Is it friendlier Up North?

Devon seems very friendly. As do many towns in the South.

City people do not seem friendly. We prefer to drive to shops where we feel valued and receive good customer service, where people are decent, polite , kind and friendly. I won't compromise my values just to use a shop that's nearby when I can shop somewhere I am happy to spend money.

Recently used some shops and a cafe within a residential area on the edge of a city. Will not be going back as the area was clearly only catering to people who live there and the cafe owner went very quiet upon finding out we were not from there. Ridiculous.

The friendliest city in the South I have passed through was Portsmouth, where a lady advised me to be careful using the soap dispenser because I'd end up with liquid soap all down me

In many cities in the South nobody would have told a stranger they may end up with (white) liquid soap all down their front. Not a good look!

My daughter's have grown up in France. On a recent trip to Yorkshire they remarked on how 'people talk to you as if they know you'

I suppose that might be a bit disconcerting for some, the over familiarness?

The friendliest person ever was in Holland. He had overheard that we were lost and proceeded to butt into the conversation and direct us in perfect English. I don't think that would happen in the South of England (they would leave you to get lost unless you were in a small town or maybe Portsmouth) but up North you'd probably be helped.

Monica, Hull is unique I can say so from experience don't judge the rest of the North on Hull.
If a person calls you "arsy", and you complain and you are shouted at for complaining I think that says it all. They are unique, proud and judgemental.
It's not called "the elephant's graveyard ", for no reason. That comment was made to me by someone born and bred there.

I'll agree with Kate1949, Fleurpepper kittylester and anyone else who says that Midlands people are friendliest 😀

We moved to Shrewsbury soon after we married and the first thing we were asked was 'Do you hunt?' Next question was 'Do you shoot?', Then 'Do you fish?'. As we did none of those things it was the end of the conversation.

Oh goodness, it all depends on how you pronounce Shrewsbury that matters!!
My mother (family from Shropshire) pronounced it Shroosbury.
A boyfriend I had at college was affronted and said it was Shrosebury (he was posh, well, actually his family was snobbish).

Perhaps people are more outgoing up North - and round here we talk ourselves related to all and sundry, especially in queues or on public transport - but that doesn’t necessarily mean people are nicer. We’ve never been short of strangers helping us out when we need it wherever we’ve been in this country, even in that there London. As for Hull, we spent a couple of days there recently and people couldn’t have been friendlier. Whenever we stopped to get our bearings we got recommendations of where to eat and what to see whether we needed them or not.

That's lovely to hear Maggiemaybe just as it should be.
I've never, to my knowledge, been to Hull though I crossed the Humber bridge once.
I guess it's much the same as anywhere.
Some lovely people; some cross patches.
I'm a cross patch today as I've just had a front tooth extracted and can neither talk nor eat.
If anyone asked me for directions today I might shout swear at them!

We moved to North Shropshire from Cambridgeshire nine years ago. Perhaps it’s the slower, more relaxed pace of life here but total strangers make eye contact and greet you on the street - it’s certainly much friendlier than when I lived in London! There’s also greater courtesy shown towards other drivers which has to be a positive thing.

I'd say (being a northerner who has lived in other areas of the UK) that northern people are more likely to chat to strangers on buses, at bus stops, in shops etc.

Interesting question. Myself being brought up in the north of manchester moved south when i got married as my husband got job in hertfordshire - and such lovely people down there and we moved back north to then come down to warwickshire and had neighbours here who did not even speak to us for years and years - weird which i do believe stories like this if english people move over to Wales, and only have been to London on day outing but I DO BELIEVE ITS THE PERSON THEMSELVES AND NOT THE AREA BUT WHO KNOWS THE TRUTH.

but having said all of that above, I will talk to anyone here where i live if for instance waiting at the bus stop to make polite conversation nothing too heavy or personal of a conversation and that there is nothing wrong with being polite in a shop/store or a pub/restaurant helps the day be a better one.

Scotland is a very friendly country - north and south, east and west.

My daughter and family moved from Surrey to Northumberland this year (due to house prices) and they have found the people very friendly.

yes

As a northerner from Sunderland I’ve lived overseas and here visited most of uk and i can confirm we are lol i can talk to anyone anywhere but unfortunately not everyone in other parts of the country do. I dated a guy from just outside London and boy were his neighbors hard work even in the shops ppl wouldn’t even reply just ignore you. Being ex military I’ve yet to meet any other places that are like us but I’m a ppl person I’d talk to the wall if I thought I’d get a reply lol

Yes it is. I'm a southerner who moved up North 12 years ago. In my experience, Northerners look like they're going to growl at you, but then inevitably are friendly.

No … I moved from the North back South few years ago,
The south seems more respectful and polite

Went on a visit this summer and the town I went has deteriorated badly, along with the lifestyle and first time ever I didn’t feel quite safe
Friends from the North found the same when visiting us and only stay in the North as it’s lot cheaper, ..

My Mum was from Leeds and married Dad and lived in London all her long married life. She reckoned most Londoners were unfriendly, especially if they heard her accent. I wouldn’t know being brought up in London - they seemed ok to me but that was people I grew up with and went to school with. One thing I do know, Londoners are suspicious of strangers and often with reason !

aonk

If my Northern DILs family are anything to go by my answer would be no! I’m sure they’re an exception!

Agree. Married to a Yorkshireman for 50 years. Have been told to my face how unfriendly Southerners are and wonder why I cant warm to them. Had the mickey taken about my accent, had it stated that Southerners are stinking rich, self centred and selfish. This from my husbands family. I accept they are not the norm. There are all types of people, some friendly others downright rude.

When I moved to England, The Midlands, I found it strange people not chatting to each at bus stops, etc; maybe it was my accent they couldn't understand though.... Then I moved around Warrington, etc and found they were more chatty and would say hello to you. I'm back in now in N.Ireland and we would chat away to anyone, even the dog in the street if it would answer.

I'm Glaswegian, but have lived in London, Devon and now reside on Merseyside. Glasgow is definitely friendly, everybody talks to anybody. London was different, everybody always rushing about, no time to talk. Never really knew the neighbours. Devon was not good for me, I think they had a distrust of the Scots; I found it very insular, even after living there for over 30 years. As soon as I arrived on The Wirral, I felt at home. People are genuinely kind and caring, especially to older folk. They show interest in other people's lives (without being nosy) and are keen to help those less fortunate.

I have lived up north, I am a Southerner, and now I am back down south, really as far South as you can get, I am in Brighton. Wherever I live I am friendly, I talk to people in bus queues or in supermarket queues. Saw a girl in the street and told her I really liked her hair style, she was really pleased and thanked me. I am now 80 and have always been this way, I remember my Mum saying to me 'You talk to anyone' and I do.

Friendliest place I have known is Dublin, then Liverpool.
Have spent a lot of time in London without living there and always find myself talking to someone.
Found Surrey a bit stand offish on the whole, but again, friendly individuals, it’s hard to generalise.
I’m in the north but in a prime golf club area and the members and neighbours (but not my late golfing DH) can be a pain in the bum. Same with the local drama society. Neighbours keep to themselves.

I find if you are friendly to people the reciprocate anywhere in the UK (including London) and around the world