Why are there so many great English rock groups?

Well, the only ones of those I really agree with are Beatles, Floyd, and Zep, and Floyd's early work was similar to Beatles, so that partly explains that, although they broke away from that style eventually for some of their best known albums. I think Black Sabbath deserves a spot on that list more than some of those other bands, but anyway...

I don't know. It's just one of those things, kind of like how several of the best rock bands from the nineties came from Seattle. I think it's just a localized cultural thing, but it's hard to say really. Maybe it was simply the case that a lot of people were making bands there during that era, and if a lot of people are starting bands, there should likely be more noteworth ones to come out of it.

The same reason so much good metal comes from Europe, and so much good rap comes from the US.

Of course the amount of **** rap coming from the US outwieghs the good by far.

Like someone else has mentiioned, Black Sabbath is one of the most influential rock bands to come out of Britain, but you've also got Cradle of Filth (whether other people like them or not, I think they're awesome) and Viking Skull (not a huge band, but still a good one).

Europe seems to pump out a number of awesome bands, in particular out of Finland (HIM, Negative, 69 Eyes, Children of Bodom, Nightwish The Rasmus, Hanoi Rocks, Finntroll, and Apocalyptica) and Sweden (The Sounds, In Flames, Dark Tranquility, Vains of Jenna, and At The Gates). There are so many other awesome bands that have come out of Scandanavia, maybe because it's so cold the only things to really do are drink and make awesome rock music...

i always thought about that too, i guess england must exist in a cosmic rock vortex of awesomeness...... then again, didnt emo music start there?sovereign_22

No. Emo started in DC. Any it's subject to taste. Apparently that is your preference TC...there are others who prefer bands from different countries...and FYI...the British rock you are praising developed from the US blues.;)