Brits dream of living in France

MILLIONS of Brits dream of living the French lifestyle for the bakeries, the sights – and the cheese.

A study of 2,000 adults found that four in ten think the French way of life seems better than the British, and 24 percent dream of experiencing it.

3

3

3

More than a fifth (21%) would consider moving across the Channel, with 15% having lived in the country at some point in the past.

Visiting cafes and cafes is the top reason to want to live in France, followed by bakeries, croissants and pastries.

Other reasons for being in the top 30 list included visiting the Alps, castles and beaches, as well as immersing yourself in art galleries, eating brioche and learning the language.

It also found that Brits view the French lifestyle as relaxed (44 percent), sophisticated (42 percent) and sociable (39 percent).

But 42 percent think France is a “foodie country,” with croissants (35 percent), champagne (27 percent) and brioche (20 percent) naming the best products to come out of the country.

St. Pierre Bakery commissioned the study and created a quiz to help people find out how French their lifestyle is.

Founder Paul Baker said: “Whatever the British perception of the French lifestyle, we certainly dream of living it.

“We automatically think of pastries, coffee, wine and cheese, and that’s just the food and drink.”

The study also found that 28 percent of adults took inspiration from the French lifestyle when it comes to their cuisine (46 percent), their interest in art (43 percent) and their taste in films and television (41 percent).

While a third believe pop culture, including shows like Emily in Paris, has given them an idea of ​​what it would be like to live in France.

In terms of language, 26 percent already speak French, and another 14 percent are currently learning.

And many are already enjoying foods that have come from across the Channel, with baguettes (44 percent), brie (29 percent) and brioche (25 percent) being among the most popular.

Ratatouille (16 percent) and soufflé (11 percent) are also top choices, according to a study conducted by OnePoll.

Brits haven’t just taken inspiration from food, believing that 23 percent of everyday vocabulary comes from France.

Words and phrases the nation believes have French origins include cliché (47 percent), baguette (46 percent) and chauffeur (45 percent).

However, in a list of more than 40 words found in France, five percent said they did not recognize any word as French.

Paul Baker of St Pierre Bakery added: “Travel has been a challenge for all of us lately and our taste buds have been missing world travel too. It’s one of the reasons Britons are increasingly seeking out and enjoying new tastes.

“The fact that a quarter of us think we would be more willing to try new foods and drinks if we embraced the French lifestyle says it all.

“Good food creates great memories and that’s important wherever you are in the world.

“We are inspired by France and want to bring the Brits a little taste of the French lifestyle with our authentic brioche to make every day that little bit grander.”

The survey was commissioned in celebration of St Pierre’s National Brioche Day, which takes place on May 14th.

Top 30 reasons why Brits would like to live in France

1. Visit to cafes/coffee shops

2. Visit bakeries

3. Croissants/pastries

4. Baguettes

5. Go out to eat

6. Drink French wine

7. Visit to the sights of France, eg Louvre, Pompidou

8. Eat French cheese

9. Visit to the French Riviera

10. Visit to French Castles

11. Visiting France’s beaches

12. The architecture

13. Visiting the Alps

14. The story

15. Discover hidden treasures

16. Visit to wineries

17. Speaking / learning the French language

18. Shopping

19. Brioche Bread

20. Art Galleries

21. Meeting and socializing with locals

22. City Views

23. Listening to spoken French language

24. Learning to cook French

25. Visiting Michelin star restaurants

26. French fashion

27. Try new French foods, such as snails

28. The public transport system

29. Skiing

30th Paris Fashion Week