle, Liverpool and Manchester although i'd say any American should go to York, Durham and the Lake District too as they are all among some of the best places the UK has to offer.
@@evertonfc5380 I think you're right there. I'm from Liverpool, but have lived in newcastle. They definitely love their footy, and like you say it helps that they're a one club city with their stadium slap bang in the city centre, which means there is no hiding from a match day.
But likewise I think there is something they miss by not having a proper derby. There is only so much you can chat about how great you think the Toon are, or why you think they're playing so shit. It just doesn't compare to daily interactions with the other half (for better and worse).The whole Newcastle-Sunderland thing always felt a bit confected to me. I've no doubt they hate each other, but it's not really a derby. I spoke to an old bloke from Gateshead in a pub in Liverpool once, and he reckoned that the rivalry was comparatively recent anyway, and that when he was young there was never much bad blood between the two clubs or cities. I guess that sprung up in the hooligan era (likewise with Liverpool and Man United)
You'll have more fun at a Northern funeral than a Southern wedding.
Brilliant comment! Going to use that in the future
Thanks from a Northern Monkey
Really love your videos. The north starts at Crewe and Sheffield.
I wouldn't say Southerners are less passionate about football - you only have to look at Millwall's reputation and I think that is disproven. Having said that rivalries between Newcastle and Sunderland, Liverpool and Everton, or City and United are more well known. Overall I would say the South is more expensive but more easily accessible for tourists. Public transport in the North is shaky at times and often very expensive so if you're not thinking of hiring a car I would recommend the South but as said in the video many of the bigger cities in the North and South have train links so visiting both is fairly viable. Also worth mentioning that almost all of the major flights from outside of Europe land near London or Manchester so that is also worth factoring in to the equation.
Millwall's 80's hooligan reputation shouldn't be confused with football passion. North definitely has more passion for football, go check league 2 matches up north to see what I mean.
@@HelterSkelter-h1n agreed! A bunch of violent thugs being conflated with people who are passionate about the beautiful game
I think the South doesn't compare in terms of football passion for one main reason.
In the North, football and your wider identity are tied up in your town or city. Supporting your club is an extension of supporting your city. In general, Southerners I have met are far more likely to support clubs other than their hometown clubs, and more widely, besides a few exceptions (Portsmouth, Bristol, perhaps Brighton and Plymouth), the towns and cities in the South don't have such strong identities. Identity is subsumed by proximity to London and the South East, to the extent you have younger people in the West Country affecting London/South Eastern accents because they are embarressed of their own.
In the North you know where someone is from the second they open their mouth. I have mates from the South who genuinely think it's crazy when I tell them that anyone brought up in Liverpool will support either Liverpool or Everton, almost without exception. Whereas up here, supporting one or the other isn't just a matter of football, it's a key part of the Scouse identity. And most Northern cities are the same in that respect.
And yeah, I'd echo the other sentiments in here. Millwall being notoriously violent is not the same as passionately supporting your team.
you should visit cornwall or devon, one of the most friendly places in the whole of the uk, only just found your channel and been watching a few as you have a really interesting outlook on uk and pretty much spot on, its quite cheap in the west as well and mythical with some of the best beaches and coastlines, my home town is crawley in sussex and i moved away from london areas for simple fact peeps can be offish , down here its all about having a life of work and play and a cheaper slower pace, in summer, its so the place to be for festivals and events and camping ect
Absolutely loved Liverpool.
Alot more friendly in the North. Newcastle the place for a party weekend.
I'm from the south and I agree about the cost difference and that people are more likely to strike up a conversation with a stranger.
I go to London once a year and always enjoy it.
Funniest thing is watching Downton Abbey and they are supposed to be in Yorkshire. Ha! I'd need subtitles if that were the case. The Red Ryder Trilogy required me to turn on the subtitles for the first time ever. Great video! (Psst: There's a job opening at Rick Steves for the graphic designer that does the maps. Nows your chance to recommend someone.) :-)
Having lived in London half my life and Leeds the rest I think we joke about the North South divide it’s more to do with the proximity to London. What I find fascinating is when I meet Brits that grew up on the coast and were at the beach all the time had incredible experiences growing up to others that grew up in a city and vice verser
Hey Mark, interesting video
Oh this video made me laugh so much, you've really got us Brits down 😂 as a proud Northerner, it's so lovely to hear all of your positive comments, and yes we do love any sauce on our chips!! Someone has already mentioned Newcastle which is absolutely amazing, but would highly recommend Durham too if you like York, very similar and only 45 minutes away! Would love to host you and show you our Durham sights if you ever visit 😊
Awesome video
loved the shade toward chelsea and arsenal ahahaha… you’re always welcome in liverpool mate 😂
I’m from Coventry in the West Midlands
Hi , you need to put the south east as London Brighton etc and south west as Cotswolds, Bristol, Bath and Cornwall.
The south East is much expensive than the south west!
In the eighties, I spent few months in Sussex at the south, the accent was very different and heavy
Putting salt and vinegar on chips is standard practice all over the UK.
You're right but Northerners are more friendly, open and generous. You'll never need to really ask for things up north because they'll always offering
Re: Liverpool, the movie "Yesterday" is awesome.
I'm from London but have now moved away. I remember growing up and every time I had Fish and chips I made sure it had curry sauce on it 😂. What I really miss is me pie, mash and liquor (Parsley sauce). I still get cravings for it even after all this time living out of London.
I love living in the North ❤
Good tips there Sir, except you mentioned that museums are more expensive in the South, most museums are free to enter all across the U.K. Some ask for a donation but that is not compulsory
Used to love London but hate the place now. Been to Liverpool three times inside a year and love the place. Yorkshire is worth a visit. Prefer the north these days, south just want to charge you for driving your car
Liverpool is my favourite English city ❤
Wolters World, Northern Certified ❤️
@yorkshirej. 'Appen.
As someone who’s lived for an extended amount of time in the north, midlands and south; I think this video is conflating a lot of stereotypes and tropes about ‘the south’, with London.
In the UK, it's illegal to televise football/soccer matches between 2:45pm and 5:15pm GMT on Saturdays to encourage match attendance
A'reyt Mark. I have seen reactions from US UA-cam channel hosts, who were coming to UK. They seem really fond of York, near me, as if to prove your point.
Do you ever watch travel videos of such channels, that use your videos as a pre trip taster and to learn from?
I am from Cornwall for us only we are south and every where else is up country 😆
@travelingcatman. The bit of the south where this northerner goes for holiday.
The folk identify with Cornwall first, so they seem to think like northerners. Less divide, more in common. I entertained some of them with "Four Yorkshiremen", when locals went on about the days before there were so many "English".
Yes, Cornwall always gets forgotten in the North/South question - we’re far more like the North than the South East, or wealthier west: Wild, rugged terrain, very low wages and very strong communities where people know and support each other. You can always tell when holiday season’s started because people look right through you when you’re out on a walk instead of greeting you
I'm not sure I completely agree about the BBC and the Southern accents. What most people are thinking of with BBC is 'Received Pronunciation' or 'RP'. This was considered standard British English and is not region specific. I do agree it is more common in the south, but the are many very strong southern accents. I'm from the south west and the Somerset, Devonshire and Cornish accents can be very strong, and are no closer to RP than the northern accents.
Mmmm gravy, Northern boys love gravy
You should look at Danny Dorling’s work - the divide is real, and much more than gravy on chips, in terms of social and economic divides.
I think Mark secretly works for the York tourism board.
I wish 😀
Just wait until the donts of york video 😀
North, you had me at 'more sauce!' : )
traveling around the UK as you get near London it gets crowded so we have to invent personal space that why we don't talk it preserves our personal space.
Fan of your videos, I've always had the impression you've never done the SouthWest (Cornwall/Devon/Dorset) besides Bath - a shame when this is arguably the nicest part of Britain, despite having fewer major tourist sites than Wales or Scotland.
From a cost perspective, you're better off flying into Manchester Airport on a direct flight and staying in the North. If you have to go London remember you're only 2 hours away by train and the best way to see London"s landmarks is with a river tour away from the crowds!
If you miss the soldiers in London, dont worry as there are wartime weekends put on by various towns and cities. Quite a few of them are by Steam Preservation Railways and you get a real vibe for how it was 80 years ago and these are the best ones to aim for.
You maybe surprised many people who don't live in the South see themselves as being from the town/county first then from the country. The further away from London the greater the sentiment.
Please, please dont forget our islands there are nearly a thousand of them, the majority of them being off Scotland.
A great event is the Isle of Man TT races, this is where motorbikes literally fly down country lanes at speeds up to 200 mph. Yes up to 200 mph is correct and not a typo!
The north of England is better. Would love to visit Manchester, England, more English and working class. I am also a Manchester United fan.
Liverpool is a better city
@@garyrigby21 Home of The Beatles.
@@garyrigby21 Nahhh Manchester rules
The north wins but my 3 fave cities in the UK are Liverpool, London and Glasgow
It's grim up North. I'm only joking. I'm from Manchester so the North wins for me!!
I'm from Derby (Midlands) and have lived all over. I can get on with people wherever they live. At one point there was a misconception that the South was rich and sort of problem-free but in reality the South has many problem areas and acute poverty. One of the places I used i to live in was HASTINGS on the south coast and it, like a lot of our holiday resorts around the country, has a lot of problems because of second home ownership, homelessness, etc. We have allowed uncontrolled immigration and the creation of social policies that have damaged instead of helping the country. And now in some places we are reaping the unfortunate result of these policies. It will take a long time to fix and I hope that we can do it. My first point of meeting people from all regions was at university in Yorkshire but it was a real eye opener for me at the time. I had never really been further than Nottingham or Sheffield but here I met Londoners, people from the south-east, from Bristol, from Cardiff, from the north of Scotland, etc. etc. I loved finding out about their homes and their lifestyles. The places I have lived are: Derby, Huddersfield, Hastings, Cardiff, Rugby, Trowbridge and the south of France.
What about Devon & Cornwall???
I'm from Scotland which is the friendliest country in the world 😄. England has a lot of great places but in my opinion North is best. Definitely friendlier people and so many great cities. I would recommend anywhere in Yorkshire, Durham, Cumbria and Northumberland, Liverpool, Manchester, Lincoln..to be fair the south has some beautiful places too..Cornwall and Stratford on Avon plus Bath are stunning. Most areas of UK have great places to visit. Fair warning tho weather sucks!
"
@lesdee7155
7 months ago
"I'm from Scotland which is the friendliest country in the world`'. Unless you're English...
There is no 'Toob' in the North. Trams and then also the Tyne and Wear Metro, but don't use that London-specific term for transport outside it.
I'm a Liverpool FC fan, always ❤ YNWA ❤❤
Dry food in the south got me 😂
The North is more industrial my home town of Oldham had over 200 cotton Mills back in the day this town produced more wool than the rest of the world combined but its not just famous for Wool Seddon Atkinson trucks were made here from 1937-2004 and vehicle batteries in World War II Plates brothers made artillery shells
The North West has so much history but the South is very beautiful and as my cousin lives in Portsmouth I often go down to see her it takes about four hours but it's so beautiful and there's the very historic Dockyard.
Actually there were more than 400 mills in Oldham (I live near there as well) although I wonder if that also includes mills in outlying areas like Royton etc plus they produced more than 25% of the fabric (cotton not wool that was Yorkshire) exported from the UK in their hay day
❤❤❤❤
Lots of southerners have a strong southern accent which does sound like a london accent. There are a lot of middle class people with BBC English in the south as that's where the high paying jobs are.
As a Londoner I would say that the biggest difference is that the North is friendlier than the south, and that London is more international and corporate in feel. The money thing is over stated a bit, the centre of London is of course much more expensive than the centre of any Northern city but then London is very different from places like York & Leeds in that most Londoners live in the suburbs, which are a bit cheaper but also more mundane than the centre. The Northern cities are easier to feel comfortable in and since locals use the centre more they are more of the place than say London. IMHO a tourist might even be better off staying in a big town near London then travelling in for the big draws, for example the British Museum but then using the local hotels, pubs and restaurants of a nearby provincial town or outer suburb where there is better value and a more welcoming atmosphere.
Not to tone things down a bit, but it's really not a good time for the average person in the UK financially and even socially. I live in London and I love seeing tourists visit, but I overheard some tourists mention how everyone looks a bit miserable. In London it's already difficult to manage and we don't need to feel like we're thespians for them ;)
Bit different up north to London lol or most places. I would say over all the quality of life in London is some of the worst in the country.Give me the beautiful Yorkshire countryside any day
I love the scouse accent ❤
There's an old saying in Yorkshire: "'As tha nowt moist?" We northerners can't abide by a dry meal
I wouldn’t say we’re less passionate about football in the south. When people talk about the south they often mean London and the South East. The big clubs in London tend to get a lot of tourists and glory supporters which means less atmosphere than at clubs which are less successful. I’m from Bristol which give its size performs poorly at football and support Bristol Rovers and we’re renowned for having quite passionate supporters.
As for differences between north and south I thought given the video cover you were going to discuss the differences in ale in public houses. Up north they tend to use sparklers which makes for a frothier taste whereas down south they tend to not use them which means it’s flatter.
I'm from the North myself, I will not try to be biased, I've been living in the US and Mexico for near ten years but come to back to visit and I bring American and Mexican friends with me - and they agree you get to see a more authentic British culture up North. London is fun from a historical tourist aspect but it's too multiculturally hectic and global. London looks British but it doesn't feel British anymore. To be fair most capital cities are like this now. I think to experience any foreign culture you have to get out and away from its capitol. My American friends where actually a little disappointed as they were expecting Mary Poppins clichés in London and what not. I think anyone coming to visit should definitely visit London maybe for a weekend but spend most your time up north in Liverpool for a more relaxed and authentic British experience.
I’m from the South and barring Scotland I’ve never been to the north
I don't think that is too uncommon. I'm from the North, and have lived in Barcelona for years now. I can count on one hand the number of English people living here that I have met from the North. Nearly every other English person you meet here is from the South. And it got me wandering why. After speaking to a lot of Southerners who have never been North or don't know anything about it, I realised that most people in Southern England would never dream of moving or visiting North, barring some kind of family connection. For them it's either go abroad or stay.
Midlanders are friendly too. 😊
Mark the real question - is which is better? 🤭
Starting the video off on the right foot! "talking about the North of England..." [insert B-Roll of Canada House] "...and the South of England..." [Liverpool Central] I just absolutely lost it and had to restart it again. lol
Hiya Mark, the North and South divide is defo there, I went to London and nobody wanted to talk to you, I went to Liverpool and I asked a Scouser, "where's John Lennon's ex house"? he gave me directions like you would never believe, plus I went to Ellenore Rigby's buriel plot, say Mark, the reason Arsenal and Chelsea have a quieter crowd is that loads of millionaires go to their games and have no real passion for football (aka soccer), I'm a Newcastle United supporter and we definitely have a very loud home (and away) crowd, this is Choppy in Whitehaven, Cumbria, England
If you're an introverted reclusive type London is ideal because of the lack of social interaction. I live in East Anglia and there's no way I would live in London or the south-east.
Chips and curry sauce = 😋
as a southerner i love riling up northerners it's so funny, just english banter hating on each other i think - doubt many english people have an actual hatred towards each other so be prepared to hear some jokes and don't take it to heart!!
Ahhh a soppy southerner 😂😂😂
Being from the South, A Bristol Native. I can assure you that the South West is a lot more Friendly than the South East.
How about the North vs South of France? 🤔
Northerners are way more friendly, have better banter, and don’t take themselves too seriously. ❤😅
No doubt about it, the North is best. We have by far the best countryside in the land, and its where I live!!
Not sure about there not being much difference between accents. So many southerners can't understand Scousers and Geordies!
Scotland
People from Southampton or Brighton speak different to people from Manchester and Liverpool and they're all English people.
The north are obsessed with saying how much better the north is but in the south we dont even think about the north lol
This is absolutely true.
Says it all really 😉
I have a friend who considers anything north of the M25 to be “the North”
I’m from London and this pretty accurate to be fair to Walter.
For things to do and variety London as a city is a million times better than the rest of the uk but the people atmosphere and cost of things are a million times better in the north of England.
And 100% the midlands is the worst place in England I think even people from Birmingham would agree.
North 🍻
The North has pretty scenery and the south has pretty towns. Given a choice, I will always choose something that isn’t man-made any day..
You’re forgetting the far West. In Cornwall, our towns are so grim that they had to film the ‘town scenes’ in the Cotswolds for the Poldark TV series - not warm and romantic enough for their sensibilities, but out scenery is incredible
the North is much cheaper....just go into a pub and order a pint and you will see immediately the difference in the price...another example, same chain of hotels, three nights in Hull cost less than one night in London and not speaking of central London, but suburb....
In south you can go to a pub and pay like 3 quid for a pint 👍
You're 100% correct. Coincidentally I've just booked a room in an Ibis in Hull for £35. I'd struggle to get half a dozen pints for that in London these days, even in a 'Spoons.
@@michaelscott7166....may be it is the same Ibis near the station where I stayed for £ 28 a night...and 3 nights at the Premier Inn Kingswood for a total of £ 99 ....then I moved to London, same Premier Inn chain, in Chiswick - so not central London where the prices are impossible - one night at £ 110
Many years ago I visited a friend in Manchester. Went to the pub, bought a round which was so cheap I asked the barman if he'd undercharged me.
At least everyone agrees, don't go to Hull!😂
Cheeky bath steward!😛
Alright mate, you've got your clicks, but at what cost?
As long as you're stirring the pot, wht is the best cheese for a Philly cheesesteak? 😉
Have a video for that too... and its cheese whiz of course
North are more down to earth, social people. South you have more to see.
Your first sentence is very debatable - is Manchester more friendly than Bristol? Not really.
Far too often Northerners say "the South" when they mean London.
Not sure I agree with either statement. The North has a lot of interesting sights and sites, often for less money than in The South. And honestly even if you visit for a year you still won't have enough time to visit every place of interest in either half of England. And then there's still Wales and Scotland to explore.
@@rodjones117 Manchester is definitely friendlier than Bristol.
@@daniel15yearsago66 Well, as a neutral, I haven't found that to be the case. We'll have to agree to differ.
In Birmingham, we stand independent we do things our way and enjoy life. Everything you need in one place 😂
In English cities, you will be surprised by the amount of every day people in the streets who don’t speak very good English at all as it isn’t their first language.
Lots of stereotypes here, maybe back in the 1980s what he says would have been correct, but not so much these days.
Weather in the south of England is also very dry and can be very hot in summer.
The North!👍👍👍 every time± No competition!
There's a custom everywhere in the country where as an outsider you go into a pub & offer to buy everyone a drink...OK, just the very old man ( not ageist: it just will be) next to you & the barman/ barwench, er..barperson.(?)...
You talked about football so what happened in 1966
The accents in the south of England are no more Queen's English (now King's English) than those in the north, you are wrong to think that a southern accent sounds like Queen's English this is not true. There are strong dialects and accents all over the UK.
Also the closer to Scotland you go the more of a Scottish lilt the accent a person has.
Anything past London is Northern to me😂
Brighton?
That less saucy chips is bullshit we can get loaded chips in the south and we also have gravy.