'I'm a Canadian living in the UK and there's one coastal city I would move to'
A man who moved from Canada to London visited a popular beach in the UK for the first time and shared his candid thoughts, including what he liked most about it
A man from Canada visited a popular UK beach and shared his genuine impressions. The British shoreline stands out from many others in the world, with its pebble-covered beaches and variable sea temperatures.
Matt Giffen, originally from Canada, now lives in London and frequently shares snippets of his life on TikTok. After a pit stop in Liverpool, he decided to veer off course and explore the southeast coastline, heading to Brighton. Unlike his homeland, the UK boasts a mix of sandy and pebbly beaches that are often bustling with tourists and locals alike. In contrast, Canadian beaches tend to be quieter and more untouched.
The Canadian expat spent a couple of days in Brighton with his girlfriend, taking a leisurely stroll along the iconic pier and indulging in some traditional fish and chips.
He shared his thoughts of the seaside city in a TikTok video, stating: "First of all, it actually gives me a very northern feel, like it's really friendly and the people here seem very warm a lot, unlike London.
"It does sort of lack that, like, community feel that I had in Liverpool, I think just because there's so many tourists here, but one thing I do love about Brighton is how walkable this place is."
WARNING: The video below contains explicit language. Viewer discretion is advised.
Matt discovered plenty of "cute" alleyways to walk down and ranked Brighton Palace Pier as one of the top three places he's visited in the country.
He noted that Brighton feels "very safe" to wander around and described it as a "very inclusive and welcoming city."
Matt confessed his "obsession" with Brighton, a city celebrated for its diverse communities and large LGBTQ+ population.
He said: "I love it here. I don't know what it is but the sound of the seagulls, the seaside views...[I] must have been a sailor back in my past life because when I'm here it just completely calms my nervous system."
The expat also praised Brighton for having "everything in one place", claiming that he could find all the shops he needed if he wanted to go shopping.
In contrast, in London, he would have to "bounce around [for] like five hours to find different places" to get what he wants.
Matt and his girlfriend are considering moving out of London and believe Brighton "might be the spot" for them.
His followers were quick to share their thoughts on this idea. The TikTok video has garnered thousands of views, likes and more than 900 comments.
One viewer said: "Many Londoners move to Brighton in their 30s." An ex-Londoner added: "Yes! So happy I moved here from London 4 years ago!"
A Brighton local chimed in: "Yes we do live here. Summer is crazy with tourists but it's the best place to live all year round."