First thing that comes to mind when I think of the word 'Britain', as a Brit myself, is the people who use that word within Britain: politicians. Here we only really say we come from the UK or we break it down like England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland etc, so when we hear 'Britain' it's either foreigners talking about us calling us British or it's politicians here acting like we're so superior ('Great Britain') compared to other countries yet so plagued by problems thus need to kick out immigrants (scapegoating) and point fingers at every other oppressed community too, meanwhile they tax us like crazy and have a good laugh over a big lazy lunch in their own home most days.

But I don't think of all this upon hearing the word Britain usually, as it's depressing - instead I usually just jump straight to the concept of pantomime politics and dumbfounded patriotism based on insecurity-driven racism and greed-driven empire-building. Then occasionally further thoughts of our American-esque police state full of parasitical media and a long-lost natural environment, but usually not so much, as it's depressing.

Stereotypes and symbols: fish and chips; cup of tea; royalty (esp Queen Elizabeth and Price Harry), castles, palaces; Harry Potter; wealth and benefits; strict immigration; Cambridge and Oxford uni; origin of football (soccer) - also tennis (Wimbledon), rugby, snooker, golf, F1 (Silverstone); Stone Henge; the origin of the English language...

Britain fish and chips in newspapers has been illegal since the end of the 1960's for health reasons. For a long time it has been served on sterile food standard paper. More recently it is served in polystyrene containers. Yes there was a time when people used to give their used newspapers to the "chippie" = the person selling the "chips" or "the fish and chip shop"

French France, they all drive green onion seller citroens. Always do whatever it is that they think will upset the Brits the most. Always striking or rioting about something. They have the French diseases of striking greater than the English have the English disease of striking. 

Germans Germany,  they only buy german made goods, think their engineering is the best in the world. Dislike disobedience. 

Aussies Australians, only drink fosters, if dying of thirst in a desert and they stumble across a water hole. they would leave the water alone if it was actually only water and vote out their prime minister if any watering hole did not contain "fosters" .

Americans American

Think Britain is a back yard. Cannot Pronounce any British place name. Do not understand Ruby (league or Union) 

Kiwis or New Zealanders. 

The worlds greatest Rugby players. 

Spanish or Spain. 

Sleep all afternoon. Dance all night. 

Italians or Italy.

all belong to the mafia or a mafia family. Addicted to VirGin olive oil

This is of course all tongue in cheek and not to be taken seriously. 

Finally beer must always be warm in Britain even in very hot summers and in the winter you must always drink ice cold cokes.  

Britain:

- strange people who seem to enjoy eating fish and chips wrapped in newspapers resulting in a less-than-nutritious mixture of newspaper printing ink and the oil used to fry the fish...  :)

- The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Pink Floyd, Queen, Led Zeppelin, Genesis

- Looking forward to reading Shakespeare's works as soon as they're translated into English... :)

- Sir Alexander Fleming

- Stephen Hawking

Clever Hawking Quotes

"I have noticed that even people who claim everything is predetermined and that we can do nothing to change it, look before they cross the road."

In June 2014, Hawking joined John Oliver for the debut of the "People Who Think Good" interview series on Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. The highlight came when Oliver asked, "You've stated that you believe there could be an infinite number of parallel universes. Does that mean that there is a universe out there where I am smarter than you?"  "Yes," replied Hawking. "And also a universe where you're funny."

At the 2016 Pride of Britain Awards, U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May delivered a rousing speech in praise of Hawking before presenting him with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
The recipient thanked the P.M. before going for the jugular: "I deal in tough mathematical questions every day, but please don’t ask me to help with Brexit."

@ Dan 

I'm surprised they allow a chippie  to sell it in newspaper at that location. All I can suggest is that the local council either "Tower Hamlets" or " the "Corporation of London" = "the city" or "City of London". Depending on the precise location at "The tower"; the local environmental health inspector must be receiving more than the £5.00 a week I used to give the "Hackney Council" inspector to sell burgers on their streets, twenty years ago. For which a receipt was always promised but never came. It became a weekly routine "have you got the old receipts?", "oh I forgot again i'll bring them next week"."I have to have the £5.00 now else you can't stay" ...Even some customers began to make jokes about it..

Probably it is allowed only for the Tourists. 

"Hackney" "Tower Hamlets" "City of London" all share borders.

I have happy memories of fish and hippies inside the Sunday "broad sheets" at the coast. 

"suvend on ce" "klaktun" "Brigtoon" and other locations. 

I still know how to make a newspaper cone. That could withstand the vinegar soaking. 

NEWSPAPER CONES used to wash down the drain within an hour after every summer "down pour" and the streets would be magically clean again as if washed down by god?.. No plastic littering the beaches or making islands in the oceans.