Are the English people friendly to American expats?

A question for Americans who have spent some time in England- from what you have seen, what do the English think of American people? Are they nice to you? One English friend told me that they're not too keen with the US government, but tend to like Americans individually, provided they are not loud and obnoxious. One friend told me when I go back to England, that I should tell people I meet that I'm Canadian. I'm not going to do that. When the English heard your American accent- were they nice- or rude to you? Another friend told me that there is an impression that Americans are a bit stupid, like Sarah Palin, but such preconceptions can quickly be dispelled by exhibiting your intelligence in a conversation. What is your opinion?

If you are a single, have you found being American hinders you from meeting people?

Quite honestly, the only non American that ever treated me badly because I was American was a Canadian. I visited a shop in Toronto, and tried to be polite- yet when the merchant discovered I was from the states, he complained to me how much he hated the US and Americans, and told me to leave his store. Yet I had been courtious to him from the moment i entered the store- Have you ever recieve such treatment in England?

I find people are curious...and usually get a 'why would you move here?!' type of initial reaction. That may be more to do with the area of England in which I live. I find the attitude to be very similar to what you friend described..they aren't impressed with our politics, and hate that England is being 'americanised' but overall they like the idea of america and are interested in getting to know individual americans.

I am like HG I find the british are curious...they do offer their opinions on our government..but they generally like Americans...I find that they ask if I am Canadian first because the Canadians don't like to be called American...I have only met 2 people who were disappointed that I was American...but mostly everyone else has been very nice.

I am like HG I find the british are curious...they do offer their opinions on our government..but they generally like Americans...I find that they ask if I am Canadian first because the Canadians don't like to be called American...I have only met 2 people who were disappointed that I was American...but mostly everyone else has been very nice.

I have a hunch calling a Canadian an American is a bit like calling a person from Wales an Englishman- it tends to ruffle feathers..

I have a hunch calling a Canadian an American is a bit like calling a person from Wales an Englishman- it tends to ruffle feathers..

yes, people often ask if I am from Canada and then apologise for being wrong. I always smile and tell them not to worry- it is better to ask an American if they are Canadian then a Canadian if they are American

I think it depends on the British person.  In York, there are many Americans though because of a base near Harrogate and a major University that attracts many Americans and I think that could impact how people react to me.  Every once in a while I've found someone who feels that York is supersaturated with Americans and I would never generalise that people were unfriendly to me about it.  I'm less of an anomaly than I would be in other areas of the UK.  In fact, in some ways I think it is useful to be in an area where Americans are common because once someone establishes I'm here to stay and not a tourist or a student or whatever, they are interested in me the person and not me the American.  Many I have met are also very interested in telling me exactly what they think of America, politically or otherwise.  I've only lived in York, though so I don't know if that is widespread, or if really having quite a few Americans around has made people not be so interested in my 'Americaness'.  Although, I've been a 'token American' to friends when they don't understand something in a US tv show or as a reason to have a bbq in early July.    I've had a very tiny number of people react badly to me based on my nationality but it was only ever a few people.  

So anyway, yes some interest in why I'm here, but mostly people's reactions depend on who they are and to some extent what their preconceptions of America and Americans are.  Mostly, people want to tell me about their holidays to New York or Florida.    

I mostly get "you're a long way from home", "that's not a local accent...?", or a puzzled look as they ask where I'm from, as they can't place the accent. But I've been out of the states for over 8 years, so perhaps my originally midwestern tainted with NYC accent has morphed a bit into something not so easily placed.

Once it is established that I'm from the States, people love to tell me how they've been to Florida or California or how much they want to move to the US.

In general, I've not had any truly negative responses to being from the US originally.

I think it depends on the individuals you meet and maybe where you live. I live in a suburb of a big city, with many many transplants from all over and I feel like a local celebrity...people are always curious about me, and I lap up the attention, I love it. Give me a minute and I will tell you my life story!! That has been a great tool for meeting people and being successful here in the UK. I have bene here for 11 years and I still love meeting people and talking to them. I am sure some people don't like Americans and the goverment, but I am only one person and I very very rarely get comments about the government or anything political.

I agree that it depends on where you are and on the individual people. People in small villages have a reputation for being wary of strangers, but that stereotype exists in the US as well.

My experience has been much like what racheeeee described. 

I have had several people come up to me in the grocery store and ask me where I am from as I have an accent?  I have had no problems with people being rude to me for being American and feel they are just as curious about me as I am about them......I have made some great friends here already with the exception of some of my husband's horsey friends who seem to feel that I am emotionally blackmailing him and alienating him.....but that is another story........overall I do think that the English people are friendly to American expats   

I'm always interested to meet Americans in the UK (I'm a Brit) - and I have to admit that I do occasionally ask where in the US they're from... but that's mostly because I used to live in the US myself and have visited quite a few states, so I'm curious as to whether they're from somewhere I've visited or lived .

One time I was at work (in retail) and an American couple with a familiar accent came in... I asked where they were from and they sarcastically/jokingly replied, "Bristol!" - I explained that I was asking because I recognised their southern accent and that I had relatives in Arkansas. It turned out that not only were they from Arkansas (you don't get many Arkansans visiting Bristol!), but they also lived in the same town as my relatives and the husband sometimes worked in the same building as my aunt !

I do politics at my uni, so I probably do get some, ahem, rudeness, so to speak, about me being an American. Not a lot, but probably more than someone doing a less sensitive subject. Even then, no one here has ever said that they hate me for being an American or kicked me out of their store. I imagine your experiences will vary on your location in the UK. I'm in London so it's not uncommon to run into an American once in a while.

Now on the topic of friends, I find that I need more patient with making friends here in the UK versus back in the states. Or at least that's what I thought I should try, being more patient. Brits are friendly, no problem, making friends with them was the issue for me last year Still is hard sometimes, but I'm much more at ease this year than last year and now I just take it one day at a time.

Now on the topic of friends, I find that I need more patient with making friends here in the UK versus back in the states. Or at least that's what I thought I should try, being more patient. Brits are friendly, no problem, making friends with them was the issue for me last year Still is hard sometimes, but I'm much more at ease this year than last year and now I just take it one day at a time.

Again, this is a completely subjective issue, because I have found making friends here in the UK much much easier than I ever did living in the states. And the friendships I have made are much more meaningful and long lasting than my relationships with other women friends in the states ever were.

New Englanders like me can be a bit 'colder' or more standoffish than southerners or midwesterners. For example, I (being a Bostonian) see no point in sitting next to a stranger on the bus and telling them my whole life story- yet encountered just that in my time living in Texas and Minnesota.
I have a hunch a Londoner is not going to tell their whole life story to a stranger.
I wonder if Americans might acccidently offend or turn people British people off when they in fact attempting to be friendly.