The sun breaking across the fells of Cumbria. The sound of a waterfall dashing itself to smithereens on the rocks at the bottom the valley. The sight of natural wildlife (and sheep) living it up in the bracken and heather.
The taste of the first pint (coffee, tea, your choice) of the day after a brisk walk. The taste of really hot fish and chips eaten out of the paper, sitting on the sea wall watching the sun glitter on the sea.
I find tourists (Americans mainly)want to speak to me because I talk in a Hugh Grant style. They want to hear, what they think is, proper English; then all they ask about is history, which if i don't know I make up.
I guess we're seen as an interesting place; birthplace of industry and modern empire. Somewhere where the history hasn't faded yet. (And the birth place of dogging I believe.)
the greatest empire,even conquered america, UK is outstanding and unique full of historic structures,foreigners are fasinated with the houses of parliament,big ben,palaces etc this is the creator and centre of democracy thats why heathrow is the busiest airport in the world!....but the beaches need some sorting out!
Miles of beaches
Beautiful scenery
Great cities
The many mines that have been made into touristy attractions
Many walks hills, lakes, rivers,
Themeparks
The places in london like buckingham palace, houses of parliment, tower of london
Food
Our drinking culture
History
The many great bridges/building we have built over the years
The rugged terrain that mountain climbers etc love
For sach a small island we sure have alot to see and do
Personally heaven on earth in britain is isle of skye so old worldy in a completely different place to the rest of the uk in mind manner and feeling
Sod that, if I could be out of here I'd be gone like a shot.
Once Britain was great, now it just sucks big time. The one or two little cosmetic items like the lakes and the Peaks does not make up for a country that is on its last legs and going down the drain at an ever faster speed.
I spend a lot of time on a US forum and they love Europe....especially the uk. Its the history, culture, quaintness, accent, countryside, chocolate and selection of teas and sweets!
Always being asked to send tea and chocolate over or to direct them to an on-line store that sell what they want!
I'd love to spend more time travelling around the uk, so much still to see...... yet I love travelling abroad and the sunnier climate.
We did a Youth Exchange with Portuguese students a few years back and whilst here saw snow for the first time. They loved it and talked non stop about the weather when they got home.
When you can step out of your front door and see a castle and a cathedral that have got probably 400 years on the entire American continent (in terms of us knowing about it anyway), nevermind Austrailia, Southern Africa and NZ (where a lot of our toruists come from). Its not surprising to see so many tourists in the UK. Europe has one thing that a lot of the civilised world doesn't have and that's history. When you factor in you can fly to Spain and back in the time it takes to fly from Boston to LA its not surprising loads of tourists come here as part of a European tour. Quite often people go on holiday to have something that they can't get in their own country, with us its a prolonged spell of decent weather with other countries its history.
Not everyone goes abroad to sit on a beach/by a pool. I've been on more than one holiday where I've hardly done any of that. In fact my last holiday to Malta (at Easter) was spent mainly seeing the sites (despite the fact I'd actually been there for a day before) and although the weather was nice it wasn't warm enough to sunbathe, but was ideal for sightseeing.
I would think that this country has a lot to offer tourists (especially if their country is having a usual period of extreme weather at the time). People may not want to come for just one general reason and could combine different motives such as watching the Premiership/seeing Buckingham Palace etc./ walking round the lakes/ visiting the home of a favourite celeb(s) the list is nearly endless
I guess for me it would be for family. There are places in this country that I love though and would need to visit every now and again just to recharge, ie Robins Hoods Bay, Lathkill Dale amongst some.
It certainly wouldn't be for service or value for money as this country IMO doesn't offer much of it. Rip off Britain indeed.
We have children with links to other partners so we couldn't leave the country without battles and heartache, had we not got these ties we'd have been gone a few years ago!
Well I did leave the country this year to Canada. I guess I realised the pros of Britain only when I had left lol. But still I like it here in Canada.
As a tourist you certainly would not go to the UK for the weather! Can't express how much I have loved the hot DRY summer here.
But Britain does off the following for resident/tourist-
Genuine friendly people
Sarcastic, and in the main sharp witty humour,
Some great compact towns that don't sprawl for hundred's of miles with strip malls,
Tesco ( yes you heard right, I find it sucks having to drive to 3 shops instead of one lol),
Yorkshire tea and fish and chips,
Cheap wine and Whisky all of which taste like they should lol,
Self raising flour,
Folk that love to moan lol,
Lovely scenery very close to big cities,
Culture that is available that is older than 100 years old.
But overall I wouldn't go back now even tho I miss my friends terribly (esp some of the swinging ones lol).
The main reasons are that the economy here is good, more opportunities, less tax on the money you work hard to earn, we can afford to have and use a 4*4. The last big one for me is that here they LIKE kids they are not seen as a nuisance but actually a valid part of society and thus catered to. So far not seen any t-shirts with “cheeky monkey” or “I’m a monster”.
Ruth xxx
of London Bridge.
I might make the trip over for a festival or some other event (musical, sporting or cultural.) Then as others have mentioned there's our political or literary heritage. Heck, I believe the monarchy draws a few of 'em in too! 
but I'd much rather talk about the urban stuff though... 
:lol: 