France still the preferred destination for UK expats fleeing Brexit Britain

If you’re even more determined to emigrate to France in spite of the Brexit effect, it’s still the unique, charming destination it always was!

Favoured for many decades as a preferred location for expat Brits looking on the bright side of life, France is now even more popular as an escape hatch for those wanting to be elsewhere when the UK’s ship of state goes down post-Brexit. You’ll be joining a huge community of expatriates as well as digital nomads, many of whom have been resident for a good few years, know the ropes and don’t mind sharing their knowledge with confused new arrivals.

France’s long, rich history has resulted in unique, often bizarre rituals and customs which make the country special as well as captivating new arrivals unsure of how to react. It’s actually the most popular international visitor destination in the entire world, meaning expats searching for peace and quiet would do well to find a rural retreat and those seeking excitement should be right at home in it’s stunning cities.

There’s much about France that surprises many expat arrivals, such as its position as the country with the most Nobel Prize winners in the literature sector and the fact that the French army still uses carrier pigeons to send messages. The prized birds are still treasured just in case there’s a nuclear war in which all modern internet communications have been wiped out! Staying briefly with the French Army, the military was the first to use camouflage during WWI, with the word itself meaning ‘disguise’ in French.

Often seen as ahead of its time in its history, France was the first ever country to organise a working public transport system. In the 1660s, whilst London was still a mess of mud, sewage, horses, carriages and sedan chairs, Paris boasted a horse-drawn carriage network right across the city. Nowadays, it’s also a first for its use of roundabouts rather than stop signs, with the 30,000 now in place across the country reducing the severity of road accidents.

Believe it or not, you’ll be breaking the law should you get a pig as a pet and name it ‘Napoleon’, as this is seen as disrespect to one of France’s most famous military leaders. If you insist on this name, it’s good to remember the guillotine is now banned, with its last use in 1977. You’ll also be impressed by a law which states any used food must be given to the needy, rather than just thrown in the kitchen bin, even although the rule only applies to groceries.

One of the reasons you’ve chosen France might well be its reputation for the world’s finest wines, but escargot (snails in garlic butter) is the most-loved culinary delicacy, with 400,000 tons eaten every year. In fact, France is best known for its long-standing cultural acceptance as part of its own rich culture, with even its quirks quintessentially French and unique to this amazing country.