The eighth edition of the Lonely Planet guide to Great Britain, published today, warns those unfamiliar with life on what it calls "this damp little island" that we like to celebrate with "a big drink".
The authors write: "Across the country, alcohol consumption is on the rise, with the relatively new phenomenon of 'binge drinking' among young people a major concern for doctors, police and politicians."
And while Britons are obsessed with celebrity chefs such as Gordon Ramsay, our culinary habits "behind the scenes" are less appetising.
The guide comments: "Freshly created food sounds great in theory, but in reality the recipe for dinner is more likely to be something like this: open freezer, take out package, bung in microwave, ping, eat."
In fact Britons have developed something of a habit for self-delusion, the guide finds.
"Calmness in the face of adversity, a laconic sense of humour, a sense of decency and fair play, and mastery of understatement are all fundamental facets of the British character – at least, as seen by the British themselves.
"Ask the French, for example, and you might get a rather different list of attributes that includes stand-offishness, anti-intellectualism, public drunkenness and being **** at cooking."
David Else, lead author, said the purpose of the updated guide, which lauds the urban renaissance of many northern cities, was to give readers "the whole story" of life in Britain and not just the gloss.
Source: Telegraph
Do you agree with the travel guide's description of the British?
What is your experience of them?
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