Dishwashers- oh and showers!

This is here because I had no idea where it would be better placed.
So I haven't wanted to ask this because I did not want to seem vain or even stupid. But in all of the house searches I have done I have never once come across a dishwasher, or even a dishwasher place, so I was kind of wondering if dishwashers were sort of not used in England or maybe I just had the rare misfortune of never being able to see a picture where it is shown. Anyway, I just came across a picture of a dishwasher in a house!!! I was shocked!  So I guess they are used...? But is it common?
And another thing, I kept coming across what looks to be a washing machine (laundry) in the kitchens of many of the places I was looking through so I figured the dishwashers just looked really strange there. Then someone mentioned how the laundry is usually in the kitchen... ok.. strange, but that explained the mysterious machine in the kitchen right where I would assume a dishwasher would be, though it still did not explain why I never see a dishwasher. 

So could someone please give me the low down on UK kitchens?  The refrigerators (besides, I am used to strange refrigerators since my mother in law in Sweden has a fridge the size of a small cupboard... and her laundry room is larger than my living room...  ) all look normal, the stoves and ovens usually look common/normal/explainable, but dishwashers and washing machines/dryers- what's up with those?
And finally, are showers pretty uncommon? I see lots of tubs and lots of tubs without any type of shower connection, and on placed with a shower it is boasted about, so ... ehem, why? Do most people just take baths? If I tell my husband he will no longer be able to take showers he will run the other way, and if I tell my kids there is no shower they will look at me like I have 13 heads and have lost my mind.   

I can give you some answers!

Dishwashers are considered a luxury as they are relatively expensive, cost more to run than simply washing up dishes in a bowl and using a cloth to dry, or leaving to air dry. Also, in smaller houses there might not be room for a dishwasher. There is also the "green" opinion that using electricity to wash and dry dishes is not the done thing.

Washing machines in kitchens is usual as most houses are not large enough to accommodate a utility room. Front loading washing machines, designed to sit under the worktop are common all over Europe, not just the UK. Fridges are often accommodated under the worktop, hence the size. Also we don't keep as much food in the fridge as is usual (in my experience) as in the US, such as eggs, jams, bread.

Showers, standalone anyway, are not as common due to lack of space. Sometimes it isn't possible to have a shower over the bath due to water pressure, lack of clearance etc.

('m interested to know where you are looking for property (rental?) as most of the houses I've seen on Rightmove and PrimeLocation have showers?)

Part of this will depend on the age of the houses you're looking at. If you look at older places then, you're right - you probably won't get space for a dishwasher or a shower or a big fridge. But more modern (i.e., '60s and onward?) places may have those things. No guarantee, but it's more likely.

I've generally found that if you are renting, chances are you won't get a dishwasher or a tumble dryer, because they are not often included (either due to lack of space or the landlord not wanting to spend out on one).

Usually, you'll get a washing machine in the kitchen, plus a fridge under the kitchen worktop, and that will be it (however, one flat I rented in 2010 did have a small dishwasher, plus a fridge and washing machine... however, it didn't have a freezer, so I spent 6 months without the luxury of buying ice cream or being able to freeze food).

A lot of people just don't have room for a dishwasher or a tumble dryer, due to the houses being small and not having laundry or utility rooms (I rent a 2-bed house and all I have is a living room, a tiny kitchen (barely enough room for more than 3 people to stand in it), two bedrooms and a bathroom).

However, you will probably find more in the way of dishwashers and dryers in the suburbs where the houses are a bit bigger - my parents have had a dishwasher for going on 20 years now, and my grandmother has had one for years as well.

In terms of showers, I've never lived anywhere that didn't have a shower (even in flats and student houses), however, most of the time the shower will be over the bath, not separate, as there isn't room for a walk-in shower too. I couldn't live without a shower, because I generally don't like taking baths .

My mother in law had the luxury of not only a washing machine and a tumble dryer, she also had a dishwasher.

She is the only person I know who had all of this.

Fridges like we are used to are called "American-style" and they are a luxury. The under-counter or small, free-standing types are much more common.

A lot of what you get does depend on your location. I'm in greater London, so places tend to be smaller and cramped on space. Our house did not come with either a washer/dryer or a dishwasher, but we've bought our own so we have them. We are spoiled Americans, us!

Showers here tend to be afterthoughts rather than planned features, particularly in the older houses. In houses without showers, you'd probably find a shower attachment on the tub (or buy one of those godawful rubber ones that are impossible to fit over dual taps after your hands are wet). Again, it does depend on how old the building is, so if you're charmed by the idea of a Victorian conversion, this is probably what you're going to face unless it's been *really* recently refurbished.

I've also never heard of places not having a shower.  Often they are part of the bath rather than separate from it--perhaps the descriptions of the houses just don't mention them?

We could have had a dishwasher but opted for a freezer instead.  We have no tumble dryer either.  Less convenient yes, but much, much better for the environment and our energy bills.  There's more to life than convenience .

I have lived in 11 different flats/houses since I came to the UK, and only 2 of them have ever had a shower.

1 place had a dishwasher, but it was one of those small, counter-top models.

1 place had a tumble dryer, but only because I found one for £25 on Gumtree and hauled it in myself.   If I found another one that cheap, I'd get one for my current flat as well, because i hate having damp clothes hanging up all over the place and looking untidy.  But there's no place to put it apart from the bedroom.

There's more to life than convenience .

Absolutely. There are also fluffy towels, and those you don't get by draping sodden terrycloth over a radiator in mid-winter. 

When I was growing up, we hung the towels outside in midwinter and froze them dry.  Fluffy towels are for wimps .

I couldn't have a tumble dryer, the eco-guilt would do my head in. 

you don't get by draping sodden terrycloth over a radiator in mid-winter. 

We don't even have central heating/radiators in this flat, so they just have to go over a clotheshorse or hanging up over doors, etc.  That's the untidiness I can't stand.

I could never live without a shower!!  I hate baths.  I can do without the dryer though and don't mind drying stuff on the radiators for the most part, but it's especially good in the room where my harp and fiddles are as the damp heat won't harm the instruments, but too much dry heat from the radiators will.

Tracey, that must be tough, no heat??

Bah. You can take my organic, locally sourced vegetable boxes and my fairtrade snacks, but I am keeping my tumble dryer! 

Tracey, that must be tough, no heat??

It's not that there's no heat, but there is no central heating, and therefore no radiators.  There is a gas fire in the lounge and an electric fire in the bathroom.  But no other heat, apart from the electric blanket in the bedroom, which I use most of the year.

But I don't really consider it a problem.  Yes, you come home to a freezing house, because you can't set the heat to come on before you get in... you have to switch it on manually, but once it gets going, it's warm, so not a problem.

I guess I'm lucky. We have a very decent sized fridge/freezer. Not as big as we had in the States, and the drawers in the freezer do my head in, but I don't think I could do with a small one under the counter. We have a washer/dryer but the dryer function doesn't work well, and I would rather dry my clothes outside or on the radiators. About a month ago, BIL was remodeling his kitchen and decided to get all new appliances (I think they may be selling up soon) and asked if we wanted his old dishwasher. We had room...so hubby said yes. I was a bit mixed about it as I have lived without one for years, and usually washing dishes helps the RA in my hands feel better...but I also have broken enough glasses and plates because of not having a good grip (RA again) so the dishwasher has actually been a God send. I try to stop it before the dry cycle though....I just open the door and let them air dry. We also have a bath and a separate shower cubicle. I would much rather a shower over the bath...as the cubicle is a PITA to clean. Hubby wouldn't be without a shower I don't think though but chicklet and I would be ok without.
It all depends on where you live. MIL has the tiniest cooker/oven, but has a good size washer, and a decent size fridge which is actually in like a little utility room next to the kitchen.

I think this must be semi regional.  I've never lived anywhere without a shower (lived places without a bath though) and have often had dishwashers even in rented accommodation.