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Top destinations for meeting other Brits

BY Josh Ferry Woodard

21st Dec 2017 Travel

Top destinations for meeting other Brits

Do you enjoy a bit of familiarity while you're away? Here's how to find your countrymen—plus how you can avoid them if you want!

We Brits love destinations full of sun, fun and beauty. These wonderful countries are full of British expats to befriend and unspoiled beauties to explore.

 

1. Australia


Image via iRemit

Blessed with sunny beaches, acres of space and a relaxed way of life, Australia is far and away the most popular destination for British expats. Over 1.2 million Britons have upped sticks and made the move Down Under.

For us Brits, the motivation for many trips abroad—whether for a fortnight or forever—is often sunshine. And with more solar coverage than most other countries on earth, Australia certainly packs a punch in that respect.

Australia’s relatively sparse population of 23.8 million means that one in 24 people are actually British. This means you’re fairly likely to bump into fellow Brits no matter what you get up to.

Snorkelling the sumptuous Great Barrier Reef, watching a performance at the stunning Sydney Opera House, surfing at the beautiful Bondi Beach and sipping on a flat white in the cultured city of Melbourne—these are all situations you can expect to share with some British brethren.

But at almost 3 million square miles, Australia is can also be big enough to get away from the expat crowd.

Encompassing most of the nation, the term “Outback” refers to the vast interior areas of Australia where population density is incredibly sparse. Attractions such as: Uluru (Ayers Rock), Kings Canyon and Devils Marbles Conservation Reserve (Karlu Karlu) are popular with tourists, but the majority of the Outback is so remote that you’re more likely to run into a kangaroo than another “Pommie”.

 

2. The USA


Image via CDN

Virtually the same size as the continent of Europe, the United States offers an unrivalled variety of lifestyle options for British expats. With 50 unique states­—each boasting its own laws, landscape, culture and climate—America has tempted over 758,000 Britons to take the leap across the pond.

Like the weather, language is another key factor that we Brits take into account when moving abroad. Whether out of laziness, or lack of necessity, less than a quarter of British adults can speak a second language. Compare this to the continent where over half of the EU population is at least bilingual. With this in mind, it’s easy to see why the US is such a popular destination for UK emigrants.

Depending on whether you arrive in the tropical Florida Keys, the parched Texan desert, the snow-capped Rocky Mountains, or thousands of other diverse destinations, you may need a little bit of time to adjust to the climate. But due to the language, and proliferation of American music, TV and films around the world, there shouldn’t be too much of a culture shock.

British expats and tourists alike can be found and befriended right across the country near iconic sites, such as: the Statue of Liberty, Disneyworld, the Golden Gate Bridge, Niagara Falls, Central Park, Hollywood Studios and hundreds more.

However, if you’d like to find a spot of peace away from chat about “how big the portions are”, or “the friendliness of the waiting staff,”, then head down to Yellowstone National Park. Situated on the Yellowstone Caldera super volcano, the park is a stunning mix of cascading canyons, spurting geysers, sticky lava flows and home to over 60 species of mammal. You’ll meet more bison, elk and moose than Brits.

 

3. Canada


Image via Me & The NWT

Canada is a highly developed modern nation with top class schooling, excellent healthcare and incredible natural beauty. A commonwealth country with open immigration laws, it’s no wonder that 674,000 Brits have emigrated to the world’s second-largest nation.

A stunning mix of wild forests, infinite mountain ranges, soul-searching lakes and picture-perfect ski resorts, it’s the vast swathes of land outside of the cities that really get people excited about Canada.

While out satisfying your wanderlust—whether that is hiking a trail in the Canadian Rockies, riding a ski lift in Banff National Park or salmon fishing in Lake Ontario—you could easily bump into some other British people. However, as Brits and Canadians share a love of sports, barbecues, pubs, and even a queen, it shouldn’t be too much of a problem to make friends with the locals either.

If you specifically want to find a piece of Canada away from the expats, you could head to Grise Fiord—an isolated community of 146 in the sparse territory of Nunavut with an average temperature of -16. Slightly easier to access, (it has an airport) is the Nunavut province capital Iqaluit, where a lack of light pollution helps the Aurora Borealis become so intense that many Inuit believe the sky can sing and crackle.  

 

4. Spain


Image via Flickr

A relaxed regime of sunshine, siestas, local wine, home-cooked food and routine community get-togethers makes Spain an attractive proposition to those seeking a sun-kissed sojourn or staycation. An incredible 17.8 million Brits travel to Spain each year for their holidays, making it strangely underwhelming to learn that only 381,000 haven’t made it back.

Yellow sunshine, beautiful beaches and historic towns entice Brits in. However, it is the laidback lifestyle of good food, good drink and even better company that steals our hearts.

Expats are known to take over significant areas of the country in summer, particularly islands such as: Tenerife, Majorca, Gran Canaria and Lazarote. You’ll also likely run into a bunch of pasty Brits in the queue for Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia or the Alcazar of Seville.

The best way to avoid the British crowds is to head inland to the rural villages of white houses, hilly lemon groves and crumbling churches. Regions such as Asturias and Extramadura offer serenity in stunning national parks—a happy medium between the balminess of rural Spain and the bustle of the coast.

 

5. New Zealand


Image via Planetware

New Zealand is another country of outstanding natural beauty that benefits from similar amenities, culture and language as Britain. Over 313,000 UK expats now live in the country that puts you within 80 miles from the coast at all times.

Blessed with grand mountain ranges, volcanic peaks, emerald lakes, picturesque fiords and subtropical islands, New Zealand really is a paradise for nature lovers. One place where you’ll certainly run into a group of Brits is the Hobbiton Movie Set, a significant location used in the filming of The Lord of the Rings trilogy and The Hobbit series. 

Find a place away from the expats and elves at Cape Kidnappers on North Island, where a member of Captain Cook’s crew was temporarily abducted by Maori fishermen in 1769. You could also travel to Fox Glacier on South Island, where the brilliant blue of the ice is accentuated by the lush green rainforest at its fringe.

 

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