10 Things British Do Better Than Americans

Here are 10 things that the British admittedly do better than Americans.

utside of the Revolutionary War, Americans and the British have long had close ties, both politically and culturally.

Despite many similarities, however, there are some things that the Brits admittedly do quite a bit better.

Here are 10 of them.

Number 10. Paid holidays. The United Kingdom standard is 28 days per year and can include public holidays. That's not a recommendation by the way, it's the law. There's no mandate in the US that requires paid time off be given to employees, and approximately 1 in 4 employees receive none.

Number 9. Talent show judges. Nothing against J-Lo, Harry, or Adam, but Simon Cowell, Piers Morgan, and Sharon Osbourne do have a particular knack for laying down some truth.

Number 8. High-profile weddings. Even the most lavish Hollywood celebrity nuptials can't match the grandeur and excitement of a royal wedding. Between the media coverage, the guests' fancy hats, and dazzling accessories pulled from the Queen's collection, there's not much else like one on the planet.

Number 7. Fictional Spies. James Bond, created by British author Ian Flemming, has earned a significant place in literary and cinematic history. The franchise has also become the gold standard of the genre, with its lavish settings, ingenious spy toys, and maniacal adversaries.

Number 6. Taxis. The Brits not only have Americans beat on this one, but apparently they've risen above everybody in the whole world. Hotels.com has bestowed the honor of world's best taxis to the black fleet that serves London. New York did come in second, but it wasn't close.

Number 5. Attracting billionaires.The UK has the greatest number per capita in any country of seriously high monetary worth individuals. They total 104, with 72 of them living in London. Notably, California, which has fewer residents than the UK, has 111 billionaires, but it's not a country, perhaps to the dismay of many of its residents.

Number 4. Afternoon tea. The genteel habit of taking an afternoon break and enjoying pastries, light sandwiches, and, of course, tea is alive and well in Britain. Some US hotels offer the experience, but let's face it, Americans are more likely to spend their afternoons in line at Starbucks.

Number 3. Castles and Palaces. True, this is not really fair to the US with no royal rulers and therefore no royal residences, but the UK has so many fabulous ones, like Buckingham Palace, the Palace of Holyroodhouse, and Windsor Castle, they deserve a mention.

Number 2. In July 2013 Britain opened the largest offshore wind farm in the world, capable of producing 630 megawatts which they claim will provide enough energy to serve over 500 thousand homes. There are currently no offshore wind farms in the US.

Number 1. Chicken Tikka Masala. Perhaps seeking refuge from their own, often-bland cuisine, Brits have consumed enough of the Indian fare to make it the most popular meal choice in the country. It's even been dubbed the 'true national dish'. Given the immense amount of practice they have preparing it, finding better options in the US is unlikely.