If you want to move to another country, the first step is to weigh all the pros and cons to make the right choice. Let’s talk about the advantages and disadvantages of the United Kingdom that every immigrant should consider.
The pros of living in the UK
High quality of life
The United Kingdom is in the top 5 most developed economies globally, which directly affects the population’s earning capacity, social security and provides a stable financial and political situation in society. The country offers many jobs for both young and established professionals. You can calmly and comfortably build your life, study and do business.
Education and Science
The UK is renowned for its universities and colleges with the highest quality teaching, well-equipped laboratories and research facilities. More than 11 universities from the top 100 are concentrated in this country. Getting an education in the UK is prestigious and beneficial if you are aiming to relocate.
Read more about immigration to the UK through education
Favourable conditions for doing business
The UK is recognised as one of the top ten countries for doing business. The government actively supports startups and has implemented several government programs that will help you build your dream company. Huge investments pour into Britain every year, and the state itself attracts investors and startups with one of the largest markets on the planet.
Read about immigration to the UK through business
Developed infrastructure
Every large city has well-developed infrastructure, from parks and squares and playgrounds to clean and tidy streets. Getting around the UK is easy with public transport. Buses, trams, trains and the metro are affordable. In some large cities, people do not drive because they simply do not see the need for it, it is so easy and affordable to use public transport. Of course, in small towns and villages, transport is not always at the same level as in large centres, but the overall picture in the country is very positive.
Location
The UK is close to continental Europe, making it a good starting point for travel. You can visit almost any European town within a few hours by plane.
Culture
The United Kingdom is the capital of European and has world culture in all areas (cinema, theatre, music, painting, literature, etc.). It is difficult to choose which of the greats to list, but surely all the names will be familiar to almost all of our readers: Shakespeare, Byron, Dickens, Arthur Conan Doyle, Agatha Christie, Lewis Carroll, George Orwell, J.K. Rowling, Jane Austen, Tolkien, Bronte and Bernard Shaw. Some of the most talented and famous actors were born and live in the UK, too: Benedict Cumberbatch, Orlando Bloom, Kate Beckinsale, Hugh Grant, Sean Connery, Jude Law, Keira Knightley and directors Guy Ritchie, Alfred Hitchcock, Christopher Nolan and many others. There are also famous musicians: The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath, Queen, The Sex Pistols, Depeche Mode, My Bloody Valentine, Muse, Prodigy, Coldplay and The Arctic Monkeys.
State social support
The United Kingdom is still a welfare state and primarily aim to maintain and improve residents’ quality of life, regardless of their capabilities. This means tax breaks, discounts and even sometimes full coverage of expenses in cases of illness, as well as support for families with children, for expensive medications or surgeries or permanent care needs, for a job loss, and many, many other social benefit programs.
Cons of living in the UK
High cost of living
If we talk about the UK as a whole, then in some regions of the country, the cost of living is quite affordable, especially in many villages and small towns. However, most people see London as their future home, and it is one of the most expensive cities to live in. As fewer and fewer people could afford to live in London, they began to move to nearby cities. This only worsened the situation, as the cost of living in areas adjacent to London, namely rent, began to rise sharply. It is worth noting that housing prices are high outside London, and the costs are especially high for families with preschool children.
Read more about the cost of living in the UK
Weather
Everyone has heard of the changing weather in the UK. It feels like rain and fog for half a year. If you are used to the sun, then the UK can be a challenge for you in terms of climate. Of course, the weather is different in different regions of the country. For example, Wales has more sunny days and less snow than Scotland, but the weather can still change quite quickly as you live on an island. The weather can be considered both a plus and a minus. Some won’t mind the weather, but someone else might want to sledge and sunbathe on the beach. Fortunately, the British can afford to pay for this in other countries. Weather is often worse in Scotland and Northern Ireland and better in England and Wales.
Read more about the UK climate
Massive traffic jams
This mainly applies to England, because the country itself is small with old, narrow roads. A large number of people in cities means a lot of cars. If you decide to drive a private car in England, be aware of traffic jams. Sometimes walking can be much faster
Competition in the market
Despite a dynamic labour market and a large number of players offering a large number of jobs, there remains strong competition between job seekers in some industries. Sometimes only a highly qualified specialist with good education and work experience can receive a high salary and a good benefit package . It is worth noting that, in general, throughout the UK, there is a very low unemployment rate, also thanks to the availability of the European labour force. However, with the exit from the European Union (which is also generally a disadvantage for the UK), the situation in the labour market has changed as EU citizens now need visas to work in the UK. This led to a change in immigration policy regarding work visas, and it is now easier for a foreigner to obtain a work visa and find a job in the UK.
Strict visa regulations
The UK is a popular destination for immigration, so the government maintains strict rules for applying for visas and closely monitors who it admits, controlling the flow of immigration.
The UK left the European Union
This also pushed some businesses and people out of the country, which forced the government to lower immigration requests for those who want to come to work. The question of society’s tolerance and English snobbery arises from those who know little about United Kingdom. Despite the sad outcome of the vote, the overwhelming majority of big cities and educated Britons voted to retain EU membership. This is due to the fact that these people have been studying and working for a long time in international society. Foreigners and immigrants from other countries can also easily become British. This is the UK’s advantage over other European countries.
Healthcare
Medicine is both a plus and a minus. On the one hand, everything is very advanced and of the highest quality. On the other hand, there are nightmarish queues if you suddenly need the help of a specialist, even if you have money.
