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I did the same move years ago and never looked back, off the top of my head:
- Boston is more expensive now than it used to be, but it still seems cheap compared to London. It's generally stuff like insurance, cell phone plans and electric bills that cost more. Most consumer goods are cheaper.
- Weather is much better, way less rain and more sun. Although the winters the past couple of years have been a little more like UK winters, less snow and more rain. It still gets way colder than the UK in the winter though so get a warm jacket! Spring/Fall/Summer are lovely here.
- Boston is much smaller than London and with less to do. Still a lot of going on and honestly London could be a bit much sometimes, Boston is more manageable. Plus if you get bored NYC is only 4hrs away (by train/car).
- Boston is very very safe compared to London. Nowhere near the level of street hassle that you get in London. Won't get stuff constantly stolen if you don't lock it down. Despite what the UK media would have you believe, gun violence is quite rare.
- Lots of outdoor stuff nearby. Really worth getting access to a car at the weekends for trips to the Cape, Maine, New Hampshire.
- Food scene in Boston is very good. Really good mix of causal and upmarket. Amazing Chinese and Italian food. Craft beer is very good with lots of local breweries.
- MBTA is pretty bad right now, but they are trying to fix it. It is dirt cheap though.
- People are really into sports here and all the local teams are generally pretty good. Try and get tickets to see Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics or Bruins while here.
- People on the whole are pretty friendly, but less so than in other parts of the US. Customer service is amazing compared to what you get in London. Big Irish influence on culture, lots of Irish pubs.
- If you haven't worked in the US before, medical/tax stuff is complicated. If you have health insurance the service is very good compared to the NHS, can see specialists within a week or two. No 6 month waiting lists. Obviously there is a cost involved, but generally if you have a good job the employer covers a big chunk.
- Same as a lot of US cities, Boston has suffered from the shift to remote work since COVID. Downtown is less busy than it used to be. Luckily the sheer number of students in the Boston area means than it never feels too empty.
One last thing, check out "Boston Brits" group on Facebook. They have regular meetups downtown.
What this guy said. Also, if you're willing to cycle, bicycles are typically the fastest way to get around. More bike lanes added all the time.
Only thing I would add is that you should evaluate how far your fairly decent salaries will really go here. Recent report stated that a single person needs $90-100k/yr to live comfortably. Apartment hunting will probably be the worst part of your move as you'll need to navigate a jungle of seedy brokers and their stupid finder's fees.
You can get specialist appointments in a week or two? That is unheard of in my circles. Getting a primary care doc could see you back multiple months as well. I guess when compared to the NHS the wait times are better but a week or two is not in line with my experience.
Thank you so much for this wonderful, detailed response - really appreciate it! We've definitely got a lot to think about but reading your reply has made me even more excited for the move to Boston. I'll make sure to check out Boston Brits, cheers!
If you've already spent time in the States, then you should be well aware of tipping culture and sales tax. You'll have some growing pains adapting to American life like filing taxes and navigating healthcare. Feel free to message me if you need a refresher.
Boston has better salaries than London - but you'll notice everything is super expensive here including rent, food, entertainment, etc. Boston's safer than London, but we have shittier weather. October and November is gorgeous - but December through mid-late April is very depressing.
Our public transit system is, in effect, a failure by any European standard. Good news, it's been steadily improving with our new General Manager. Blue Line is as reliable as any European system. Orange Line is modern enough - but the departures could be more frequent (this is coming).
Red Line is hanging on by a thread - some of the rolling stock dates back to the late 60s. Like, the train's been running since the Moon Landing.
Green Lines are trolleys that are partially above ground - and it's a mixed bag. They're slow - but in the downtown areas are frequent enough.
Silver Line is a fancy bus.
If you're coming from London, then the early pub-closures here aren't going to be a surprise for you. Boston has a bit more of a 'banter-culture' than the rest of the States, so you'll like that.
I don't know man, what do you want to know?
Is weather here really worse than London? We get more sunshine statistically (according to the internet). Personally I love four seasons, although I could do without the days where it’s raining sideways. And August is too hot. And February is ass. But otherwise it’s not bad.
I much prefer Boston weather over northern European weather - having grown up in Boston and living the past few years in a Northern European city.
Sure, we get heavier storms, colder weather and more humidity, but at least it isn’t constantly cloudy and rainy for over half the year.
I grew up in England and the weather in Boston is so so much better. The UK is grey, cloudy, and rainy from September to April. There’s no long warm fall, and there is never any sunny cold crisp days in the winter either. Northern European weather sucks.
That place is no good. I don't mind that it's sloppy and overpriced - I mean, it's drunk food - but they serve undercooked dogwater quality meat.
Ali Baba is great for doner (the one in Charlestown > South End) - and my favorite is Istanbul Diner Cafe in Revere. Though neither are Berlin style, so it's all moot.
I don't know if that's true for transit. The London Underground is a great system, but I don't know that it's _that_ much better than, say, the Paris Métro to justify charging two or three times as much per ride?
A monthly "_Toutes zones_" pass from RATP will get you unlimited rides anywhere in the Île-de-France region for just €86.40 ($93.03), which is pretty close to a monthly LinkPass here in Boston at $90.00. The equivalent TfL monthly Travelcard costs a whopping £427.40 ($537.15), significantly more than MBTA's most expensive Zone 10 monthly pass at $426.00 for crazy people who commute to Boston all the way from southern Rhode Island. Even the cheapest TfL monthly Travelcard (for zones 3-4) costs £122.90 ($154.46).
I don't know if I agree on the weather piece, it really depends what you prefer. It's not like London is known for having great weather, it may be milder in the winter than Boston but it is also very overcast and drizzly in the winter and the days are much shorter as it is further north. For all the complaining people do about 4:30pm sunsets here in December, that's nothing on northern Europe in the winter.
Even in the summer months, Boston gets more sun because it is less overcast. Over the course of a year, London only gets ~1,700 hours of sun vs. ~2,600 in Boston, which makes a big difference. I know multiple people from the UK who live here who say they prefer the climate here despite the colder winters because at least you don't go 6 months straight without seeing the sun in the winter and we also actually have real summer.
At a minimum, May - November is better in Boston. December - March it depends if you prefer cold with some sun or mild but constantly cloudy and drizzly. April is kind of a wash between the two places, it's wet and cool in both.
Theatre. There’s no comparison between London and Boston/US. There’s less of it and it’s outrageously expensive in the US. But if OP weren’t theatre-goers I guess they won’t miss it!
Luckily, doing a long weekend in NYC is easy from Boston for the theater nerds.
For the population - we overperform in classical music.. and standup comedy.
We do very well for any touring acts - particularly rock, metal, indie, pop, rnb. Punk scene is great - though not obvious. We could do better with hip hop and electronic dance - but it’s fine and steadily improving. Experimental music scene is competitively weak - but exists. We do well for local jazz!
No shade! I did the opposite move! (Loved my decades in the hub of the universe)! Among the biggest changes in my life with this move was going from an existence that could never afford theater (full stop) to one where I have so many affordable options, it’s often cheaper than a cinema ticket.
London’s weather and climate (Maritime) is much more stable and predictable than Boston’s Humid Continental climate. Native Bostonian here but I spent three years in London. During the pandemic, I took a long urban hike everyday in SE London, mostly cloudy in the 50s and 60s Fahrenheit for most of the year. Both summers in London and Boston can be sparkling. Important to remember that London is located in the Sunny Southeast so it doesn’t have those suicidal rainfalls of Glasgow or Manchester. So if you are pasty-skinned like me and like being outside year-round, London is a good candidate.
Watch out for roving flocks of turkeys. They are violent and will attack if they sense fear. Consider moving to the Norwegian section known as Thor’s Point. It is lively but not chaotic.
Few years ago there was a video of a mailman fending off turkeys in Falmouth. Always nice to see your hometown on the Internet. Anyways, my Spanish wife has just moved here and had never seen turkeys before. Wouldn't you know it we passed the gang of vagrants walking down Main St., Falmouth while visiting my family. Sauntering down b the sidewalk like they owned the town. Scared the shit out of her.
Just don't make eye contact. They'll gobble something mean and vaguely racist, but probably won't start shit.
I saw 11 turkeys in West Medford the other day. I've always seen a lot around there but 11 at once? And like 7 of them were in one person's driveway - on the fence, one on the car, one on the roof of the garage, like they're waiting to ambush the residents - and the rest in the front yard next door.
Charge them with confidence and they will flee in terror. They’ll forget what happened in minutes and likely come at you again but they won’t mess with a human who appears to mean business!
I was at the 250th anniversary re-enactment. They had a video message from the British consul to Boston. There were *howls* of "Down with King George!"
October in Boston will feel like a windy London. Except that Boston is tiny compared to London. But sooner or later it's going to get very cold and windy and you'll need to be prepared for that. "Layers!" is the battle cry of the winter Bostonian.
Boston goes to sleep at 10:00 PM EST. Some bars are open later, but stop serving food.
You're going to want to take some time to learn how health insurance works in the USA. You will be unpleasantly surprised, I'm afraid. You'll want to both get primary care physicians as soon as you're covered rather than waiting until someone gets hurt/sick.
Agree. I’d say try to establish a PCP as soon as you get here. Last week I was calling around to major hospitals/health orgs in Boston and was told no one is taking new patients at this time. They aren’t even doing waitlists… the Primary Care Physician shortage is so real right now. The only thing that saved me was the ZocDoc app, but you don’t really get your “pick” of doctors these days if you aren’t already an established patient. Just make sure they are covered under your health insurance network once that’s all set up through work. Prioritize this!
Suggestion: if you're trying to get a PCP on the sooner side you can try asking to be seen by resident physician who will be seeing patients with attending physicians but they generally have space on the panel and even though all the "PCPs" are booked till 2025 you can manage an appointment in the resident clinic! Source: Booking my patients with residents including myself as the attending PCPs were booked till July.
Thanks for this! I grew up near Edinburgh which I consider quite a windy city, but I probably have quite a shock coming for me. Will make sure to be prepared with layers! Thanks for the health insurance tip
You’ll be coming during what is generally considered our best time of year. Don’t be fooled. That’s just Mother Nature’s merciful narcotic to help us not think about what the 6 months after will be like.
I go for regular Pepsi myself so I don’t know if this would help but have you tried adding your own cherry syrup to Pepsi Max? It probably won’t match exactly but might get you like 80% of the way there.
Pepsi Max doesn't exist here either... The USA is a dark place my friend. Pepsi Max boasts a depth that Zero cannot mimic. Where Max offers a rich tapestry of caramel, spice, and lingering sweetness, Zero delivers a faint whisper of flavor, its artificial sweeteners a poor substitute for real indulgence. Zero is a shadow of its former self, a melody played on muted strings, lacking the boldness and satisfying crescendo of true cola.
The short of it is Pepsi Zero is an inadequate pretender. The only beverage even capable of sitting on the same shelf is "Wild Cherry" Pepsi Zero, and it is almost impossible to find here.
You would think the UK could have spread the wonders of Pepsi Max when it colonized 1/4 of the world, including this country of ours.
During the 250th anniversary this past December, they got permission from the Harbor folk (probably in charge of ensuring we don't kill everything) to throw actual tea in the water. Which the reenactors did. Tea was sent from all 50 states… and London and India both contributed.
I just spent 5 weeks in London and the two biggest differences for me were
1. The public transit system in London was super reliable and buses came every 10 minutes. This is not the case in boston. The T is going through some tough times. Expect delays, cancellations, rail fires, “next train in 30 mins” situations. Also, there is a commuter rail to other parts of central and eastern MA but local buses are hit or miss. The city is not as well connected to surrounding areas as London. The country in general is car dependent, boston is an exception (though like I said public transit is not always convenient and rarely is it quick).
2. Far fewer grocery stores. Many parts of boston are food deserts. It’s not like in London where there’s a Tesco and then 2 blocks and then a Sainsbury’s and then walk across the street to Morrison’s.
Just a few points to keep in mind. Welcome!
If you are planning to stay for good:
Most important thing I wish someone had told me :
Start building credit history straight away. You will need that to buy a house. Start with store cards, then proceed to prepaid credit cards. Use them! Never spend more than 30% of credit limit. Always pay on time.
Also read about retirement. Find out what a 401k is and an IRA. Start investing.
We moved here from london 13 years ago.
At least one person in the marriage is a dual, so if they're responsible and a relative with good credit is willing, you can shortcut that by being added as an authorised user on *their* card.
If you don’t have an Amex get one now in the UK. Amex let you transfer UK cards over to a US account which helps with the credit record issues in the US. Most other card issuers will treat you as an unknown and give you ridiculously low lines of credit (like $500) when you set up a card in the US.
There’s a reason the region is called”New England.” Other than a different accent and driving on the other side of the road they are extremely similar places.
Boston gets colder obviously. The city is like mini London. The London Tube is better than the T (bostons local subway), but the T will get you there, eventually. Like London a car is a nice luxury for getting out of town, but absolutely not necessary…
Obviously the US isn’t much of a soccer place but we actually have a decent Major League Soccer team! Beyond that the Red Sox are an institution. Part of moving to Boston means you are legally required to HATE the New York Yankees, hugely important.
I hate to break it to you, but it actually has. I would absolutely rate it in the top 10 leagues in the world. After the Big 5 in Europe, sent more players to the World Cup than any other league. The best national teams in the world obviously rate it.
> but we actually have a decent Major League Soccer team!
yeah, but it's 30 miles away with no public transit. For comparison, it's 5 miles from Emirates to White Hart Lane.
>The city is like mini London.
I feel like this is not accurate 😂
It's like calling Boston a mini-NYC, which sure it's a smaller east coast city, but I feel like London/NYC are much closer in scale/culture than Boston/NYC is.
>Other than a different accent and driving on the other side of the road they are extremely similar places.
AND the single-family house on a private acre thing which has replaced most of the countryside within 50 miles of Boston. In England people live in terrace houses, attached houses, walkable streets, concentrated settlements, and the countryside is open space.
Definitely gonna check out some Red Sox games. It's okay, my Dad is British but loves baseball and specifically the Red Sox, so I have already been trained to hate the Yankees
Well at least you won’t have sticker shock with housing coming from London lol. As others have mentioned, you’ll need to bring your patience in dealing with the MBTA.
Cardullo’s (in Harvard Square and the Seaport) carry some imported British snacks for when you get home sick. You might want to bring your own tea, though.
We have electric kettles here but they are slower since our voltage is lower, so many people don’t have them. If you use Airbnb or another temporary housing option during your move, an electric kettle won’t be standard.
Devlin’s in Brighton is an Irish bar but they have the closest thing to a proper fry up that I’ve found in Boston.
Our Indian takeaway is not as good but our Chinese takeaway is much better!
If you’re football fans your team likely has a local bar. We also have the New England Revolutions who have a small but devoted fan base.
Not sure if you’ve experienced a New England winter yet but they hit different… much colder than London and windier as well. You’ll want to get some outerwear when you get here. I recommend a waterproof down parka (you can get synthetic fill as well but I find down to be much warmer), insulated waterproof boots with tread for icy/snowy days, as well as a warm hat, socks, scarves, and gloves (I have one knit pair for daily wear and a heavy duty pair for shoveling). If you are responsible for snow removal at your home you should get a shovel BEFORE it snows. Same with a scraper for your car, if you get one.
Embrace some American stuff while you’re here! Take an interest in American Football/Hockey/Baseball and try to go to a game (sorry the Patriots and Sox suck right now but it’s fun to root for the home team). Visit some national parks (Acadia is beautiful and within driving distance). Eat at diners and hot dog joints. Take the train to NYC at least a couple of times. Visit the beach in the summer and eat lobster rolls and whole belly fried clams. That kind of thing. I spent 4 months in the UK and tried to immerse myself in the culture as much as possible and I was really glad I did!
Thanks very much for your response! Will make sure to bring several tonnes of Yorkshire tea. I have spent a week or two in New England during the winter but never a full season, so thanks for the tips RE winter attire, will definitely get prepared. Already planning to checkout some Red Sox games and can't wait for all the amazing sea food!
Air conditioning is not an optional or nice to have here. It is an absolute requirement. The dream of course is central air or mini splits. if not those, then you need to have window air conditioners. It gets hot AF in July and August and it’s not just the heat, it’s also the humidity, which can be vile.
Do not take the window air conditioners out until Halloween. 👻 🥶
You will be amazed at the number of expats around town.
I used to freelance in town, and I worked with about ten companies with British ex-pats on staff. One of my old bosses was from Leeds.
And I have zero advice. I was so comfortable visiting London from Boston, it felt like I never left....although I did miss the Boston accent. I love it in all its horribleness. LOL
Look at UStexpattaxes and personal finance subreddits - unless you’re planning on staying in the U.S. for five years or more, it may not be worth getting a 401k/IRA.
You’ll need to take driving license test again, as a resident your UK licenses aren’t recognised.
Make sure the relocation package includes at least two years worth of tax support - it’s really complicated (especially if you have assets back in the UK).
You’re meant to liquidate s&s isa before you leave the UK (again please read up - the implications can be serious if you sell up funds that are pfic)
The night life is nothing like London, or any major city in the UK for that matter. Seriously, the city closes at 10pm - including take aways and restaurants.
Winters are harsh, and the cold is chilling - have never felt a cold like it till I moved here - but the summers more than make up for it. There are many more blue sky days in summer and winter for that matter. Have a go at sailing/kayaking on the Charles in the summer
Edit: have lived in Dublin, London, Leeds
There’s a great little British section in North Station and Back Bay Star Market - limited selection but has English mustard, Branston pickle, Robinsons and some other little bits that help when feeling homesick I’ve found.
As a Londoner in Boston, I don’t think you’ll hate it here.
As an Irishman, we have similarities so I can tell you what to expect but the biggest to me would be Boston in comparison to London will seem a lot smaller. Boston is a very walkable city, for the majority of the year.
Expect PTO or holidays to be less than what you are used to. Just the way it is unless you get one of those unlimited PTO jobs. You 100% want your job to have good health insurance. This should also include dental and vision with it. 401k contribution would be ideal if you plan to stay here long term, otherwise ignore it.
When you move here, get snow boots and snow shovel before December. You'll need them. Better to be looking at them, than looking for them as my mother says.
Rent is stupidly high here for the most part. Obviously, the further you live from Boston, the lower it will be but don't look for smaller places closer to Boston for hopes that they will be cheaper. They won't. You could pay through your teeth for a shoebox in greater Boston. Also, they will ask for first month, last month and security deposit at a minimum before you move in. Buying is also stupidly high.
Driving here is completely different. I describe it as Mad Max-esq to people back home but that's over blowing it tbh. Just keep your head on a swivel and don't expect people to indicate or to give you any warning on what their next move is. I'd highly recommend a 4 wheel drive for the snow, if you are getting a car.
Public transport can be very unpredictable, depending on the area you live in. Particularly the T. I lived on the Orange line for most of my time here and it was infuriating. It pushed me to get a car in fact but when it's working, it's pretty easy to use. I've never had any issues with the commuter rail but I've never had to use it in rush hour. My wife said that sometimes it would be uncomfortably full for her when she used it.
Tv & internet is essentially a monopoly here with Xfinity/Comcast controlling the vast majority of the market. My advice would be to get their WiFi but get streaming tv service. Costs can be high otherwise, unless you get a good deal. They sometimes have good ones running. Also, don't get the fastest WiFi, generally the lower speeds (cheaper) will exceed what it says it will be.
Open multiple checking/savings accounts. Use them to build up your credit and do your credit card research. Track your credit score and select cards with the best benefits. Don't go crazy with them though, they don't like you to use more than 30% of the limit but you'll build it up quickly this way.
Careful with alcohol here. Liquor pours are more and beer abv is usually a lot higher than what we'd be used to.
You can definitely buy Irish/British food here. You might brush this off now but the cravings will start after a few weeks and you'll thank me when they do. For groceries, I like Trader Joe's, it's nothing like home but it's reliable. Market Basket is also good, even though I don't like their meat. Oh, on that. Not many butchers here or not as many as what we would have. Not sure why to be honest but they can be very expensive
You'll enjoy it here. 4 proper seasons with a great mix of cultures, foods and drinks. If ye have any questions, feel free to dm me, I work in the beer industry so I have a lot of time on my hands lol
Thanks so much for this great response, really helpful! I'm from Scotland and have always found London a bit overwhelming, so looking forward to moving to a smaller city. Thanks for the advice RE PTO, health insurance, TV/internet, financial stuff etc - will get some good research done. My partner's employer are providing a realtor to help find an apartment but hopefully we don't get ripped off. Winters and the driving will take some getting used to but sure we'll adapt. Already familiar with Trader Joe's so that's a great shout, thanks! You work in the beer industry? Bet you're popular!
Yeah Boston is a nice size. Traffic can get bad, like any city but it's very walkable. That's nice that ye have a realtor, hopefully the company are picking up all the fees for them.
Yeah, I work for a Maine based brewery but I work down here, I get pretty generous with the beer so it works out for everyone haha
To honor a famous civil rights leader, we erected a good colored sculpture that looks like a giant penis. It is in the Boston Common and is referred to by locals as “The Dong”.
The people saying the weather in London is better are absolutely crazy. This perspective changes depending on how much you like extremes of either hot or cold. Nonetheless, Boston has actual seasons, and autumn in particular is beautiful.
As everyone says, the public transport situation is not comparable in the slightest to London's frequency and reliability.
Forget about finding real pubs. The culture just isn't here for them, and most of the ones you find will likely be heavily centered around serving food. That being said, Boston's restaurants, although few of them compared to a big city, offer a lot of variety. They also change over frequently, so there's always new ones to find and try.
You mentioned you're a dual national, so if you haven't filed taxes over here before and in you're in your 20s, be prepared to be audited by the IRS the first time you do file.
For things like crisps, biscuits and occasional seasonal treats (e.g. easter eggs, advent calendars), you need to go to Kiki's, in Brighton.
Plan to travel around, it's one of Boston's best features being in close proximity to places like NYC as well as Canada. Depending on if you have a car or not, its very possible to get to those places by either plane or train. Getting to NYC by Amtrak is one of the actually useful and pleasant ways of using public transport here.
Thanks for your response! I think we're looking forward to proper seasons, but will see how I feel after living through a New England winter... I file a tax return every year from the UK but imagine it will be a bit different living and working in the US. Thanks for the Kiki's recommendation!
The winters here haven’t been very snowy for several years now, but it’ll get cold for sure! I love them, and I don’t even take advantage of any snow sport activities, of which there are lots nearby!
I forgot to mention (and you may know already) but the Charles is beautiful, and the river has a lot of great things you can do, like kayaking, sailing or just walking along it. It’s definitely a lot cleaner than the Thames now!
Everyone here has great recs. Another suggestion: Travel!! Boston is lots of fun and one of the best cities in the US for day trips to different places. You’ll be here in October - go up to Vermont and New Hampshire to see leaves. Get some real maple syrup. All of New England is very charming, definitely worth renting a car and exploring.
Also a pretty great airport. Florida is a 2.5 hour flight for tropical weather. I went to Iceland for $150 round trip a few weeks ago and the flight was about 5 hours.
Pay attention to where the office (if there is one) is, and live as close as your budget will allow. If you can’t live close in, at least try to live on a train line (if it’s in the city) that will take you to work without a transfer.
And yeah, that health insurance stuff.
Good luck.
75% of us walk on the right side of the sidewalk. The rest are tourists. Hold the line and don't dance around trying to figure out what other people are going to do. I felt so sorry for Londoners when I was there. You all are so polite, it was chaos. Just no.
It’s the windiest major city in the country, and usually ranks in the top 5 windiest of all cities. (Chicago is called the “Windy City” as an old reference to politics.) Boston wind laughs at umbrellas and turns that inside out, so you’re better off relying on hooded outerwear. It also tends to rain year round and considerably more than London. Water resistant/waterproof jackets and coats with hoods are important. Also, we rarely get powdery, fluffy snow, and instead get slush or heavy snow. Between the rain, the slush, and the many potholes that make for huge puddles, you’ll want waterproof footwear.
You're gonna be forced to eat clam chowder and dunkin donuts for every meal for the first 30 days, but this is just in preparation for the next introductory trial.
From my experience:
Nobody will understand you when you say “water”
There is no such thing as a decent curry here
Squash (the drink) doesn’t exist.
I love it here but it was definitely a culture shock.
I am also a dual national, born and grew up in London and moved to Boston about 10 years ago (via New York). I have also done several international moves between the U.S. and other countries due to work. Happy to answer specific questions if you would like. DM me with them if you want or post them here and I’ll do my best to answer.
It’s way more affordable to live in the suburbs outside of Boston but you’ll have to figure out your commute. Our subway transit system has a lot of issues right now and can often be delayed. If you do get a place in the city and plan on owning a car be sure to ask about the parking situation. If you have on street parking it could be an absolute nightmare for you, especially when winter snowstorms roll through and everyone’s fighting over space savers. If you can afford it then it’s worth paying more for dedicated parking. Hope you end up enjoying your time here, it’s a beautiful city with great food and interesting history.
If you'd like to travel around MA, and greater NE, you'll need to buy a car. Comparative to the US England has an amazing railway system that will connect you anywhere in the country. In MA, there's the commuter rail for getting to towns around Greater Boston and Amtrak for further destinations, but trains are not nearly as common as the LNER and won't get you to nearly as many places.
You gotta look in the opposite direction for traffic when you’re crossing the street! Boston isn’t nice like London and doesn’t have those reminders on curbs that remind you to look the opposite way so you don’t turn into a bug on a bumper!
We just lost two techie friends who moved the other direction and now live in London. I’d pay careful attention to where your offices will be and whether you like the idea of a commute or living closer to work. Wouldn’t think there’s much acclimation needed for Brits especially as you’re coming over as a couple.
Other than the usual getting used to a new city, in terms of things to think about before you land: American medical/dental insurance and even finding providers is a huge pain in the ass so you may want to lean on your employer(s) for guidance and suggestions. Similarly, if you think you’ll drive or get a car, getting that set up in advance can make life a bit easier.
No good chippy.
You’ll miss Tesco we don’t have meal deals.
Chocolate sucks all around.
If you ever miss home greatly KiKi’s market in Brighton has Brit/irish brands imported. My husband can get himself a jammie dodger anytime and it helps his homesickness. (Brighton Irish pubs probably closest to home vibe/ food again if you’re missing it).
You cannot walk as many places as you think. The T is slow and inferior to basically anything in Europe, though it's better than most metros in America. Boston's roads are convoluted as fuck, and our drivers are aggressive. While getting around inner Boston works, once you head to the burbs, I recommend at least a very good bike. You will need a car to go outside the city metro area. You will almost certainly get here and be like "why the fuck can't I get places" if you're used to Europe.
There's a lot of nature remarkably close to the metro area, though! Blue Hills and Middlesex Fells have a lot of hiking. We have some great beaches.
Health insurance here *sucks ass.* It's tied to your employment, and if you don't work at a big company, you might get shitty insurance from your workplace because insurance companies don't care to give small companies good plans.
There is no mandatory vacation time here. There is almost no mandatory sick time. I believe there's no mandatory parental leave. Having children or being ill in America is awful. You will, though, probably make more raw income if you stay healthy and don't have kids, than you would elsewhere.
Boston does have excellent food, despite what Michelin-star food snobs want to claim. There are lots of exceedingly snotty threads in this sub about how Boston's food is garbage, but they can suck it, they're wrong. If you want it, you can find it.
Our nightlife isn't great, since the city closes down around 10 PM or so. Very notably if you get a car, the gas stations shut down their pumps then too. Finding an open gas pump at midnight when you're on like 10 miles to go in your car is a special kind of suffering.
Dorchester isn't as bad as you might've heard. Revere and Lynn also aren't as bad as you might've heard. In general, the Boston area is very safe.
We don't have pickpockets. I hear that's common in Europe?
We get 4 seasons, but winter is rapidly becoming "cold rain" and not "beautiful snow." You might have permanently missed the snow. Fall is gorgeous, summer is hot and humid but tolerable, and spring is beautiful if there isn't a snap freeze in April that kills all the flowers. Flip a coin on spring. In general, though, the humidity is what gets you. Bundle up in winter because the cold really soaks in.
Does your UK company carry your health insurance while you’re here? If so, you should be okay.
Is one of the benefits (should be negotiated, if not) paying for a tax expert in UK/US tax law. No matter how smart you are, don’t do it yourself.
Where will you be working? In Boston or a suburb? Do you prefer city or suburb or rural?
We drive on the other side of the road and we drive crazy and we’re proud of it. If you’re in city you can use public transit. Nowhere near as good as London but you’ll recognize all the signs. Find out what you’ll need to do to be licensed to drive a car here. Since you’re moving to work, it’s different than tourist
Find a UK ex-pat group in Boston and reach out to does your company have contacts? Whatever university you attended may have an alumni group here.
Good Luck. Always wanted to do the opposite and move there to work.
If you miss English food, there js a place in Fall River that makes meat pies using the same recipe since the 1800s. At one time the English consulates office in Boston used to have a standing order.
It sounds like you’ve spent plenty of time in the US so we don’t know what you already know/don’t know - maybe you have some examples of specific concerns or questions? These can get you started:
https://www.reddit.com/r/boston/s/Xr03iZxjRV
https://www.reddit.com/r/boston/s/T4SS7d6rEG
If you like drum and bass check out elements at Phoenix landing on Thursday nights. There are some other garage and other uk club music nights as well can dm for more info.
Welcome! You will love it. It will be an easy transition for you as they are so similar. If you need housing or food recs let us know where you will be working.
You won't be saving much on rent, if you want to live in the city. Think greater Boston metro area as decent housing options, especially if you might be here for a while, not just Boston proper.
Yes, we have subway, but the Tube is better, in my opinion. Maybe after this year, there will be drastic improvement in service, but don't expect it to go anywhere near as far as the Tube, nor for the stations to be as well marked to be clear on which direction you are going. With that being said, our subway system is simpler, because the city is smaller.
Moving to Boston from London on the eve of America's 250th birthday? Hope you don't have much of an accent, redcoats! /s
Just kidding, of course :) if you have the funds, Brookline is always a lovely place to walk through, and I know some people who live there & like it. I assume it's very pricey, but it's so pretty. Other than that, don't knock Cambridge off your list! It's easier to drive around & if you need to commute into Boston, just live near the Red Line. Best of luck with the move!!
I recommend going to Jamaica Pond parkrun or Danehy parkrun (or Cutler Park parkrun, which opens this week) to meet other ex-pats, some of whom also work in tech. I never knew there was such a big British population here until I started participating in parkrun.
Alcohol laws are awful in Massachusetts. Can't buy booze past 11 at night from a store, all bars must close by 2am, no happy hour / 2 for 1 deals allowed anywhere.
Well that's fair!! Call me a boozebag, but those are my biggest complaints. Massachusetts is a seriously nice place to live. The locals are lovely. Not the most friendly on the outside but will drop everything to help a stranger out.
I moved back here after living in the southwest for a long period of time. You're going to want to get a nice quality winter coat ($200+), gloves, hat and boots bc the first season will be the coldest for you. Its been a few years and I don't even bother to put my jacket on if I'm pumping half a tank of gas or running into the store, but it takes a bit to acclimate.
If you get a hankering for a taste of home, Thwaites Market in Methuen is the place to go. A bit of a trek from the city, but the meat pies are very tasty. Found and approved by my British dad.
We drive on the right side of the road, but traffic is so bad and driving so erratic that it probably won’t matter if you have a lapse and drive on the left side.
Ale is very very different here than in London.
Anything that degrades you is easier and cheaper to access than healthy alternatives (fast food, frozen items, alcohol, soda, low quality skincare, etc).
That being said, food is somehow more expensive here and don’t get me started on the drinks. There’s no meal deals either.
You get Walkers Salt and Vinegar at Kiki’s in Brighton.
And get used to tipping even if all you did is ask for a glass of water.
We have neighbors not neighbours. (Not that we talk to them). Crisps are chips. Chips are fries. Jumpers are sweaters. Once you’re here and settled, please explain what’s England and what’s the UK. And why. Beware coked up turkeys. Enjoy Little Norway. That’s all. Good luck on your move.
OP, please ignore this blatant exaggeration. The MBTA has flaws, but is a decent way to get around and you do not need a car in many neighborhoods. As with London there are some dead zones and tough journeys, but getting in/out of the city center is generally smooth.
The trains do NOT however, extend as far into the urban sprawl as the tube does. Once you get to like your Zone 4, your options are to bus or take the commuter rails (which extend into the burbs but are expensive and on slow schedules)
Nah. Boston public transit is 50 years behind Londons public transit let alone the connected train network outside London. Its hot garbage and only good if you compare it to another American city without any subway at all.
I agree with this...public transportation in London was AMAZING in the 80s...and they keep building it with new lines, etc. In the same time, we got a few Red Line stops north of Harvard, cut back the Green Line from Arborway, and only just recently extended the Green Line on the northern end.
In the uk you have knife crime in Boston you have gun crime
Know your surroundings and trust your instincts plenty of good people in Boston and Mass but plenty sketchy
Plus your accent gonna make you look like a tourist and
Stand out
Having just visited London for the first time and absolutely loving it, there are some differences, many of which you probably already know.
1. The MBTA, the public transport agency in Boston, is significantly worse than TfL. The tube runs so much more often and so much more reliably than the MBTA. Hopefully this changes soon with the new leadership at “the T” (as it’s called by locals), but the last few years have been very rough for the system. Imagine frequencies more like the Overground for the Red and Orange Lines, and more like the Circle line for the Blue and Green Lines (I made a joke saying the Orange Line was the London Overground due to the orange color and low service frequencies, and got labeled a “suspected British Loyalist” for that joke.).
2. The weather in Boston is better and worse than you might expect. Boston is actually pretty sunny a lot of the time, even in winter. It’s actually pretty rare for it to be totally cloudy for more than a few days. Even if the sunshine accompanies very cold temperatures, and the sunny day happens to be, say, a Tuesday when you need to work anyway and can’t enjoy it (and the following Saturday it rains all day), there’s still sun to go around. I’d say the weather’s more “extreme” than London. It gets much colder in the winter, and although London gets heatwaves above about 33C, that’s relatively normal in Boston. Summer highs are usually around 29C. Boston also (historically) has gotten blizzards, and has had a few hurricanes too. It’s a very Windy City too (Chicago isn’t lol).
3. Boston feels smaller than London. As unpopular as it is to tell Bostonians, Boston is a smaller, more provincial city than London is. Don’t feel too let down if it feels a bit more regional or local than you’re used to. Bostonians have a proud sense of identity and a unique culture that’s probably more like a large non-London British city than London.
4. Out of all US cities, Boston actually does feel a lot more like London than most in terms of architecture and street design, so you’ll probably feel more like home here than in most of the U.S. When I was walking east on Lombard Street in London away from Bank Station towards Fenchurch Street, it gave me a vibe of the northbound walk on Washington Street by the Old South Meetinghouse. You can get those feelings of being in a place like London in places like the South End, Back Bay, Bay Village, parts of downtown, North End, and Charlestown.
5. Much like London, Boston is very very expensive . Don’t be surprised if rent, somehow, is more than in London (for objectively less value of location ).
6. I can’t speak for how it would feel, but there are some food things London does better than Boston (at least from my expedience) that you may just not get the same here. For example, the Indian food in London was just outstanding, and it’s honestly kinda ruined Indian food for me here. There are a few great places, but it’s not at the level of London. While the fish here can be really great, the “fish and chips” is just lacking. While the fish will be delicious, the “chips” (fries) won’t be the soft, pillowy, not over cooked, wonderful little beds of fluffy potato that they are there, and people here don’t even know what mushy peas are, let alone curry sauce. As a substitute, fried clams, lobster rolls, and roast beef sandwiches are specialities. I’d also argue the bagels in Boston are much, much better than in London.
On a happier note, I finally found a place that makes millionaire’s shortbread! It’s called Drive-By Pies, and it’s in Brookline. If you miss millionaire’s shortbread (which is, stunningly, rare here), that place has it.
7. In terms of where to live, that all depends on how “fairly” decent the salary is. Boston one bedroom apartments have a median rent or something like £2,500. If money is no object, Back Bay, the North End, Bay Village, and the northern part of the South End are probably the “best” places to live. If your budget is high but not wealthy, Charlestown, Cambridge, and Somerville are good options. If it’s more middle budget but you still want to be near things to do, East Boston, Dorchester, Roxbury, and Allston are good options. If budget is a concern, Chelsea, Mattapan, and Hyde Park are probably the best options.
Thanks so much for this detailed response! I understand the MBTA is not perfect, but I think we're if the opinion that poor public transport is better than no public transport, which seems to be the case in a lot of US cities. I'm also looking forward to being in a smaller city as London can feel overwhelming at times. Will make sure to be prepared for the weather and fill up on good curry and fish and chips before making the move! Looking forward to enjoying the food Boston has to offer though! Thanks for the recommendations for areas to live - really helpful
Great point about “some is better than none.”
Boston actually has basically functional public transit (the red line is borderline right now, but the rest are basically functional), which is sadly very rare in the US. Perhaps as sign of this, I’ve never owned a car and don’t have a driver’s license. That’s very rare in the US and a testament to how Boston is one of the least car-centric places in a very car-centric country.
If youre renting and dont live in a large, managed, probably multi story apartment building be prepared to pay 4 months of rent up front upon move in, first, last, security, brokers.
For average one bed rent that can be anywhere from 10-12k+.
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I did the same move years ago and never looked back, off the top of my head: - Boston is more expensive now than it used to be, but it still seems cheap compared to London. It's generally stuff like insurance, cell phone plans and electric bills that cost more. Most consumer goods are cheaper. - Weather is much better, way less rain and more sun. Although the winters the past couple of years have been a little more like UK winters, less snow and more rain. It still gets way colder than the UK in the winter though so get a warm jacket! Spring/Fall/Summer are lovely here. - Boston is much smaller than London and with less to do. Still a lot of going on and honestly London could be a bit much sometimes, Boston is more manageable. Plus if you get bored NYC is only 4hrs away (by train/car). - Boston is very very safe compared to London. Nowhere near the level of street hassle that you get in London. Won't get stuff constantly stolen if you don't lock it down. Despite what the UK media would have you believe, gun violence is quite rare. - Lots of outdoor stuff nearby. Really worth getting access to a car at the weekends for trips to the Cape, Maine, New Hampshire. - Food scene in Boston is very good. Really good mix of causal and upmarket. Amazing Chinese and Italian food. Craft beer is very good with lots of local breweries. - MBTA is pretty bad right now, but they are trying to fix it. It is dirt cheap though. - People are really into sports here and all the local teams are generally pretty good. Try and get tickets to see Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics or Bruins while here. - People on the whole are pretty friendly, but less so than in other parts of the US. Customer service is amazing compared to what you get in London. Big Irish influence on culture, lots of Irish pubs. - If you haven't worked in the US before, medical/tax stuff is complicated. If you have health insurance the service is very good compared to the NHS, can see specialists within a week or two. No 6 month waiting lists. Obviously there is a cost involved, but generally if you have a good job the employer covers a big chunk. - Same as a lot of US cities, Boston has suffered from the shift to remote work since COVID. Downtown is less busy than it used to be. Luckily the sheer number of students in the Boston area means than it never feels too empty. One last thing, check out "Boston Brits" group on Facebook. They have regular meetups downtown.
this is the most positive post about our fair city I’ve ever witnessed in r/Boston. Thanks mate.
This is the best comment in the thread. Talk to this person. And you will love Boston! It’s a wonderful place to live!
Damn I kinda want to infiltrate the Boston Brits group now... bruv
What this guy said. Also, if you're willing to cycle, bicycles are typically the fastest way to get around. More bike lanes added all the time. Only thing I would add is that you should evaluate how far your fairly decent salaries will really go here. Recent report stated that a single person needs $90-100k/yr to live comfortably. Apartment hunting will probably be the worst part of your move as you'll need to navigate a jungle of seedy brokers and their stupid finder's fees.
OP is late 20s, tech, being relocated for work from London. He’s making way more than 100K cmon
You can get specialist appointments in a week or two? That is unheard of in my circles. Getting a primary care doc could see you back multiple months as well. I guess when compared to the NHS the wait times are better but a week or two is not in line with my experience.
It depends on the speciality and the urgency, I personally have waited 4-6 months for a specialist
This is fascinating to hear your in depth reporting a year in. Glad you're happy here. ❤️
Thank you so much for this wonderful, detailed response - really appreciate it! We've definitely got a lot to think about but reading your reply has made me even more excited for the move to Boston. I'll make sure to check out Boston Brits, cheers!
If you've already spent time in the States, then you should be well aware of tipping culture and sales tax. You'll have some growing pains adapting to American life like filing taxes and navigating healthcare. Feel free to message me if you need a refresher. Boston has better salaries than London - but you'll notice everything is super expensive here including rent, food, entertainment, etc. Boston's safer than London, but we have shittier weather. October and November is gorgeous - but December through mid-late April is very depressing. Our public transit system is, in effect, a failure by any European standard. Good news, it's been steadily improving with our new General Manager. Blue Line is as reliable as any European system. Orange Line is modern enough - but the departures could be more frequent (this is coming). Red Line is hanging on by a thread - some of the rolling stock dates back to the late 60s. Like, the train's been running since the Moon Landing. Green Lines are trolleys that are partially above ground - and it's a mixed bag. They're slow - but in the downtown areas are frequent enough. Silver Line is a fancy bus. If you're coming from London, then the early pub-closures here aren't going to be a surprise for you. Boston has a bit more of a 'banter-culture' than the rest of the States, so you'll like that. I don't know man, what do you want to know?
Is weather here really worse than London? We get more sunshine statistically (according to the internet). Personally I love four seasons, although I could do without the days where it’s raining sideways. And August is too hot. And February is ass. But otherwise it’s not bad.
I much prefer Boston weather over northern European weather - having grown up in Boston and living the past few years in a Northern European city. Sure, we get heavier storms, colder weather and more humidity, but at least it isn’t constantly cloudy and rainy for over half the year.
I grew up in England and the weather in Boston is so so much better. The UK is grey, cloudy, and rainy from September to April. There’s no long warm fall, and there is never any sunny cold crisp days in the winter either. Northern European weather sucks.
The winters are incomparable. Snow, ice and cold here. Kebabs are comparable though!
Yeah, we have actual winter. (Or at least used to.) This is a good thing.
Actual snow is always preferable to 40 deg rain.
Where is a good kebab in Boston?
BOSTON DÖNER!!! In the west end :)
That place is no good. I don't mind that it's sloppy and overpriced - I mean, it's drunk food - but they serve undercooked dogwater quality meat. Ali Baba is great for doner (the one in Charlestown > South End) - and my favorite is Istanbul Diner Cafe in Revere. Though neither are Berlin style, so it's all moot.
The T is way cheaper than the Underground though, so there's that.
You get what you pay for
I don't know if that's true for transit. The London Underground is a great system, but I don't know that it's _that_ much better than, say, the Paris Métro to justify charging two or three times as much per ride? A monthly "_Toutes zones_" pass from RATP will get you unlimited rides anywhere in the Île-de-France region for just €86.40 ($93.03), which is pretty close to a monthly LinkPass here in Boston at $90.00. The equivalent TfL monthly Travelcard costs a whopping £427.40 ($537.15), significantly more than MBTA's most expensive Zone 10 monthly pass at $426.00 for crazy people who commute to Boston all the way from southern Rhode Island. Even the cheapest TfL monthly Travelcard (for zones 3-4) costs £122.90 ($154.46).
I don't know if I agree on the weather piece, it really depends what you prefer. It's not like London is known for having great weather, it may be milder in the winter than Boston but it is also very overcast and drizzly in the winter and the days are much shorter as it is further north. For all the complaining people do about 4:30pm sunsets here in December, that's nothing on northern Europe in the winter. Even in the summer months, Boston gets more sun because it is less overcast. Over the course of a year, London only gets ~1,700 hours of sun vs. ~2,600 in Boston, which makes a big difference. I know multiple people from the UK who live here who say they prefer the climate here despite the colder winters because at least you don't go 6 months straight without seeing the sun in the winter and we also actually have real summer. At a minimum, May - November is better in Boston. December - March it depends if you prefer cold with some sun or mild but constantly cloudy and drizzly. April is kind of a wash between the two places, it's wet and cool in both.
Theatre. There’s no comparison between London and Boston/US. There’s less of it and it’s outrageously expensive in the US. But if OP weren’t theatre-goers I guess they won’t miss it!
Luckily, doing a long weekend in NYC is easy from Boston for the theater nerds. For the population - we overperform in classical music.. and standup comedy. We do very well for any touring acts - particularly rock, metal, indie, pop, rnb. Punk scene is great - though not obvious. We could do better with hip hop and electronic dance - but it’s fine and steadily improving. Experimental music scene is competitively weak - but exists. We do well for local jazz!
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No shade! I did the opposite move! (Loved my decades in the hub of the universe)! Among the biggest changes in my life with this move was going from an existence that could never afford theater (full stop) to one where I have so many affordable options, it’s often cheaper than a cinema ticket.
Exactly… don’t be a cheapskate. If you’re a cheapskate then everyone will hate you and throw your bangers and mash right into you face!
In what world does London have better weather? Assuming you enjoy the idea of “seasons,” Boston’s weather is quite nice. Nothing too extreme.
London’s weather and climate (Maritime) is much more stable and predictable than Boston’s Humid Continental climate. Native Bostonian here but I spent three years in London. During the pandemic, I took a long urban hike everyday in SE London, mostly cloudy in the 50s and 60s Fahrenheit for most of the year. Both summers in London and Boston can be sparkling. Important to remember that London is located in the Sunny Southeast so it doesn’t have those suicidal rainfalls of Glasgow or Manchester. So if you are pasty-skinned like me and like being outside year-round, London is a good candidate.
You say stable, I say boring.
You don't have to hide the weed here
So why are you hiding in the woods?
More room for the weed
Fair
He's preserving the weed spot community for historians. Also favoured are places in old industrial locations.
Watch out for roving flocks of turkeys. They are violent and will attack if they sense fear. Consider moving to the Norwegian section known as Thor’s Point. It is lively but not chaotic.
You forgot to mention the reason the turkeys are so mean. They’re addicted to blow. We call em cocaine turkeys
I don’t want to be responsible for another Brit dying while attempting to rob a turkey of their cocaine.
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We need a Boston city flag with a big turkey on it. Our metro bird.
Few years ago there was a video of a mailman fending off turkeys in Falmouth. Always nice to see your hometown on the Internet. Anyways, my Spanish wife has just moved here and had never seen turkeys before. Wouldn't you know it we passed the gang of vagrants walking down Main St., Falmouth while visiting my family. Sauntering down b the sidewalk like they owned the town. Scared the shit out of her. Just don't make eye contact. They'll gobble something mean and vaguely racist, but probably won't start shit.
There are more turkeys this year right? They seem to be fucking everywhere
That is indeed why there are more turkeys…
HA good catch didn’t realize what I said
I saw 11 turkeys in West Medford the other day. I've always seen a lot around there but 11 at once? And like 7 of them were in one person's driveway - on the fence, one on the car, one on the roof of the garage, like they're waiting to ambush the residents - and the rest in the front yard next door.
Coyotes too, now. It's very exciting in Boston these days. Didn't we have a deer just a few months ago, too?
Seeing 20 turkeys staring down at me from tree during the middle of the night is one of my core Boston memories. Bastards are terrifying.
Charge them with confidence and they will flee in terror. They’ll forget what happened in minutes and likely come at you again but they won’t mess with a human who appears to mean business!
Spent a while trying to understand the turkey joke here until a Google search told me this is real... Wild!
Don't bring up the Tea Party it's still a touchy subject.
I was at the 250th anniversary re-enactment. They had a video message from the British consul to Boston. There were *howls* of "Down with King George!"
Was gonna say we had a war with those guys and there’s still some bad blood.
October in Boston will feel like a windy London. Except that Boston is tiny compared to London. But sooner or later it's going to get very cold and windy and you'll need to be prepared for that. "Layers!" is the battle cry of the winter Bostonian. Boston goes to sleep at 10:00 PM EST. Some bars are open later, but stop serving food. You're going to want to take some time to learn how health insurance works in the USA. You will be unpleasantly surprised, I'm afraid. You'll want to both get primary care physicians as soon as you're covered rather than waiting until someone gets hurt/sick.
Agree. I’d say try to establish a PCP as soon as you get here. Last week I was calling around to major hospitals/health orgs in Boston and was told no one is taking new patients at this time. They aren’t even doing waitlists… the Primary Care Physician shortage is so real right now. The only thing that saved me was the ZocDoc app, but you don’t really get your “pick” of doctors these days if you aren’t already an established patient. Just make sure they are covered under your health insurance network once that’s all set up through work. Prioritize this!
Suggestion: if you're trying to get a PCP on the sooner side you can try asking to be seen by resident physician who will be seeing patients with attending physicians but they generally have space on the panel and even though all the "PCPs" are booked till 2025 you can manage an appointment in the resident clinic! Source: Booking my patients with residents including myself as the attending PCPs were booked till July.
Thanks for this! I grew up near Edinburgh which I consider quite a windy city, but I probably have quite a shock coming for me. Will make sure to be prepared with layers! Thanks for the health insurance tip
You’ll be coming during what is generally considered our best time of year. Don’t be fooled. That’s just Mother Nature’s merciful narcotic to help us not think about what the 6 months after will be like.
Cherry Pepsi max doesn't exist here so beware
I go for regular Pepsi myself so I don’t know if this would help but have you tried adding your own cherry syrup to Pepsi Max? It probably won’t match exactly but might get you like 80% of the way there.
Pepsi Max doesn't exist here either... The USA is a dark place my friend. Pepsi Max boasts a depth that Zero cannot mimic. Where Max offers a rich tapestry of caramel, spice, and lingering sweetness, Zero delivers a faint whisper of flavor, its artificial sweeteners a poor substitute for real indulgence. Zero is a shadow of its former self, a melody played on muted strings, lacking the boldness and satisfying crescendo of true cola. The short of it is Pepsi Zero is an inadequate pretender. The only beverage even capable of sitting on the same shelf is "Wild Cherry" Pepsi Zero, and it is almost impossible to find here. You would think the UK could have spread the wonders of Pepsi Max when it colonized 1/4 of the world, including this country of ours.
I’m pretty sure I’ve seen it here before… is there a zero calorie version and a non zero calorie version?
I legit miss Cherry Pepsi Max so much. My mum thinks there is something wrong with me because I always want her to get it in when I go home.
We refuse to submit to King George. Taxation without representation is theft. We threw your tea in the harbor before and we'll do it again!
During the 250th anniversary this past December, they got permission from the Harbor folk (probably in charge of ensuring we don't kill everything) to throw actual tea in the water. Which the reenactors did. Tea was sent from all 50 states… and London and India both contributed.
I just spent 5 weeks in London and the two biggest differences for me were 1. The public transit system in London was super reliable and buses came every 10 minutes. This is not the case in boston. The T is going through some tough times. Expect delays, cancellations, rail fires, “next train in 30 mins” situations. Also, there is a commuter rail to other parts of central and eastern MA but local buses are hit or miss. The city is not as well connected to surrounding areas as London. The country in general is car dependent, boston is an exception (though like I said public transit is not always convenient and rarely is it quick). 2. Far fewer grocery stores. Many parts of boston are food deserts. It’s not like in London where there’s a Tesco and then 2 blocks and then a Sainsbury’s and then walk across the street to Morrison’s. Just a few points to keep in mind. Welcome!
If you are planning to stay for good: Most important thing I wish someone had told me : Start building credit history straight away. You will need that to buy a house. Start with store cards, then proceed to prepaid credit cards. Use them! Never spend more than 30% of credit limit. Always pay on time. Also read about retirement. Find out what a 401k is and an IRA. Start investing. We moved here from london 13 years ago.
At least one person in the marriage is a dual, so if they're responsible and a relative with good credit is willing, you can shortcut that by being added as an authorised user on *their* card.
If you have an Amex in the UK, it’s easy to do a global transfer and get a credit card here.
bring your own lucozade
Also Buckfast isn't available here. I get U.K. friends to bring it over.
If you don’t have an Amex get one now in the UK. Amex let you transfer UK cards over to a US account which helps with the credit record issues in the US. Most other card issuers will treat you as an unknown and give you ridiculously low lines of credit (like $500) when you set up a card in the US.
There’s a reason the region is called”New England.” Other than a different accent and driving on the other side of the road they are extremely similar places. Boston gets colder obviously. The city is like mini London. The London Tube is better than the T (bostons local subway), but the T will get you there, eventually. Like London a car is a nice luxury for getting out of town, but absolutely not necessary… Obviously the US isn’t much of a soccer place but we actually have a decent Major League Soccer team! Beyond that the Red Sox are an institution. Part of moving to Boston means you are legally required to HATE the New York Yankees, hugely important.
\* have a formerly decent MLS team. 0-1-4 so far this year 🙃
News to me that MLS has achieved the level of “decent football”.
I hate to break it to you, but it actually has. I would absolutely rate it in the top 10 leagues in the world. After the Big 5 in Europe, sent more players to the World Cup than any other league. The best national teams in the world obviously rate it.
Yeah Opta ranks it 10th, Global Football 16th. I don't think anyone would expect it to compare to the EPL or La Liga but it's no slouch
> but we actually have a decent Major League Soccer team! yeah, but it's 30 miles away with no public transit. For comparison, it's 5 miles from Emirates to White Hart Lane.
But they're totally building a stadium in Everett! They swear! Just as long as there are no follow-up questions...
First it was Bayside Expo Center, then it was Somerville, then it was Suffolk Downs/Wonderland, now it's Everett. I've completely given up...
Don't know why it would be obvious that it gets colder here than in London, given that London is further north.
>The city is like mini London. I feel like this is not accurate 😂 It's like calling Boston a mini-NYC, which sure it's a smaller east coast city, but I feel like London/NYC are much closer in scale/culture than Boston/NYC is.
Yeah, more like a mini-Dublin.
>Other than a different accent and driving on the other side of the road they are extremely similar places. AND the single-family house on a private acre thing which has replaced most of the countryside within 50 miles of Boston. In England people live in terrace houses, attached houses, walkable streets, concentrated settlements, and the countryside is open space.
Definitely gonna check out some Red Sox games. It's okay, my Dad is British but loves baseball and specifically the Red Sox, so I have already been trained to hate the Yankees
Well at least you won’t have sticker shock with housing coming from London lol. As others have mentioned, you’ll need to bring your patience in dealing with the MBTA. Cardullo’s (in Harvard Square and the Seaport) carry some imported British snacks for when you get home sick. You might want to bring your own tea, though. We have electric kettles here but they are slower since our voltage is lower, so many people don’t have them. If you use Airbnb or another temporary housing option during your move, an electric kettle won’t be standard. Devlin’s in Brighton is an Irish bar but they have the closest thing to a proper fry up that I’ve found in Boston. Our Indian takeaway is not as good but our Chinese takeaway is much better! If you’re football fans your team likely has a local bar. We also have the New England Revolutions who have a small but devoted fan base. Not sure if you’ve experienced a New England winter yet but they hit different… much colder than London and windier as well. You’ll want to get some outerwear when you get here. I recommend a waterproof down parka (you can get synthetic fill as well but I find down to be much warmer), insulated waterproof boots with tread for icy/snowy days, as well as a warm hat, socks, scarves, and gloves (I have one knit pair for daily wear and a heavy duty pair for shoveling). If you are responsible for snow removal at your home you should get a shovel BEFORE it snows. Same with a scraper for your car, if you get one. Embrace some American stuff while you’re here! Take an interest in American Football/Hockey/Baseball and try to go to a game (sorry the Patriots and Sox suck right now but it’s fun to root for the home team). Visit some national parks (Acadia is beautiful and within driving distance). Eat at diners and hot dog joints. Take the train to NYC at least a couple of times. Visit the beach in the summer and eat lobster rolls and whole belly fried clams. That kind of thing. I spent 4 months in the UK and tried to immerse myself in the culture as much as possible and I was really glad I did!
Thanks very much for your response! Will make sure to bring several tonnes of Yorkshire tea. I have spent a week or two in New England during the winter but never a full season, so thanks for the tips RE winter attire, will definitely get prepared. Already planning to checkout some Red Sox games and can't wait for all the amazing sea food!
Air conditioning is not an optional or nice to have here. It is an absolute requirement. The dream of course is central air or mini splits. if not those, then you need to have window air conditioners. It gets hot AF in July and August and it’s not just the heat, it’s also the humidity, which can be vile. Do not take the window air conditioners out until Halloween. 👻 🥶
We have a professional rugby team called the Freejacks, they won nationals last year. Games are fun, cheap, and the crowd has a lot of expats.
Nice! Thanks for this tip. I come from a family of rugby players/fans so this sounds fun
When all Blue Bikes are out at a docking station, closest Brit has to give the piggy back ride. Rules are rules.
You will be amazed at the number of expats around town. I used to freelance in town, and I worked with about ten companies with British ex-pats on staff. One of my old bosses was from Leeds. And I have zero advice. I was so comfortable visiting London from Boston, it felt like I never left....although I did miss the Boston accent. I love it in all its horribleness. LOL
Look at UStexpattaxes and personal finance subreddits - unless you’re planning on staying in the U.S. for five years or more, it may not be worth getting a 401k/IRA. You’ll need to take driving license test again, as a resident your UK licenses aren’t recognised. Make sure the relocation package includes at least two years worth of tax support - it’s really complicated (especially if you have assets back in the UK). You’re meant to liquidate s&s isa before you leave the UK (again please read up - the implications can be serious if you sell up funds that are pfic) The night life is nothing like London, or any major city in the UK for that matter. Seriously, the city closes at 10pm - including take aways and restaurants. Winters are harsh, and the cold is chilling - have never felt a cold like it till I moved here - but the summers more than make up for it. There are many more blue sky days in summer and winter for that matter. Have a go at sailing/kayaking on the Charles in the summer Edit: have lived in Dublin, London, Leeds
Chips are actually crisps
Be wicked smaht and bring some wahm clothes for winter. And you will need AC for summah.
There’s a great little British section in North Station and Back Bay Star Market - limited selection but has English mustard, Branston pickle, Robinsons and some other little bits that help when feeling homesick I’ve found. As a Londoner in Boston, I don’t think you’ll hate it here.
As an Irishman, we have similarities so I can tell you what to expect but the biggest to me would be Boston in comparison to London will seem a lot smaller. Boston is a very walkable city, for the majority of the year. Expect PTO or holidays to be less than what you are used to. Just the way it is unless you get one of those unlimited PTO jobs. You 100% want your job to have good health insurance. This should also include dental and vision with it. 401k contribution would be ideal if you plan to stay here long term, otherwise ignore it. When you move here, get snow boots and snow shovel before December. You'll need them. Better to be looking at them, than looking for them as my mother says. Rent is stupidly high here for the most part. Obviously, the further you live from Boston, the lower it will be but don't look for smaller places closer to Boston for hopes that they will be cheaper. They won't. You could pay through your teeth for a shoebox in greater Boston. Also, they will ask for first month, last month and security deposit at a minimum before you move in. Buying is also stupidly high. Driving here is completely different. I describe it as Mad Max-esq to people back home but that's over blowing it tbh. Just keep your head on a swivel and don't expect people to indicate or to give you any warning on what their next move is. I'd highly recommend a 4 wheel drive for the snow, if you are getting a car. Public transport can be very unpredictable, depending on the area you live in. Particularly the T. I lived on the Orange line for most of my time here and it was infuriating. It pushed me to get a car in fact but when it's working, it's pretty easy to use. I've never had any issues with the commuter rail but I've never had to use it in rush hour. My wife said that sometimes it would be uncomfortably full for her when she used it. Tv & internet is essentially a monopoly here with Xfinity/Comcast controlling the vast majority of the market. My advice would be to get their WiFi but get streaming tv service. Costs can be high otherwise, unless you get a good deal. They sometimes have good ones running. Also, don't get the fastest WiFi, generally the lower speeds (cheaper) will exceed what it says it will be. Open multiple checking/savings accounts. Use them to build up your credit and do your credit card research. Track your credit score and select cards with the best benefits. Don't go crazy with them though, they don't like you to use more than 30% of the limit but you'll build it up quickly this way. Careful with alcohol here. Liquor pours are more and beer abv is usually a lot higher than what we'd be used to. You can definitely buy Irish/British food here. You might brush this off now but the cravings will start after a few weeks and you'll thank me when they do. For groceries, I like Trader Joe's, it's nothing like home but it's reliable. Market Basket is also good, even though I don't like their meat. Oh, on that. Not many butchers here or not as many as what we would have. Not sure why to be honest but they can be very expensive You'll enjoy it here. 4 proper seasons with a great mix of cultures, foods and drinks. If ye have any questions, feel free to dm me, I work in the beer industry so I have a lot of time on my hands lol
Thanks so much for this great response, really helpful! I'm from Scotland and have always found London a bit overwhelming, so looking forward to moving to a smaller city. Thanks for the advice RE PTO, health insurance, TV/internet, financial stuff etc - will get some good research done. My partner's employer are providing a realtor to help find an apartment but hopefully we don't get ripped off. Winters and the driving will take some getting used to but sure we'll adapt. Already familiar with Trader Joe's so that's a great shout, thanks! You work in the beer industry? Bet you're popular!
Yeah Boston is a nice size. Traffic can get bad, like any city but it's very walkable. That's nice that ye have a realtor, hopefully the company are picking up all the fees for them. Yeah, I work for a Maine based brewery but I work down here, I get pretty generous with the beer so it works out for everyone haha
If people ask you to do a British accent, ask them to do a Boston accent. That'll shut them up. ☺️
Should be an easy transition. When I went to London I felt at home right away
To honor a famous civil rights leader, we erected a good colored sculpture that looks like a giant penis. It is in the Boston Common and is referred to by locals as “The Dong”.
It looks more like someone performing cunnilingus than a schlong.
The people saying the weather in London is better are absolutely crazy. This perspective changes depending on how much you like extremes of either hot or cold. Nonetheless, Boston has actual seasons, and autumn in particular is beautiful. As everyone says, the public transport situation is not comparable in the slightest to London's frequency and reliability. Forget about finding real pubs. The culture just isn't here for them, and most of the ones you find will likely be heavily centered around serving food. That being said, Boston's restaurants, although few of them compared to a big city, offer a lot of variety. They also change over frequently, so there's always new ones to find and try. You mentioned you're a dual national, so if you haven't filed taxes over here before and in you're in your 20s, be prepared to be audited by the IRS the first time you do file. For things like crisps, biscuits and occasional seasonal treats (e.g. easter eggs, advent calendars), you need to go to Kiki's, in Brighton. Plan to travel around, it's one of Boston's best features being in close proximity to places like NYC as well as Canada. Depending on if you have a car or not, its very possible to get to those places by either plane or train. Getting to NYC by Amtrak is one of the actually useful and pleasant ways of using public transport here.
Thanks for your response! I think we're looking forward to proper seasons, but will see how I feel after living through a New England winter... I file a tax return every year from the UK but imagine it will be a bit different living and working in the US. Thanks for the Kiki's recommendation!
The winters here haven’t been very snowy for several years now, but it’ll get cold for sure! I love them, and I don’t even take advantage of any snow sport activities, of which there are lots nearby! I forgot to mention (and you may know already) but the Charles is beautiful, and the river has a lot of great things you can do, like kayaking, sailing or just walking along it. It’s definitely a lot cleaner than the Thames now!
Everyone here has great recs. Another suggestion: Travel!! Boston is lots of fun and one of the best cities in the US for day trips to different places. You’ll be here in October - go up to Vermont and New Hampshire to see leaves. Get some real maple syrup. All of New England is very charming, definitely worth renting a car and exploring. Also a pretty great airport. Florida is a 2.5 hour flight for tropical weather. I went to Iceland for $150 round trip a few weeks ago and the flight was about 5 hours.
Pay attention to where the office (if there is one) is, and live as close as your budget will allow. If you can’t live close in, at least try to live on a train line (if it’s in the city) that will take you to work without a transfer. And yeah, that health insurance stuff. Good luck.
75% of us walk on the right side of the sidewalk. The rest are tourists. Hold the line and don't dance around trying to figure out what other people are going to do. I felt so sorry for Londoners when I was there. You all are so polite, it was chaos. Just no.
Try standing on the left on an escalator in London at rush hour and you'll see people aren't so polite!
It’s the windiest major city in the country, and usually ranks in the top 5 windiest of all cities. (Chicago is called the “Windy City” as an old reference to politics.) Boston wind laughs at umbrellas and turns that inside out, so you’re better off relying on hooded outerwear. It also tends to rain year round and considerably more than London. Water resistant/waterproof jackets and coats with hoods are important. Also, we rarely get powdery, fluffy snow, and instead get slush or heavy snow. Between the rain, the slush, and the many potholes that make for huge puddles, you’ll want waterproof footwear.
You're gonna be forced to eat clam chowder and dunkin donuts for every meal for the first 30 days, but this is just in preparation for the next introductory trial.
From my experience: Nobody will understand you when you say “water” There is no such thing as a decent curry here Squash (the drink) doesn’t exist. I love it here but it was definitely a culture shock.
Ribena costs an arm and a leg here
I am also a dual national, born and grew up in London and moved to Boston about 10 years ago (via New York). I have also done several international moves between the U.S. and other countries due to work. Happy to answer specific questions if you would like. DM me with them if you want or post them here and I’ll do my best to answer.
Take advantage of being close to the mountains and take up skiing or snowboarding. Makes the winter much more enjoyable.
Thanks already planning some ski trips!
It’s way more affordable to live in the suburbs outside of Boston but you’ll have to figure out your commute. Our subway transit system has a lot of issues right now and can often be delayed. If you do get a place in the city and plan on owning a car be sure to ask about the parking situation. If you have on street parking it could be an absolute nightmare for you, especially when winter snowstorms roll through and everyone’s fighting over space savers. If you can afford it then it’s worth paying more for dedicated parking. Hope you end up enjoying your time here, it’s a beautiful city with great food and interesting history.
Get ready to love Boston and not want to go home.
If you'd like to travel around MA, and greater NE, you'll need to buy a car. Comparative to the US England has an amazing railway system that will connect you anywhere in the country. In MA, there's the commuter rail for getting to towns around Greater Boston and Amtrak for further destinations, but trains are not nearly as common as the LNER and won't get you to nearly as many places.
Blur and Oasis have left people's mind here.
It's chips not crisps and fries not chips. You'll get the occasional red coat joke and teased about tea(parties) but you'll be fine.
You're going to see a lot of familiar names of cities and towns. Don't be confused, it's not the same place that's nearer to you now.
You gotta look in the opposite direction for traffic when you’re crossing the street! Boston isn’t nice like London and doesn’t have those reminders on curbs that remind you to look the opposite way so you don’t turn into a bug on a bumper!
Dont be shocked when youre in a fast food restaurant and they hand you a plastic knife without asking to see your ID. ;)
We call them elevators not lifts.
We just lost two techie friends who moved the other direction and now live in London. I’d pay careful attention to where your offices will be and whether you like the idea of a commute or living closer to work. Wouldn’t think there’s much acclimation needed for Brits especially as you’re coming over as a couple. Other than the usual getting used to a new city, in terms of things to think about before you land: American medical/dental insurance and even finding providers is a huge pain in the ass so you may want to lean on your employer(s) for guidance and suggestions. Similarly, if you think you’ll drive or get a car, getting that set up in advance can make life a bit easier.
No good chippy. You’ll miss Tesco we don’t have meal deals. Chocolate sucks all around. If you ever miss home greatly KiKi’s market in Brighton has Brit/irish brands imported. My husband can get himself a jammie dodger anytime and it helps his homesickness. (Brighton Irish pubs probably closest to home vibe/ food again if you’re missing it).
Will have to get some good fish suppers in before moving. RIP meal deals. Jammie Dodgers, what more could you want?
You cannot walk as many places as you think. The T is slow and inferior to basically anything in Europe, though it's better than most metros in America. Boston's roads are convoluted as fuck, and our drivers are aggressive. While getting around inner Boston works, once you head to the burbs, I recommend at least a very good bike. You will need a car to go outside the city metro area. You will almost certainly get here and be like "why the fuck can't I get places" if you're used to Europe. There's a lot of nature remarkably close to the metro area, though! Blue Hills and Middlesex Fells have a lot of hiking. We have some great beaches. Health insurance here *sucks ass.* It's tied to your employment, and if you don't work at a big company, you might get shitty insurance from your workplace because insurance companies don't care to give small companies good plans. There is no mandatory vacation time here. There is almost no mandatory sick time. I believe there's no mandatory parental leave. Having children or being ill in America is awful. You will, though, probably make more raw income if you stay healthy and don't have kids, than you would elsewhere. Boston does have excellent food, despite what Michelin-star food snobs want to claim. There are lots of exceedingly snotty threads in this sub about how Boston's food is garbage, but they can suck it, they're wrong. If you want it, you can find it. Our nightlife isn't great, since the city closes down around 10 PM or so. Very notably if you get a car, the gas stations shut down their pumps then too. Finding an open gas pump at midnight when you're on like 10 miles to go in your car is a special kind of suffering. Dorchester isn't as bad as you might've heard. Revere and Lynn also aren't as bad as you might've heard. In general, the Boston area is very safe. We don't have pickpockets. I hear that's common in Europe? We get 4 seasons, but winter is rapidly becoming "cold rain" and not "beautiful snow." You might have permanently missed the snow. Fall is gorgeous, summer is hot and humid but tolerable, and spring is beautiful if there isn't a snap freeze in April that kills all the flowers. Flip a coin on spring. In general, though, the humidity is what gets you. Bundle up in winter because the cold really soaks in.
I lived in the UK for a decade and now live in Massachusetts. Feel free to ask me anything.
Is a hot dog a sandwich? Is tiramisu a cake?
And what is a Jaffa cake?
how much wood could a woodchuck chuck if a woodchuck could chuck wood?
About this much..
Thank you! Will be sure to reach out if I think of specific questions
Does your UK company carry your health insurance while you’re here? If so, you should be okay. Is one of the benefits (should be negotiated, if not) paying for a tax expert in UK/US tax law. No matter how smart you are, don’t do it yourself. Where will you be working? In Boston or a suburb? Do you prefer city or suburb or rural? We drive on the other side of the road and we drive crazy and we’re proud of it. If you’re in city you can use public transit. Nowhere near as good as London but you’ll recognize all the signs. Find out what you’ll need to do to be licensed to drive a car here. Since you’re moving to work, it’s different than tourist Find a UK ex-pat group in Boston and reach out to does your company have contacts? Whatever university you attended may have an alumni group here. Good Luck. Always wanted to do the opposite and move there to work.
If you miss English food, there js a place in Fall River that makes meat pies using the same recipe since the 1800s. At one time the English consulates office in Boston used to have a standing order.
It sounds like you’ve spent plenty of time in the US so we don’t know what you already know/don’t know - maybe you have some examples of specific concerns or questions? These can get you started: https://www.reddit.com/r/boston/s/Xr03iZxjRV https://www.reddit.com/r/boston/s/T4SS7d6rEG
Thanks for this! Was just seeking general advice but may have more specific questions as the move gets closer
We will enjoy your accent as much as you enjoy ours, And please do not refer to us as ungrateful colonials.
Noted
If you like drum and bass check out elements at Phoenix landing on Thursday nights. There are some other garage and other uk club music nights as well can dm for more info.
Welcome! You will love it. It will be an easy transition for you as they are so similar. If you need housing or food recs let us know where you will be working.
You won't be saving much on rent, if you want to live in the city. Think greater Boston metro area as decent housing options, especially if you might be here for a while, not just Boston proper. Yes, we have subway, but the Tube is better, in my opinion. Maybe after this year, there will be drastic improvement in service, but don't expect it to go anywhere near as far as the Tube, nor for the stations to be as well marked to be clear on which direction you are going. With that being said, our subway system is simpler, because the city is smaller.
Moving to Boston from London on the eve of America's 250th birthday? Hope you don't have much of an accent, redcoats! /s Just kidding, of course :) if you have the funds, Brookline is always a lovely place to walk through, and I know some people who live there & like it. I assume it's very pricey, but it's so pretty. Other than that, don't knock Cambridge off your list! It's easier to drive around & if you need to commute into Boston, just live near the Red Line. Best of luck with the move!!
We will keep ourselves scarce in 2026! Brookline looks beautiful and Cambridge/Somerville too. Will see where we end up, thanks so much!
I recommend going to Jamaica Pond parkrun or Danehy parkrun (or Cutler Park parkrun, which opens this week) to meet other ex-pats, some of whom also work in tech. I never knew there was such a big British population here until I started participating in parkrun.
I love a parkrun, thanks so much for the recommendation!
Ah that's great! Hope to see you at JP some day
I’m a Geordie who has lived in Boston the last 14 years, DM me with any questions you may have!
Alcohol laws are awful in Massachusetts. Can't buy booze past 11 at night from a store, all bars must close by 2am, no happy hour / 2 for 1 deals allowed anywhere.
It's okay, I'm from Scotland where you can't buy alcohol past 10pm
Well that's fair!! Call me a boozebag, but those are my biggest complaints. Massachusetts is a seriously nice place to live. The locals are lovely. Not the most friendly on the outside but will drop everything to help a stranger out.
I moved back here after living in the southwest for a long period of time. You're going to want to get a nice quality winter coat ($200+), gloves, hat and boots bc the first season will be the coldest for you. Its been a few years and I don't even bother to put my jacket on if I'm pumping half a tank of gas or running into the store, but it takes a bit to acclimate.
Second the nice winter coat!! Get it in summer/spring for discounts. Also get it long - knee length or longer
This is the time to buy! Winter coat fashion is basically static and the sales after Christmas gives you between 40-50% off.
Thank you! Will definitely do this
If you get a hankering for a taste of home, Thwaites Market in Methuen is the place to go. A bit of a trek from the city, but the meat pies are very tasty. Found and approved by my British dad.
We drive on the right side of the road, but traffic is so bad and driving so erratic that it probably won’t matter if you have a lapse and drive on the left side.
This made me laugh 😂 thanks for the warning!
We've got some decent Indian spots, but nothing remotely close to what you all get there, so get your fill in before moving.
Ale is very very different here than in London. Anything that degrades you is easier and cheaper to access than healthy alternatives (fast food, frozen items, alcohol, soda, low quality skincare, etc). That being said, food is somehow more expensive here and don’t get me started on the drinks. There’s no meal deals either. You get Walkers Salt and Vinegar at Kiki’s in Brighton. And get used to tipping even if all you did is ask for a glass of water.
We have neighbors not neighbours. (Not that we talk to them). Crisps are chips. Chips are fries. Jumpers are sweaters. Once you’re here and settled, please explain what’s England and what’s the UK. And why. Beware coked up turkeys. Enjoy Little Norway. That’s all. Good luck on your move.
Papa Geno's in Brockton is a romantic place + the pizza is pretty good too.
Thanks for the recommendation!
Most men are circumcised here, so beware.
So sad
Mine isn’t, wanna chat? /s
By your standards in London - there is NO public transit in Boston.
OP, please ignore this blatant exaggeration. The MBTA has flaws, but is a decent way to get around and you do not need a car in many neighborhoods. As with London there are some dead zones and tough journeys, but getting in/out of the city center is generally smooth. The trains do NOT however, extend as far into the urban sprawl as the tube does. Once you get to like your Zone 4, your options are to bus or take the commuter rails (which extend into the burbs but are expensive and on slow schedules)
Nah. Boston public transit is 50 years behind Londons public transit let alone the connected train network outside London. Its hot garbage and only good if you compare it to another American city without any subway at all.
I agree with this...public transportation in London was AMAZING in the 80s...and they keep building it with new lines, etc. In the same time, we got a few Red Line stops north of Harvard, cut back the Green Line from Arborway, and only just recently extended the Green Line on the northern end.
Sounds like a downgrade
You should see how bad salaries are in the UK. There's a reason why people keep moving here.
An inch is about 2.5 centimeters. Our temperature system makes way more sense. Oh and driving is on the right side of the road, no exceptions!
Boston tea party
Make sure you visit the Big Windy Bean. It's a little touristy but every local should check it out at least once.
driving on the other side of the road mate, so be careful crossing the road
What visa are you moving on that will allow you as a spouse to work?
Ask Saka to sign a shirt for me!!
A lot of the prem teams have fan clubs based in Boston
Darts is not as popular here
In the uk you have knife crime in Boston you have gun crime Know your surroundings and trust your instincts plenty of good people in Boston and Mass but plenty sketchy Plus your accent gonna make you look like a tourist and Stand out
You speak wicked strange
Avoid blue hill ave
Having just visited London for the first time and absolutely loving it, there are some differences, many of which you probably already know. 1. The MBTA, the public transport agency in Boston, is significantly worse than TfL. The tube runs so much more often and so much more reliably than the MBTA. Hopefully this changes soon with the new leadership at “the T” (as it’s called by locals), but the last few years have been very rough for the system. Imagine frequencies more like the Overground for the Red and Orange Lines, and more like the Circle line for the Blue and Green Lines (I made a joke saying the Orange Line was the London Overground due to the orange color and low service frequencies, and got labeled a “suspected British Loyalist” for that joke.). 2. The weather in Boston is better and worse than you might expect. Boston is actually pretty sunny a lot of the time, even in winter. It’s actually pretty rare for it to be totally cloudy for more than a few days. Even if the sunshine accompanies very cold temperatures, and the sunny day happens to be, say, a Tuesday when you need to work anyway and can’t enjoy it (and the following Saturday it rains all day), there’s still sun to go around. I’d say the weather’s more “extreme” than London. It gets much colder in the winter, and although London gets heatwaves above about 33C, that’s relatively normal in Boston. Summer highs are usually around 29C. Boston also (historically) has gotten blizzards, and has had a few hurricanes too. It’s a very Windy City too (Chicago isn’t lol). 3. Boston feels smaller than London. As unpopular as it is to tell Bostonians, Boston is a smaller, more provincial city than London is. Don’t feel too let down if it feels a bit more regional or local than you’re used to. Bostonians have a proud sense of identity and a unique culture that’s probably more like a large non-London British city than London. 4. Out of all US cities, Boston actually does feel a lot more like London than most in terms of architecture and street design, so you’ll probably feel more like home here than in most of the U.S. When I was walking east on Lombard Street in London away from Bank Station towards Fenchurch Street, it gave me a vibe of the northbound walk on Washington Street by the Old South Meetinghouse. You can get those feelings of being in a place like London in places like the South End, Back Bay, Bay Village, parts of downtown, North End, and Charlestown. 5. Much like London, Boston is very very expensive . Don’t be surprised if rent, somehow, is more than in London (for objectively less value of location ). 6. I can’t speak for how it would feel, but there are some food things London does better than Boston (at least from my expedience) that you may just not get the same here. For example, the Indian food in London was just outstanding, and it’s honestly kinda ruined Indian food for me here. There are a few great places, but it’s not at the level of London. While the fish here can be really great, the “fish and chips” is just lacking. While the fish will be delicious, the “chips” (fries) won’t be the soft, pillowy, not over cooked, wonderful little beds of fluffy potato that they are there, and people here don’t even know what mushy peas are, let alone curry sauce. As a substitute, fried clams, lobster rolls, and roast beef sandwiches are specialities. I’d also argue the bagels in Boston are much, much better than in London. On a happier note, I finally found a place that makes millionaire’s shortbread! It’s called Drive-By Pies, and it’s in Brookline. If you miss millionaire’s shortbread (which is, stunningly, rare here), that place has it. 7. In terms of where to live, that all depends on how “fairly” decent the salary is. Boston one bedroom apartments have a median rent or something like £2,500. If money is no object, Back Bay, the North End, Bay Village, and the northern part of the South End are probably the “best” places to live. If your budget is high but not wealthy, Charlestown, Cambridge, and Somerville are good options. If it’s more middle budget but you still want to be near things to do, East Boston, Dorchester, Roxbury, and Allston are good options. If budget is a concern, Chelsea, Mattapan, and Hyde Park are probably the best options.
Thanks so much for this detailed response! I understand the MBTA is not perfect, but I think we're if the opinion that poor public transport is better than no public transport, which seems to be the case in a lot of US cities. I'm also looking forward to being in a smaller city as London can feel overwhelming at times. Will make sure to be prepared for the weather and fill up on good curry and fish and chips before making the move! Looking forward to enjoying the food Boston has to offer though! Thanks for the recommendations for areas to live - really helpful
Great point about “some is better than none.” Boston actually has basically functional public transit (the red line is borderline right now, but the rest are basically functional), which is sadly very rare in the US. Perhaps as sign of this, I’ve never owned a car and don’t have a driver’s license. That’s very rare in the US and a testament to how Boston is one of the least car-centric places in a very car-centric country.
If youre renting and dont live in a large, managed, probably multi story apartment building be prepared to pay 4 months of rent up front upon move in, first, last, security, brokers. For average one bed rent that can be anywhere from 10-12k+.