Top 100 Unimpeachably Great Things About The UK (Another sarcasm-free, feel not-quite-so-bad thread)

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Well, we love to moan over here but it can't all be crap public services, tasteless food and chav-tastic no-go city centres on a Friday night.

I'll start the ball rolling and go for

1. free healthcare

― darren (darren), Sunday, 7 November 2004 11:29 (twenty-one years ago)

and then I'll add

2. inventive and somewhat camp pop music
3. the invention of football

― darren (darren), Sunday, 7 November 2004 11:31 (twenty-one years ago)

4. raindance
5. the Mclaren F1
6. Led Zeppelin
7. The Clash
8. London

― lukey (Lukey G), Sunday, 7 November 2004 11:33 (twenty-one years ago)

4. chances for idiosyncratic geniuses who don't want to/just can't play the game, to get a nationwide audience. I hope this is still applies, anyway.

― Alba (Alba), Sunday, 7 November 2004 11:35 (twenty-one years ago)

9. Snowdonia

10. the Lake District

11. the BBC

― Cathy (Cathy), Sunday, 7 November 2004 11:38 (twenty-one years ago)

13. world-weariness
14. the national road sign font
15. relative sanity
16. Bill Drummond
17. Torridon

― Alba (Alba), Sunday, 7 November 2004 11:40 (twenty-one years ago)

18, secularity and the separation of religion from politics

― darren (darren), Sunday, 7 November 2004 11:44 (twenty-one years ago)

19. Saint Etienne (heh, heh)
20. groovy cemeteries and urban parks
21. klassik self-deprecating komedy

― darren (darren), Sunday, 7 November 2004 11:46 (twenty-one years ago)

22. Diana Rigg
23. Afternoon tea

― Alba (Alba), Sunday, 7 November 2004 11:46 (twenty-one years ago)

24. Premier League

― ken c (ken c), Sunday, 7 November 2004 11:48 (twenty-one years ago)

25. Harry Beck's tube map design
26. Inventing the 1960s

― darren (darren), Sunday, 7 November 2004 11:52 (twenty-one years ago)

27. The London eye
28. Real ale

― Billy Dods (Billy Dods), Sunday, 7 November 2004 12:14 (twenty-one years ago)

29. Sunday pub lunches

― Alba (Alba), Sunday, 7 November 2004 12:16 (twenty-one years ago)

30. Prince Rupert of the Rhine.

― Kern Smo. Z/, Sunday, 7 November 2004 12:24 (twenty-one years ago)

31. the peak district
32. St John restaurant (and Fergus Henderson)
33. porkpies

― Porkpie (porkpie), Sunday, 7 November 2004 12:25 (twenty-one years ago)

34. Car boot sales

― Penelope_111 (Penelope_111), Sunday, 7 November 2004 12:27 (twenty-one years ago)

35. Ainsley Harriot
36. Lovejoy
37. That guy with the clear vacuum cleaner

― Chip Whitley, Sunday, 7 November 2004 12:28 (twenty-one years ago)

38. being really near loads of (other) cool countries and getting there dead cheap an'that

― darren (darren), Sunday, 7 November 2004 12:29 (twenty-one years ago)

38. Nick Rhodes face (current model).
39. Flu vaccines.

― Chip Whitley, Sunday, 7 November 2004 12:29 (twenty-one years ago)

40. The Highlands
41. Not taking the Eurovision Song Contest as seriously as everywhere else in Europe
42. Stephen Fry

― ailsa (ailsa), Sunday, 7 November 2004 12:33 (twenty-one years ago)

43. The Megabus (inter-city transport for £1!!!)
44. Kelly Holmes (make that the phenomenon of elevating anyone who does anything vaguely good into instant megastars, then forgetting all about them as soon as their 15 minutes are up - see also Jonny Wilkinson, Wayne Rooney, the Winter Olympic curling team etc etc)
45. The understanding of irony

― ailsa (ailsa), Sunday, 7 November 2004 12:43 (twenty-one years ago)

46. The misplaced smugness

― Alba (Alba), Sunday, 7 November 2004 12:46 (twenty-one years ago)

18, secularity and the separation of religion from politics

Oh, RUB IT IN why don't you?

― Michael Daddino (epicharmus), Sunday, 7 November 2004 12:47 (twenty-one years ago)

47. irn-bru
48. macaroni pies

― cºzen (Cozen), Sunday, 7 November 2004 12:57 (twenty-one years ago)

49. Optimo

― Alba (Alba), Sunday, 7 November 2004 12:59 (twenty-one years ago)

haha the megabus is ridiculous!

― cºzen (Cozen), Sunday, 7 November 2004 13:00 (twenty-one years ago)

It's fantastic! You can go to London for £1! (I haven't actually done this, but I like knowing that, if I wanted to, I could go to London for £1)

― ailsa (ailsa), Sunday, 7 November 2004 13:02 (twenty-one years ago)

I think we should do it.

― cºzen (Cozen), Sunday, 7 November 2004 13:02 (twenty-one years ago)

There's no way I'm going on a Megabus anywhere.

― Alba (Alba), Sunday, 7 November 2004 13:04 (twenty-one years ago)

50. me
51. countdown
52. the weather
53. Jeeves and Wooster
54. Iron Maiden
55. Patrick Moore
56. The seaside
57. Austin Powers

― jel -- (jel), Sunday, 7 November 2004 13:05 (twenty-one years ago)

Who asked you to? (xpost)

Cozen, we should. Does the Megabus go to Aberdeen?

― ailsa (ailsa), Sunday, 7 November 2004 13:05 (twenty-one years ago)

58. Alfred the Great

― jel -- (jel), Sunday, 7 November 2004 13:06 (twenty-one years ago)

I just checked the megabus site. I can get a return to london for £14 but the cumulative time spent on the bus would be 23 hours. I'm not going on the megabus anywhere. yes, ailsa, I think so. it is £3 from aberdeen to glasgow return I think.

― cºzen (Cozen), Sunday, 7 November 2004 13:06 (twenty-one years ago)

Cool. Me and the mister might be going there to visit some people. We could come and visit you too.

Re. number 50 - I was wondering how long before someone said that.

― ailsa (ailsa), Sunday, 7 November 2004 13:09 (twenty-one years ago)

59. real ale

― Snnap Dragon (snnap dragon), Sunday, 7 November 2004 13:10 (twenty-one years ago)

It's in my ILX contract ailsa.

― jel -- (jel), Sunday, 7 November 2004 13:12 (twenty-one years ago)

Alba, if 46. was a dig at me, I didn't mean that 45. was a direct response to 44. I genuinely think both of those things are great in a very British way, and wasn't meaning haha, look at me, I'm so smart. If anything, I'm immensely stupid as reading it again makes it look like I'm pointing out my own "hilarious" use of irony. Which I'm not.

(xpost - jel, you should be in everyone's list of the greatest things in Britain! I hope that's what you meant)

― ailsa (ailsa), Sunday, 7 November 2004 13:14 (twenty-one years ago)

It was not a dig at you.

― Alba (Alba), Sunday, 7 November 2004 14:25 (twenty-one years ago)

Personally, I'd avoid Megabus, because I heard that it's run by Wee Brian "gayism is wrong cos it says so in the Bible!" McStagecoach. I could be wrong, though.

― caitlin (caitlin), Sunday, 7 November 2004 15:17 (twenty-one years ago)

60 Never far away from the ocean.

― Kevin Gilchrist (Mr Fusion), Sunday, 7 November 2004 15:18 (twenty-one years ago)

I've never really thought about 60.

― Cathy (Cathy), Sunday, 7 November 2004 15:27 (twenty-one years ago)

61. you didn't elect Bush president

― Matos W.K. (M Matos), Sunday, 7 November 2004 15:28 (twenty-one years ago)

61. CAKE

(thanks ailsa!!)

― jel -- (jel), Sunday, 7 November 2004 15:29 (twenty-one years ago)

I've never really thought about 60.

No, neither did I until I was in the US in a heatwave - wishing with all my might for some Scottish rain, or for the ocean.

― Kevin Gilchrist (Mr Fusion), Sunday, 7 November 2004 15:31 (twenty-one years ago)

62. blackpool pleasure beach

― ken c (ken c), Sunday, 7 November 2004 16:11 (twenty-one years ago)

63. the pub.

― cis (cis), Sunday, 7 November 2004 16:14 (twenty-one years ago)

64. london parks
65. jam doughnuts
66. the smiths

― youn, Sunday, 7 November 2004 16:19 (twenty-one years ago)

68. Darts on telly

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Sunday, 7 November 2004 16:22 (twenty-one years ago)

69. The Labour Movement (as in the formation of Trade Unions and the Labour Party)

― Soon Over Dadaismus (Dada), Sunday, 7 November 2004 16:28 (twenty-one years ago)

Wait, if we're doing history, then there's err... all sorts of things.

― Alba (Alba), Sunday, 7 November 2004 16:31 (twenty-one years ago)

Skipping 60 messages at this point... Click here if you want to load them all.

Bill Forsyth films.

― Keith Watson (kmw), Sunday, 7 November 2004 19:12 (twenty-one years ago)

I was going to say that! I watched Gregory's Girl last night, and thought I should start a thread on the general greatness of Bill Forsyth. Then I remembered that cackheap with Robin Williams in it, and decided not to bother.

― ailsa (ailsa), Sunday, 7 November 2004 19:14 (twenty-one years ago)

Ailsa, it's cause you said Glasgow I thought of Cumbernauld and it came from that.

Hooray! Comfort and Joy is out on DVD!

― Keith Watson (kmw), Sunday, 7 November 2004 19:17 (twenty-one years ago)

I wuv Comfort and Joy! Bill Paterson! Clare Grogan! Rikki Fulton! Ice cream! I have it on video, I may have to get it on DVD as well.

― ailsa (ailsa), Sunday, 7 November 2004 19:19 (twenty-one years ago)

I haven't seen it since the '80s. I remember it being good. I'll see if I can pick it up tomorrow.

― Keith Watson (kmw), Sunday, 7 November 2004 19:21 (twenty-one years ago)

126.Wimbledon and Pimms and strawberries and cream

127.Rugby

― Penelope_111 (Penelope_111), Sunday, 7 November 2004 19:26 (twenty-one years ago)

128. BBC Radio 4.

― Kevin Gilchrist (Mr Fusion), Sunday, 7 November 2004 19:38 (twenty-one years ago)

129. John Peel
130. Alistair Cooke (not A14sdair C00k, though he's undeniably great as well)
131. Fred Dibnah

Dead people reprazent!

― ailsa (ailsa), Sunday, 7 November 2004 19:54 (twenty-one years ago)

132. The Futureheads
133. Simon Amstell
134. Question Time
135. Worcester Sauce

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Sunday, 7 November 2004 20:07 (twenty-one years ago)

126. Jon Ronson (is anyone watching his Crazy Leaders of the World at the moment?)

― Kevin Gilchrist (Mr Fusion), Sunday, 7 November 2004 20:08 (twenty-one years ago)

That chalk man with his lad out in Dorset.

― Keith Watson (kmw), Sunday, 7 November 2004 20:26 (twenty-one years ago)

a good journalist with an absolutely unbearable voice. i had to turn it over.

― jed_ (jed), Sunday, 7 November 2004 20:26 (twenty-one years ago)

I love his voice - it's a hilarious, kinda nasal monotone.

― Kevin Gilchrist (Mr Fusion), Sunday, 7 November 2004 20:27 (twenty-one years ago)

maybe when he sings he sounds just like Lisa Stansfield.

― jed_ (jed), Sunday, 7 November 2004 20:28 (twenty-one years ago)

I think I would enjoy seeing him do karaoke...

― Kevin Gilchrist (Mr Fusion), Sunday, 7 November 2004 20:30 (twenty-one years ago)

138. Aki Riihilahti
139. Dandelion & Burdock

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Sunday, 7 November 2004 20:30 (twenty-one years ago)

I'd enjoy *seeing* Jon Ronson doing karaoke. I'd want earplugs, though.

― caitlin (caitlin), Sunday, 7 November 2004 20:38 (twenty-one years ago)

140: Rex The Dog

― Chewshabadoo (Chewshabadoo), Sunday, 7 November 2004 20:50 (twenty-one years ago)

I'd enjoy *seeing* Jon Ronson doing karaoke. I'd want earplugs, though.

Yeah, I think I have a bit of a boy-crush on Jon Ronson, so seeing him would be fine - though I think his voice is part of his attraction anyway.

― Kevin Gilchrist (Mr Fusion), Sunday, 7 November 2004 20:56 (twenty-one years ago)

Nah, I'm definitely of the "looks cute, shame about the voice" opinion.

― caitlin (caitlin), Sunday, 7 November 2004 21:00 (twenty-one years ago)

I think I liked him most when he did that "For The Love Of..." programme. He would sometimes have bedhead, wearing a dressing gown while chatting to these people.

― Kevin Gilchrist (Mr Fusion), Sunday, 7 November 2004 21:02 (twenty-one years ago)

141. The Office
142. Shaun of the Dead
143. The Streets

― Shmool McShmool (shmuel), Sunday, 7 November 2004 21:08 (twenty-one years ago)

144. Ealing comedies.
145. Fish and chip shops.

― Ben Mott (Ben Mott), Sunday, 7 November 2004 21:24 (twenty-one years ago)

146. MGs

― Penelope_111 (Penelope_111), Sunday, 7 November 2004 21:25 (twenty-one years ago)

147. The Yorkshire Dales

― Charles Dexter (Holey), Sunday, 7 November 2004 21:56 (twenty-one years ago)

148. Alan Partridge

― Charles Dexter (Holey), Sunday, 7 November 2004 21:57 (twenty-one years ago)

Yeah, I thought about Steve Coogan, but didn't feel I could honestly nominate him. Just putting in Alan Partidge gets around that problem quite nicely.

149. Rob Brydon. (well, I love him)

― Kevin Gilchrist (Mr Fusion), Sunday, 7 November 2004 22:02 (twenty-one years ago)

150. Curry.
151. Pubs.

― Wooden (Wooden), Sunday, 7 November 2004 23:41 (twenty-one years ago)

152. Rave culture.

― Wooden (Wooden), Sunday, 7 November 2004 23:42 (twenty-one years ago)

Have to pull you up on 133.
Simon Amstell is annoying as hell and thinks he's 40 times funnier than he is which isn't very funny at all!

For your consideration

153. Mark E Smith
154. John Lydon
155. The Metrolink
156. Mushy Peas
157. Full English Breakfasts
158. Monty Python
159. Manchester
160. Industrialisation
161. The invention of the computer

― Simon Green (fatmancunian), Monday, 8 November 2004 00:26 (twenty-one years ago)

162. Tattie scones

― ailsa (ailsa), Monday, 8 November 2004 00:30 (twenty-one years ago)

163. Hyde Park
164. The variety of regional accents (all except Yorkshire, 'Brum' and Tony Greig)
165. The Lotus Elan (and Diana Rigg)

― Fred Nerk (Fred Nerk), Monday, 8 November 2004 00:33 (twenty-one years ago)

166. Bicycle clips

― Adamdrome Crankypants (Autumn Almanac), Monday, 8 November 2004 01:19 (twenty-one years ago)

167. That the national sport's main TV highlights show can use The Fall et al. as background music in tribute to the death of John Peel.

― Alba (Alba), Monday, 8 November 2004 01:43 (twenty-one years ago)

168. Eccentric old farts without a pot to piss in, living in stately homes

― Penelope_111 (Penelope_111), Monday, 8 November 2004 01:47 (twenty-one years ago)

169. Interesting teeth.

― Penelope_111 (Penelope_111), Monday, 8 November 2004 01:48 (twenty-one years ago)

170. Chunky knitwear
171. Sensible Soccer
172. Fizzy Vimto
173. Hot Vimto
174. Phil Liggett
175. Lemon sherbet

― William Bloody Swygart (mrswygart), Monday, 8 November 2004 04:20 (twenty-one years ago)

176. The British Library
177. William Shakespeare
178. David Attenborough
179. The Tower of London
180. Edinburgh Castle
181. Impressing Americans just with the accent
182. Henry VIII
183. Aethelwulf, Aethelbald, Aethelbert and Aethelred

― beanz (beanz), Monday, 8 November 2004 11:16 (twenty-one years ago)

184. None of our wildlife are remotely dangerous

― Markelby (Mark C), Monday, 8 November 2004 11:22 (twenty-one years ago)

185. The Beast of Bodmin Moor

― beanz (beanz), Monday, 8 November 2004 11:27 (twenty-one years ago)

186. Joanna Lumley

― beanz (beanz), Monday, 8 November 2004 11:28 (twenty-one years ago)

re:184 neds are sometimes pretty dangerous

― ken c (ken c), Monday, 8 November 2004 11:49 (twenty-one years ago)

187. Kate Bush
188. Yes, (Prime) Minister
189. Madness (the band)

138. Aki Riihilahti
RoXOR!!! But, er, even less UK than TS Eliot, surely?

― OleM (OleM), Monday, 8 November 2004 11:50 (twenty-one years ago)

(I'll grant "giving Aki a national newspaper column" as an UGTATUK, tho)

― OleM (OleM), Monday, 8 November 2004 11:53 (twenty-one years ago)

None of our wildlife are remotely dangerous

Mark, what are you talking about? In summer, the place is chock full of wasps!

― Keith Watson (kmw), Monday, 8 November 2004 18:56 (twenty-one years ago)

I'm going to put an adder in Mark's socks.

― Alba (Alba), Monday, 8 November 2004 18:57 (twenty-one years ago)

Also, an old man was recently gored to death by a highland cow in the Kyle of Lochalsh.

― Alba (Alba), Monday, 8 November 2004 18:59 (twenty-one years ago)

You don't want to get gored in the Kyle of Lochalsh.

― caitlin (caitlin), Monday, 8 November 2004 21:02 (twenty-one years ago)

190. The Beatles

― briania (briania), Monday, 8 November 2004 21:40 (twenty-one years ago)

You don't want to get bitten by midges in the Trossachs neither

xpost

― beanz (beanz), Monday, 8 November 2004 21:55 (twenty-one years ago)

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