You're right of course, there are areas in the UK that differ wildly. I spent most of my life in different parts of the UK, both with work and living and I can honestly say that, as the years passed by, there was an ever-increasing underlying aggressive feel to most places that I visited or lived. You can see it in everyday life as people constantly walk around about their business not wishing to make eye contact with those they don't know already. Yes, if you took the time to say hello to someone they would likely return the favour with a smile but they would also likely be highly suspicious of you for doing so. There are also lovely, picturesque places but you need to get away from populated areas (which are dwindling rapidly) to find them. Friendly faces and beautiful places are always to be found in the UK but, in my opinion, this is the exception and not the rule. This is one of the main factors in our decision to move our family elsewhere. Unfriendly faces and ugly places seem to be the exception to the rule here and, when you say hello to a stranger here, you don't tend to get a suspicious hello back.
I know there will be those that agree and those that disagree as this, of course, is simply my opinion based on what I saw thorugh my eyes.
I don't think this should be a UK vs Oz thread either but more of a balanced debate for those that may be thinking of returning? Oz won't suit everyone and neither will the UK.