I’m an American living in the UK – here are five things about your homes I find really strange

An American woman living in Britain has revealed a list of typical features and appliances in British homes that have left her ‘confused’.

Helene Sula, also known as @heleneinbetween on TikTok, listed five elements of British homes, such as structure and plumbing, that have baffled her as an American resident.

The travel blogger has lived in Britain since October 2023 and regularly uploads content that focuses on the ‘cultural’ differences between Americans and British, such as in the food we eat and how public transport works.

Shortly after moving to Oxford, Helene, originally from Dallas, Texas, began noticing major differences in the way British homes are built compared to those in the United States.

She revealed the difference in a video on her TikTok, alongside the caption: “Make sense, our British home confuses me all the time.”

She added in a caption to the images, which have received more than 30,000 likes: “Things in British homes that are strange to Americans.”

While including a washbasin in her new home, Helene went on to point out the first feature of homes in Britain that she finds difficult to get to grips with: the ‘double tap’.

In America it is common to have just one tap pouring both hot and cold water, while in Britain many homes still have two separate taps.

She said, “You have to wave your hands back and forth theatrically to get the right temperature.”

She then points out the glass panel on the side of her bath that serves as a shower door for the attached shower head above.

Helene said: ‘This is also the shower door, which is actually there as a joke. Every time we shower, the bathroom floods.”

She continued, “Next, you have to turn on the plugs to get them to work, so make sure you do that because your electronics aren’t actually broken.”

Highlighting the fourth feature in her British home that has left her baffled, she said: ‘The water pressure is super high – which I remember every time I do the dishes and soak my shirt.’

Shortly after moving to Oxford, Helene, originally from Dallas, Texas, immediately began to notice major differences in the way British homes are built compared to those in the United States.

More than 3,600 comments poured in from both American and British viewers, with one Brit writing: ‘I wish the houses were separate’

Finally, she pointed out the typical structure of British houses while recording fairytale-style cottages in the British countryside, jokingly adding: ‘Oh, most houses don’t look like that, most look like 4 Privet Drive.

“And often they share walls, which means you might just hear your neighbor breathing.”

More than 3,600 comments poured in from both American and British viewers, with one Brit writing: “I wish the houses were separate.”

Meanwhile, a number of Americans commented on their thoughts, with one person writing: “The switches on plugs are honestly something we need in North America.”

Another said: ‘I’ve been living in the UK for five months now, the taps and sockets were a bit of a shock at first.’

Elsewhere, another American woman who has made the move from the US to England has revealed all the ‘cute little observations’ and quirks she has noticed about English people.