Is it friendlier Up North?

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).

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 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.

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'

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!

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.

Aveline all our replies are based on personal experience, which essentially means a relatively small area.

My friend was unfortunate enough to move to Hull, so my experience is based on her stay there. She had previously lived in another part of Yorkshire when she was young, in work, and well paid and been happy, which was why she returned north, but as an older woman, on her own and not well off it was a different story.

I think with people in the South, it just takes them a bit longer to suss you out. We lived in an Essex village at the end of the tube line for three years when DH was stationed in London, and none of the local people spoke to me for ages - partly because I had a northern accent (with the rough edges knocked off!) and partly because I was part of a small military community and as such we were treated worse than the travellers that passed through the area regularly. After about eighteen months I got a part time job with a local firm and people started to thaw, added to which I got to know a few parents through school activities and junior sports quite well. Two weeks before we left for our next posting a lady I worked with asked me if I fancied coming to a WI meeting! That was acceptance, but too late😁. You have to work at these things.

My uncle who was from and lived in Southern Ireland, used to say hello to everyone he passed when walking here in Birmingham. He couldn't understand why people didn't do it automatically like they did where he lived.

That was just my experience Aveline.
I stay at my DS in Cambridge and that isn't as friendly IMO as here in Scotland.
We greet everyone with a hello each time we go for a walk. and sometimes we stand chatting for ages

Devon, Hampshire, (New Forest end) Liverpool, Cumbria Lancashire - all seem friendly enough. Never lived in London so I wouldn’t know.

BigBertha1

I'm in the North West and I disagree with Loose Women - but I usually do - mad women. People seem to be friendly to each other but the sound of my accent (which I don't think I have) they close off.

I'm sorry you got that treatment Big Berthal1.
I got it in our village because they did not realise I was really from an area nearby, I had acquired a different accent. They talked in their own dialect in front of me and one day I couldn't help but laugh, they realised I had understood every word they said and then I answered them in dialect.
Now I just shout "Huw do," the local greeting like they do

You said it yourselfAveline If you are friendly you get it back.If you behave as if you're superior you're on a loser in Weegieland .Maybe you could have spoken to folk at the bus stop,you'd have got somebody's life story

Sorry to disagree with Grammaretto but I was so disappointed in Glasgow. No chat while waiting in bus queues or in shops.
Meanwhile, in London, I received very helpful advice when I was unsure where to go. A nice man saw me looking at my map and helpfully turned it the right way up. We were just discussing where I was going when a lollypop lady said she was going that way and offered me a lift. They were both such transparently nice people that I abandoned my native caution and accepted the lift and arrived safely at my accomodation.
Southerners are great! Northerners are great too. Just people. Mostly kind. We only tend to hear bad news about others as that's what sells. Apparently.

I moved from the black country in the West Midlands to the north west never met such warm friendly people. Neighbours who actually care if they don't see me for a few days. And the health care here is second to non. My brother and sister in law moved to North East say the same thing.

I can back that saying up. I originally come from the North East and moved to the midlands 34 years ago. Definitely not the most friendly of areas even after all those years. I have tried my best with lots of people and they are just plain old unfriendly. Northern people are the best!

I was in Glasgow looking lost and several people offered me directions.
I don't believe that would happen in Edinburgh because they are so used to tourists whereas there is still in Glasgow or any other Scottish city that sense of ownership and pride.
Likewise in London, at least the centre, nobody would speak to you incase you thought they were crazy

Yiayia4

Most definitely.I live in Surrey, when I visit my son up north it’s a totally different atmosphere.

My sister moved from the northwest to Surrey, and said it came as a shock to her that people didn't chat to each other and comment on each other's outfits in clothes shop changing rooms like she'd been used to! 😁

I'm in the Midlands and find people will invariably smile and say good morning if I say it first.
Sometimes I set myself a challenge if I see a particularly grumpy looking soul, getting a surprised smile out of them more often than not 😊

I'm in the North West and I disagree with Loose Women - but I usually do - mad women. People seem to be friendly to each other but the sound of my accent (which I don't think I have) they close off.

I'm laughing at the idea of Edinburgh being 'posh'. Like most cities, it does have 'posh' areas, but then there are also areas which are at the polar opposite end of the spectrum. I've never really been anywhere I could class as 'unfriendly' - if you're friendly and chatty to people, they tend to be the same in return, wherever you go. I don't think you can really generalise about any particular part of the country.

Probably friendlier up North. But you can never generalize as it always depends who you're talking to.

I find that people in towns are more friendly than people in cities, at least in seems that way. Down South we have visited places that were extremely friendly (and extremely unfriendly)

Some people in cities are extremely cliquey (village mentality!) and do not want to serve people who are not from "their area". I would not think any small businesses can afford to be. If people support me I will support them right back, but if not then I will spend my money where I am appreciated or where there is value for money.

Some of the outright bigotry displayed on these threads!

Hmmm..... I must admit I started out as per norm. With my DS outlaws- but HER high handed look down me nose attitude (really weird as she was born and raised in Ellesmere!?!?) Really rubbed me up! Plus her constant attempts to completely control everyone (ex head teacher syndrome....) Just infuriated everyone! Apart from that , I married a London boy in 1976 put up with his snobby cold fish ways until 1995 then broke free! The hilarious Irony is I'M the one privately educated and top grammar school etc etc money in fam! But I have NO superiority complex 😂😂 I do call a spade a shovel....... And luv a good laugh which is rare as hen's teeth( or rocking horse sh*t) south of stoke!

I know it's silly really to geographically divide people. No distinction should be made.
I have lived in North and South and found friendliness everwhere.
One of the happiest times was 2 years spent in Birmingham.

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