[atomic77]

The UK has always had the advantage of being an island protected from the wars that periodically sweep through mainland areas. There are plenty of cities that I have seen Europe that, due to post-WWII reconstruction, make New York and Chicago seem positively old and historic.

[neilwilson]

Tectonically stable as well. On the other side there is Japan where there is very little old at all - the earthquakes and landslides see to that. It's a big problem. All anybody wants to do in England is buy and prop up some ancient building. It's hardly surprising we have an energy usage crisis. Everything ends up set in aspic.