The reason why the food here in the UK has this myth of being bad is because during WW2 a lot of US GIs were stationed here in the UK and what you have to remember is that at the time the UK was under German U boat blockade so shipping in food was very difficult and so food was severely rationed and even the rationed foods were of limited range. Many people here did not see an orange or banana in almost six years of war. This also meant things like each adult being limited to one egg per week. Therefore many dishes we now eat would not have been possible during that time and the most had to be made out of what food was available. This made many meals bland. The US GIs saw and experienced this whilst stationed here in the UK and upon returning to the US after the war they told all their families and friends of the bland food the UK had whilst they were there. This long lasting opinion has been handed down from generation to generation of US people and that is why this fallacy still exists today.

You seriously need to get your hands on a UK TV channel called "Challenge TV" it's 24/7 British Game show re-runs from 1980s onward. Loads of what you call Family Feud and even Wheel of Fortune and The Price is right etc. You'd never switch it off!!!

Enjoying your videos, have you released your video of Edinburgh ? (thank you for pronouncing it correctly, a rerety among Americans) look forward to the next episode.

Tipping is the norm but only if you feel the service was ok or better. You wouldn't normally tip in a pub, unless you've had a proper meal there. Tipping in, non fast food, restaurants and cafes is the norm. The only time you wouldn't is if the service was poor. Tipping delivery people is widespread, as long as it was on time etc. but you don't have to. Taxi drivers are nearly always tipped though, once again, only if you feel the service was good and they haven't ripped you off. That's pretty much it... The amount you tip, depends on quality of service but is usually around 10%, though anywhere between 5% and 15% is perfectly acceptable. Don't feel bad if you don't tip, or tip low. People in service jobs aren't reliant upon tips to survive and plenty of people don't tip. The minimum wage is much higher than in the US and applies to all jobs, including wating tables. Even then, minimum wage workers can access benefits such as tax credits and they don't need to worry about healthcare costs. I'm not saying that things are ideal for low paid workers here but they get paid a lot more than in the States and have more additional support available. Also, many service positions aren't minimum wage to begin with. :)

I only tip at a restaurant that is it.

Well said mate.

So true. That was the only time a large number of Americans travelled abroad (and thank you, boys) so the reports from then have become ingrained with not too much to contradict them

That's right: twice, in the last century, our "European Friends" tried to starve us into submission; my parents carry a subliminal memory and that contributes to the slight mistrust of the developing European Super-State/Reich.

@@danielw5850 And don’t get me started on the impression the quarter of the world we starved out have of us right. Ireland anyone?

@@henghistbluetooth7882 there's always one 🙄

@@cleobarr1723 For me it's mostly their pricing structure, A simple gents haircut is normally priced at £9 so i always just give them a tenner and say "Oh no bother about the change"

People I want to tip most, call centre staff.

I’ve never tipped at barbers

Nail on the head.

Thank you so much! ❤

Defo agree, lovely couple and welcome here anytime. Infact, lets make Cara and Jeremy honorary Brits ! These are the kind of people we want in our country, just fab !!

Yes! Thanks!

There's a Pointless board game too!

You can play Pointless on Alexa here too!

@@TheMagicGeekdom and the other one with plinko is called Tipping Point

I'm not much of a fan of Tipping Point. But I do like Pointless and The Chase. Talking about chat shows. Have you ever saw any of The Graham Norton show? He's a great talk show host. He's very funny and gets his guests ro relax and they open up. But he's so popular he can see to bag any celeb. Not just British ones but big stars like Robert Deniro and Tom Cruise. There are plenty of funny and interesting clips on KZfaq.

Glad you like this little island 👍🏻 it’s so beautiful!

Quality of life is better and the pace is slower where people matter more than profit.

Thats nice for you. When Scotland leaves the "union" and puts up a border with England (paid for by Scotland only), you will be able to have a new passport and say you are European/Scottish/American. A triple play! As for us in England...we are very, very, happy with our independence and will stay as we are. Wishing you well

Really? Mmm interesting

@@flashtheoriginal Stfu. smh. No one asked you anything about independence.

Yes that's what we loved about it. Thanks!

Sander and Richard have such a great relationship. It is a shame he is leaving the programme.

Xander

If in doubt, go for Central African Republic. Or Peter Withe, who was a pointless answer in two completely different categories.

I love pointless Celebrities...... ......because most of them are...😄😄

I think it"s generally accepted that there are two main sources for the food myth.One is worthy of debate, one is hard to dismiss. In 1066 England was invaded by the Normans they took over the country and held all the castles and land - and with the land came the animals that were on it. Which is why meat in the UK is named the way it is - the peasants fed the pigs, but when they were taken to the French run castles to be served, their cooks served it as "porc" and cows were served as "boeuf" etc. There is a belief that the standard of British meats, poultry etc was much higher than they were in France. - this bears out geographically, England is cooler and wetter than France, which leads to lusher pastures etc. Even within the UK, highland cattle are admired above cattle raised further south in England. The claimed result of this disparity, is that the English served their food plain, allowing it to be enjoyed for its quality, while the French slathered everything they ate in elaborate sauces, intended to enhance lower quality. - that will always be a slightly contentious argument. The second big wave of "visitors" to the UK was in the early mid forties. When tens of thousands of US servicemen were stationed, first as airmen, and later as part of the force to invade Europe. A small island, completely cut off from Europe - and partially from the US - the UK had been on rationing for a few years before the invasion forces arrived. The British were severely rationed - a google search will show you how much people were subsisting on at various points in the war. Maybe an ounce or two of meat a week - if it was available, the same for butter, eggs were powdered.Milk was condensed. Coffee could be cut with or exchanged for drinks made with ground acorns. Government pamphlets showed people how to cook stinging nettles or dandelions. I dont think Americans who were at home had a clue about the conditions people lived in during the war. The rationing continued into the 1950s, obviously things like spices or tropical produce were not regarded as important imports for a country trying to rebuild, may kids born in or just before the war had never seen an range or banana until the mid fifties. The Americans stationed in the UK had their food flown in from the US and ate well in their messes. When they were invited for tea or dinner at an English family home, to feed them, that family had to share their extremely meagre and bland rations even further. Those that went home after the war, remembered the poor food they were served and that they saw the British eat, and that's what they perceived to be how people always ate there.

@@adrianadrian255 I agree about the spices on meat - if you have a great quality steak it needs absolutely nothing on it. Heavy flavours also hide food that is going off

Probably during / after the war. Things were scarce for a very long time and people got used to making very cheap food. Beans on toast etc But now we have everything from all over the world and chefs and restaurants from all corners of the world too.

I agree, it's largely a legacy of rationing when GIs were in the UK and saw the very basic and grey food. With the need to import calories, things such as spices were not included in the shipments. Prior to WW1 and to some extend interwar, spicy food was common in Britain with lots of influence from India.

Even if you dislike the meals in the UK, you at least know most of it is real food. I'll take a stale and boring boiled stew over literal plastic food any day.

@James Dungar ..... one reason - RATIONING IN WW2

I live in England too and been to the USA 14 times,I don,t understand why Americans think out food is disgusting.A lot of them told me this.

It’s shit Uk food is dead and underseasoned

Bakewell Pudding is a treat of a thing, that tastes a _lot_ better than it looks.

As a Derbyshire Dales man born and bred in a village between Buxton and Bakewell, I can only agree. God's very own country.

Agreed- Chatsworth would a dream for Americans

@@MareSerenitis The Bakewell Tart is also good. I'd happily have both with custard! :)

Oooh don't forget matlock if your interested in your motorbikes, fish and chips and country hikes

Also tip a taxi driver!

@@bowbooks5659 no no out taxis are expensive enough

You can choose to tip at the bar or if you employ a baby/dog sitters generally workers do not need tips to make up a living wage and they get access to health care irrespective of the amount of tax they pay, but as a lot of wait staff are part time students we can tip for really good service. Check your bill though a service charge may be included. If I tip I try to do it in cash by leaving on the table when I pay card or add/deduct from the change. Never click or snap your fingers at wait staff,,,, it is very rude either artfully catch your waiters eye or go to them and request it, Glad you enjoyed your stay.

It's usual to tip your hairdresser or barber, in taxis maybe round up the fare, restaurants yes, a small tip is customary. But in generally, tipping is a gratuity rather than an obligation.

Tipping is never required, but in some places some people do, usually in a restaurant when settling a bill, and just leave what you want really. I don’t tip in any other situation although my husband will tip a taxi driver a few pounds

Thank you!

Don't worry about tipping in Britain. Because we don't. It's not a big deal. Do what you want there's no right or wrong way of doing it.

a joy to watch!

Also we don’t usually tip here, well it isn’t required anywhere anyway. We sometimes tip at restaurants if a waiter/waitress does a good job but that’s about it really!

Thank you so much!!

We don’t tip in the uk I mean if you like too but we Typically don’t

If you do decide to go to one of these events they are often big compared to the town or area. That means accommodation gets booked up early and you might find that you can get nothing local at all. By local that can be within 20-30 miles. Hotels and Air B n B's will be fully booked months before the event.

The David Buoy meme makes so much more sense now. 😂

Hahaha! Indeed, it's like how do Americans pronounce "Buoyancy"??? All love........xxooxx

Always makes me chuckle when I hear Americans say "boo-ey"! So funny!

I've always pronounced it Med-evil. I don't know anyone that pronounces it Meddy-evil. Not even heard it on telly from what I can recall. How does Tony Robinson pronounce it? 😂 I'm from Devon and my Parents are from up north and they pronounce it the same as me. I don't know if it's an accent thing? Is that how it's supposed to be pronounced? So strange.

Strictly speaking, it's mediaeval. Either way, there's quite visibly 3 syllables there.

@@roxyleighsmith6601 Same as you med-evil and I'm up north - Leeds :)

@@roxyleighsmith6601 I'm English born and bred in East Anglia, and I've yet to hear medieval pronounced e evil. It's clearly e val at the end.

To add to the sample size, I’m from East Anglia and here mediaeval is pronounced “meddy-evil”.

Thank you! 🥰

I love that you recommended the Beamish! Just went there myself… And it’s amazing!!

I'm going to my brother's wedding at Beamish Hall in January next year and it looks so lovely I can't wait!

They did visit Beamish while they were here, might be in an upcoming video. Their friends who they were with in Whitby posted a video of the day already (I think their channel is called vlog on the Tyne)

@@MagentaOtterTravels there’s a lot of living museums dotted around the UK, the one closest to me would be the Weald and Downland museum where they film the repair shop

when I was working in Toronto about 10 years ago I was watching a Newcastle Brown ad on tv and it was set at the pit head in Beamish... I "worked" there aged 11 in 1976, picking litter and directing cars and was paid in broken rock!

That’s exactly what we do! We live in Gloucestershire during the summers and Texas the rest of the year. We both lived in the SF Bay Area earlier in our lives.👍

And you’d be very welcome but come to Northumberland it’s inspiring

We are planning to visit the UK in September. We are coming from the Sacramento valley area in California and looking forward to green surrounds and cooler temps. Everything here is dead, dry and brown by June plus temps that routinely is in the 100s. In summer we actually celebrate when the temp dips below 100. I wonder if non UK citizens can buy houses in the UK.

@@Sillyrequirements Is it just me or is California turning more brown and hotter in the last many years? Actually I was surprised how relatively dry and hot it was in the UK just last week (104F in London). If you are visiting places like Cornwall in the south it would be awesome when it’s warm, not so when you’re in London. It may be cloudy and look cool but it traps the heat and without any breeze it can feel quite warm. However other than slight brown fields everything is waaay more green and lush. I have no doubt you’ll enjoy the scenery. It’s possible to buy but I’m looking a way to buy without jeopardizing the chance for locals to own. I might go the route of Magenta Otter and buy to live there a few months in the year. I’d like to contribute to the local community when I am there.

I have recently moved “Up country” from St.Ives in Cornwall, partly due to my children leaving the Duchy in order to have full time jobs at more than minimum wage, and partly because of the weather. 2022 was exceptionally dry, the countryside is very green for a reason - continual rain on the westerly wind from the North Atlantic Ocean. There is a famous Victorian painting in the Penlee gallery in Penzance - it’s called “The rain it raineth every day”. It’s no exaggeration. Please do not expect 2022 weather more than once in a generation. Bring a good waterproof coat.

When you say keep the change that in itself is a tip.

Lived in Cornwall since ‘97 and STILL miss pie,mash n liquor. Best one,and I’ve been to plenty,is Harringtons in tooting,sth London. Jellied eels not for me but stewed eels? Pukka mate.

Never tip in pubs is the rule of course. But I've suddenly noticed (in the last few weeks), paying by card on one of those touch/swipe machines, that it now gives the yes/no options to add a tip. The bar staff seem to be embarrassed by it, and usually click on 'no' before holding out the machine for you to touch your card to it.😃

Tipping in a pub in liverpool is common. The bar staff will stick around 50p in a jar if u say take your own. They split at the end of the night to bump up their wage a bit

This is a great explanation

English person in the UK here also, Most of this matches with how I do things but I do think you should tip at pubs/bars, especially if you're there for a few. Doesn't have to be money, you can buy your bartender a drink and they'll appreciate it.

I've only ever tipped in restaurants n only like two pounds more than the cost of the meal. Most people I'm with never tip.

@@vocalwithlife I barely ever tip, only if it was exceptional service tbh.

I think geography, history, agriculture and "sport" have meant that the British have never broken their relationship with dogs? Sheep are not common in most of North America, few people in the UK live more than a couple of miles from farms that manage their sheep with border collies. My stepdad was into shooting. Which meant he always had labradors for retrieving and spaniels for putting the birds up. My maternal grandparents came from the north, where nearly every adult male had a whippet or a Jack Russell as a companion and to do a bit of rabbiting with. Farms would normally have a Jack Russell around too, to deal with the rats in the barns etc. My sister had a farm, she always had Lurchers - partly as pets, but also to control the rabbit population. My paternal grandfather was a customs officer, he had a succession of spaniels at home, but at work there would be all sorts of dogs for detecting illicit goods and substances.When I lived in the UK there used to be a show on Sunday evenings "one man and his dog" - it was just televised sheepdog trials - something every county or village fair had too. There are other cultures that have dogs around in some capacity or another, I think the British especially, have never had a period where dogs haven't been an integral part of so many peoples lives. - recently on KZfaq there seems to be a movement of people who want to get out of the cities and live on a smallholding, raise some chickens and a few goats. They are all very keen on the concept of "guardian animals" instead of the usual US techniques of electric fencing etc. To them this is a new and exciting adventure, but the concept of guardian animals has been standard practice all over Europe for centuries.

The Italians are even better. Dogs Sitting on benches whilst their owners sat next to them whilst eating out in Positano seems the norm.

Dogs are so welcome here and many pubs will have doggy treats on the bar.

10% Annie, I don't think so. The uk has no specifics to tipping, you just leave what/if you want

@@louisaL1980 Certainly what everyone I know always done!!🥴

10% is not typical, sorry. 5% would be generous, it's normally just rounding up. The bill is £37.80, pay £40. That said I have travelled to USA and know all about their tipping levels. Plus two of my daughters worked as waitresses. So we tip between 5-10% and it is massively appreciated. Perhaps someone who works in a restaurant could comment?

@@nickoakley8465 Really, 5%? Dunno where you live in the UK, but the standard is 10% of the bill, always has been.

@@nickoakley8465 I and everyone I know, just rounds it up, like you said.

I'm afraid its a design to prevent drug users getting privacy to shoot up..... ......in the UK, while the cubical is private, the light above it tends to be a sickly pink/UV which allegedly prevents those trying to hit up intravenously from seeing where their viens are....🤷‍♂️

yeah gets a bum rap but I love Hull... you didn't mention the bogs in the city centre beautiful

I'm the same as you except in reverse. I live in the US but my parents are from Scotland & family still live there I've gone over all my life & still do. I see what you like about here as the things I like about there. Nothing makes me happier than landing at Glasgow. Their videos cheer me up but make me homesick in a good way.

They seem to really struggle with Worcestershire also😅

Hairdressers and Gravediggers too.

Thank you! We've a lot wrong in the US too. I think it's starting to get a bit better. You've got to take some small escapes when you can though.

Thank you!

Thank you!

@@TheMagicGeekdom You’re very welcome 😉

Agreed, which I think is a fairly common European approach

It's because it's pretty bland ...spices are not very well used .

@@juliecobbina2024 That's just not true, you can get decent well spiced food in basically every town

I think the UK is the curry Capital. All sorts of different curries available in a small area, curries from Yorkshire, Bengali, Gujarati, Hyderabadi, Malaysian, Indonesian, Thai, etc etc…food in London is flippin amazing at reasonable prices.

I don't think it's just your theory, I've read in a number of sources that our culinary reputation in the US stems from GIs returning to the US from a UK that was still under strict rationing. I don't think anyone would argue that back then our food was pretty grim, but understandably so.

There was always good regional food in Britain. Food in public settings like railway and motorway service stations, cafés, canteens and pubs, reached a new low in the second half of the C20th. There was a pushback by TV chefs and organisations like the Campaign for Real Ale, and today British food is generally okay to good, and delicious if you know where to go. A lot of authentic British cooking was seafood based.

I wonder if that is even a left over Dr Who Tardis prop made for the US location shoots in the episodes "The Impossible Astronaut" - "Day of the Moon" and "A Town Called Mercy".

That's it! Thanks!

Us English just gauge it individually. Automatic tipping will cause embarrassment,it’s so unnecessary. It takes time for visitors to our shores to learn the correct etiquette.

Agreed, Avebury is a great day out. Don't forget the spooky children's series Children of the Stones was filmed there.

@@icelara5972 you're right, I forgot about that, possibly one of the scariest children's series made

Thanks for watching!

Haha thank you! We wish you could grant us dual citizenship too. 😂

@@TheMagicGeekdom Also to add in the UK we tend to only 'tip' when required, it's not an obligation. An example over the past 6 months I've given a tip 3 times. Twice when a really helpful Taxi Drivers has helped me with my luggage and yesterday when a family lunch booking was exceptional. I think a lot has to be considered when comparing the wages between the UK and USA. In the UK we pay our 'lower paid' employees a lot higher than the US, plus we give them employment benefits, whereas in the US they don't have them.

Thank you!

Good to know. Thanks!

@@TheMagicGeekdom- My issue is with nonsensical American pronunciation like the word BUOY ! (As in an anchored float, navigation mark in the sea, showing or warning about reefs, hidden wrecks etc. or for mooring boats and similar). In the UK we would say (pronounce) it as 'BOY'. In America they say 'BOO-EE'... DUH! - WHY? That makes no sense whatsoever... Especially as it's just the shortened word of BUOYANT (thus buoyancy, or having the ability to float). I have never understood that one - Can anyone please explain the logic ?

@@stewedfishproductions7959 lol 😂 you mean booie! Aluminium, rather than allyminyum, tire instead of tyre….we could go on….🤦‍♂️👍🤣

Agreed. You might also like to visit Birmingham next time. As I write, the Commonwealth Games are taking place here (athletes, including para athletes) from 72 nations taking part. It has many attractions, a lot of history, more canals than Venice, links to JRR Tolkien etc etc. Well worth adding to a future itinerary. And I could take you to some fabulous eateries too! Oh and tipping is, as others have said, generally reserved for restaurants (put not pubs strangely), and tour guides. Since Covid some restaurants have started adding a 10% service charge, so need to check, but it was always a discretion thing before. Personally I almost always tip as (like both of my kids) those who work in food get a minimum wage, but need tips to live a better life.

Bristol is amazing. Definitely worth spending some time there. So many eclectic places.

As is Creme Brûlée.

To be correct it is spelt Banoffi pie although most people spell it wrong. Why would you be surprised? We have the best puddings in the world.