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The fact that things here are generally mild due to prevailing winds makes people forget *how far north* the UK is. People think Canada is "far north" but 90% of the population there live south of London.
And whilst the gulfstream winds keep it mild (and damp) here, they can't bring us more sunlight than our actual latitude provides.
If you want to see how unique our climate is have a look at Cfb climates on the Koppen Classification. There's very few countries other than New Zealand that have the same climate as us.
Pigeons! Did you see any pigeons during coronavirus lockdown? No! They were all having their batteries changed and the newer versions were being recharged!
This still doesn’t stop every Brit trying to smugly tell me (a New Zealander) how unprepared I must be for British weather lol. I’m from the South Island, it’s quite literally the same.
It’s pretty similar. Slightly colder winters maybe, slightly cooler summers, rains a bit less frequently (but still rains a lot.) I grew up in Christchurch and now live in London and it feels almost the same as the weather I grew up with.
https://preview.redd.it/uz0ypk5w868d1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2cfe22449a2cfff1ed516fa0a03c400677e30a16
Hopefully this weather actually happens lmao, but I don’t trust it will ha ha
Worth mentioning that the main reason for Europe’s mild climate is because heat is stored in the Atlantic Ocean throughout the warmer seasons and slowly releases during the colder seasons. Very little of it is because of the Gulf Stream etc.
>People think Canada is "far north" but 90% of the population there live south of London.
This is something I love pointing out now that I live in Canada. I was working at a mine site in central BC (~51°N) and we were heading into the winter. In one of our daily safety meetings, our manager told us all to be aware of how far north we are and that the days will be shorter than we may be used to and made a specific comment about me (the only non-Canadian in the team) not being used to the northern latitudes. I nodded and agreed and then pointed out that I spent most of my life 2 degrees further north and that Vancouver was the furthest south I'd ever lived.
it will be nice and cold if the Thermohaline Circulation dies abruptly, we then can call that Younger Dryas II
*Current projections from the IPCC show that the AMOC is unlikely to stop, or collapse, before the year 2100. However, “if such a collapse were to occur," the IPCC says, "it would very likely cause abrupt shifts in regional weather patterns and the water cycle.”*
NASA are such spoil sports... a sudden and sustained dip in global average temps would bring population down to more sustainable levels
Lots of people find lack of sunlight gets them down. There's a thing called Seasonal Affective Disorder. A lot of people in the UK are deficient in vitamin d from the lack of sunlight.
If you're from a warm sunny place, the lack of sun and warmth is more likely to get you down I'd imagine. Same way if I lived somewhere that was regularly 30 degrees I'd definitely find it getting me down, because I really don't like hot weather and I'd feel trapped indoors. When we have long spells of heat in summer I definitely feel it affecting my mood.
If you have a certain type of weather you dislike and you live somewhere that gets a lot of that weather, it stands to reason it's going to get you down.
Please take Vitamin D tablets each day, if you are not 'white skinned' in UK. Our skin has evolved to make sufficient Vitamin D in our poor sunlight hours northern climate, that is why we have a 'white' skin. Not really 'white' just low on melanin content, so we get freckles (tanned spots) rather than go all over brown in tanned skin.
Most white people in the UK and the rest of Northern Europe should also be taking VitD, really, especially during winter – most of us are still deficient in it. Maybe we'd have been doing fine back when people spent every hour of daylight outside, working the fields, but anyone in an office job doesn't get in enough sun
See, I thought about this once and tried it out seeing as I have seasonal affect depression, right? So I started taking a daily Vitamin D supplement.
I had to stop at day 5 because all of the joints in my hands and arms were hurting, and there was one night where I literally could not feel half of my left hand at all. I looked into it and realised that it was a sign of developing Vitamin D toxicity.
If your shadow is longer than you are then the sun isn't bright enough to be making sufficient vitamin D. When it is bright enough then you should be wearing plenty of suncream which will then block the UV anyway.
Ideally you should be getting enough vitamin D from your diet but most people are vitamin D deficient to some extent and would benefit from supplements
Bit D is basically the only vitamin supplement worth taking
NHS advises that everyone in the UK should take vitamin D, regardless of skin colour. Urgently enough that they want vitamin D drops given to breastfed newborns.
There isn’t actually much evidence to suggest vitamin D supplements do anything for normal healthy people.
https://www.thestudiesshowpod.com/p/episode-36-vitamin-d
I’m glad I’m not the only one who dislikes hot weather, the media keeps banging on about the warmer weather next week and I feel weird for dreading it. I just assumed most people enjoy being outside in the heat whilst baking themselves and sweating away.
I've always lived in the UK and I hate it's climate and weather. It's awful. I have seasonal affect and there's only about 1/3rd of the year that the climate here doesn't leave me feeling absolutely awful.
And it's not to do with Vitamin D levels because I literally can't add to them more. When I take Vitamin D supplement, I quickly begin to develop toxicity so have to stop.
In fact, as time has gone on I've become more and more convinced that the Vitamin D explanation for seasonal affect (which is entirely unproven btw - it's not evidenced by research), is just an excuse that allows doctors to not recognise you as disabled and shunt you onto supplements and walks.
And it's worth knowing that what *is* evidenced by research is that climate absolutely can correlate with psychiatric disability. It's been known about for a while now that schizophrenia is *far* more prevalent in the extreme northern hemisphere (Canada, UK, Ireland, Norway etc.) than it is anywhere else, and it's believed to be related to the psychological effects of climate.
I lived in Arizona for a couple of years and agree.
The weather was one of the reasons that I came home. Unbearable and stuck in your house to stay cool.
Beautiful blue skies but had to look at them from behind glass with the AC on
There aren't many inhabited places with cooler summers than the UK lol. Iceland only one I can think of. It's way cooler than the norm here so you're abnormal
I would like Scottish temps, but southern Spain levels of sunshine, our temps here in Ireland are nice but it’s so cloudy and rainy all the time 😭😭
It’s literally just the lack of bright sunshine I find so depressing
You’re right, it’s not the sun that’s the problem it’s the heat. I prefer the longer days this time of year and I like the sun. But if it felt cool and pleasant I’d be happy.
It’s been literally so depressingly cloudy this summer so far here in Northern Ireland, just feels like constant autumn, I need some sun 😭 I’ll actually take the heat with it just to actually get a week straight of sunshine lmao
Eastern Scotland has more sun / less, because it's shielded by the Highlands.
There is the winter though where the days are shorter, but summers are PERFECT for me. Long sunny days that aren't too hot.
England gets very very hot though. I'm Australian annd grew up with heatwaves where the temperature would climb over 40 and I can't stand much above 25 in England, 27 and I literally start crying. In Australia 25 is just about warm enough to be confident not taking a jumper when you leave the house. You guys haven't designed anything for warm weather let alone hot.
It seems nuts to me too, but I work with a lot of Greek people that tell me they LOVE the weather in the UK because it isn’t constantly intolerably hot. I also have an Italian colleague that gets mad at _me_ when the weather is shit, as if I had something to do with it, and as if I’m revelling in his disappointment (I also hate the shit weather, so I’m obviously not). I find it interesting how people have completely different views on it depending on what they are used to.
I am British and I love our weather. I’d like it if summer would hover *around* 30 degrees as opposed to recently where we’ve had heatwaves that go *over*, and a proper flurry of snow once or twice in January or February wouldn’t go amiss (I guess that’s what I get for living in Somerset and studying at uni in Bristol!), but the variety of weather is wonderful. I love the cold and the beautiful frosts of winter, I love those first glorious days of warmth before the showers inevitably catch you out in spring, I love the lovely sunny days when you can do loads of fun things of summer, and I love the pretty colours and drawn-in football nights when I’m freezing to death on a terrace in autumn. We get a real variety of weather in this country, and never too extreme; I think we’re really lucky.
The weather here is mild and we have good climate conditions for gardening and plant growth. We also don’t get as many natural disasters and heatwaves that kill people because of how temperate it is.
I don’t think people come for the weather. They come for other reasons thinking that the weather—while a con—will be bearable, but it’s not for some people.
I am tired of getting caught in downpours, but honestly, grey, overcast and about 16°C-18°C is my favourite type of weather.
I don’t cope well in the heat and I burn very easily. I’m currently sat inside with my blackout blind closed.
Strange time to post this. It's been 24 - 26 degrees and almost cloudless the past couple of days in London. Its a bit overcast this morning but, its supposed to be sunny this afternoon.
As for feeling sad when the weather is gloomy. Yes it is normal in fact there is a clinical condition known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D) which you may have.
https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder-sad/treatment/
If you like sunlight and ocean, l recommend you consider moving to Australia, particularly Queensland, lots of sunlight and good access to beautiful beaches, and the climate there is quite similar to HongKong
I am Mexican living in the UK for 5 years, got engaged, have a great job and life and still felt I was l was incredibly miserable and cried to sleep, until one day I went out and the second the sun touched my skin I was flabbergasted with the bliss I felt. The weather depression is real, and the six month winter is an absolute mood killer.
My fiancée got me a sun lamp, that has been helpful hahaha
> until one day I went out and the second the sun touched my skin was flabbergasted with the bliss felt.
Can we pin this on most mental health posts?
Sunlight is beyond powerful and the number of people who sit indoors all day every day and wonder why they're depressed is staggering.
I honestly find that I feel so much better just feeling the sun on my skin, I force myself to walk the hour and a half home from work (when it's light enough to do so) and even if I'm pissed off I find that I just feel so much better by the end having done some exercise and being out in the fresh air
Nah. I’m with you. The weather here is depressing most of the year. Yeah, you can put on some waterproof clothes and go for a walk but hanging around outside all day isn’t pleasurable. For most of the year.
I much prefer tropical weather myself.
True. I was working in Thailand in May and it was ridiculous. I like 33° but 40° is way too much and it was up there. They’re setting records there too.
I personally find heatwaves, wildfires, droughts, blizzards etc more depressing. The weather isn’t as intense in the UK - we don’t deal with major heat usually, and we don’t deal with frozen weather for months on end. I think that’s a nice balance.
I don’t like heat either, but fuck me, the lack of sunshine here in Northern Ireland so far this summer is actually depressing at this point, bright sunshine and 20 degrees is my fav weather
It could be down to the amount of sunlight you get - medically it's called SAD "seasonally affected disorder". In most cases it is treatable by something as mundane as a bright lamp with the right kind of light output when you wake in the morning.
[https://www.sada.org.uk/](https://www.sada.org.uk/)
may be a good starting point and they or MIND are both places to reach out to for guidance (as well as your doctor)
Hey OP, it’s not just you. I have a similar weather background. The UK has been punishing for me.
It’s definitely the lack of sun. But also the drizzle that happens ALL.THE.F*CKING.TIME. Not really rainy but just enough to stop you from having a good time outdoors. I see joggers running in this sort of weather all the time and it never fails to blow my mind.
To top it all off, the UK never gets really cold but indoors, it’s freezing. There’s a chill that you get in your bones that just never really goes away.
I know in those cold bones that it’s not going to be home for me. It’s got such amazing things going for it but whenever I’m out of the country, I find myself suddenly feeling a lot happier, more peaceful, noticeably more optimistic.
It’s the weather.
Born and lived here for 40 years, this is the first year I’ve seriously considered moving abroad. It has its ups and downs weather wise but this year has been exceptionally bad. Other than the last few weeks it’s basically rained continually since Sep 23.
I live in the northeast of England and it's the worst weather I've every experienced (have lived in a couple of different countries). It's just grey and wet all year round and it's getting me down so much. My family (in a different northern country) talks about how hot it is etc and I'm so depressed we get like 17 degrees and rain all summer. The gardens are also incredibly small in the houses I've lived.
I don't think I can stay here the rest of my life, I get so depressed every spring when it's lovely and sunny except for here. I need the sun to bring some light into my light. So no, you are not being dramatic!
i am from Eastern Europe, we have 4 proper seasons. including winter with the snow.
i was staying in Belfast for 7 months, to be honest, in the end i started to think that i would k** myself if i needed to stay longer.
i liked people, i liked architecture.
but the weather and food (vegetables, fruits) quality. omg.
+12 felt more cold and depressing that what we have in our winter.
so yeah, i feel you.
A Bulgarian friend of mine felt exactly the same after living here for a couple of years, he's now in Malta and seems very happy. It's not for everyone
So you lived near a beach and liked to go hiking and now live in London?
Have you considered it’s not just the weather getting you down it’s the fact you aren’t near a beach, the sea and any hiking destinations? Try moving to the coast somewhere. It won’t bring the sun but you can do some of what you used to do.
You’re not being dramatic, i was born here and feel the same way despite never living in a different climate. Warm weather just feels a lot more comfortable to me and the sunshine makes me feel happier, from around the start of November until spring starts to feel warm is when i feel the worst.
I have this discussion in work, and it is very common for people I work with. They love the summer and hate the winter, and even though you're still in work either way, you can notice the difference in their mood.
I'm one of the odd ones out, I like the cold and darkness. I can't wait for Halloween and Christmas. I feel like it is a personality thing sometimes. The more optimistic and outgoing people love the weather tied to that. People who are more pessimistic and like to stay in seem to like the opposite.
I always feel warm even at the peak of winter. When it hits moderate heat here, I feel almost uncomfortably warm. This is something we talk about so much at work that earlier this week, we were looking up how many days of rain we get per year, and it is obscenely high, which isn't that surprising.
I wonder what people are/were expecting when they moved here.
If you are feeling very sad all the time well I've got bad news for you, it's likely not just the weather. You're probably depressed and it's more than some grey days causing it.
I definitely feel vitamin D could be the answer. Get checked out! I felt so bad once, and it turned out my level was 0, and for some reason my body just can’t hold onto it either, so I need to permanently take a high dose now (and i’m white and get outside for at least half an hour daily in all weathers, usually more). Made a night and day difference to my mood.
People like to snark on ‘basement-dwelling redditors who don’t like the sun’, but I love being outside but anything over 22° and I find it intolerable, I just get way too hot and it’s not pleasant, even doing only gentle activity. Maybe it’s partly the quality of the heat the UK gets though.
A lot of people have never experienced warm weather besides a 8 Day Thomas Cook Resort With The Lads where they get to live in 27 to 31c heat for a few days once a year. What you don't know doesn't hurt you.
I've been to Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore ( all in that order) and can say this boring ass British weather definitely brings you down. It's dark by 4pm in the winter and the summer is usually cloudy and humid most of the season and plus with no AC some bedrooms are disgustingly hot. My loft gets too 30c easily. It's 30c right now in the loft and it's not even that hot a of day, when it's 30 degrees outside then my loft gets to around 40c. Ridiculous
Yes, it can be difficult at times. I moved to the UK from Sydney, Australia but I'm now living in East Anglia. Sydney isn't all sunshine, and it does get a lot of rain, but it does get more sun than the UK.
Sydney has 109.5 clear days and **127.2 cloudy days annually**, though it has around 200 days of visible sunshine if partly cloudy days or sunny breaks are counted.
London gets 35 clear days, 180 partly cloudy days, and **150 overcast days annually**.
East Anglia gets some of most amounts of sunshine and least rain in the whole of the UK.
Maybe consider somewhere in East Anglia? Cambridge has well paid jobs, and Norwich is a nice city. The towns and villages around Cambridge are affordable and the commuting distance/time into Cambridge isn't that bad.
It can be a bit isolating though, and the land is very very flat ...
We moved about 12 years ago, for family reasons, and we stayed on ever since. I'm well settled here, and don't intend to return in the near future.
When I left Sydney, the cost of living was getting quite high for me at that time but I was also in a lower paying job than I am now.
We visited Australia for the first time in 12 years just last Christmas. Sydney is looking really good, I must say. It's obvious that Australia is a wealthier country but there is something about the UK that is also quite attractive. I reckon the UK is a good place to live, and the UK feels like it's a bigger part of the World than Australia is.
Australia is the lucky country, there's no doubt about that. You can't go wrong living there, and you'll have a great life. But sometimes there are other things that you might want to see and do, and Australia is a bit too small to provide that.
Give you some examples, this Summer I'm planning a family holiday/roadtrip across the South of France and into Northern Spain. Different culture, language, and food. My kids are learning French in high school, and they'll get some time being immersed in the language and culture.
My kids go to a normal public/state school, and they have school excursions to Iceland (geography), Italy (art), Italy/Switzerland (PE/sport/skiing), Belgium (history/WW1 trenches). From an Australian perspective, that stuff is mind blowing. They get to study Renaissance art, and then catch a bus to Florence to see the real thing!
1. Take a sunny holiday in the middle of winter. Ideally mid January onwards when the Christmas buzz has died off and you're left with winter depression. South of Spain, Italy, Morocco etc.
2. Vitamin d supplements
You need to try and reset your perspective if you like the outdoors. If you like hiking and so on but spend your time waiting for warm sunny days, you won't be getting your fix. You'll have to learn to appreciate the aesthetics of a big cloudy sky, the satisfaction of walking through mud, the sparkle of dew, etc.
This place might take a few years to work its magic. But once it sets in, it's kind of like, if a country was depression
Personally I blame this weather for why we colonised so many countries. Ship loads of sarcastic, weather tortured brits looking for a new home. Not shy of accepting your home as a very generous gift that you didn't realise you gave.
I love the UK weather, love the climate here. Love the rain, the 4 seasons in 1 day.
Most Brits will complain it's too bloody hot the moment it goes over 20 and they have to work or do anything through it.
Fair enough warmer weather is enjoyable for a trip to the beach, but how many people have the free time to do that regularly once they work full time and have families.
I love how green this country is. Went for a walk around the Forest of Dean yesterday, everything was epic. So much moss, gigantic ferns... vast greeness. Felt like I had stepped into a magical fantasy movie.
I honestly wouldn't want to live anywhere else. Winter is manageable too, I'd rather not have to deal with snow all the time.
It's because you're in London. If I'm there for longer than 9months-1year it starts to feel like the whole of the dull grey sky has turned heavy and is slowly weighing on/crushing you down into the ground... then you leave London and its like wow I can breathe again and actually stand tall and see the world!
I think it's the lack of available sky, you're left having to search upward for sun/outdoor light, and it's like you've to actively sear h out places where you can stand and actually see more than 500m of empty space around you - giving a wider skyline and a less cooped up feeling
I was born in the UK. Every single one of my family members back for at least 6 generations (and i suspect many more than that) has been from northern Britain.
Personally, I cannot stand the cold and the wet and the grey here. It makes me miserable near-constantly. Given the opportunity to leave, I would leave immediately.
Yes, it’s normal. We just moved abroad and it’s the first time in 50 years I’m actually happy every day because it’s always sunny. I took all the vitamins and used a SAD lamp and it still got me down. The grey skies are depressing. It’s just my personality.
Living in northern climates affects some people more than others. Move back somewhere sunny.
I am from Hong Kong and I moved to the UK in 2022. Not gonna lie I don't miss the hot and humid summer where I couldn't survive without air conditioner.
I actually don't mind the British weather (more specifically London)
I am from here originally and I would never live anywhere else. I love to travel and see other countries and cultures, but it’s nice to come home again. We don’t really get any extreme weather, the wildlife mainly can’t harm you, we get free healthcare. Some things might be a bit crappy, but I’m sure elsewhere isn’t much better.
No you're not being dramatic. My DNA, including my direct parentage is all from colder countries - Ireland, Norway, Iceland, and the Isle of Skye off Scotland.
I am auburn haired, green eyed and pale I go gold-ish after an entire summer of trying to tan, just at the point when we have to cover up for Autumn.
I can't tolerate the heat or humid places at all. I feel faint and my head starts spinning 360` at 75`.
I'm also a coastal / country woman. I lived in London and loved it for 17 years (from 18 y o) but the heat there in the summer is sickly and oppressive. The air is completely still.
Also, I didn't get to notice nature and the seasons so much. I used to yearn for the sea - where I grew up - and had to play audio of the sea and waves every night as I slept.
Our upbringing and our DNA help to make us who we are, including our desires, tolerations and dislikes.
I moved back to the sea 22 years ago and love the cooling sea breeze and extra sunshine that we get at the coast.
I advise you to move to where you will be happier: to a beach or forest in the UK or back to where you love. After all, life is always shorter than we think it will be.
coming from spain i get this 100% i’ve been here 4 years as well and as time goes by I can’t deal with the thought of staying here lol i remember i used to not have to plan ahead any outings any hikes any trips to the beach eating out in a terrace of a restaurant even in the winter throwing on shorts and a top for a night out and staying out until 7 am without a problem… i miss it so much
It's not just BEING sad, this response to the weather is actually an official condition called SAD- Seasonal Affective Disorder.
So many many people feel like you. The NHS has info about it here:
https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder-sad/overview/
We're all different so do what's right for you. I mostly love it and would hate 30 degrees and sun every day, but maybe it's what you're used to. I love Scotland but know I couldn't live there all year round now.
It’s worth noting that we have had some of the worst last 18 months sunshine/ rain-wise, but yes, it’s incredibly depressing
I am looking to leave too.
I'm also from Eastern Europe, but I generally like the UK weather. I wish it was more varied as I do miss cold, snowy winters. I like to live in a country with all 4 seasons and would hate it if the weather was too consistent regardless if its sunny and hot or cold, and wet.
Yes. It is very normal for people who have lived in warm climates to be affected by the cold and the lack of sunshine. Especially people with darker skin. The lack of vitamin D is a genuine issue for a lot of people that come here from sunnier climates.
I’d recommend taking vitamin D supplements. Apparently an enormous percentage of native brits are vitamin D deficient. That and magnesium supplements will work wonders for your mood if you start taking them regularly. Beyond that… do some travelling outside of London. Plenty of beautiful beaches along the south coast, in the south west, and in wales. Failing that, book yourself on some short holidays abroad to sunny places every year. Highly recommend using Jack’s Flight Club to get remarkably cheap flight deals.
I’ve lived in Brazil, Portugal and Spain and just because there’s more sun doesn’t mean it’s better there than in the UK. I’m personally much happier here in England.
The sun gets exhausting when you realise you can’t even spend much time outside without roasting to a crisp, and you can’t do much running around because you’ll overheat and possibly get ill or die. People have already died on summertime hikes in places like Greece.
There are many other environmental factors that I’d consider make life better in the UK than abroad, but that’s the basics of it.
The uk is a weird climate, it’s quite humid which makes the temperature feel sticky, plus we aren’t equipped for heat like people in SEA, our houses hold heat in well with no AC
Honestly, if you are middle income, most people book two or three mini breaks per year.
I typically book a week in March and a week in November to get some sun in southern europe in the low 20s but just off peak season.
I dont mind autumn and early winter with christmas too much. Its the slowness of spring when its april but grey and 11 celcius that grind me down
I feel happier and have more energy/etc when the weather is good in the UK. I feel way different when the weather is rubbish, cold, etc like it is most of the time here.
No --- after living in sunshine and tropical climate Britain will feel cold, You were brought up In Eastern Europe where it's a lot colder, freezing, snow, ice for most of the time. London is hectic and takes a toll on people even in summer. Maybe move to the South coast. Seasonal affective disorder is a real thing and leaves people miserable. There is a special light box device you can buy. Britain is North so gets little daylight in winter. Take Vitamin D, it is surprising how the lack of this important vitamin can sink us into depression.
I'm from the UK so I've had half a lifetime of it. I eventually emigrated to Cyprus.
Best time for hot / sunny weather in the UK is July - October. The rest of the time it's shit.
Take *lots* of vitamin D, get a SAD lamp, exercise outside every morning.
Those won't get rid of the feeling, but they will help dramatically.
One of the main reasons I have tried to live abroad (always in hot, sunny countries) throughout my adult life is because of the weather here.
Yes, I grew up here and honestly it gets to me so much. Even 'warm' days like today aren't anywhere near what I would call a good, comfortable temperature, and its the bane of my life. I go to a sunny country and any opportunity.
I’m the opposite to you and I don’t like 30 degree heat because it makes me feel too hot and sluggish and I don’t have the energy to do anything. I’m happier during fresher and cooler weather. Perhaps it’s because you were brought up in a hot climate and your happiest memories are outdoors.
I feel much the same way and I've lived here all my life.
In summer it's wonderful, but that's really only a few weeks.
Come September, the weather starts to go off, and you realise it's going to be like this for months - well, you're not alone in dreading that. I have a friend from Israel who feels the same way.
I am British and grew up in one of the rainiest areas of the UK, and I _still_ found London really grey and depressing. I think it's the fact that it's so massive and large areas of it don't have much in the way of greenery as a regular part of the streets and open areas. Yes, there are parks, but there's a **lot** more glass and concrete as you move around the city.
I managed 8 years in London and then moved to Edinburgh. Greyer. Rainier. But _so much more green_ and I could never go back to living in London again.
Some people are ok living in sprawling urban cities under relentless cloud cover. Some are not designed for that.
Find a city you enjoy living in and go. Whatever it is that makes London attractive to you - money, I'm guessing - I can guarantee that it's not going to make you happier than moving to somewhere that doesn't drag on your heart can.
Yeah you’re being a bit dramatic but you also may have Seasonal Affective Disorder! Most people who have it get sad in winter when it’s darker. A smaller percent like me are the opposite (I hate the long days and heat). Look it up, it’s legit!
For me, the weather has a big effect on my mood. I am an emotionally unstable person, and my personality is more introverted and withdrawn. I have been studying in the UK for almost a year now. To tell the truth, I don't like the weather here, because it often rains and rarely has sunshine. This often makes me very depressed, because I can only stay in my room alone, unable to communicate and talk to people. But recently I began to shift my attention to online communication, I participated in a social software called LightUp: Make Real Friends , a private beta, where I posted some of my life updates, a lot of people who have similar experiences with me to interact with me, which made me feel the joy of social chat, and also made me not feel lonely when I stayed at home on a rainy day. Although the platform is still in development and testing, I can feel the sincere communication of people on this platform, everyone shares their lives, and I have made a lot of online friends.
I worked for many years as a gardener. Personally I don't much mind the climate, this year is kind of depressing though as you say.
Overcast I'm fine with, I do like bright sunny days too. But rain with as much as we've got this last few months, so intermittent so you can't do anything? Nah.
It's not just you. I absolutely hate the weather in this country. Most of the year it's cold and grey, and when we do finally get a few nice days I can't help but get anxious about the many cold grey months we'll have to go through to get to this time of year again. I am utterly miserable about the weather most of the year.
I would absolutely love to live in a Mediterranean climate, but my partner hates it too hot, and family commitments mean I'm stuck here.
Most people enjoy the rainy grey weather, it's nice to sit inside whilst knowing you're not going to get wet and especially with the wood burner loaded or the heating on, with a hot cup of tea or your preference, probably the cosiest and calmest activity here 😂
The dark grey mornings when you're in a car waiting for it to warm up and the windows to defrost are the good stuff.
Yes it is. I'm South African and the constant greyness makes me very depressed. I mostly manage to block it out but I know exactly how you feel.
I really miss that intense heat and sunshine of back home. On the other hand I appreciate that there are actually seasons here and not just 5 months of crazy warm 4 months of really warm and 3 months of mild and stupid cold weather. And the UK is damn beautiful when the sun is out and it's a good day.
But what I probably miss the most is the consistency of the length of days and nights during different seasons. The most depressing thing about the NH for me is how dark it is during winter. Especially when you're used to sunset and sunrise differs by an hour in winter v summer.
It’s not just you. The weather in the UK is absolutely appalling. No sensible person could avoid being depressed in the face of 10 months of cold and rain with 2 months of cool and rain and a handful of warm, sunny days if you’re lucky.
And no, before anyone starts, 15-20c is not warm. It’s cool. Warm is 25-30c.
You're not alone. I've lived here all my rather long life and this last few years has been terrible. It feels like near constant rain and everything is grey and dirty in between. This last week has been the most sun I've seen in ages.
I've lived here all my life and the cold/grey weather is hard on me too. I take vitamin D all year around now which helps a bit. But I definitely feel a marked improvement in my mood when the sun's out and the weather's nice, even if I'm indoors.
But as other commenters have pointed out, we have it easy considering how far north we are. Yay gulf stream!
In the UK most of your clothing should be made of wool. You need several waterproof coats, boots and wellies. It pissed down last night, today I was walking rhe dogs in blazing sunshine wearing shorts, tee shirt and wellies. In winter I have merino undershirts, thick wool jumpers and a giant wool cardigan. Merino long johns and lined winter walking trousers to complete the michelin man look. I'm so warm I barely need the heating on. Dress for the weather and be prepared to change your clothing when the weather changes.
I'm Eastern European too and last winter has been hell. The grey and wet weather really gets you down. That's why I always have a holiday booked because you can't rely on summer here. It's a shame, i live 10 min from the beach but the last time I went swimming was June last year.
Look into SAD (seasonal affective disorder). The lack of sunshine could be making you very literally clinically depressed. There are special lamps you can get that many people find helpful, and you could also try a vitamin D supplement - NHS advice is for everyone in the UK to take one because we get so little sunshine for much of the year.
I live in the UK for 8 years and my partner for 13, for both of us every single year is getting worst to a point where a good couple of months over winter we fall into depression. And now we are really doing everything to move out if this country as this heavily influenced our lives.
Yes.
Why do you think so many poms move to Australia?
Or you could look at suicide patterns for Arctic countries and see how the numbers shoot up in winter when it's dark, gloomy and few daylight hours.
If you’re in London, I’d hazard a guess that it might just be city life that’s getting you down. You’re used to the coast and forests, and now you’re in a concrete hellscape.
Not dramatic at all. I tend to end up on antidepressants in the winter months. It’s was bad this past winter. 6 months of low mood, low energy, poor sleep. The minute we had a few days of warmth and sunshine, my energy came back and my mood was immediately better.
I was born in Southern Africa and genuinely feel like I’m not built for the U.K. at all.
Some people are like this. Out of everyone I know, I don’t know anybody else who’s affected as much by gray skies and cold (the rain I don’t mind, it’s the lack of color and light). I just can’t live in those climates. They suck the energy out of me. You’re not being dramatic.
Sounds like you suffer from seasonal affective disorder. My wife does too not enough to need to move away but enough to be noticeable. Vitamin D supplements and daylight lamps can help, but truth is, if you have the means and ability to live somewhere that makes you happy then why wouldn't you?
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The fact that things here are generally mild due to prevailing winds makes people forget *how far north* the UK is. People think Canada is "far north" but 90% of the population there live south of London. And whilst the gulfstream winds keep it mild (and damp) here, they can't bring us more sunlight than our actual latitude provides.
If you want to see how unique our climate is have a look at Cfb climates on the Koppen Classification. There's very few countries other than New Zealand that have the same climate as us.
So we’re unique, everyone that’s viewed the average map knows New Zealand doesn’t exist.
They expect us to believe *Kiwi* birds are real? How dumb do they think we are?
Silly billies. No birds are real!
r/birdsarentreal At least half a million of us know the truth!
Pigeons! Did you see any pigeons during coronavirus lockdown? No! They were all having their batteries changed and the newer versions were being recharged!
Exactly!
Kiwi birds do exist what else could they make boot polish from???
Kiwi birds are more real than platypi.
Platypuses are real. They are even secret agents.
[удалено]
Oh yeah, silly me
This still doesn’t stop every Brit trying to smugly tell me (a New Zealander) how unprepared I must be for British weather lol. I’m from the South Island, it’s quite literally the same.
Does NZ have the same "everything wants to kill me" vibe with bugs as Australia or does the climate mean it's more like the UK?
My old manager was from New Zealand, and he always told me that it’s just like Australia, except there are no killer animals.
NZ is much more like the UK than Australia. Some parts (Tasmania) are similar to NZ
NZ is way chillier than Aus
My friend is moving to Christchurch is weather good there? I think they’ll cry if it’s the same as here 💀
It’s pretty similar. Slightly colder winters maybe, slightly cooler summers, rains a bit less frequently (but still rains a lot.) I grew up in Christchurch and now live in London and it feels almost the same as the weather I grew up with.
Tbf weather in London/the SE is probably the best in the UK, it's warmer, less rainy, less windy, more France-like than pretty much any other bit
I like my wind though - keeps things fresh.
I’m from Northern Ireland, probably better than here then lol
We went to northern Ireland and Norway last summer, Norway was significantly warmer even when we we're stood next to a glacier lmao.
https://preview.redd.it/uz0ypk5w868d1.jpeg?width=1170&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=2cfe22449a2cfff1ed516fa0a03c400677e30a16 Hopefully this weather actually happens lmao, but I don’t trust it will ha ha
And New Zealand is as close to the equator as Spain is
Looks like we’re the same as most of Western Europe. Most places are unique on that map
Worth mentioning that the main reason for Europe’s mild climate is because heat is stored in the Atlantic Ocean throughout the warmer seasons and slowly releases during the colder seasons. Very little of it is because of the Gulf Stream etc.
>People think Canada is "far north" but 90% of the population there live south of London. This is something I love pointing out now that I live in Canada. I was working at a mine site in central BC (~51°N) and we were heading into the winter. In one of our daily safety meetings, our manager told us all to be aware of how far north we are and that the days will be shorter than we may be used to and made a specific comment about me (the only non-Canadian in the team) not being used to the northern latitudes. I nodded and agreed and then pointed out that I spent most of my life 2 degrees further north and that Vancouver was the furthest south I'd ever lived.
The summers are much better in Canada though. We are prisoners of geography.
Better or hotter?
I'm going to say both
it will be nice and cold if the Thermohaline Circulation dies abruptly, we then can call that Younger Dryas II *Current projections from the IPCC show that the AMOC is unlikely to stop, or collapse, before the year 2100. However, “if such a collapse were to occur," the IPCC says, "it would very likely cause abrupt shifts in regional weather patterns and the water cycle.”* NASA are such spoil sports... a sudden and sustained dip in global average temps would bring population down to more sustainable levels
When it dies abruptly. Climate change in the UK means winters averaging -15C.
Trying living in Caithness in the winter 🤢
Lots of people find lack of sunlight gets them down. There's a thing called Seasonal Affective Disorder. A lot of people in the UK are deficient in vitamin d from the lack of sunlight. If you're from a warm sunny place, the lack of sun and warmth is more likely to get you down I'd imagine. Same way if I lived somewhere that was regularly 30 degrees I'd definitely find it getting me down, because I really don't like hot weather and I'd feel trapped indoors. When we have long spells of heat in summer I definitely feel it affecting my mood. If you have a certain type of weather you dislike and you live somewhere that gets a lot of that weather, it stands to reason it's going to get you down.
Please take Vitamin D tablets each day, if you are not 'white skinned' in UK. Our skin has evolved to make sufficient Vitamin D in our poor sunlight hours northern climate, that is why we have a 'white' skin. Not really 'white' just low on melanin content, so we get freckles (tanned spots) rather than go all over brown in tanned skin.
Most white people in the UK and the rest of Northern Europe should also be taking VitD, really, especially during winter – most of us are still deficient in it. Maybe we'd have been doing fine back when people spent every hour of daylight outside, working the fields, but anyone in an office job doesn't get in enough sun
Doubly so for black people in Europe. They absorb vitamin D even less effectively.
See, I thought about this once and tried it out seeing as I have seasonal affect depression, right? So I started taking a daily Vitamin D supplement. I had to stop at day 5 because all of the joints in my hands and arms were hurting, and there was one night where I literally could not feel half of my left hand at all. I looked into it and realised that it was a sign of developing Vitamin D toxicity.
You should be taking vitamin D every day even if you are white, especially in winter.
If your shadow is longer than you are then the sun isn't bright enough to be making sufficient vitamin D. When it is bright enough then you should be wearing plenty of suncream which will then block the UV anyway. Ideally you should be getting enough vitamin D from your diet but most people are vitamin D deficient to some extent and would benefit from supplements Bit D is basically the only vitamin supplement worth taking
I don't even have a shadow most days in England
NHS advises that everyone in the UK should take vitamin D, regardless of skin colour. Urgently enough that they want vitamin D drops given to breastfed newborns.
There isn’t actually much evidence to suggest vitamin D supplements do anything for normal healthy people. https://www.thestudiesshowpod.com/p/episode-36-vitamin-d
I’m glad I’m not the only one who dislikes hot weather, the media keeps banging on about the warmer weather next week and I feel weird for dreading it. I just assumed most people enjoy being outside in the heat whilst baking themselves and sweating away.
I've always lived in the UK and I hate it's climate and weather. It's awful. I have seasonal affect and there's only about 1/3rd of the year that the climate here doesn't leave me feeling absolutely awful. And it's not to do with Vitamin D levels because I literally can't add to them more. When I take Vitamin D supplement, I quickly begin to develop toxicity so have to stop. In fact, as time has gone on I've become more and more convinced that the Vitamin D explanation for seasonal affect (which is entirely unproven btw - it's not evidenced by research), is just an excuse that allows doctors to not recognise you as disabled and shunt you onto supplements and walks. And it's worth knowing that what *is* evidenced by research is that climate absolutely can correlate with psychiatric disability. It's been known about for a while now that schizophrenia is *far* more prevalent in the extreme northern hemisphere (Canada, UK, Ireland, Norway etc.) than it is anywhere else, and it's believed to be related to the psychological effects of climate.
I lived in Arizona for a couple of years and agree. The weather was one of the reasons that I came home. Unbearable and stuck in your house to stay cool. Beautiful blue skies but had to look at them from behind glass with the AC on
SAD isn't just for winter, I suffer late spring early summer.
Everyone is different. I personally can’t stand heat and prefer this temperate weather
England is way too hot for me. If i had the means i would go anywhere colder
There aren't many inhabited places with cooler summers than the UK lol. Iceland only one I can think of. It's way cooler than the norm here so you're abnormal
Scotland is definitely cooler than southern England in summer. You are forgetting that the UK is thin but quite tall.
Scotland? I think that’ll also suit me.
I would like Scottish temps, but southern Spain levels of sunshine, our temps here in Ireland are nice but it’s so cloudy and rainy all the time 😭😭 It’s literally just the lack of bright sunshine I find so depressing
You’re right, it’s not the sun that’s the problem it’s the heat. I prefer the longer days this time of year and I like the sun. But if it felt cool and pleasant I’d be happy.
It’s been literally so depressingly cloudy this summer so far here in Northern Ireland, just feels like constant autumn, I need some sun 😭 I’ll actually take the heat with it just to actually get a week straight of sunshine lmao
If you can afford it have a holiday in the South East or East Anglia. We get the sunniest weather and the hottest temperatures during a heat wave.
Literally, when there’s a heatwave in the south of England it’s like 13 degrees colder here in NI and cloudy lmao
Eastern Scotland has more sun / less, because it's shielded by the Highlands. There is the winter though where the days are shorter, but summers are PERFECT for me. Long sunny days that aren't too hot.
Highs of 30C absolute max, most summer days sit around 16-20, which is lovely. But the winters are *miserable*. Especially in the north and west!
England gets very very hot though. I'm Australian annd grew up with heatwaves where the temperature would climb over 40 and I can't stand much above 25 in England, 27 and I literally start crying. In Australia 25 is just about warm enough to be confident not taking a jumper when you leave the house. You guys haven't designed anything for warm weather let alone hot.
Imagine coming to the UK for the weather hahaha
It seems nuts to me too, but I work with a lot of Greek people that tell me they LOVE the weather in the UK because it isn’t constantly intolerably hot. I also have an Italian colleague that gets mad at _me_ when the weather is shit, as if I had something to do with it, and as if I’m revelling in his disappointment (I also hate the shit weather, so I’m obviously not). I find it interesting how people have completely different views on it depending on what they are used to.
Australian here, agree with the Greeks.
Understandable. They are famously agreeable.
For me it's the irony thats hilarious because most British people hate the weather here (I personally prefer colder weather, Norway, Finland etc)
I am British and I love our weather. I’d like it if summer would hover *around* 30 degrees as opposed to recently where we’ve had heatwaves that go *over*, and a proper flurry of snow once or twice in January or February wouldn’t go amiss (I guess that’s what I get for living in Somerset and studying at uni in Bristol!), but the variety of weather is wonderful. I love the cold and the beautiful frosts of winter, I love those first glorious days of warmth before the showers inevitably catch you out in spring, I love the lovely sunny days when you can do loads of fun things of summer, and I love the pretty colours and drawn-in football nights when I’m freezing to death on a terrace in autumn. We get a real variety of weather in this country, and never too extreme; I think we’re really lucky.
You are far too positive and paint a far too beautiful picture. You sure you’re from the UK?
They must have a sickness
I genuinely know a Brazilian who prefers London weather. Brazil is too hot for him.
Must be so hot out there man
The weather here is mild and we have good climate conditions for gardening and plant growth. We also don’t get as many natural disasters and heatwaves that kill people because of how temperate it is.
I don’t think people come for the weather. They come for other reasons thinking that the weather—while a con—will be bearable, but it’s not for some people.
No it’s not just you. I’m emigrating in October. I can’t take it anymore. I can always come back anyways.
Where are you going?
Svalbard
I am tired of getting caught in downpours, but honestly, grey, overcast and about 16°C-18°C is my favourite type of weather. I don’t cope well in the heat and I burn very easily. I’m currently sat inside with my blackout blind closed.
Another Redditor vampire lol. Never met any of these people in real life, guess it's coz they're indoors all the time 😂
16-18 degrees sounds ideal to me. Even today I’m sweating like a pig when I’m moving about. I hate the heat.
Same, although I’d like bright sunshine along with
Strange time to post this. It's been 24 - 26 degrees and almost cloudless the past couple of days in London. Its a bit overcast this morning but, its supposed to be sunny this afternoon. As for feeling sad when the weather is gloomy. Yes it is normal in fact there is a clinical condition known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D) which you may have. https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder-sad/treatment/
we're two months into summer and we've literally just had the first 3 summer days. rest of the summer so far has been very poor weather.
Um, meteorological summer starts on 1st June and astronomical summer started yesterday...
Behave. How are we “two months into summer”? 😂😂😂 Summer started two days ago (or on June 1st if you want the meteorological definition).
What makes you say that we’re two months into summer? That would mean summer started in the middle of April, which surely is always springtime here.
If you like sunlight and ocean, l recommend you consider moving to Australia, particularly Queensland, lots of sunlight and good access to beautiful beaches, and the climate there is quite similar to HongKong
*cries in ginger*
Well hey, at least your skin tone will match your hair
I am Mexican living in the UK for 5 years, got engaged, have a great job and life and still felt I was l was incredibly miserable and cried to sleep, until one day I went out and the second the sun touched my skin I was flabbergasted with the bliss I felt. The weather depression is real, and the six month winter is an absolute mood killer. My fiancée got me a sun lamp, that has been helpful hahaha
> until one day I went out and the second the sun touched my skin was flabbergasted with the bliss felt. Can we pin this on most mental health posts? Sunlight is beyond powerful and the number of people who sit indoors all day every day and wonder why they're depressed is staggering.
I honestly find that I feel so much better just feeling the sun on my skin, I force myself to walk the hour and a half home from work (when it's light enough to do so) and even if I'm pissed off I find that I just feel so much better by the end having done some exercise and being out in the fresh air
I work with a Mexican, and she’s still wearing jumpers even at this temperature haha. Meanwhile I’m wearing shorts and T-shirt and still feeling hot.
UK has a temperate climate. Sorry if anyone mis-sold this country as being like the Bahamas. You could see if you can get a refund?
Mate it’s too temperate for me. Doesn’t get hot enough and doesn’t get cold enough 😅
Nah. I’m with you. The weather here is depressing most of the year. Yeah, you can put on some waterproof clothes and go for a walk but hanging around outside all day isn’t pleasurable. For most of the year. I much prefer tropical weather myself.
Tropical weather isn’t that nice to hang out in either when it gets too hot and humid
True. I was working in Thailand in May and it was ridiculous. I like 33° but 40° is way too much and it was up there. They’re setting records there too.
I prefer closer to deserty weather, I've seen enough rain. somewhere like california would be perfect.
Yeah, it's depressing as fuck. Why do you think everyone goes to a warmer country at any opportunity?
I personally find heatwaves, wildfires, droughts, blizzards etc more depressing. The weather isn’t as intense in the UK - we don’t deal with major heat usually, and we don’t deal with frozen weather for months on end. I think that’s a nice balance.
I don’t like heat either, but fuck me, the lack of sunshine here in Northern Ireland so far this summer is actually depressing at this point, bright sunshine and 20 degrees is my fav weather
It could be down to the amount of sunlight you get - medically it's called SAD "seasonally affected disorder". In most cases it is treatable by something as mundane as a bright lamp with the right kind of light output when you wake in the morning. [https://www.sada.org.uk/](https://www.sada.org.uk/) may be a good starting point and they or MIND are both places to reach out to for guidance (as well as your doctor)
Hey OP, it’s not just you. I have a similar weather background. The UK has been punishing for me. It’s definitely the lack of sun. But also the drizzle that happens ALL.THE.F*CKING.TIME. Not really rainy but just enough to stop you from having a good time outdoors. I see joggers running in this sort of weather all the time and it never fails to blow my mind. To top it all off, the UK never gets really cold but indoors, it’s freezing. There’s a chill that you get in your bones that just never really goes away. I know in those cold bones that it’s not going to be home for me. It’s got such amazing things going for it but whenever I’m out of the country, I find myself suddenly feeling a lot happier, more peaceful, noticeably more optimistic. It’s the weather.
Born and lived here for 40 years, this is the first year I’ve seriously considered moving abroad. It has its ups and downs weather wise but this year has been exceptionally bad. Other than the last few weeks it’s basically rained continually since Sep 23.
> I have lived in london for about 4,5 years now I think I've found the root of the problem.
I live in the northeast of England and it's the worst weather I've every experienced (have lived in a couple of different countries). It's just grey and wet all year round and it's getting me down so much. My family (in a different northern country) talks about how hot it is etc and I'm so depressed we get like 17 degrees and rain all summer. The gardens are also incredibly small in the houses I've lived. I don't think I can stay here the rest of my life, I get so depressed every spring when it's lovely and sunny except for here. I need the sun to bring some light into my light. So no, you are not being dramatic!
As nice as the sunshine can be, I absolutely love winter ! It's by far my fav season.
i am from Eastern Europe, we have 4 proper seasons. including winter with the snow. i was staying in Belfast for 7 months, to be honest, in the end i started to think that i would k** myself if i needed to stay longer. i liked people, i liked architecture. but the weather and food (vegetables, fruits) quality. omg. +12 felt more cold and depressing that what we have in our winter. so yeah, i feel you.
Belfast is also an awful city be most metrics
I've lived in Belfast previously, I found the food can be good but still a pretty grim city.
A Bulgarian friend of mine felt exactly the same after living here for a couple of years, he's now in Malta and seems very happy. It's not for everyone
You’re not alone , the constant grey skies really do get me down too
So you lived near a beach and liked to go hiking and now live in London? Have you considered it’s not just the weather getting you down it’s the fact you aren’t near a beach, the sea and any hiking destinations? Try moving to the coast somewhere. It won’t bring the sun but you can do some of what you used to do.
I feel your pain. If you want a right laugh come up to the northeast. We all look like Gollum off lord of the rings.
You’re not being dramatic, i was born here and feel the same way despite never living in a different climate. Warm weather just feels a lot more comfortable to me and the sunshine makes me feel happier, from around the start of November until spring starts to feel warm is when i feel the worst.
I have this discussion in work, and it is very common for people I work with. They love the summer and hate the winter, and even though you're still in work either way, you can notice the difference in their mood. I'm one of the odd ones out, I like the cold and darkness. I can't wait for Halloween and Christmas. I feel like it is a personality thing sometimes. The more optimistic and outgoing people love the weather tied to that. People who are more pessimistic and like to stay in seem to like the opposite. I always feel warm even at the peak of winter. When it hits moderate heat here, I feel almost uncomfortably warm. This is something we talk about so much at work that earlier this week, we were looking up how many days of rain we get per year, and it is obscenely high, which isn't that surprising.
I wonder what people are/were expecting when they moved here. If you are feeling very sad all the time well I've got bad news for you, it's likely not just the weather. You're probably depressed and it's more than some grey days causing it.
I definitely feel vitamin D could be the answer. Get checked out! I felt so bad once, and it turned out my level was 0, and for some reason my body just can’t hold onto it either, so I need to permanently take a high dose now (and i’m white and get outside for at least half an hour daily in all weathers, usually more). Made a night and day difference to my mood. People like to snark on ‘basement-dwelling redditors who don’t like the sun’, but I love being outside but anything over 22° and I find it intolerable, I just get way too hot and it’s not pleasant, even doing only gentle activity. Maybe it’s partly the quality of the heat the UK gets though.
A lot of people have never experienced warm weather besides a 8 Day Thomas Cook Resort With The Lads where they get to live in 27 to 31c heat for a few days once a year. What you don't know doesn't hurt you. I've been to Indonesia, Thailand, Philippines, Malaysia and Singapore ( all in that order) and can say this boring ass British weather definitely brings you down. It's dark by 4pm in the winter and the summer is usually cloudy and humid most of the season and plus with no AC some bedrooms are disgustingly hot. My loft gets too 30c easily. It's 30c right now in the loft and it's not even that hot a of day, when it's 30 degrees outside then my loft gets to around 40c. Ridiculous
Yes, it can be difficult at times. I moved to the UK from Sydney, Australia but I'm now living in East Anglia. Sydney isn't all sunshine, and it does get a lot of rain, but it does get more sun than the UK. Sydney has 109.5 clear days and **127.2 cloudy days annually**, though it has around 200 days of visible sunshine if partly cloudy days or sunny breaks are counted. London gets 35 clear days, 180 partly cloudy days, and **150 overcast days annually**. East Anglia gets some of most amounts of sunshine and least rain in the whole of the UK. Maybe consider somewhere in East Anglia? Cambridge has well paid jobs, and Norwich is a nice city. The towns and villages around Cambridge are affordable and the commuting distance/time into Cambridge isn't that bad. It can be a bit isolating though, and the land is very very flat ...
why did u move from sydney if you dont mind me asking? cost of living? thinking of moving there
We moved about 12 years ago, for family reasons, and we stayed on ever since. I'm well settled here, and don't intend to return in the near future. When I left Sydney, the cost of living was getting quite high for me at that time but I was also in a lower paying job than I am now. We visited Australia for the first time in 12 years just last Christmas. Sydney is looking really good, I must say. It's obvious that Australia is a wealthier country but there is something about the UK that is also quite attractive. I reckon the UK is a good place to live, and the UK feels like it's a bigger part of the World than Australia is. Australia is the lucky country, there's no doubt about that. You can't go wrong living there, and you'll have a great life. But sometimes there are other things that you might want to see and do, and Australia is a bit too small to provide that. Give you some examples, this Summer I'm planning a family holiday/roadtrip across the South of France and into Northern Spain. Different culture, language, and food. My kids are learning French in high school, and they'll get some time being immersed in the language and culture. My kids go to a normal public/state school, and they have school excursions to Iceland (geography), Italy (art), Italy/Switzerland (PE/sport/skiing), Belgium (history/WW1 trenches). From an Australian perspective, that stuff is mind blowing. They get to study Renaissance art, and then catch a bus to Florence to see the real thing!
Currently live in South of France where I can walk to a beach and swim in crystal clear waters. Moving back to UK with a heavy heart
1. Take a sunny holiday in the middle of winter. Ideally mid January onwards when the Christmas buzz has died off and you're left with winter depression. South of Spain, Italy, Morocco etc. 2. Vitamin d supplements
You need to try and reset your perspective if you like the outdoors. If you like hiking and so on but spend your time waiting for warm sunny days, you won't be getting your fix. You'll have to learn to appreciate the aesthetics of a big cloudy sky, the satisfaction of walking through mud, the sparkle of dew, etc.
Hong Kong is neither SEA nor tropical
This place might take a few years to work its magic. But once it sets in, it's kind of like, if a country was depression Personally I blame this weather for why we colonised so many countries. Ship loads of sarcastic, weather tortured brits looking for a new home. Not shy of accepting your home as a very generous gift that you didn't realise you gave.
There’s a reason why there’s a lot of miserable and grumpy people in the UK.
I love the UK weather, love the climate here. Love the rain, the 4 seasons in 1 day. Most Brits will complain it's too bloody hot the moment it goes over 20 and they have to work or do anything through it. Fair enough warmer weather is enjoyable for a trip to the beach, but how many people have the free time to do that regularly once they work full time and have families. I love how green this country is. Went for a walk around the Forest of Dean yesterday, everything was epic. So much moss, gigantic ferns... vast greeness. Felt like I had stepped into a magical fantasy movie. I honestly wouldn't want to live anywhere else. Winter is manageable too, I'd rather not have to deal with snow all the time.
It's because you're in London. If I'm there for longer than 9months-1year it starts to feel like the whole of the dull grey sky has turned heavy and is slowly weighing on/crushing you down into the ground... then you leave London and its like wow I can breathe again and actually stand tall and see the world! I think it's the lack of available sky, you're left having to search upward for sun/outdoor light, and it's like you've to actively sear h out places where you can stand and actually see more than 500m of empty space around you - giving a wider skyline and a less cooped up feeling
I was born in the UK. Every single one of my family members back for at least 6 generations (and i suspect many more than that) has been from northern Britain. Personally, I cannot stand the cold and the wet and the grey here. It makes me miserable near-constantly. Given the opportunity to leave, I would leave immediately.
Yes, it’s normal. We just moved abroad and it’s the first time in 50 years I’m actually happy every day because it’s always sunny. I took all the vitamins and used a SAD lamp and it still got me down. The grey skies are depressing. It’s just my personality. Living in northern climates affects some people more than others. Move back somewhere sunny.
I am from Hong Kong and I moved to the UK in 2022. Not gonna lie I don't miss the hot and humid summer where I couldn't survive without air conditioner. I actually don't mind the British weather (more specifically London)
I am from here originally and I would never live anywhere else. I love to travel and see other countries and cultures, but it’s nice to come home again. We don’t really get any extreme weather, the wildlife mainly can’t harm you, we get free healthcare. Some things might be a bit crappy, but I’m sure elsewhere isn’t much better.
No you're not being dramatic. My DNA, including my direct parentage is all from colder countries - Ireland, Norway, Iceland, and the Isle of Skye off Scotland. I am auburn haired, green eyed and pale I go gold-ish after an entire summer of trying to tan, just at the point when we have to cover up for Autumn. I can't tolerate the heat or humid places at all. I feel faint and my head starts spinning 360` at 75`. I'm also a coastal / country woman. I lived in London and loved it for 17 years (from 18 y o) but the heat there in the summer is sickly and oppressive. The air is completely still. Also, I didn't get to notice nature and the seasons so much. I used to yearn for the sea - where I grew up - and had to play audio of the sea and waves every night as I slept. Our upbringing and our DNA help to make us who we are, including our desires, tolerations and dislikes. I moved back to the sea 22 years ago and love the cooling sea breeze and extra sunshine that we get at the coast. I advise you to move to where you will be happier: to a beach or forest in the UK or back to where you love. After all, life is always shorter than we think it will be.
Are you being held against your will?
coming from spain i get this 100% i’ve been here 4 years as well and as time goes by I can’t deal with the thought of staying here lol i remember i used to not have to plan ahead any outings any hikes any trips to the beach eating out in a terrace of a restaurant even in the winter throwing on shorts and a top for a night out and staying out until 7 am without a problem… i miss it so much
We do not live in normal times. We live in end-times.
It's not just BEING sad, this response to the weather is actually an official condition called SAD- Seasonal Affective Disorder. So many many people feel like you. The NHS has info about it here: https://www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/seasonal-affective-disorder-sad/overview/
We're all different so do what's right for you. I mostly love it and would hate 30 degrees and sun every day, but maybe it's what you're used to. I love Scotland but know I couldn't live there all year round now.
It’s worth noting that we have had some of the worst last 18 months sunshine/ rain-wise, but yes, it’s incredibly depressing I am looking to leave too.
I'm also from Eastern Europe, but I generally like the UK weather. I wish it was more varied as I do miss cold, snowy winters. I like to live in a country with all 4 seasons and would hate it if the weather was too consistent regardless if its sunny and hot or cold, and wet.
Yes. It is very normal for people who have lived in warm climates to be affected by the cold and the lack of sunshine. Especially people with darker skin. The lack of vitamin D is a genuine issue for a lot of people that come here from sunnier climates.
I’d recommend taking vitamin D supplements. Apparently an enormous percentage of native brits are vitamin D deficient. That and magnesium supplements will work wonders for your mood if you start taking them regularly. Beyond that… do some travelling outside of London. Plenty of beautiful beaches along the south coast, in the south west, and in wales. Failing that, book yourself on some short holidays abroad to sunny places every year. Highly recommend using Jack’s Flight Club to get remarkably cheap flight deals.
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I’ve lived in Brazil, Portugal and Spain and just because there’s more sun doesn’t mean it’s better there than in the UK. I’m personally much happier here in England. The sun gets exhausting when you realise you can’t even spend much time outside without roasting to a crisp, and you can’t do much running around because you’ll overheat and possibly get ill or die. People have already died on summertime hikes in places like Greece. There are many other environmental factors that I’d consider make life better in the UK than abroad, but that’s the basics of it.
Past two years in London were basically on Scottish weather. If there's one more year of this bs, I'm gonna be out.
The uk is a weird climate, it’s quite humid which makes the temperature feel sticky, plus we aren’t equipped for heat like people in SEA, our houses hold heat in well with no AC
Honestly, if you are middle income, most people book two or three mini breaks per year. I typically book a week in March and a week in November to get some sun in southern europe in the low 20s but just off peak season. I dont mind autumn and early winter with christmas too much. Its the slowness of spring when its april but grey and 11 celcius that grind me down
I feel happier and have more energy/etc when the weather is good in the UK. I feel way different when the weather is rubbish, cold, etc like it is most of the time here.
Maybe don't try Scotland then.
No --- after living in sunshine and tropical climate Britain will feel cold, You were brought up In Eastern Europe where it's a lot colder, freezing, snow, ice for most of the time. London is hectic and takes a toll on people even in summer. Maybe move to the South coast. Seasonal affective disorder is a real thing and leaves people miserable. There is a special light box device you can buy. Britain is North so gets little daylight in winter. Take Vitamin D, it is surprising how the lack of this important vitamin can sink us into depression.
I'm from the UK so I've had half a lifetime of it. I eventually emigrated to Cyprus. Best time for hot / sunny weather in the UK is July - October. The rest of the time it's shit.
Maybe the lack of sunlight is effecting you, trying taking some vitamin D pills during the winter months.
Take *lots* of vitamin D, get a SAD lamp, exercise outside every morning. Those won't get rid of the feeling, but they will help dramatically. One of the main reasons I have tried to live abroad (always in hot, sunny countries) throughout my adult life is because of the weather here.
Yes, I grew up here and honestly it gets to me so much. Even 'warm' days like today aren't anywhere near what I would call a good, comfortable temperature, and its the bane of my life. I go to a sunny country and any opportunity.
I’m the opposite to you and I don’t like 30 degree heat because it makes me feel too hot and sluggish and I don’t have the energy to do anything. I’m happier during fresher and cooler weather. Perhaps it’s because you were brought up in a hot climate and your happiest memories are outdoors.
I feel much the same way and I've lived here all my life. In summer it's wonderful, but that's really only a few weeks. Come September, the weather starts to go off, and you realise it's going to be like this for months - well, you're not alone in dreading that. I have a friend from Israel who feels the same way.
I am British and grew up in one of the rainiest areas of the UK, and I _still_ found London really grey and depressing. I think it's the fact that it's so massive and large areas of it don't have much in the way of greenery as a regular part of the streets and open areas. Yes, there are parks, but there's a **lot** more glass and concrete as you move around the city. I managed 8 years in London and then moved to Edinburgh. Greyer. Rainier. But _so much more green_ and I could never go back to living in London again. Some people are ok living in sprawling urban cities under relentless cloud cover. Some are not designed for that. Find a city you enjoy living in and go. Whatever it is that makes London attractive to you - money, I'm guessing - I can guarantee that it's not going to make you happier than moving to somewhere that doesn't drag on your heart can.
Not really an 'Ask UK' question but, FYI, the weather will get wetter and warmer in the future.
Yeah you’re being a bit dramatic but you also may have Seasonal Affective Disorder! Most people who have it get sad in winter when it’s darker. A smaller percent like me are the opposite (I hate the long days and heat). Look it up, it’s legit!
For me, the weather has a big effect on my mood. I am an emotionally unstable person, and my personality is more introverted and withdrawn. I have been studying in the UK for almost a year now. To tell the truth, I don't like the weather here, because it often rains and rarely has sunshine. This often makes me very depressed, because I can only stay in my room alone, unable to communicate and talk to people. But recently I began to shift my attention to online communication, I participated in a social software called LightUp: Make Real Friends , a private beta, where I posted some of my life updates, a lot of people who have similar experiences with me to interact with me, which made me feel the joy of social chat, and also made me not feel lonely when I stayed at home on a rainy day. Although the platform is still in development and testing, I can feel the sincere communication of people on this platform, everyone shares their lives, and I have made a lot of online friends.
I worked for many years as a gardener. Personally I don't much mind the climate, this year is kind of depressing though as you say. Overcast I'm fine with, I do like bright sunny days too. But rain with as much as we've got this last few months, so intermittent so you can't do anything? Nah.
I'm fairly sure that the entire UK gets depressed in the winter. Everyone seems so much happier in the summer. Yes it's normal. Winter here is shit
It's not just you. I absolutely hate the weather in this country. Most of the year it's cold and grey, and when we do finally get a few nice days I can't help but get anxious about the many cold grey months we'll have to go through to get to this time of year again. I am utterly miserable about the weather most of the year. I would absolutely love to live in a Mediterranean climate, but my partner hates it too hot, and family commitments mean I'm stuck here.
Most people enjoy the rainy grey weather, it's nice to sit inside whilst knowing you're not going to get wet and especially with the wood burner loaded or the heating on, with a hot cup of tea or your preference, probably the cosiest and calmest activity here 😂 The dark grey mornings when you're in a car waiting for it to warm up and the windows to defrost are the good stuff.
Deffo SAD - I have it but in reverse lmao, I hate the hot weather and prefer winter!!!!!
I like the damp and the rain myself. When I have been abroad,I couldn't wait to get back home
Move to the countryside.
Yes it is. I'm South African and the constant greyness makes me very depressed. I mostly manage to block it out but I know exactly how you feel. I really miss that intense heat and sunshine of back home. On the other hand I appreciate that there are actually seasons here and not just 5 months of crazy warm 4 months of really warm and 3 months of mild and stupid cold weather. And the UK is damn beautiful when the sun is out and it's a good day. But what I probably miss the most is the consistency of the length of days and nights during different seasons. The most depressing thing about the NH for me is how dark it is during winter. Especially when you're used to sunset and sunrise differs by an hour in winter v summer.
I'm Australian. Even if all other things were equal I couldn't live here permanently because of the weather. It's just depressing.
It’s not just you. The weather in the UK is absolutely appalling. No sensible person could avoid being depressed in the face of 10 months of cold and rain with 2 months of cool and rain and a handful of warm, sunny days if you’re lucky. And no, before anyone starts, 15-20c is not warm. It’s cool. Warm is 25-30c.
You're not alone. I've lived here all my rather long life and this last few years has been terrible. It feels like near constant rain and everything is grey and dirty in between. This last week has been the most sun I've seen in ages.
I've lived here all my life and the cold/grey weather is hard on me too. I take vitamin D all year around now which helps a bit. But I definitely feel a marked improvement in my mood when the sun's out and the weather's nice, even if I'm indoors. But as other commenters have pointed out, we have it easy considering how far north we are. Yay gulf stream!
In the UK most of your clothing should be made of wool. You need several waterproof coats, boots and wellies. It pissed down last night, today I was walking rhe dogs in blazing sunshine wearing shorts, tee shirt and wellies. In winter I have merino undershirts, thick wool jumpers and a giant wool cardigan. Merino long johns and lined winter walking trousers to complete the michelin man look. I'm so warm I barely need the heating on. Dress for the weather and be prepared to change your clothing when the weather changes.
I'm Eastern European too and last winter has been hell. The grey and wet weather really gets you down. That's why I always have a holiday booked because you can't rely on summer here. It's a shame, i live 10 min from the beach but the last time I went swimming was June last year.
I know someone from Canada that said the hardest thing to get used to is the weather
It’s normal. I emigrated to Portugal 4 years ago. One of the reasons was that another British winter would have finished me off. Hate it.
Look into SAD (seasonal affective disorder). The lack of sunshine could be making you very literally clinically depressed. There are special lamps you can get that many people find helpful, and you could also try a vitamin D supplement - NHS advice is for everyone in the UK to take one because we get so little sunshine for much of the year.
I live in the UK for 8 years and my partner for 13, for both of us every single year is getting worst to a point where a good couple of months over winter we fall into depression. And now we are really doing everything to move out if this country as this heavily influenced our lives.
Yes. Why do you think so many poms move to Australia? Or you could look at suicide patterns for Arctic countries and see how the numbers shoot up in winter when it's dark, gloomy and few daylight hours.
If you’re in London, I’d hazard a guess that it might just be city life that’s getting you down. You’re used to the coast and forests, and now you’re in a concrete hellscape.
what a strange time of year to have this particular moan.
Yes. Look into S.A.D. Also make sure you take vitamin D supplements.
Yeah its appaling and definitely affects you mentally. Nothing you can do, it is best to leave for somewhere better.
Hong Kong is not SE Asia, it's East Asia. As a HKer I prefer the weather here.
Not dramatic at all. I tend to end up on antidepressants in the winter months. It’s was bad this past winter. 6 months of low mood, low energy, poor sleep. The minute we had a few days of warmth and sunshine, my energy came back and my mood was immediately better. I was born in Southern Africa and genuinely feel like I’m not built for the U.K. at all.
Some people are like this. Out of everyone I know, I don’t know anybody else who’s affected as much by gray skies and cold (the rain I don’t mind, it’s the lack of color and light). I just can’t live in those climates. They suck the energy out of me. You’re not being dramatic.
Sounds like you suffer from seasonal affective disorder. My wife does too not enough to need to move away but enough to be noticeable. Vitamin D supplements and daylight lamps can help, but truth is, if you have the means and ability to live somewhere that makes you happy then why wouldn't you?