New Yorkers don’t waste time being nice, and that’s exactly why I love it

That famous British politeness? After moving to the US, Holly Baxter is overjoyed by how upfront everyone is

New York can be a harsh and unfriendly place – unless you’re from south of the midlands (Getty/iStock)

A lot of people will tell you that New York City is a harsh place to live: people are rude, the subway cars are a nightmare, the streets are full of rodents, everyone’s trying to sell you something. Those people have probably never lived in London. I say this because when I made the move to the Big Apple in January (I’m one of the only people in the world mad enough to do that, as attested to by the more-than-half-empty plane), I steeled myself for that classic New York aggression. I thought I’d have to learn how to cope with their legendary cynicism and the pace that they walked down a busy pavement (or sidewalk, if we’re being consistent).

I soon realised that New York can be a harsh and unfriendly place populated by people who move at 100mph – if you’re from other parts of America. If you’re used to biscuits and gravy served on the porch by Grandma in the fields of North Carolina, you’re going to get a rude awakening when someone barks at you that you need to take your double-pump soy latte right now because there are 17 other customers waiting. But if you’re used to living south of the midlands in the UK? Well, you’re in for a nice surprise.

I can see why Brits find New York overwhelming. On a superficial level, it is. People are upfront with you. They don’t waste time couching their requests in niceties

The British have a reputation for being polite, but it’s a lie. Americans are genuinely polite: they will tell you to “have a nice day” at the end of every interaction; they will tear up with excitement when you tell them your boyfriend, who they have never met, just got offered a promotion at work. Not saying “bless you” after you sneeze in America is basically a federal crime. And if you’re navigating the streets with a hot coffee or a pushchair or even a skateboard with a pug on it (something I genuinely saw this week as I was leaving work in Manhattan), then people will smile and move out of your way with a wave of the hand and a “No, you’re good – go ahead.”