UK has 'worst quality of life in Europe'

abankerbutnotafatcat

In the last 3 years I've lived in Australia and Denmark which both tend to come in the top 10 best countries in the world to live lists and have recently moved back to the UK. I make the following humble observations:

The weather is definitely poorer here than Sydney but similar to Denmark except i'm in the SE so it's milder here. It does impact the quality of life but it's not the be all and end all. I always joke that if Britain was sunny Will S, John & Paul etc etc may have relaxed in the sunshine rather than sit indoors writing their plays/songs.

Denmark is a very small country, Aus is small in population terms (1/3rd UK population in a country the size of western europe). A lot of British problems are caused by over-crowding. There isn't much we can do about it and given that we're a big country with big cities and all the additional problems that come with these I think things are actually not too bad at all.

One thing I definitely notice about the UK compared with the other two countries - we are so negative about ourselves, we have so little pride. Being self-deprecating is an art the British have perfected and it can be attractive but if taken too far it brings things down. In Britain, and in England in particular, which is, after all, most of Britian, we have been been taught to be on the back foot regarding pride about our country lest it be considered racist. Yes, our country did some bad things in the past but I believe the Vikings weren't always invited where they went but, get this, the Danes are actually really proud of the Vikings' achievements!!! Admittedly, it was a bit further back in history but a lot of countries were doing what Britain did in the 17th - 19th centuries - we were just better at it than them!! Maybe we'll feel it's ok to take pride in our country in about 500 years time...

nearlyrich

I like where I live yes there are parts of the area that are not too nice.. I live in a great village with a superb pub we have great schools, good neighbours, Manchester is about 20 miles away on a good bus route, I travel a lot for work and I go to some awful places makes me glad to be home.

MRSTITTLEMOUSE

I love where I live and would'nt want to live anywhere else.
As for the sunshine I become very bored after even a week in the sun and can't wait to get back to the British weather.
There's a lot we should be thankful for in this country.

Sapphire

Having just been up to Herefordshire again, I can say Britain is the best place to live in in the world. The countryside is absolutely wonderful and thank God not developed. I don't particularly feel the 'need' to visit other areas of the world anymore, except perhaps some parts of Europe, like Scandinavia.

However, much of rip-off London is disgusting – dirty, filled with too many people and certainly with too much 'diversity' (for my liking), and the prices of food, etc, are about twice those in somewhere like Herefordshire.

Jennifer_Jane

nearlyrich wrote: »

I like where I live yes there are parts of the area that are not too nice.. I live in a great village with a superb pub we have great schools, good neighbours, Manchester is about 20 miles away on a good bus route, I travel a lot for work and I go to some awful places makes me glad to be home.

I'm about 20 miles from Manchester too, but in a small town, rather than a village. It's lovely. When I first saw the town I thought it was terrible, full of dull little terraced houses which looked depressing, cramped and miserable. But this town isn't that. It's surrounded by canals, a fine river running through the town, country parks, and within a short drive to the Peak district and Staffordshire moorlands. The houses are well-kept, and the town - with an aging profile - has little crime and lovely friendly people (I love being called 'duck', 'sweetheart', 'darling' etc by strangers/shop assistants etc).

What I do have, though, is a wonderful neighbour on my joined side, and a new neighbour moving in on the other. So will my little world be upset by this neighbour. Who knows how this will turn out? You never can tell, can you?

Cleaver

Sapphire wrote: »

certainly with too much 'diversity' (for my liking)

Yeah, it's awful when there's too much diversity. All those different people with their strange food and funny clothes. And probably weird hair too.

Sapphire

Cleaver wrote: »

Yeah, it's awful when there's too much diversity. All those different people with their strange food and funny clothes. And probably weird hair too.

Ha ha ha (yawn) – I suppose you think that's very funny.

I'm not objecting to their 'strange food and funny clothes' or indeed their 'weird hair too'. I couldn't care less about their habits – just personally don't want them in my face and prefer to live in the main part with people who I can understand and communicate with. London is overrun and looks like a slum in parts due to this phenomenon that labour introduced in a big way over the last ten years or so.

There: how's that for political incorrectness.

atush

I have just got back from a lunch in Southwold. If its sunny, like today, you eat outside, if it rains, you eat inside. Doesn't impact on quality of life unless you are one of those people that really likes the heat. Cold, wet and windy weather brings its own attractions. Nothing beats being out in the wet and windy and coming back to put the fire on and having a nice hot chocolate or horlicks with marshmallows or toast on the burner. Life is what you make of it.

Easy for a guy from Norfolk to say lol. Try being in the wet and windy northwest and say that with a straight face ;-)

atush

martinthebandit wrote: »

What a load of tosh!

Anyone who thinks the 'underclass' has been caused by the last 50 years of the welfare state needs to do some reading and find out what it was like to be poor before then.

It is an interesting fact that most of the places that score highest in 'happiness' and similar surveys actually have a much higher level of welfare than we do in the UK.

The best societies to live in all appear to be the most fairest.

You have an even bigger load. Yes, it was awful in the old days before the NHS and Pensons.

but I am talking about social breakdown, the chipping away at marriage by sucessive govts, the lack of social cohesion, the lack of respect, the lack of fathers in children's lives, and the lack of any sort of work ethic. The total lack of ambition among many.

Cleaver

Sapphire wrote: »

just personally don't want them in my face and prefer to live in the main part with people who I can understand and communicate with.

There: how's that for political incorrectness.

I'm not sure what your views have to do with political correctness.

I've personally never had a problem comunicating with anyone when in London, maybe it's just you? If I think about what I like about cities it's probably the 'diversity', or whatever you want to call it, that attracts me to places and makes me want to go back. All the different people, cultures, food, feels etc. etc. Paris, New York, London, LA. All these types of cities. London woudn't be half the city it is without all the immigrants over the past millenia adding their footprint to the place. I love this strange idea that it's Labour's policies over the past ten years that has made London 'mulicultural' (I hate that word). Cities like London have have a hotch potch of people, cutures and languages for hundreds and hundreds of years years.

Fully understand that a lot of people only feel comfortable with people who look and act like them though, I guess it's whatever floats your boat.