Great things about Great Britain

[wheretoyougonow]

It feels like the world has gone slightly mad around us and everything is very negative. I want to start a thread about the positives of living in Great Britain.

I am sure there will be many a negative to the positive e.g great nhs experience vs waiting times but let’s keep this as a proud thread. There are lots of things that we do well. Can be light hearted or serious.

My initial thoughts are:
When I had a sudden medical episode where I was dying, within 40 minutes I was in hospital with a medical team who saved my life.
When there is an international major sporting event, in my area, lots of flags are displayed of different countries. No one bats an eye to this.
We have a great variety of restaurants.
Our homegrown tv programmes are often awesome.
I (mostly) love our comedians and sense of humour.
When there is an International crisis we can be brilliant. The young lads stuck in the Thai cave being an example.

Pubs.
Pub quizzes.
Live music.

As an expat, here's mine:

Stately homes/castles. Chatsworth?? Nowhere else like it.

Pubs.

Indian food.

Stepping stones. None like in the UK.

Eccentricity/sense of humour. Absolutely unmatched.

Fish and chips.

Everything (within reason) is in driving distance. And in between there are towns/motorway services etc. It isn't the same in other countries.

A sense of feeling, and time passed. Just a general sense of nostalgia and history.

Oh god yeah and then there's the music, and the comedy. Unmatched.

Another random one 😂 but 'barring' people in pubs. Doesn't exist everywhere

The utter beauty of knocking into someone and you BOTH apologise.

scarlettjune

I hope this weekend, if you live in the uk, you can find a cosy pub with a friendly bartender who will serve you wholesome food for an ok price with a good atmosphere and that you have a nice time, surrounded by friendly people being kind to each other.

I’m sorry you’re feeling so cross with the UK’s behaviour I hope something happens at some point for you, to make you feel better about it.

• Freedom of consciousness.

• The moment Labour MP Torcuil Crichton for Na h-Eileanan an Iar heckled “Not now, Andy” as Black Rod knocked on the Commons door; that was funny, and accepted as part of the culture.

• Its land is green and pleasant (its history, less so).

• Wild swimming is fun and free!

• Public transport is mostly good.

• In an emergency, the health system works well.

• The air is clean.

• You can drink water from the tap.

• Extensive public footpaths, well maintained, and it’s free to ramble.

• People are held to account, on the whole.

• The weather and wildlife are mostly harmless.

• Most people seem friendly.

• Children’s rights are upheld.

As I already wrote on this thread

It was reported that Tony Blair did not write or even approve of the statement, expressing remorse about the famine.

The person that did write the statement, Sir John Holmes,his private secretary, said that he tried to contact Tony Blair by telephone to get approval for the statement. He said that Tony Blair did not answer the phone. John Holmes said that he decided to send in the statement himself so it wouldnt look like they were snubbing the event.

The statement was sent in for a famine commemoration event in Ireland, and the statement was read out by an Irish actor.

It seems like Tony Blair had very little interest in it at all

Would you be prepared to disclose where please? Sounds great. A relocation may be in order once we retire …

I have recently fallen in love with another country I’ve visited. But it has illustrated one relatively recent development that I love about the U.K. - the drive by some supermarkets etc to reduce UPFs and produce low number of ingredient foods for the odd occasion when I fancy a ready meal / low effort option/ a treat.

I have missed M&S, Waitrose and our chocolate here. And I have goggled at the long lists of additives etc in food here. And the amount of salt added to everything- wow!!

It's socially acceptable to say that you have no religion. That's an important cultural norm that people in many countries don't enjoy.

'Indian food'

This is a great one. British Indian food is so brilliant, and easy to find, and absolutely beloved by so many of us

'The moment Labour MP Torcuil Crichton for Na h-Eileanan an Iar heckled “Not now, Andy” as Black Rod knocked on the Commons door; that was funny, and accepted as part of the culture'

Hadn't heard this. Love it 🤣

@Scarlettjune You said Britain hasn’t apologised not Tony Blair hasn’t apologised. Clearly there have been 3 separate apologies from the British State. That TB didn’t write the statement is irrelevant it was issued by the British government. Perhaps if you think apologies are so important you should offer one as you are clearly wrong on this issue.

Great things about Britain: we apologise a lot. We have a sense of humour. Lots of green, trees, grass etc. Music, some of the best bands in the world.

The beautiful, beautiful churches all over, pubs, pub garden, pub culture, pub food, daffodils in Spring, poppies, so many foods, tea and chocolates....could go on forever.

I know you asked for positives, but unless you were somewhere very remote 40 minutes is a long time to get to hospital in an emergency. NHS timing is really not what you should be bragging about.

As for positives, a few initial thoughts are free museums and better customer service than in many continental European countries.

I missed this too (have been ill for a few days) and that is absolutely hilarious.

It’s breaking the fourth wall isn’t it? Acknowledging that the whole thing is ridiculous and yet important to us all.

The OP asked for things that made Britain great not bad so why are you repeatedly wading in with your negative views. With so much negativity in the world it is not surprising you feel hostile but start your own thread instead of hijacking this.

Norman churches.
Roman roads.
Scottish Highlands.
Loch Ness.
Porlock.
Henry Cavill.
Lush fields full of rabbits and deer.
Jurassic coast.
Hemsby.
Ice cream vans.

The seaside, and the fact that it's always within reach.

On the other hand. The average waiting time for an ambulance in Britain for life threatening emergencies is 8 minutes. The worldwide average is 7 to 11 minutes so we're not doing too badly there.

The generosity of the British public is a wonderful thing. Most air ambulances are funded by voluntary donations.

I didn’t really feel the need to share all the details and this kind of reply is why I asked for positivity. There will of course nearly always be a negative but this was not the nature of this thread.

I think from a 999 call, ambulance arriving, being worked on at the scene, blue lighted and having an expert team ready and waiting for me all in 40 minutes is bloody brilliant. I owe them my life.

Thanks for all the lovely responses. It’s very varied and interesting to hear what’s valued. Very interesting to also hear the positives from people who moved here. The diversity of cities, town and countryside seems popular and being a small island gives great access to all those places.

RNLI is too, another great British institution!

Well, it used to be.

Scotland is gorgeous. We went in autumn and I'm sure there's a different kind of light there. Everything was so gold and warm and we had gorgeous rainbows every day.

Bluebells.

Ordnance Survey maps. I'm a keen walker, and can't believe not every country produces detailed 1:25000 maps of the whole country (Although France does)

Public rights of way.

The Shipping Forecast.

Gig rowing

Flora Day (and all British May Day celebrations)

Pubs

Edited to add hedgerows, whether hard or soft centred (it's a Cornish thing 😆)