I hate living here

It just struck me, Gabriella, that your situation is a little like being retired -- no longer with a job "identity", no real reason to get up and going every morning, no chance of an income but not ready to see yourself as belonging with the "old fogies".
I sympathize. Before I retired, they offered us a workshop on dealing with transitions. The gist of it was that you go through phases.  Don't expect to be settled in a new life right away. At first you deal with an ending to your old way of life -- and that is tough. You're disoriented and grieving. But the ending is the first part of the process and not the last. Then you go into a neutral zone. People often go into reclusion and want to be alone to take stock. Sort of a retreat. And finally when you are renewed and ready, you can make a new beginning.
So, I think what people here are suggesting is that you work towards the neutral zone and try to find things that will help prepare you for the new beginning. And it does take time.

Only beware of Romulans.  They tend to hang out around the Neutral Zone and have cloaking devices.

HA! Sorry.   

The time of year may be working against you, too.

I got here (on a fiance visa) at the end of July and I had a few months of sun and warmth to sit outside, go to a park, go for a run.... basically be outside or go somewhere without freezing!  It was really nice.  I'm looking forward to summer now.  

If I had come here just a few months later, like you, the winter and the cold would make the situation sooooo much suckier.    It harder to do stuff outside and the lack of sun and daylight might affect you, too.....

I'm not trying to say it will all be better when summer (eventually!) comes, but it might help.  

Oh lordy. You live in Grange? You have my sympathy! Is is very isolated ( but yes, beautiful). I know. My now ex worked there for a year but fortunately we lived in Kendal. It doesn't help that this time of year is pretty slow throughout the Lakes.

Kendal is your best bet for a quick day out. Have you been there? I hope there's a bus but I know rural areas have been hit hard with cuts. Check it out. I lived there many moons ago but at last check, Kendal had decent shopping, a cute library (maybe more activities to check out there), an arts center, etc.

Once you get your visa, my best suggestion is to get involved in something if you can. Volunteer at an NHS trust property or join a rambling club. The local 'younger' women (i.e. in their 40s) are in general friendly but insulated. Many have lived there their entire lives and are not accustomed to having new people in their circle. Breaking in takes time. All the above ideas are good though. Just remember that it *may* take you even longer to feel comfortable there due to how isolated Grange is. Try setting little goals to keep yourself motivated.

I have more to say, but must run... Will try to post more later!

Good luck!

I've been in the UK for two months now and I hate it. Don't get me wrong the people are lovely but I can't stand it. I sold my car before coming over and now I have to walk everywhere. The shops close so early and there's nothing to do but go to a pub. I haven't made one friend.

Don't be so hard on yourself.  You've only been here 5 minutes!
Most people don't start making friends until they start working... so you still have that to look forward to.

In the meantime... relax, go to the pub and enjoy having a bit of freedom! 

Sorry to hear you are having a hard time but it is very early days.
My wife moved here in 2008, we married in the States so she could look for work as soon as she got here but it was  a year before she found work. In that time she did used to get very depressed, I often heard her crying when she'd gone to bed early and like you all she could do was walk into town and not sure about spending as she had no funds of her own. But she spent time working on the house and garden just getting things more to her liking. Driving was terrible for her, took her 4 attempts to pass her test and then once she had she wouldn't drive becaus eshe hated the roads. The fact that I worked at the same place she found a job meant we car-shared which meant she could get away with not driving. I was culpable in that because I didn't "make her" drive, I would just drive because she said she didn't want to. The turning point on that was me losing my job in Oct which meant she either had to drive or face a 3 hour round trip commute on the train. In my last few weeks we had her driving with me at the side of her and now she's driving fine.
She does say that she doesn't see herself going back, and I know it's not just her saying that to me, I overhear her taking to friends or family on the phone, or her comments on facebook pages that she loves it here and loves her life here. Yes there are things she misses, we go back once a year and she's generally ready for that taste of the States by the time it comes around.
It's different for everyone of course, but I'm just wanting to show that it can and does get better.

Calm down.  Breathe.  Everything's ok, I promise.

What you're feeling is perfectly normal, and understandable.  But you need to cut yourself some slack.  You've been here two months.  Eight weeks.  That's no time at all!  And it's like Phatbeetle said-- for some reason, most people seem to hit a wall right around this point.  It's just one of those things.  Two months in, I was ready to go home, too.  But I'm (usually, mostly) glad I haven't.

It's not a great situation right now, with not being able to work or drive.  It would drive anyone nuts!  Throw in wedding planning and the associated money worries on top of that, and you should be commended for not having flung yourself off a bridge yet!  (Please don't fling yourself off a bridge.)

Things will get better.  Right now, just try to relax.  Focus on your wedding planning, and on getting to know your way around.  Try to make yourself go out of the house, get familiar with local public transport.  Hop on a random bus or train and see where it goes.  Explore!  

Even though you can't start working or volunteering yet, there's nothing stopping you from looking.  Check out the website for your local volunteer centre, or Volunteering England/Scotland.  You can see what sorts of opportunities are available in your area.  You could even pop by your local volunteer centre for a chat, just to see what's happening in the area, and let them know what you're looking for and when you'll be available.  There's also nothing to stop you from polishing your CV, looking through job ads to see what sorts of things are available, etc.

Also, remember-- no matter how remote or isolated your new community feels, there's more going on than you think.  It can be really hard in small towns, but if you really look, there's stuff out there.  You just have to dig for it.

First off, as you can see you've come to the right place. Have a nose around and you'll soon realize you aren't as alone as you think!

I'd like to mention that you can drive on your US driving license for one year from entry. Perfectly legal. So if you can get up the gumption of hiring a car, you can go just about anywhere.

Recently I was back in the UK for 7 months over late fall, winter and early spring. I took my camera and would go walking, taking photographs and writing about it on a blog I started. It not only gave me something to do, but it kept me in touch in a different way with my friends and family, introducing them to my world. I've not updated it in a while due to work commitments, but maybe something like this could keep you busy two or three days a week: http://photographd.wordpress.com.

Also, never underestimate the power of exercise in making one feel better. Taking up yoga or cycling or running or hill walking, especially in your neck of the woods, will not only allow you to meet people, but help your mood! Also, there must be an outdoor shop or two in your area, and they'll have the "in" on the free hiking groups and related activities. One thought -- Sweaty Betty has a free yoga or pilates class and a weekly running group. There might be something similar this nearby?

When I read your post, I was going to suggest photography and/or writing as something you could do and then I saw that you already actually like photography.    Maybe you could try selling your photos online to American companies, etc.  I know I do a lot of writing for the Internet and make money that way.  I get paid through PayPal, etc.  I don't think that would interfere with the not being allowed to work since you'd be a freelancer getting paid by American companies, etc., but you'd have to check for sure.  There are a lot of ways to make at least a bit of money on the Internet.

Maybe you could start a blog about your life there and let people know what the area is like, etc.  It might help you get more interested in your surroundings.  My British husband and I are in America and I'd kill to be in the UK, lol, but I know the grass is always greener.  Maybe I wouldn't like it and settle in as well as I think I would.

I will pray for you that things get better.  I bet they will improve.  There are sure a lot of people on here that have been what you're going through and they all seem willing to offer a hug, advice or just understanding.

When I read your post, I was going to suggest photography and/or writing as something you could do and then I saw that you already actually like photography.    Maybe you could try selling your photos online to American companies, etc.  I know I do a lot of writing for the Internet and make money that way.  I get paid through PayPal, etc.  I don't think that would interfere with the not being allowed to work since you'd be a freelancer getting paid by American companies, etc., but you'd have to check for sure.  There are a lot of ways to make at least a bit of money on the Internet.

Working, even while being paid for an American company, is not allowed on a fiancee or visitor visa.  No work means no work.

The OP has decided that 2 months in the UK is enough for her, and is heading back to  the US.

 

Visit London. I'm from Manhattan but London is a 1000 times more exciting and cosmopolitan. The West End is fantastic, as are the museums, and London is a collection of villages.

Remember: you have moved to another country. This isn't the USA and you shouldn't expect it to be. Of course you cannot work without a visa, but that's no different from the USA. Same for needing a driver license.

Try Open University. I did and it is fantastic.Bury yourself in study. Or go onto the British Council website and book yourself onto some tours. Learn the history of the UK. It has history!

Give it time. I was a Peace Corps Volunteer years ago. 40% quit after two months. I stayed in touch with my ex-Volunteers. They regretted it.

The OP has decided that 2 months in the UK is enough for her, and is heading back to  the US.

Non-resident fees, even for the OU, are well beyond the ability of most new immigrants to pay now.