What does Britain do which is the Envy of The World?

Generali

Interesting points.

How could I forget London!!!

Justice system is a good call.

I think foreigners are interested in the Royals but wouldn't want some of their own.

Freedom of speech is undervalued in the UK I think. Libel laws are too tough.

Curiosity I agree with.

Chocolate digestives. Hmm. I match your chocolate digestive and raise you a Lu chocolate biscuit.

lostinrates

Generali wrote: »

Chocolate digestives. Hmm. I match your chocolate digestive and raise you a Lu chocolate biscuit.

This sounds like something I should be interested in....more details please!

vivatifosi

Race car engineering: look at how many of the big F1 teams are based here, yet it is a global sport. Watch an overseas team that doesn't have a base here (eg Ferrari) and see how many British race engineers it has. It truly is something to be proud of.

Generali

lostinrates wrote: »

This sounds like something I should be interested in....more details please!

http://www.lubiscuitsna.com/

THE MANY TASTES OF LU>>>SWEET BISCUITS>>>PETIT ECOLIER

(their caps, not me SHOUTING!!!!!!).

Waitrose used to sell them. I have no idea if they still do.

The petit beurre ones are nice too for a simple biscuit and the PIMS are fantastic as a raspberry version of a jaffa cake (neither better nor worse, just different flavour and the orange one they do is a jaffa cake pretty much).

TBH they're all bloody good.

Generali

vivatifosi wrote: »

Race car engineering: look at how many of the big F1 teams are based here, yet it is a global sport. Watch an overseas team that doesn't have a base here (eg Ferrari) and see how many British race engineers it has. It truly is something to be proud of.

I agree that is something the UK should be proud of (and there are many other things too).

Is it something the world is 'envious' of? Not so sure.

JonnyBravo

Generali wrote: »

To clarify, I'm not talking about what British people like but what foreigners admire about British life, political, economic and social.

I've no real idea then. You'd be better asking a foreign based forum surely?

Personally I'd agree with your list but put pubs a lot higher.... if your list is in any kind of order that is. (I'm not sure how many foreigners are really interested in our education system apart from those who want to use it.)

I kid you not and nor is this a facetious answer. With all the travelling I've done I'd rather be in a British pub than any other nations bars. It is the cornerstone of much of Britains social life..... perhaps I'm just looking through rose tinted due to the good night I had last night.
:T


Cheers!

lostinrates

vivatifosi wrote: »

Race car engineering: look at how many of the big F1 teams are based here, yet it is a global sport. Watch an overseas team that doesn't have a base here (eg Ferrari) and see how many British race engineers it has. It truly is something to be proud of.

Thats true! I know someone who is a british engineer there.

lostinrates

JonnyBravo wrote: »

With all the travelling I've done I'd rather be in a British pub than any other nations bars. It is the cornerstone of much of Britains social life..... perhaps I'm just looking through rose tinted due to the good night I had last night.
:T


Cheers!

Hmm. I quite like a good pub, but, writing as a woman, I'm more comfortable in bars elsewhere I think. Pubs are unique though....different to bars.

lynzpower

Give out benefits to all and sundry far too easily. We are seen as the milk and honey of the benefits system sadly. I can't see any other reason why people would think the UK is anything special. Weather is crap, the roads congested, the british public just plain ignorant and rude.. nobody can enjoy their lives because lives are too stressed; even a trip to the seaside is stressed due to congestion on roads and chavs everywhere, sky high parking charges (thats if you can find a space of course).

Izzy, lets not be too negative here shall we :cool:

I dont think we give out benefits too easily, after all , we all know people who have tried and failed to get benefits ( me included, although I am a UK national, always worked yada yada)

The weather isnt crap down here in London generally we have fab weather and its still warm enough to go out without a coat till december most years. I dont find the British public rude either. Everyone I know is lovely and polite, I fear you must live in a bad area!

nobody can enjoy their lives because lives are too stressed

This is plainly untrue. I might be stressed ( job stuff) but I have a fantastic life, wonderful family, great job, enough money, my health and want for nothing. In fact I dont know anyone who doesnt enjoy thier life.

I fear you might be mixing in rather negative circles.

I could compare the UK with a host of other countries and we come out a lot better here.

Here in the UK the standard of living that most of us enjoy is superb. Compare to the likes of Somalia, your moans about congested roads seem simply ridiculous.

vivatifosi

Back in 2001, the then DTI (now the much colder sounding BERR) undertook a major study to identify the key clusters of industry in the UK and which were nascent, which were world class and which were in decline. As far as I can see it hasn't been updated since but is still quoted.

Can't remember all of the info as its years since I read it, but it pointed to a very healthy biotechnology sector (largely based around Cambridge), plus the technology corridor to the West of London which grew out of the weapons establishments post WW2 and has become the basis of the UK's high tech sector (we're still very good at weaponry too). Although the big names in software aren't British, we are particularly good at gaming software and software for some other niches.

If I recall correctly, our business service industries are particularly highly regarded too, and we have a far higher number of people involved in accountancy, law and advertising than in similar sized economies.