Britain has dropped to 25th place on a list of the best places in the world to live – behind countries such as the Czech Republic, Lithuania and Uruguay.
While France tops the poll for the fifth year running, the UK’s climate, crime rate, cost of living, congested roads and overcrowded cities have pushed it even further down from last year’s ranking at 20.
The Quality of Life Index, published by International Living magazine for the 30th year, says the French live life to the full, while Britons are over-worked.
In all, 194 countries are surveyed on nine criteria, including the cost of living, culture and leisure, environment, safety, culture and weather.
Australia is placed second after France, followed by Switzerland, Germany and New Zealand.
Even former communist countries where unemployment is still rife are considered better places to settle down in than Britain, with Lithuania and the Czech Republic coming in at 22nd and 24th place respectively.
Cars near high-rise flats in Vilnius, Lithuania: The Baltic state came in three places above Britain in the list
Ice skaters trek around the frozen Lake Nasijarvi in Tampere, southern Finland: The Scandinavian country came 18th in the list of best places in the world
Variety is also seen as a major factor in France’s appeal, with the survey noting: ‘Romantic Paris offers the best of everything, but services don’t fall away in Alsace’s wine villages, in wild and lovely Corsica, in lavender-scented Provence. Or in the Languedoc of the troubadors, bathed in Mediterranean sunlight.’
Britain does not top a single category in the survey, which is compiled using official government statistics, data from the World Health Organisation and the views of the magazine’s editors around the globe.
The U.S. fell from third to seventh place because of the economic crisis last year. A magazine spokesman said: ‘Sustaining the American Dream has escalated out of the reach of many.’
Germany is widely praised for its efficiency and leisure facilities, with the magazine noting that ‘the Harz Mountains now has a specialist hiking trail for nudists. Germany is arguably the world’s most naturist-friendly country’.
By: lindoug - 27th April 2010 at 20:30
The study has it about right. We’ve lived in France with our three young children for 8 years. I can’t think of one reason why I should ever consider living in the UK again…..and I lived and worked there for 57 years!
By: Red Hunter - 27th April 2010 at 17:27
Whichever way you look at it they still sneak onto lorries in France and enter the UK illegally.:(
By: zouzy86 - 27th April 2010 at 17:00
HINDENBURG They are not sneaking on to lorries here;) the French set up holiday/stop over camps so it was easier for them to leave this country while the good old french fonctionaire turns a blind eye:D:D:D
By: Red Hunter - 27th April 2010 at 08:24
Sounds as though Belgium is on its last legs as a nation, so you’ll have to state your preferences – Flems, Walloons or Europlonkers in Brussels.:)
By: hindenburg - 27th April 2010 at 00:44
France ?? why are people sneaking onto lorries and coaches from there to this country then?
By: Grey Area - 26th April 2010 at 22:51
I can tolerate Lille and Dunkerque, but find Paris the most over rated dump on the planet. …..The streets of Paris stank of dog sh*t.
All in all, I think France is over rated. I much prefer Belgium.
They speak very highly of you, Louise.
By: mike currill - 26th April 2010 at 21:14
I can tolerate Lille and Dunkerque, but find Paris the most over rated dump on the planet. I once had the misfortune to see the state of public toilets in this “chic”, “sophisticated” and “elegant” city – you could not flush paper down, so it had to be put into a bucket at the side of the toilet (the bucket was rarely emptied by the way). The presence of all that used toilet paper gave the place an unforgettable aroma and I was not very happy at having to pay for the dubious privilege of being unfortunate enough to have to subject myself to such a health hazard, the worst toilets I have seen in the developed world.
Our hotel room was crawling with ants.
The plumbing did not work properly.
The streets of Paris stank of dog sh*t.
All in all, I think France is over rated. I much prefer Belgium.
I’ll stick with Germany as I’ve never been fond of France ever since I went there as a school boy.
By: Flygirl - 26th April 2010 at 20:45
Then maybe stay at The Hotel George V Paris 😉 I have enjoyed great times at this hotel. ;):)
By: Comet - 26th April 2010 at 11:08
I can tolerate Lille and Dunkerque, but find Paris the most over rated dump on the planet. I once had the misfortune to see the state of public toilets in this “chic”, “sophisticated” and “elegant” city – you could not flush paper down, so it had to be put into a bucket at the side of the toilet (the bucket was rarely emptied by the way). The presence of all that used toilet paper gave the place an unforgettable aroma and I was not very happy at having to pay for the dubious privilege of being unfortunate enough to have to subject myself to such a health hazard, the worst toilets I have seen in the developed world.
Our hotel room was crawling with ants.
The plumbing did not work properly.
The streets of Paris stank of dog sh*t.
All in all, I think France is over rated. I much prefer Belgium.
By: mike currill - 23rd April 2010 at 21:32
And never found your way since. Nothing wrong with France, it’s a beautiful country wasted on the French.
By: Flygirl - 23rd April 2010 at 20:43
No accounting for some peoples tastes I suppose.
:rolleyes: I got lost in France Sir! :rolleyes::confused::) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AM81i2_yYlk
By: mike currill - 23rd April 2010 at 18:53
I also spent time in Nantes 😉 I, to be honest toured France:D I can say I Do Love France 😀 Anna 🙂
No accounting for some peoples tastes I suppose.
By: mike currill - 23rd April 2010 at 18:52
I think the majority of capital cities are probably unrepresentative of the provincial life of their countries country.
I had never given it any thought but I reckon you are right there.
By: Grey Area - 23rd April 2010 at 18:16
The problem with the uk is there is far too many bloody foreigners.!:D
You’d better be able to re-type that in Welsh if you’re going to start banging on about ‘bloody foreigners’. :p
By: Flygirl - 23rd April 2010 at 17:57
I also spent time in Nantes 😉 I, to be honest toured France:D I can say I Do Love France 😀 Anna 🙂
By: Red Hunter - 23rd April 2010 at 17:48
Absolutely old chap, keep Jonny Foreigner out at all cost, damned fellows!
By: piston power! - 23rd April 2010 at 17:44
The problem with the uk is there is far too many bloody foreigners.!:D
By: Red Hunter - 23rd April 2010 at 14:35
Er – don’t think so…….perhaps you’re thinking of someone else.:confused:
By: Grey Area - 23rd April 2010 at 14:33
He’s going to blame Gordon Brown for this, too. I can feel it in my water. 😎
By: Red Hunter - 23rd April 2010 at 11:41
I think we know the answer to that, don’t we?;)
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April 20, 2010 at 9:27 am