36 reasons to say goodbye to Britain - and one to say bonjour to fabulous France

 

BY IAN SPARKS - More by this author » Last updated at 22:00pm on 26th January 2007 Comments (5)

As you sit in stationary traffic and pouring rain, worrying about the mortgage and whether you'll ever get a date for treatment on that ingrowing toenail, you may not be totally surprised by the news. In the league table of the best countries to live, Britain is 37th.

And as if that wasn't wounding enough, the country judged to offer the finest quality of life in the world is none other than our closest, but not always friendliest neighbour, France.

The list of 191 countries was compiled by the U.S. travel magazine International Living using nine criteria - cost of living, culture and leisure, economy, environment, freedom, health, infrastructure, safety, and climate.

Britain is beaten by such unlikely idylls as Bulgaria, Panama, the Czech Republic and Slovenia. We even had to share our humble 37th position with Ecuador, Lithuania, Iceland, Greece and Cyprus.

We scored poorly on weather, cost of living, transport infrastructure and health service, but highly on economy and social freedoms.

France raced ahead on the strength of its high-speed TGV trains, ample supply of hospital beds, culture, ski resorts, beaches, climate and relatively low cost of living.

Reports suggest the ratings are reflected in emigration, with hordes of Britons heading across the Channel to live.

A recent survey by Bordeaux University of 2,750 Britons planning to move to France found the aim of many was to recapture the gentler lifestyle, sense of community, old-fashioned values and village markets, that typified Britain in the 1950s.

Another attraction is affordable homes - a three-bedroom property with swimming pool and land in the expat haven of the Dordogne costs between £100,000 and £250,000.

Italy also fared well, finishing 8th with a perfect 100 for culture, and also scoring highly on climate, cost of living and transport.

Britain was beaten by Uruguay, Hungary and Slovakia because of their lower cost of living and better weather.

Countries with a similar climate, like Holland, Denmark, Luxembourg and Germany, beat us on health service and infrastructure.

Laura Sheridan, of International Living, said: "France has a good climate, unspoiled countryside, great health care and arguably the most romantic capital in the world.

"Britain is undoubtedly an economic powerhouse with a strong and identifiable culture, but it is also expensive, its transport lets it down - and it rains a lot."

Woop woop, go Belgium :cool4:

Ohh yeah!! Yay for Australia!!!

I'm a bit surprised Canada isn't higher........................ :confused:

Yeah, now you mention it. It's a bit weird. I always heard Canada is one of the best countries to live in.

Croatia better than Britain?!

Now I've heard it all

:confused:

Yeah, now you mention it. It's a bit weird. I always heard Canada is one of the best countries to live in.

 

Well Vancouver's one of the top cities, but of course Canada is a massive country.................

Croatia better than Britain?!

Now I've heard it all

:confused:

 

You can thank Tony and his cronies!!:angry:

Ohh yeah!! Yay for Australia!!!

 

:cool: :thumbsup:

:P

 

*And when I think I'm dreaming of living in Britain...

:P

 

*And when I think I'm dreaming of living in Britain...

 

Are you Polish?:P

:rolleyes:

the british transoprt system is quite bad. if you live in a city its alright if you dont you're fucked. i was really surprised how many places dont even have a station. and trains are incredibly expensive (and i'm a swiss saying that!)

 

dont really know about health service. i heard people saying they didnt know a doctor in their area and that they havent seen one in ten years. i found this really surprising, everyone has a health insurance here. its voluntary in britain, innit?

 

other then that i suppose britain's a good place to live. i wouldnt say switzerland's a better place to live tbh. but our social system is very good probably better than in most countries.

the british transoprt system is quite bad. if you live in a city its alright if you dont you're fucked. i was really surprised how many places dont even have a station. and trains are incredibly expensive (and i'm a swiss saying that!)

 

dont really know about health service. i heard people saying they didnt know a doctor in their area and that they havent seen one in ten years. i found this really surprising, everyone has a health insurance here. its voluntary in britain, innit?

 

other then that i suppose britain's a good place to live. i wouldnt say switzerland's a better place to live tbh. but our social system is very good probably better than in most countries.

 

And Switzerland is considered to be very clean and efficient, unlike the UK.;)

Plus of course, it doesn't have anywhere near as big a "chav"/public disorder problem.:rolleyes:

France being the best place to live in the world?

 

With a corrupt president and stupid employment contracts (remember those riots last year?)

And Switzerland is considered to be very clean and efficient, unlike the UK.;)

Plus of course, it doesn't have anywhere near as big a "chav"/public disorder problem.:rolleyes:

 

yeah its very clean. :nice:

 

what do you exactly mean with public disorder problem?

France being the best place to live in the world?

 

With a corrupt president and stupid employment contracts (remember those riots last year?)

 

Well it just goes to show how bad the UK has become, doesn't it, then?;)

Don't forget "big brother", by the way.................................