33 Terrible & Wonderful Differences: London Houses vs American Houses
I’m sitting here in my tiny London house and longing for the days of open-plan kitchens and storage galore. As an American living in London, housing is one big difference where America wins hands down. Or does it?
Let’s get into it and have a throwdown: London houses vs American houses.
Let’s go over the pros and cons of living in the US vs UK: who wins, who loses, and exactly what you can expect from British vs American houses.
London Houses vs American Houses: Construction
1. Age
Most of the differences on this list come down to how old a building is. In London most standard terraced homes were built in the Victorian era (mid-1800s) when the industrial revolution was booming and bringing scores of people to London that needed housing.
In America, houses range in age from brand new to older (for America) 1800s. On the West coast you’ll generally find newer homes, and on the East Coast and New England you will generally find older homes.
2. Attached vs Detached Houses
The common terraced house in London stemmed from after the Great Fire of 1666. The entire city was rebuilt from stone instead of wood, but timber was still used for structural purposes. Timber was cheaper in shorter lengths, so the segmented terraced home we still use today is so compartmentalized because of those short timbers.
Terraced housing was also cheaper and faster to build, and could fit more into less space, so they sprang up all over London in the Georgian and Victorian era.
In America, most homes are detached (major cities like NYC being an exception). This is simply because there is more space.
3. Building Materials
After the Great Fire of London, wood construction was outlawed. After this period, most homes were built from brick and stone. More modern construction is different as laws changed, but still the majority of buildings in London are made of brick.
American houses vary widely and are usually made of the best material for whatever climate they’re in.
4. Footprint
The footprint of a terraced London house is tiny – it spreads vertical instead of horizontal. This allows for more housing in a smaller square footage.
You know in America we’re known for our massive McMansions that spread out to upwards of 5,000 square feet (how do you clean that much house?). Land was cheaper in America, so builders could afford to just make everything more spread out.
Space
5. Square Footage
The average American house was 2,273 square feet in 2021. A house in London averages 705 square feet. Houses are a whopping 223% bigger in America.
No wonder I have no place to store all my stuff!
6. Open vs. Closed Floor Plans
American houses FEEL larger because they more often have large, open floor plans. The standard terraced house in London is sectioned off with tons of walls and stairs.
Personally, I think American houses are more conducive to family time and activities because there is more space to relax and spend time together.
7. Number Of Floors/Levels
American houses will typically have a basement, a main floor (called the “first floor”) and a top floor. Not always, but usually.
A terraced house in London will have a lower level where the kitchen is (called the “first floor,” not the basement), a living level with a living room and dining room, and at least one upper floor with bedrooms.
Many also have a 4th level, which makes for a tremendous amount of stairs to walk all the time.
8. Basements And Attics
London homes do have basements, we just don’t call them that. It’s the “first floor.” Attics? Not so much.
American homes will typically have a finished or unfinished basement (often where the laundry is) AND an attic, which most people use for storage if they can access it.
London Houses vs American Houses: Heating
9. Central Heating Vs. Individual Room Heaters
In most American houses, heating comes from central air vents that run throughout the house. In London, heating is provided by radiators in each room through which hot water circulates.
I prefer radiant heating, but without central air vents, installing air conditioning is more difficult.
10. Types Of Heating Fuels (Gas, Electric, Oil)
Older or more rural American houses often have oil tanks that fuel their heating systems. More modern homes have electric heating or gas.
In London, the hot water tanks that heat the radiators are usually run by natural gas.
11. Fireplaces
The fireplace was a London staple for centuries, but not so much anymore. Lots of terraced homes will have a fireplace on each level, as that was the only source of heat in days gone by. In my living room I have an old coal fireplace that’s blocked off and can’t be used, and many fireplaces in London are non-functional.
In America, fireplaces are more for decoration than heating, and many have natural gas inserts so you can flick on the fire with a switch. It’s pretty nice!
Cooling & Air Conditioning
12. Air Conditioning
How much do I miss air con in the summers? SO. MUCH.
London homes – and most homes in Britain – were built to retain heat. The stone construction ensures a toasty warm home in the winter. But in the summer? Those brick walls turn into an oven.
In America and in other places like Australia, many homes have central air, or if they don’t have the ventilation system people have heat pumps installed for AC in each room.
13. Ceiling Fans
A really great common American feature is the ceiling fan, but those don’t really exist in Britain. They are so nice for getting some air circulating and cooling when it’s warm but not warm enough to turn on the AC.
Windows
14. Double vs Single Glazing
Americans get it right with windows. Most are double or even triple glazed, easy to open, and easy to clean.
Britain, have you MET double glazing? Do you know how much energy you could save by installing good windows?
The trouble, especially in London, is that it’s hard to get permits to change things in historic (grade-listed) homes. That means even if you/your landlord want to install new windows, you’ll have to jump through hoops to do so.
That’s why so many homes still have janky single-glazed panes from the 1800s. Yes, seriously. In my home right now I open and close windows that have been the exact same since 1858.
15. Window Screens
America wins once again, because we have the foresight to install window screens in most homes. No bugs can enter here! In places like Australia, too, these are a MUST.
Britain has not heard of window screens, and many a crane fly and mosquito has greeted me inside my home because of this terrible oversight.
London Houses vs American Houses: Laundry
16. Laundry Location
In London, your washing machine will often be in the kitchen. Yes, the kitchen! And it takes up valuable real estate in the hardest working room in your home.
In America it’s more common to have laundry in the basement or in a separate laundry room. It’s so much nicer and easier to do laundry in America.
17. Lack of Dryers
The number one discussion in my Americans in London group is about dryers: the lack of dryers in London, how on earth to dry clothes without one, and tips and tricks for living without one.
Most London homes don’t have dryers, which means laundry is a several day affair. If you have a family, you will battle laundry every single day endlessly. A massive drying rack will take up half the room, and you’ll constantly be rotating wet and dry clothes off it.
18. Washer/Dryers
I’m convinced that whomever invented the “washer/dryer” (yes, it’s one machine common in British homes) has never actually used a washer OR a dryer, because it does both equally poorly.
Here’s how it works: you wash your clothes, then turn on the pitiful “drying” function for 3 cycles of 8 hours each. Pull out your clothes 3 days later and they’re damp, wrinkled to shit and smell of mildew.
London Houses vs American Houses: Kitchen & Cooking
19. Refrigerators
American refrigerators are meant for bulk shopping where fresh foods stay good for weeks.
British refrigerators are meant for a daily – not weekly – shop, so you don’t need to have so many things inside at once.
Is it horrible? Yes. Do I miss my giant American refrigerator and going to Costco? Yes.
20. Ovens
Likewise, British ovens are tiny. Don’t bring your massive roasting pans and cookie sheets if you move here, because they won’t fit.
American ovens are giant, and it’s common to have a double oven. In Britain you’re more likely to find something like an Aga – a giant cast iron setup of the type that was historically used to cook and heat the house with a fire constantly burning.
In America it’s also common to have your burners on top of the stove in one unit, while in Britain you’ll more likely have a range of burners on the countertop, and an oven somewhere else.
21. Small Appliances
Unless you’re in a newer or renovated London kitchen, you won’t find a built-in microwave. This is unfortunate because not only does it take up massive countertop space, then it gives you even less space to have more small appliances.
22. Kettles vs Coffee Pots
For coffee, you’ll often find a dedicated drip coffee pot in American households.
In Britain, you’ll find a kettle and some Nescafe instant coffee.
Although I hate drip coffee, I still think America wins for coffee. Britain wins for the prevalence of kettles, which are awesome for so many things.
British vs American Houses: Bathrooms
23. Toilets
America wins for toilets, hands down. American toilets flush everything in one go.
British toilets are designed poorly so the bowl gets dirty with…stuff…and hard water stains that are impossible to clean. Also you need to flush several times, as the water flow is just poorly designed.
24. Towel Racks
Britain wins for bathroom towel racks, because they double as radiators! They’ll keep your towel toasty warm and dry, and keep the cold tiled bathroom nice and warm too.
American towel racks are usually just a bar where your towel sits and never fully dries.
25. Bathroom Storage
American bathrooms are designed to hold lots of products easily. We usually have drawers, cupboards, shelves, etc.
British bathrooms must have been designed by a man who only needed a razor, because there’s nowhere to put anything.
26. En Suite
An en suite bathroom (sometimes called “primary” or “master” bath in America) is not common in London. Bathrooms are usually in awkward locations, like on stair landings, because our old homes were not initially built with interior bathrooms.
In America you’ll find massive “master” baths with huge bathtubs right off the primary bedroom.
London Houses vs American Houses: Car Parking
27. Driveways
I hope you don’t have a car in London, because you’ll have no place to park it. Driveways only exist for large buildings in London and they’re used for loading and unloading only.
In America you pull right into your driveway to keep your car nice and safe off the street.
28. Garage
In America’s more extreme climates with very hot and very cold temperatures, it’s great to pull you car into the driveway to keep it safe from extreme heat and ice.
In London there are some underground parking garages, but don’t expect to have one on your house. (You shouldn’t own a car in London anyway, tbh).
Closets & Storage
29. Bedroom Closets
You’ll be hard pressed to find a closet in a London house. We mostly have standing wardrobes, which are terrible and massive and clunky.
In America you can walk INTO your closet, which has so much storage you’d think you’d died and gone to clothing heaven.
30. Inside Storage
In newer American houses, there’s storage for everything from bikes to towels to brooms. Storage is thoughfully planned to keep everything tidy and out of sight. Maybe it’s a nod to American consumerism, but storage is a big industry in America and it shows in our massive homes.
In London, you may have a cupboard here or there, but not much built in. That’s different, of course, in newly renovated or more modern homes and flats. We just have way less real estate to use inside our homes.
31. Outside Storage
In America not only are you likely to have a garage, but you might also have a shed or some other outdoor storage system.
In London, you likely don’t have a garden (yard)…so no outdoor storage, either.
In my current terraced house, we have a small outdoor cupboard where the utility meters are, where I can store exactly one recycling bin.
London Houses vs American Houses: Yards & Gardens
32. Gardens
If you’re lucky enough to have a garden in London, it’s probably really small and in the back of your house where it can’t be seen from the street.
In America people take huge pride in their lush green lawns, fences, paths and outdoor living spaces. Yards often span the front AND the back of homes – gardens are a huge part of curb appeal in America.
33. Landscaping
In America, outdoor spaces are just as important as indoor spaces. You’ll often find a range of outdoor seating, firepits, swings, sheds, and landscaping styles.
In London you may have room for a garden chair and some potted plants. But people do take pride in their gardens here – even if they’re small, and often make the most of the space.
Pros and Cons of Living in the US vs UK: Final Thoughts
Alright, now that we’ve gone over every single detail of housing in the US vs UK, let’s see who wins.
🏠 Construction
Winner: America 🇺🇸
For longevity, obviously London houses win. They’ve been here for ages and they’re still the same. But for energy saving, adaptable and affordability, America all the way.
🛋️ Living Space
Winner: America 🇺🇸
Of all the pros and cons of living in the US vs UK, space is the one thing I just can’t get over. I feel like my family and I are always on top of one another. Still, I love it here. I just miss my massive (in comparison) American house.
🔥 Heating
Winner: Britain 🇬🇧
Britain has been doing heat and heat retention right for centuries. They still do.
❄️ Cooling
Winner: America 🇺🇸
Thanks to global warming, America is where it’s at for AC. London gets so boiling hot in the summer that it’s just miserable.
🪟 Windows
Winner: America 🇺🇸
Learn about double glazing, Britain. C’mon!
🧺 Laundry
Winner: America 🇺🇸
Dryers. That is all.
🔪 Kitchen & Cooking
Winner: America 🇺🇸
Kitchens in America just have more space for cooking, eating, and socializing. Here they’re just utilitarian, and hardly accomplish that at all.
🛁 Bathrooms
Winner: America 🇺🇸
I like having space for all my stuff, and flushing the toilet ONCE.
🚘 Car Parking
Winner: America 🇺🇸
I don’t have a car here, but if I did…ok, I just wouldn’t. America is built for cars, Britain is not.
👔 Closets & Storage
Winner: America 🇺🇸
I did more clothes shopping in America, maybe because I had the space to keep those clothes? I don’t know if that’s a good thing….
🌻 Yards & Gardens
Winner: America 🇺🇸
I miss the days of having friends over for a BBQ. I miss weeding the garden, and I never thought I’d say that.
British vs American Houses: America Wins
If I could pluck my American house and set it down in London, that would be the best solution to my dilemma. I obviously love London so much, but I sure miss my American conveniences.
There are so many pros and cons of living in either place, but I still choose London. I will always choose London.
Pros and Cons of Living in the US vs UK: What are Yours?
I’d love to hear your thoughts on American vs British homes, especially if you’re an American in London. Email me at Jen (at) London in Real Life (dot) com. Or you can just say hi!
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