American family sparks backlash sharing "unsettling" experience in Europe

An American mom has shared her not-so-great experience with the population of one of the most-visited cities in the world.

"During our recent trip to London, we found the overall atmosphere to be colder and less welcoming than we anticipated, which stood out to us compared to our previous travels," M, the mom in the Hendrix family, told Newsweek.

The Chicago family chart their world travels on the Instagram page @thehendrixtribe and have recently been documenting their experiences in the British capital. In an Instagram post that received 9.5 million views, the family described the "coldness" they felt from the people of London.

"We've traveled the world and experienced so many cultures, but we've never felt such coldness as we did in London," they said in the viral post. "In a week there, not a single smile greeted us—not on the streets, not on the trains.

"People rushed past, avoiding eye contact, completely absorbed in their own worlds. For our kids, who are used to warm waves and friendly interactions, it was unsettling. London's energy felt distant, cold, and unwelcoming."

"We're aware that our post sparked a variety of responses, both positive and negative, which was never our goal but is an inevitable part of starting conversations about travel," M told Newsweek.

"As a family, we aim to expose our children to the world through meaningful, real-life experiences, embracing each destination's unique culture, history, and people. While London felt different for us on this visit, we still deeply appreciate the city and look forward to returning in the future to explore it with fresh eyes."

London was the second-most visited city in the world in 2023, behind the Turkish city of Istanbul.

The capital of the U.K., with popular attractions such as Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and many museums, attracted 18.8 million visitors last year, beating other popular destinations such as Dubai, Paris, and New York.

As M said, the family's video got quite a reaction, with nearly 9,000 comments.

"This is the most American post I have ever read," said @joelwood.

Meanwhile, @camporesemirko commented: "From someone from London, we don't care. We have stuff to do."

Another Instagram user, @weeze86, suggested: "If you travel further up the country the more smiles you get! It's a well known fact in the UK northerners are friendly and will talk and smile at anyone, southerners talk to no one in the streets and on the trains."

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