To think if you have enough money to travel frequently, the UK is the best place in the world to live

The problem with this argument is that UK salaries are so low compared with places like the US (where I'm from) that frequent international travel isn't exactly affordable for everyone. And I'm not sure why you think having a sense of humor, beautiful countryside and restaurants serving international cuisine is somehow unique to Britain. If you've got enough money to regularly escape the country in search of better weather, I'd imagine you could have a better quality of life in plenty of other places.

Same.

I love the UK but despair of the direction it’s taken in the past 10 years, per everything in @Honeycottage125’s post. It breaks my heart that my kids (and everyone else’s) have been been so thoroughly dicked over and stitched up by Brexit, nationalism, wealth disparity, crumbling NHS, the gutting of so many towns because small businesses can’t survive, increasing knife and drug crime, ridiculous levels of antisocial entitled behaviour, crappy expensive transport systems, filthy polluted waterways and coastline, and the utterly unsustainable cost of living, versus wages that have stagnated for decades.

I’ve not to travelled to anywhere in recent memory - including Japan and much of Scandinavia, traditionally ‘expensive’ places to visit - that’s felt anywhere near as pricey, or as bad value, as home.

Every country has its problems and there’s still much to love about the UK. But when families with two parents in full time employment can’t afford to buy a home and are topping up at food banks by the end of every month, you have to wonder how much more fucked up things need to get honestly.

It’s no longer a country you can happily exist in if you don’t have a substantial cushion of wealth and privilege. And that’s absolutely not the case in many other European countries, which are much cheaper, better served for healthcare, transport and general infrastructure, are as well connected and easy to travel to and from, have better weather and offer the possibility of living a simpler, happier life in safer, cleaner, community-minded environments.

We're still looking for a home @CorporaINobbyNobbs - would love to hear where you think is the best place in the British Isles.

Me too!

Well yes, if you're comparing London to smaller cities and tourist destinations in Greece or Cyprus but London is hardly the only place in the world with a diverse food scene. New York, Chicago, Toronto, LA and countless other cities offer an enormous variety of international cuisines. I live in a suburb about an hour outside Chicago and even we have no shortage of options. I'm not sure why you seem to think the rest of the world is struggling to find a decent Thai restaurant. 😂 I still don't see what makes the UK uniquely wonderful here, particularly when your argument depends on having enough money to regularly leave it.

It’s no longer a country you can happily exist in if you don’t have a substantial cushion of wealth and privilege
This is the biggest change & the worst one.

The UK is a poverty stricken country, whose major cities are filthy, crime ridden and jam packed, where nobody can apparently even afford a ceiling fan let alone an air conditioner, there aren't even any screens on doors or windows so you can't even open a window all night in the summer safely without leaving yourself completely unprotected and the house full of flies. Where everyone complains incessantly about the price of everything, the heat, the cold, not being able to put on the heating. Where for large chunks of the year it's dark for large chunks of the day.

Absolutely not. No.

Like the weather, the people (ish), the food (agree with you, love Italy but kind of get bored of the same stuff!), the culture, the rolling hills, seaside it’s a very beautiful country.

Dont like the work ethic (sorry) the transport, the nhs, the housing (terrible expensive new builds or very expensive older buildings all very small), and the overcrowdedness.

I lived in Turkey for some years and moved back here in early 2011, just in time for the riots that started in Tottenham. I was so shocked by both the rioting and all the looting that accompanied it because funnily enough, in Turkey, petty theft is not really a thing (nor is rioting). Shopkeepers can leave their stuff out overnight and no-one nicks it for example.

I guess I had reverse culture shock. There were things, both good and bad, about the UK that I just hadn't noticed while I lived here, but which came into stark relief when I moved back.

The seasons in the UK are wonderful. The many different types of international cuisine/restaurants. Being able to buy good quality ready meals. 😂 That we can't easily bribe officials. That while nepotism is alive and well, it's not quite as alive and well as it is in other countries. Christmas time in Britain is wonderful. The pomp and ceremony surrounding the Royal family - the military displays etc - are amazing.

Neighbours in Turkey were kinder and both more considerate and more tolerant than they are here. People are more generous with their time and their money in Turkey.

It is a bit more 'every man for himself' here.

Bullying at work happens both here and there, it's just more sophisticated and subtle here.

Our theatres are fantastic. Employment rights are good. There is a decent welfare state.

Opportunities for women are better here.

Everything is relative. I think all countries have both good and bad, and perspective is everything. It is true that travel broadens the mind.

No. Its an utter shithole now.

I just dont see that. Its 1500 quid for a sun holiday in europoe half board for me and my DP, all in. I think thats incredible. Thats 60 quid a month each - and thats 5 star luxury.

I think travel is incredibly cheap.
I do think things are hard for those who are young and havent got housing sorted of course. I mean they can't even get a mortgage and rents are crazy, so I get that times are tough for a lot of youngsters. But over 50s, who bought when younger, surely its pretty easy and affordable to live very very well and travel heaps.

I've only lived in the UK and US, but close family have lived in two European countries, Latin America, Asia, Africa and the Middle East. They still came back to the UK after 35 years.

It's not perfect, but the good points are fairly persuasive taken in the round. It does help enormously to have a strong work ethic and a decent education.

And robust health... but these are important everywhere.

No. British people are overwhelmingly lazy and thick, the country is plagued with a bizarre safety culture aimed at those thickos to prevent them hurting themselves, it’s an anti-intellectual hellhole, overrun by American culture to the point of losing much of its own.

I have heard that petty corruption is still an issue in Poland and you often have to bribe bureaucrats to get them to take action.
Would you agree with this?

Pretty unusual for intruders to climb in upper floor windows

I was joking really - implying Ireland is better - but obviously that has a whole range of issues too in reality….

Thanks Nobby. I thought you might be referring to Ireland. We'll spend a few months there next summer and see how we feel about it 😊

I’ve lived and worked and studied in South east Asia, Australia and North America and I totally agree with you. I love living in the UK and people who have not lived and worked abroad for a significant amount of time often just can not appreciate how great it is here and the location being so perfect for hopping over to a range of other European countries easily. It’s pretty unique.,

Believe me, if you live near a beach, you will never go there! I live in Dorset, 10 minutes' walk from the beach and haven't been for over 2 years. It's horribly crowded in the summer and cold in the winter!