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I am a Brit and very proud of my country, and I don't think I even have to be an ex-pat but it helps. Once a friend of mine said he wished he was American. When I enquired why, he said "Britain is the **** end of civilisation." Unfortunately, I didn't have the guts to face up to him at the time, but now I see how very wrong he is for a number of reasons.
 
1. A fascinating history. We have castles, stone age and iron age fortress remains, medieval castles, some of the greatest industrial and scientific achievements and discoveries that have changed the world.
2. The food. Fish and Chips, tea, steak and kidney pie, rhubarb crumble, treacle tart, and worldwide Granted, people make jokes about it, but it has a lot of variety without the frills, and I wouldn't have it any other way!
3. The weather. Plenty of variety and comparatively few natural disasters compared to other countries.
4. The BBC and most TV. The BBC sometimes get on my nerves, but the high quality stuff that they and others come up with is very impressive: Life on Mars, Dr Who, comedies like the Office, Extras, Blackadder, Only Fools and Horses, Oh Dr Beeching, Dad's Army, Monty Python, etc.
5. Literature. The Lord of the Rings film was made by the New Zealanders, but the original book was written by the British writer J.R.R Tolkien. Then there's Shakespeare, Oscar Wilde, J K Rowling, Mary Shelley, Bram Stoker,
6. Scientific discoveries. Charles Darwin and the theory of evolution, Isaac Newton and the laws of gravity, Alexander Fleming and penecillin
7. Inventions such as the Anenometer, Disc brakes, tin cans, cat's eyes in roads, cement, cordite, corkscrews, diving equipment, electric motors and electromagnets, fax machines, gas masks, internal combustion and jet engines, lawn mowers, lightbulbs, mousetraps, the periodic table, polyester, radar and radio (principles), rubber bands, railways and steam locomotives, seed drills, sewing machines, steel production, TV, toilet paper (well, we have to be grateful for that, mustn't we!), vacuum cleaners, waterproof fabric, and the means of communication we're using right now, the world wide web!
8. One of the best militaries (perhaps even THE best) the world has ever seen. The redcoats in the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, the British Tommies, and modern soldiers such as the Royal Marines, the Parachute Regiment, the Special Air Service and Special Boat Service (both of whom invented the counter terrorist rescue teams and their tactics).
9. Sport. Why should we constantly moan about how England doesn't win the world cup while the Scottish and Welsh jeer? We won it once, and the Rugby world cup, that counts for something! Some countries haven't won those even once!
10. Music. We came up with the Beatles, the Who, Queen, Britpop, we've revolutionised music.
11. Quality of life. People complain a lot about this one, but we get free healthcare, a nice variety of things even if one has to fork out a bit extra for them, sometimes expensive but good quality pubs, clubs, bars, theatres, restaurants, lower crime rates and people better behaved than you might think (I for one have had so-called "Chavs" actually greeting me and asking me to hang out with them even when I haven't known them from Adam!) and for those who feel Europe is better, I spent a fortnight in Europe and in the East over there and Germany, apparently heavy drinking is just as heavy as us. Also, I have yet to see beggars in Britain of the calibre of the type I saw in Italy and France!
12. Sensibilities. We pride tolerance, fairness, politeness and manners, freedom of speech,
13. Film and theatre. Many performers in our country have gone on to become world-renowned stars, such as Noel Coward, Michael Cane, Helen Mirren, Ewan McGregor, Rachel Weisz, Jason Isaacs, Sean Bean, Alan Rickman, Jeremy Irons, Richard E Grant, Christian Bale, Daniel Day Lewis to name but a few!
14. Some of the nicest landscape in the world. Sometimes it'd be nice to see stuff that's a bit less tethered to civilisation, but if you forget about that, it's wonderful! The Brecon Beacons in Wales, the Cotswolds, the Pennines, the Scottish Highlands, I only have to look out of my window to see rolling green hills and a setting sun.
15. The British Empire! Yes, I know, I've read all about the oppression and so on and so forth which is not to be ignored, but people back then ruled with far different standards to nowadays (for example, in WWII, they dropped bombs on cities which would be unthinkable in these times) and Britain was no worse than any other country that had an empire, just that it was the biggest empire, which has given the English language to the world, and spread things such as railways, trade, and banning things like the terrible 'sutee' traditions in India, and slavery during the 1800s. Also, most of the empire was finally released with comparatively little bloodshed compared with other decolonising countries.
 
In a way, I also see it as a rebellion to all the "oh we are rubbish" that is bandied around, and my friend's comment above was pretty much the final straw (if you don't like the country, nobody is forcing you to stay). I live in Ludlow on the border of England and Wales, and it is by far, one of the nicest towns in Britain. I have sometimes got sick of it during hard times, but it is a lively and beautiful place, and I love it to bits, especially when getting off the train after a long arduous journey. And as for my country, sometimes I have got sick of it, I'm no little Englander (I am keen on going to America sometime soon, they've got a wonderful variety of country over there) but the rest of the time, it's home. And if it was so bad, I'd have gone years ago.
 
Here's to Great Britain!
Alex Curry

Only just found this site.
Been back home for 6 months and cannot believe how much I appreciate this green and pleasant land so much after 18 months working as an electrician in Perth, I don’t even mind the wind and rain which we have had for the last week.
Australia is ok for a holiday but to work your butt-off 6 days a week for half the money I earn back home was one of the main reasons for returning home, plus Perth got boring for me after a while.
It has taken me 18 months in another Country to appreciate what we have in the UK, I live in Stratford Upon Avon and to sit on the banks of the river Avon in September with a pint of Ruddles best bitter in my hand was pure pleasure, I wish the media and the papers would stop knocking what I now consider the best Country in the world, shame it took me 18 months to find out.

THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO ARE ALWAYS READY TO BASH THE BRITS - ARE THE BRITS THEMSELVES. WHY?
What is it with you Brits? I've just come back from a two year working exchange in London, where I thoroughly enjoyed the life there, be it sports, eating out, or just having fun at any one of the many clubs where music and dancing are happening.
But why do you ALL put down your own country the way you do? Why? It's no worse than most big western world type countries and in most cases it's a whole lot better, it being safer, a fun place to be with so much to see and do, and the best rural areas I've ever seen, and that includes Canada, the USA, and Australia. But, you never stop whineing about how much you hate being British. Gwyneth Paltrow recently trashed Britain on BBC radio about it being a dirty and backward place - and
90% of Brits commenting on those obviously snidey remarks agreed with her! (see The Daily Mail internet version) Most of you Brits are agreeing with her that the place you live in stinks, is dirty, is awful, and not worth any sort of compliment. What's up
with you Brits? If you don't like where you live then get out of it. Don't put other people off going to Britain, and please don't come here, because we don't want you trashing our country, or even worse, patronising it because you left Britain. What a load of losers. I'll go back to London any day but I'll stay away from you moaners and whiners.

TN,USA

I guess it really depends on what part of the UK you live.For me the
reasons I like living in England.
1/Beautiful green countryside
2/Beautiful autumn and spring scenery
3/The cultural diversity where I live-people from England, Poland, China,
India,etc all living together and getting along(I know this is not the case
everwhere)
4/International cuisine -local restaurants/takeaways serving food from
China,Thailand,Italy,India,Mexico,Malaysia,Afghani stan,Carribean etc.
5/The summer is not unbearably hot like some countries
6/Being a 45 minute train journey from the centre of London - one of the
worlds' top 5 cities
7/British TV - yes,I know it can be dire but recently it has turned around and
become ambitious again (new Doctor Who etc)
8/Lots of things to do - in my small town there is a choice of live music
(punk,indie,metal,ska,international,folk) every Thursday,Friday,saturday and
Sunday.There are 30 pubs,restaurants,cafes,museums,nice walks,historical
buildings,good shopping.5 minutes drive north is another town with a 3
screen restored spacious traditional cinema and small venues.15 minutes
drive south is a larger modern town with multiplex 15 screen
cinema,bowling alley,leisure park and vast shopping centre.In between is
picturesque countryside.
9/The wonderful historic buildings which people take for granted
10/Each year for 2 days the town I live hosts the biggest free festival of
world music in the UK.
11/Availability of work
12/The British press.Our newspapers must be the most vicious and negative
in the world but also the most entertaining and informative.

Obviously there are some less good things about living in the UK - as there
are in all countries.

RB Hitchin,UK.

Will you all stop slagging of this country please! its getting boring, if
you don't like it bug off, if your not British then back off, yeah this country
has problems and yeah its bloomin annoying!, but a.all countries have there
problems and b.most of this rubbish I am hearing is the crp our wonderful
media seems to like going on and on and on and on about.
I live in Cambridge, a place full of foreign people, I have South African
friends,Italian,French,Chinese,the list goes on, its great to live with
different cultures, me? proud to be British! yeah we are having problems
now but but we have a great history and should stop winging and start
being proud...that's the problem with this country we are too busy putting
ourselves down and bitching about this and that, blaming this person and
that, you know what would make a difference?..well try bloomin voting for a
start!, I know there isn't exactly much choice with the main parties, but how
can you expect things to change when you don't even vote? vote green,
vote monster raving loony party! just vote! and stop this self pity rubbish it
embarrassing....oh and teach your children discipline then they wont go out
mugging old people etc....it ain't easy but come on people lighten up!...oh,
as for South Africa I'm shore its a lovely country but according to my friend
who is South African the government is corrupt as hell and as for crime, my
mates sister moved to the city and was burgled twice in a week and can no
longer afford insurance,she wanted to live here but wasn't given citizenship,
shes now going to try US as she wants to get out of SA.
As for people having a go at people on benefit...well, I'm guessing you have
been lucky and not required it, most people who go on benefit don't want to
be there its not an easy life, you shouldn't believe all the crp you read in
our sensationalist and biased press, yes some live generation after
generation on it but that's due to a whole lode of issues mostly due to
people like you who don't give a toss about anyone else as long as you get
richer and don't have to pay too much tax....no I'm not on benefit anymore,
I'm one of the majority who thanks to help from the state get on with our
lives and payback what we received and more via our national insurance.
Posted by Gary Bickmore

Well I like it here!

I was born here, I live here, and am always glad when I get back here after
traveling abroad. All these ex-pats commenting on how awful England is,
and they're glad they left, is pathetic. You certainly haven't lost the English
trait of moaning, have you? You don't live here anymore, so stop moaning
about the place. We know all you're doing is seeking to justify your
decisions to leave but putting this country down.

It's still a great country to live in, and that's from someone who actually
lives here.
Rob,cambridge

Don't kid yourselves the UK is bad.

Recently some kid here in Montreal was shot dead, it was mistaken identity
they thought he was part of another gang, it got mentioned page 15 of the
local rag

In the UK the same thing happened, front page Daily Mail headlines
screaming about a murder epidemic.

Blend it in with these ridiculous emigration shows no wonder people think
the UK is shite, why do Brits bring themselves down so much?

It's a great place

As someone said the "live the dream lifestyle" bugs me too - there is a big
difference between being on holiday and living life here in Australia. I am
astonished that so many go for the bling factor and end up at the Gold
Coast - bit of a joke to most Aussies as it is the home of the tourist and
the self funded retirees. The sunshine loses its appeal after a while and you
get paranoid about wandering outside without spf30 sunscreen. Then, when
you do go out you get flies up your nose and in your ears. The beach is for
holidays because when you are slogging it out in an office for 40 hours a
week you sort of lose interest in getting sand in your cozzies.

Sporting facilities are good here but you get more competition in UK - this
is a shallow little pond for world class competition, even our swimmers
arent up there at the moment. Opportunities in the arts are also better in
UK and Europe - I know many singers and musicians who have gone over for
the final stages of their training. My eldest has gone back to UK having
lived here all but 6 months of his life because career options are better for
him there.

I think the grass we have here is a bit dried and brown actually!

I have just realised why Brits are perceived to be a miserable bunch….
answer…”they have never lived abroad”
We are constantly bombarded with this annoying TV shows which show families put up in beach side houses with a top 4x4 thrown in and given 2 weeks of free restaurants and days out and have you noticed that they only film on a sunny day, then are asked “Britain or whatever Country” derhhh no brainer.

No wonder people in the UK think Britain is rubbish when all we hear in the papers and from the media that we are living in the worst country in the modern world and that the rest of the world are healthier, living the outdoor life, living longer and getting more sex.
Solution…..every miserable Brit should be sent to another Country and experience a year of work and culture of that Country.
Have you noticed ex.pats back in the UK you have met seem quite happy with their lot.

Bri,Essex.