England criticised in travel guide

[Chairman of the Bored]

England criticised in travel guide Sunday April 23

England is "a nation of overweight, alcopop-swilling, sex-and-celebrity-obsessed TV addicts", according to a new travel guide.

A "tiny, land-owning aristocracy still own most of the land" and England is a country where "accent and vocabulary can stamp a person's identity like a brand", the Rough Guide To England adds.

It goes on: "It's a nation where commuters suffer overpriced, underfunded public transport services and where the hearts of many towns consist of identikit retail zones."

But the guide also has praise for England, saying it is "a country of animal-loving, tea-drinking, charity donors thriving on irony and (BBC) Radio 4".

England is also "a genuine haven for refugees and a country of immigrants from more than 100 ethnic backgrounds".

The guide's authors also describe England as a country "where individuality and creativity flourish, fuelling a thriving pop culture and producing one of the most dynamic fashion, music and arts scenes to be found anywhere".

The guide also reckons that English people "can't agree on who or what they are" and that trying to communicate with a stranger in a public place in London "can be seen as tantamount to physical assault".

The authors conclude: "The only certainty for visitors is that however long you spend in England and however much you see, it still won't be enough to understand the place."

The guide lists 35 "things not to miss" in England, including afternoon tea, castles, Bonfire Night and a good old knees-up at Leicester City's Walkers Stadium."