Top 5 Reasons to be Obsessed with Britain

There are plenty of perfectly normal people out there who don't care a fig about about Britain. They go their whole lives without caring about mincemeat pies, airfare rates to Heathrow, or the next Doctor Who companion, and they would never even consider taking a bite of haggis just to say they did it. 

Me, on the other hand—there are few days that pass by that I don't contemplate a fact about British history, long for a sip of tea, or get a little shiver of anticipation at the idea of actually setting foot on British soil.

So what makes me so obsessed? What makes you so obsessed that you're actually reading this right now? Well here are five really good reasons—and of course, they are only the beginning.

Westminster Abbey, a photo by Ash-rly on Flickr.

1. British Heritage: For a girl like me, history is a major draw. You may be into the hottest new music from British bands or modern attractions like the London Eye, but for me it's the castles, cathedrals, ghosts, and old stories that make Britain crackle like fireworks. The romance of the past is palpable in everything the British are, no matter how 21st century-ish they might try to be. They can't help it, they're steeped in tradition and that is bound to come through in little ways. 

2. British Celebrities: I'm constantly amazed by British celebrities. Take the famous cook (she wouldn't like "chef") Clarissa Dickson Wright, for instance.
I absolutely love her, but I'm afraid she'd never get very far in the good ol' USA. She was the star of a show called Two Fat Ladies, for crying out loud. Yet the Brits clearly love her. They might be just as obsessed with skin-deep looks and shallow brains as we Americans are, but you wouldn't think it to see some of the unexpected people they most admire. They gave the world the charmingly acidic Simon Cowell (and we love them for giving him to us), and don't get me started on Dame Maggie Smith. She is just awesome.  

This Is England, a photo by The James Kendall on Flickr.

3. British Landscape: Yes, this includes the weather. Honestly, if your idea of the perfect day is gray, slightly chilly, with a mizzle in the air (definitely my preference), I think Britain fits the bill better than any country on earth. Not only that, this land has character running out its ears—awe-inspiring mountains, sweeping meadows, rocky coastline, tiny villages, brilliant cities, winding paths, frosty lochs...sigh. What's not to love?

MIND THE GAP, a photo by C. G. P. Grey, www.cgpgrey.com

4. British Language: I adore reading British books (I'm actually rereading every Harry Potter book in the English rather than American version). The vocabulary seems broader, the dry wit sparkles, and who doesn't love words like "rubbish," "nutter," "gobsmacked," and "chuffed"? Oh, and did I mention the accents? There are hundreds, if not thousands, of them, but I don't think I've ever met a British accent I didn't like. 

5. British Food: Sometimes comforting, sometimes adventurous, always creative. The British gave us fish and chips, teatime, and roast beef with Yorkshire pudding. Thank you, God. I am constantly impressed by Britain's culinary bravery.

Jessica's Tea Shop & Post Office Weekley Northants, a photo by mick / Lumix on Flickr.

In the end, I'd have to say that there is an indefinable charm to Britain that no list can capture. There's something that gives them stiff upper lips, edible thatched cottages, a fabulous sense of humor, great films, and utterly unique habits that you just can't put your finger on. It's that something that makes me proud to call myself a Britophile.

What do you think makes Britain a place worth obsessing about?