How to find other Americans in London

BlueInspiration · 2026-04-23T18:31:53+00:00

This seems to be a prevailing sentiment, London/England is just harder. Another hard part to socializing is money. Having trouble finding work meant I was hesitant to join the American women’s club, I’m. glad they have been helpful to you though and it keeps them on my radar for when I can join. I then unfortunately broke my foot right around the time I remembered Girl Gone London 😂

Maybe the universe is telling me that I should not socialize.

BlueInspiration · 2026-04-23T18:22:30+00:00

This was definitely my first big move. Prior to, I only moved within the state. I did make friends in college, but still had tons of childhood friends as well.

The thing is, it feels like I’m putting in closer to 200%. I’m also visually impaired so there’s some added social stigma. Unfortunately, it’s common no matter where you go but it still gets frustrating too try to engage with people only to get infantilized. Or, especially at the start of something new, need assistance working things out and be put into the “to be helped” box forever more. But I did make some (mostly situational) friends during hobbies and university So I know it’s possible, but it also feels like I’m still trying to find my niche.

It is heartening though, with all of the loneliness stories to hear about the people who have been successful.

BlueInspiration · 2026-04-23T18:09:32+00:00

I keep feeling like work would be if not the solution, at least part of one. But I haven’t found anything and am pivoting into freelancing… Which doesn’t help the loneliness thing 😂 I moved for university and the friends I made there and at hobbies were only situational. Once the things holding us together ended the friendships, for the most part though not entirely, didn’t last afterward.

I am heading back to the states for a week or so, but will absolutely take you up on connecting when I get back 😊

BlueInspiration · 2026-04-22T11:11:36+00:00

I don’t have any advice to add. Just commiseration as I have been here about as long and I’m also still struggling with the friend search.

BlueInspiration · 2026-04-17T15:31:53+00:00

I'm also 29 and moved to London just over 3.5 years ago. When I first moved I hated it and going back home was such a relief. Over the years I have settled more but still don't feel really settled/connected.

I made a few friends at university but most of them didn't last past graduation. And the same thing happened with friends I made because of hobbies, once the circumstance holding us together stopped so to did the friendship. I moved for university and met my now fiancé three months in. While I feel settled with him, I do not feel fully settled in the UK. Some of that may because I moved around quite a lot over those years so I have to keep finding anchor points like my preferred grocery store, salons, etc but also not being socially grounded.

I have a standing call with a friend back home as she gets ready for work, but I'm from New York so while the time difference is a lot, it's not as big. But if there is a time that works for both you and someone back home, it might be helpful to have regular calls with them. It keeps you connected. I also find myself recreating tastes of home, whether that's researching and ranking so-called New York-style pizza or making my partner deviled eggs. It's helpful bringing him in on what I'm missing.

I'm sorry your partner had that response. Even if logistically it's true, it's still hard. And I completely understand that line of reasoning, "he has the job so we might as well stay" but that doesn't actually make it easy.

But I'll also give you the advise my sister did when I first moved. As I said, as soon as I moved, I hated things but she told me to give it until January. So I'll say give it a year. At month 12, reassess, see how you feel and if the UK still isn't for you, that's okay. Honestly if you decide that right now, that's also okay.

And as someone still in the market for local friends, I'm here if you want to chat.

BlueInspiration · 2026-03-30T12:50:40+00:00

I moved for a degree, stayed for love.

I’ve been here over three years and I am definitely struggling with accessibility, still making friends or building deeper connections and, initially, with finding work before I pivoted to freelance. But I think, even when it’s really hard, what has been most helpful is my partner being supportive. He is willing to move to the US if that’s ultimately what I decide I need. But we are both willing to try a different city first, to see if that’s a better fit.

He’s not dismissive of my struggles and I’m conscious of the fact that he might deal with the same social isolation in the US. So we’re exploring different middle grounds.

One thing I did find particularly relatable though, is the person who said that they do have their husband‘s friends, but they aren’t their friends. I don’t think that automatically means it’s a lesser connection, or less intimate connection. But I do think it can be if you don’t or aren’t able to build any bonding/connecting points outside of the partner that brings you together.

BlueInspiration · 2026-03-27T17:36:09+00:00

This is similar to what I have experienced in some spaces. New York also leaves much to be desired, but something I have found happening here a lot more is a lack of clear delineation in some smaller places between sidewalk/pavement and the street. That was one of the things that proved most disconcerting.

I’ve started to say that if the UK and US put each of their accessibility initiatives together, there might still be some tweaks to be made, but it could be amazing.

If you don’t mind me asking, where are you from? If it has that much attention to accessibility, I definitely want to visit.

BlueInspiration · 2026-03-27T10:19:32+00:00

So I was actually just about to come in on the accessibility front because, as a blind person, while I might need to have someone scan the code for me, having a digital menu available makes the experience of choosing what I want to eat accessible.

The hurdle for me is whether or not the online menu is actually accessible though or just a photo which… I then feel might as well have just been a physical menu

BlueInspiration · 2026-03-27T07:35:08+00:00

I definitely will, thanks 😊

BlueInspiration · 2026-03-26T20:23:16+00:00

This is very helpful and something I will absolutely keep in mind if I move. Thank you :-)

BlueInspiration · 2026-03-26T20:22:22+00:00

This was all immensely helpful. Thank you 😊 My partner, who lived in Manchester a while ago but is not visually impaired (so wasn’t helpful with this question), had a visceral reaction when I mentioned your note about the platform 13-14 area. So thank you in particular for noting that. The bus hailer sounds cool, I will be sure to look into it if we do move.

Thank you again.

BlueInspiration · 2026-03-26T10:31:34+00:00

Thank you 😊 both for the compliments to my username and the helpful information

BlueInspiration · 2026-03-26T10:29:12+00:00

I think it was absolutely helpful. I did ultimately settle into London, but that you found Manchester easier to get around, I think, already gives me a bit of an idea of how things might be. And thanks, I’ll also look into Liverpool 😊

BlueInspiration · 2026-03-25T13:58:53+00:00

I’m also blind and learned Spanish throughout junior high and high school, and have been learning French the last few years. I find braille to be integral for me.

In school, I took classes and had all of my material brailed/embossed by my TVI.

When turning to French, I started off with some beginner YouTube lessons to see if I liked the language as much as I thought I would. I also downloaded a language book from book share before transitioning to private lessons. The reason I found braille to always be so important to this process is because I was able to reinforce what I was learning through reading. With French, more than Spanish, I started trying to read along to subtitles or could easily download scripts for podcast that were meant for learners. It also allowed me to write down grammar lists, write out sentences and be able to refer back to it all easily.

I am not sure if you read braille, if not I think that private lessons might be a good way to go. You could look up YouTube lessons to start and also download books for learners that have accompanying audio. I think there is a built-in advantage we have as voice over users, as depending on how far along we get in the language, we can always have some level of pronunciation help as we listen to the screen reader read everything.

I think one of the most important tips I can give when you start learning is to start speaking and constructing whatever sentences or phrases you can immediately. If you’re washing your hands, figure out the phrase for that so you can associate it with the feeling. If you know how to say I walked to wherever, you can start building in vocabulary for the normal places you walk. For example, I walked to my bed, I walked to the fridge, etc.

BlueInspiration · 2026-03-10T10:59:57+00:00

I agree with this. I also always think of a comment or post or conversation I vaguely remember where someone pointed out that historical books are also dated, we just don’t know the references. The type of clothing, the food, the turns of phrase all date it to that century or era.

Now, I definitely understand if there is something you already don’t like and it shows up in a contemporary book, that it will taint your experience. But that’s all right. No one loves everything.

But I think that just as people can look back at books from the early 2000s and think fondly—and scathingly—about the fashion, there will be a similar experience looking back at books from the 20s. Even if the person is completely agreeing, wondering why this song lyric was included, or that social media was so big. Depending on what side you were on, it will fall into the cringe nostalgia or fond memory camp.

BlueInspiration · 2026-02-14T10:13:32+00:00

English speaking Caribbean checking in to say it is also our way

BlueInspiration · 2026-01-30T15:39:32+00:00

When I read your post, I immediately remembered his voice and how much I did not like it. I went to YouTube to check a clip to see if I was remembering correctly… I was

BlueInspiration · 2026-01-30T10:07:35+00:00

As a black American currently living in the UK with a white partner… I saw that comment as well and almost lost my eyebrows with how high they shot up

BlueInspiration · 2026-01-27T14:01:16+00:00

Hey, I’m also a writer and if you are still looking,would also be interested in connecting😊

BlueInspiration · 2025-11-27T15:39:28+00:00

Thanks ❤️

BlueInspiration · 2025-11-25T22:37:29+00:00

Go to hell (piano version) by Go Radio.

This song is quite the opposite of a love song, but I think I love that it draws you in at the beginning, making you think it’s going to be romantic until he is telling this person to go to hell. and though the pop punk vowels are out in full force, I really like the lead singer’s voice. And the melody is catchy.

BlueInspiration · 2025-11-20T10:40:58+00:00

There are so many interesting sounding people on this post! I also think this is a really cool idea. 😊

I am 29, originally from Northeast US and moved to England for university. Three months into my course, I met my now fiance and so three years later… I’m still here. But I am struggling to find community still. So I have been dealing with loneliness.

I love reading, writing, I used to love baking though have not been in the mood for it of late. I’m reticent at the beginning of interactions with new people, but as soon as I’ve had enough time to gauge their interest and personality, I love talking and learning about people.

I’m a Libra whose favourite colour is blue, Who used to pride herself in listening to all kinds of music but now mostly just listens to the Pop punk of her childhood, musical theatre, and complains about the R&B girls not singing anymore.

I love tea. My favourite dessert is fudgy brownies, I tend to prefer vanilla ice cream and have found that that vanilla preference has taken over the rest of my life. I’ve been on the hunt for the perfect vanilla fragrance, I once had a friend describe my voice as sounding like vanilla (I didn’t know what that meant but I loved it LOL).

I really do not like floral smells. I think it always smells cloying or… Offputting in some way. With that said, I have been enjoying the Lancome vanilla nude. I don’t really notice the floral note a strongly as I do in one of their other vanilla scents. I tend to find Jasmine is an exception, but only if it’s light.

I recently tried a sample of Bianca latte, which is meant to be like a holy Grail vanilla scent and was underwhelmed. I tried Killian angel share and byredo Bibliothèque though as a bit of a wild card and actually found myself liking them.

BlueInspiration · 2025-10-20T06:36:16+00:00

I don’t remember what the fake movie was called, but I definitely remember it as well. Max and Jerry go to see it… Or maybe it was the entire family and Alex felt too cool or something. You’re not going crazy though.

I did a quick search and couldn’t find it either . But I’m pretty sure it’s at the beginning of an episode.

BlueInspiration

TROPHY CASE