A Texas-born millennial named Ashley Jackson has gone viral on TikTok after sharing what she describes as the real, unfiltered experience of relocating from the United States to England. Jackson, who spent 20 years living in Austin before making the transatlantic move, now lives in the south Manchester area with her family. Her video, which lists three things Americans should be prepared for before making a similar leap, resonated with a wide audience and sparked a lively conversation about the differences between life on either side of the Atlantic. The response she received made clear that the cultural gap between the two countries is wider than many people expect.
The first point Jackson raised in her TikTok was about the weather, and she did not sugarcoat it. “You’re going to need to toughen up,” she said in the video. “The weather is completely unpredictable. It’s cold, it’s rainy, and then suddenly warm and it can all happen in the same day.” She also pointed out that unlike in the US, air conditioning is virtually absent in most English apartments, which becomes its own kind of challenge during the occasional warm spells. For someone coming from Texas, where triple-digit summer temperatures are routine, this aspect of British life represents a particularly sharp contrast.
Her second observation was aimed squarely at the British sense of humor, which she described with admiration and a hint of defeat. “You will never be as funny or as sarcastic as them,” she said. “You can try, but they will probably always outwit you.” Anyone who has spent time around British people will likely recognize this as an accurate read. Dry wit and deadpan sarcasm are deeply embedded in everyday conversation in the UK, and for Americans who are accustomed to a more direct or expressive comedic style, keeping up can feel like an uphill battle.
@themossycactus You gotta be tough. 😉 What would you add? #britishculture #uk #americanintheuk #visitengland #texaninengland ♬ original sound – Ashley
Her third point was arguably the most lighthearted and the one that struck the biggest chord online. Jackson told her followers that they would not find the overwhelming variety of breakfast cereals they were used to back home. “You won’t have 99 types of cereal for breakfast, but honestly your life might be better for it,” she said. “Here you get about a quarter of that selection.” American grocery stores are legendary for their sheer number of cereal options, and for many expats, the stripped-back choices in British supermarkets serve as an early and unexpectedly symbolic reminder that things are simply done differently here.
Beyond the humor of her video, Jackson also opened up about the more serious reasoning behind her family’s decision to make England their permanent home. She spoke to Newsweek about the motivations behind the move, explaining that her husband is British and the couple had been living together in Texas for seven years. After welcoming two children in 2019 and 2021, right in the middle of the pandemic, they began to reconsider where they wanted to raise their family for the long term.
The factors that ultimately tipped the scales toward England were both practical and personal. Jackson cited the accessibility of healthcare as one of the most significant draws, particularly as parents of young children. She also mentioned the importance of being geographically close to her husband’s family and the support network that comes with that. Stricter gun laws in the UK were another consideration she named explicitly, reflecting a concern shared by many American parents who have grown increasingly anxious about gun violence in schools and public spaces.
Rounding out her reasoning, Jackson highlighted the ease of traveling across Europe from England as a genuine lifestyle perk, along with the abundance of museums, historical landmarks, and cultural institutions that are readily accessible. For families with curious and growing kids, the idea of day trips to ancient castles or free entry to world-class museums carries a real appeal that is difficult to replicate in most American cities. Together, these reasons painted a picture of a deliberate and thoughtful decision rather than an impulsive one.
The broader phenomenon of Americans relocating to the United Kingdom has grown noticeably in recent years, driven by a range of motivations from family ties to lifestyle preferences to political concerns. The UK and US share a language and a great deal of cultural overlap, which makes England a popular first destination for Americans considering life abroad. That said, the two countries diverge significantly in areas like healthcare, housing, food culture, and social customs, which is why firsthand accounts like Jackson’s tend to resonate so strongly. Moving to a new country, even one as familiar-feeling as England, always comes with surprises that no amount of research fully prepares you for.
TikTok has become one of the primary platforms where expats document their experiences and share practical insights with audiences back home. Videos about cultural differences, housing costs, and everyday life abroad regularly rack up millions of views, suggesting a widespread curiosity about what it is actually like to leave one’s home country and start fresh somewhere new. Ashley Jackson’s video fits neatly into this genre while adding a personal and relatable voice to a conversation that many people are clearly eager to have.
If you have ever considered moving abroad or have your own experiences living in a new country, share your thoughts in the comments.
