Since then thousands of people from both countries have flooded
into the UK, but most are drawn by the chance to make money in a liberal,
entrepreneurial economy, rather than because of Britain's quality of life.
Many eastern Europeans
make as much money as they can in the UK before returning home at the earliest
opportunity.
The Quality of Life
Index, published by International Living magazine for the 30th year in a row,
puts Britain down five places from 20th in 2009.
In all, 200 countries are
surveyed across nine categories, including cost of living, culture and leisure,
environment, safety, culture and weather.
Australia is placed
second after France, with Switzerland in third.
Residents across the
Channel enjoy everything from Riviera beaches and Alpine ski resorts to
arguably the best health service in the world, but it is the country's 'bon
vivant' lifestyle which sets it apart.
Read more:
While British
people are nowadays renowed for their TV dinners and binge drinking, the French
savour the finer things in life day-in, day-out.
This includes freshly baked bread twice a day, two hour lunch breaks in
which to enjoy cheap cordon bleu restaurants, and some of the best wine in the
world.
Working hours are far shorter than those experienced by stressed-out
British people, who have far less holiday entitlement too.
The French, in contrast, take most of August off, view Sunday leisure as
sacrosanct, and have far more public holidays, as well as less crime and dirt.
'In France, life is savoured,' said Jackie Flynn, publisher of
International Living
magazine.
'I don't think anyone
will argue that France is one of the most beautiful countries in the world,
where there is so much pride in all the small details.
'The French love little
window boxes filled with flowers, tidy gardens, pretty sidewalk cafes, and
clean streets. Cities are well tended and with little crime.'
Variety is also seen as a
major factor in France's attractiveness, 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.'
The U.S.A dropped from
third to seventh place this because of last year's economic collapse.
'Sustaining the American Dream has escalated out of the reach of many,' said a
magazine spokesman.
While countries like
France, Italy and Australia are considered to have the best climates, Britain
does not top a single category.
Germany, which comes
fourth in the overall survey, is widely praised for its efficiency and leisure
facilities.
The survey notes: 'In
Germany, everything works and works well. Its houses are built to last, and
their legendary autobahns are still mostly without speed limits.
'If you enjoy sports,
even small towns have numerous facilities. Some odd ones too—the Harz Mountains
now has a specialist hiking trail for nudists. From spas to parks to North Sea
beaches, Germany is arguably the world's most naturist-friendly country.'
Read
more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1240988/France-tops-list-best-places-live-world-fifth-year-row--Britain-languishes-25th.html#ixzz0bsat5mTa