Why us?

Pictures on the news again of people in the French channel ports trying to hide away in lorries to get into this country. What I have never been able to understand is what is so special about Britain? Most of these people have travelled through several other countries to get to the channel, so why haven't they stopped in Spain, Italy, Germany, or any of the other countries on their route. Are we seen as a particularly soft touch, or do they really believe that the streets here are paved with gold, or what? I just don't get it.