I'm a UK expat living in France - here are 5 reasons why it's better than the UK

A British expat has revealed five things that ensure living across the English Channel in France is "better". Her TikTok video is part of a series, with the latest list being the "household edition". Alex, known as It's moi, Alex on the social media platform, said: "In France, they don't have their washing machine in the kitchen. Most of the time, it goes actually in the bathroom, so you don't have the eyesore or the noise hanging around in the kitchen.

"We actually have ours in our garage, because we've got a place for it in our garage. But, most of the time, it would go in your bathroom." She added: "Number two is that we have plug points in our bathroom, which, in the UK, you don't get. There are two or three plug points in our bathroom so that you can dry your hair or have a shave, for example."

The third reason is to do with bedding. Alex said: "Number three is that the pillows here are actually square shaped rather than rectangle shaped, which obviously gives you more room for your head."

Fourthly, on every single window in her house, the expat has shutters. "And that happens with most of the houses here," Alex said.

"You don't have to worry about blackout blinds or blackout curtains if you want to make the room dark. You just close the shutters, which is absolutely fantastic when you have children."

The video concludes with her saying: "And number five would be that a lot of the houses around here are detached houses rather than semi-detached houses, and so you've not got potential noise problems from neighbours right next door to you."

But some viewers saw things differently.

One person commented: "I’d hate to have a washing machine in my bathroom."

A different account asked: "How is square pillows better? Isn't plugs in the bathroom dangerous?"

Although others concured with Alex. One user wrote: "Once you try a square pillow there is no going back, and it looks better when the bed is made."

Another said: "Love my Shutters for simplicity of privacy, security and keep the house cool in the summer."

Other French residents have different living arrangements.

One person wrote: "[I] live in France and most people I know have their washing machine in the kitchen.

"Mind you in Paris and flats can be small."