A Canadian man who moved to London has shared how life is different on each side of the Atlantic, and recently revealed a few things he doesn’t like about UK living
16:17, 28 May 2025Updated 16:17, 28 May 2025
The Canadian loves living in the UK but has noted some things which he found shocking (stock image)(Image: Getty Images)
Moving abroad or embarking on an extended trip can be thrilling, but it also presents challenges. The promise of adventure and fresh prospects is tempered by the potential to miss familiar comforts and the need to adapt to a new cultural environment. Canadian TikTok sensation Matt Giffen has been documenting his life since relocating to London over a year ago. With a following of more than 332,000, he has shared experiences like attempting to blend in at Wembley Stadium, strolling through Richmond, tasting British cuisine and visiting historic sites.
Despite his overall affection for his new surroundings, Matt has not shied away from expressing his gripes about life in the UK. The Toronto native cautions: “Before you come for my head in the comments, this is my own personal opinion based off my own personal experiences.”
Friendliness
On the topic of friendliness, Matt, who seeks out Tim Hortons when homesickness strikes for a taste of Canada, was taken aback by the lack of warmth he perceives in British culture.
He remarked: “That’s the truth. It’s very ‘You alright?’, ‘Yeah I’m OK’ …as a Canadian, personally that is a big struggle for me.
“I am used to walking in the parks and smiling at people.” Matt recalls an attempt to smile at someone only to be brusquely told to “sod off.”
He observes that the longer he resides in London, the more he finds himself assimilating British social norms.
Weather
Matt expressed his dismay at the unpredictable British weather, recalling a conversation with his girlfriend after a brief sunny spell.
He recounted: “The last two days were very sunny and nice and I looked at my British girlfriend and said, ‘Oh my god, it’s going to be a beautiful summer.'” And she looked at me and said: “No Matt, that’s not how it works here.”
He also mentioned wearing a winter jacket in July last year, but is now looking forward to some warmth as a “mini heatwave” is expected to bring temperatures up to 24°C soon.
Safety
Matt shared his concerns about phone theft in the capital city. He explained the recent scam where thieves take mobile phones, and swiftly have network providers transfer the number to a new SIM card they control, thus gaining access to victims’ bank accounts and cryptocurrency wallets through intercepted calls and texts.
Matt voiced his fears, saying: “It is my job to walk around the city aimlessly and wave my phone around – and do you not think phone thieves are licking their f***ing chops when they see me walking down a street in London.”
Cost of living
Matt expressed his disbelief at London’s soaring cost of living, commenting: “The cost of living in London is mental.
“Not just the rent, a house in my neighbourhood just went up for sale – a two bedroom house – for £800,000. That’s almost 1.5million Canadian dollars.”
He also noted: “I would love to live in London long term but it ain’t gonna happen.”
Shedding light on the challenges posed by London’s size, he said: “London is huge. I have made friends who live in the same city as me, but it would take over an hour and a half if I want to go see them, which then means we never see each other.”