We've spoken to thousands of British expats over the years — in the US, Australia, Spain, the UAE, Canada, and beyond. And we always ask the same question: what do you miss most about home?
The answers are remarkably consistent, regardless of where in the world they're living. Here are the things British expats miss most — and, where possible, how to get them wherever you are in the world.
1. Proper Tea
This comes up in virtually every conversation. Not just any tea — proper British tea. Yorkshire Tea, PG Tips, a strong builder's brew with milk. The tea bags you find abroad are often different blends, and even when you find the right brand, the water tastes different.
The cure: We ship Yorkshire Tea, PG Tips, and Twinings to over 80 countries. Browse our tea selection.
2. British Biscuits
Digestives, Hobnobs, Custard Creams, Bourbons, Jammie Dodgers. These are the biscuits that British people dunk in their tea and eat without thinking — until they move abroad and discover that nothing else comes close. American cookies are too sweet. European biscuits are too dry. Nothing is a Digestive.
The cure: We stock all the classics and ship them worldwide.
3. Cadbury Chocolate
Cadbury made outside the UK genuinely tastes different — the recipe varies by country, and many British expats in the US find American Cadbury almost unrecognisable. British-made Dairy Milk, Roses, Quality Street, and Maltesers are consistently in the top five most requested items in our care packages.
4. The BBC
BBC Radio 4, BBC iPlayer, the Today Programme, Desert Island Discs. The BBC is the soundtrack of British life, and losing access to it is something many expats don't anticipate until it's gone. A VPN can help with iPlayer, but nothing replaces the habit of Radio 4 in the morning.
5. The Weather (Yes, Really)
This one always raises eyebrows — but it's genuine. British expats in hot countries often miss the grey skies, the drizzle, and the cosy feeling of being inside when it's miserable outside. There's a word for it in Danish — hygge — but the British version involves a cup of tea, a biscuit, and the sound of rain on the window.
6. British Humour
Dry wit, self-deprecation, understatement — British humour doesn't always translate. Many expats find themselves explaining jokes, or simply missing the ease of being around people who share the same comedic sensibility.
7. A Sunday Roast
Roast beef, Yorkshire puddings, roast potatoes, gravy. The Sunday roast is a ritual, not just a meal. British expats in countries where this tradition doesn't exist often go to considerable lengths to recreate it — sourcing the right cuts of beef, finding proper Yorkshire pudding tins, and making their own gravy from scratch.
8. The Pub
Not just the beer — the atmosphere. The sticky carpet, the quiz night, the Sunday afternoon with a pint and a newspaper. British-style pubs exist in expat communities around the world, but they're rarely quite the same.
9. Marmite
You either love it or hate it — but if you love it, you really miss it. Marmite is one of the most requested items in our care packages, particularly from expats in countries where it's simply not available.
10. The NHS
This one only becomes apparent when you need it. The ease of booking a GP appointment, the absence of medical bills, the simple reassurance that healthcare is available without financial anxiety — this is something many British expats don't fully appreciate until they're living without it.
A Taste of Home, Wherever You Are
We can't fix the weather, the pub, or the NHS — but we can send you a proper cup of tea, a packet of Digestives, and a box of Cadbury chocolate. Browse our British expat gifts and let us bring a little piece of home to wherever you are in the world.