14 Small American Perks Brits Wish They Could Steal

Brits complain, we critique, but if we’re being honest, some things are just better over there.

As the British, we’ll be the first to say that there are plenty of things that America gets wrong. The way they tip everyone and it’s just expected, put so much ice in their drinks that there really isn’t much drink in them after all, or their love affair with pumpkin-spiced everything from soaps, lotions and coffee to dessert. But, under these American quirks, there are actually some perks that the British wish they could steal. These 14 things make us silently jealous and hopeful that we could bring that American perk over across the ocean. 

1. TV series with 20+ episodes per season

The British often have to settle for TV series with only 6-8 episodes per season, whereas Americans get long-running shows with sometimes more than twenty episodes per season! Brits secretly wish their shows would have that many episodes.

2. Shamelessly loud confidence

Brits can only dream of having the confidence that Americans have. Americans are bold, brave and loud, especially about the things that mean something to them. The British secretly wish they could trade their quiet understatement for the loud confidence.

3. Gigantic beds

Americans tuck into gigantic beds for the night, and frankly, we’re so jealous! The British double-sized bed is 120 centimetres by 190 centimetres, whereas in the United States it’s 137 centimetres by 190.5 centimetres. Why are their beds so much bigger than the ones in the UK, and where can we get one of them?

4. Year-round sunshine

It’s hard to believe for us Brits that some places get year-round sunshine and warmth, but nonetheless, ’tis true! We wish we could steal the year-round sunshine from Americans. Or maybe just borrow it sometimes? Move over, clouds and drizzle, because we want the American sunshine!

5. Drive-thru pharmacies

Yes, the British mutter that it’s ridiculous that pharmacies in the United States often have a drive-thru option. It seems so impersonal. But, beneath that snarky muttering, we’re jealous! We have to get out of the car (and get the kids out if you’re a parent) and talk to all the people in the pharmacy in order to get our prescription. Driving through a quiet drive-thru lane sounds so much better; we just won’t admit it out loud.

6. Wal-Mart trips at 2am

Have you ever had the sudden urge to visit Walmart to get that one thing you just really need at two in the morning? Well, if you haven’t, you’re probably American and have always had this option. Contrary, the British are more prone to regular business hours and Walmart at two in the morning doesn’t fall into that. The British slightly wish they could steal this American quirk! But don’t tell anyone!

7. Obsession with ranch dressing

If all Americans love ranch and pair it with basically everything, they must be onto something, right? We’re of course not wanting to throw away our iconic Marmite spread that we preach about, but we kind of wish we had all the ranch options too!

8. Mega-sized theme park

Yes, we have Alton Towers Resort, which covers approximately 550 acres. But Americans? Their largest theme park is Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida, and it covers approximately 25,000 acres. That’s a HUGE difference between the British and Americans’ largest theme parks. We wish we could have this American perk over on our side of the pond.

9. Overly dramatic weather reports

Tornados and hurricanes definitely sound terrifying, but the weather reports? They’re so entertaining! Especially compared to the British “chance of drizzle”. Americans are warned with reports like “Stormageddon of the century headed for landfall tonight!” We can’t help but be jealous of Americans’ weather antics.

10. Absurd ice cream flavours

The British do love their classic vanilla, chocolate and strawberry ice cream, but two things can be true at the same time. We love our classics, but we definitely wish we had some of the flavours Americans have, such as butter pecan, chocolate chip cookie dough and birthday cake. Or, even some of their more unique ones, like bacon, pickle and peanut butter and jelly!

11. Dunkin’ Doughnuts being on every corner everywhere

The British might like conversing with people more if they could get Dunkin’ Doughnuts so easily too! There are approximately 9,861 locations across the United States, and we’re jealous of our American friends for having all of them.

12. Unlimited internet speeds

Brits quietly lust after America’s lightning-fast, unlimited internet. While we sit through endless buffering and spotty Wi-Fi, they’re streaming, gaming, and binge-watching like it’s nothing. The ability to surf, download, and watch without pause is a small luxury we’d happily swipe… if only we weren’t so polite about it.

13. Love of comeback stories

Deep down, Brits secretly love America’s obsession with comeback stories. From the underdog triumphing against all odds to dramatic redemption arcs, Americans turn adversity into prime-time spectacle. Meanwhile, we quietly sip our tea and mutter “fair play”, wishing we had a little more of that bold optimism in our own stories.

14. Enormous refrigerators

Brits can’t help but be a little jealous of Americans’ enormous refrigerators. While we’re squeezing a week’s shop into a cupboard-sized fridge and praying everything fits, across the pond they’ve got towers of cold storage big enough to host a small grocery store. It’s the ultimate convenience—and a secret source of envy for anyone used to living in fridge-limited Britain.

Final thoughts

Ultimately, the British are happy with who they are and their funny quirks that it seems no one else understands. However, despite that, we still long for these American perks. From having the convenience of going through a drive-thru pharmacy to adventurous ice cream flavours and all the Dunkin’ Doughnuts that you could wish for, these American perks are ones we’d really love to experience. Which American perk would you steal if you could?