The best British Guitarist?

Fenderfan90

for me it’s Clapton simply based on how many people he has influenced. He was the first man to plug a les Paul into a Marshall and turn it up full!

Lesgrandepotato

For me it’s Squire. Groove, Rock and a swagger all without being over the top. 

guitars4you

Sorry guys but I don't buy into this the 'best' - Not measurable in any way shape or form

Great that we can be influenced by so many and have our favourite hero's - And GB + Ireland have provided many fine players that are influential around the world - From many different styles

Don't want to put a damper on your OP (yet I have) 

Many have influenced me in different ways but if I had to pick 2 favourites then I'd say Gary and Rory from the emerald isle

Funkfingers

Fenderfan90 said:

Clapton

IMO, since he stopped playing Gibson electric guitars, Eric has been a bit Flat. He no longer manages to sock it to ya. 

My vote goes to whoever played on the recording session for "Puppet On A String".

Fretwired

Technical: Allan Holdsworth, Jeff Beck, John McLaughlin, Robert Fripp ...

Riffs: Jimmy Page, Pete Townsend, Richie Blackmore, Keith Richards ...

Blues: Peter Green, Eric Clapton, Mick Taylor ...

Prog rock: David Gilmour, Steve Hacket

Pop/rock: John Squire, Johnny Marr, Hank Marvin, Mark Knopfler, Brian May

Jazz: Martin Taylor

There's no one 'best' British guitarist

Sassafras

Me.

AllthegearNoidea

David Gilmour. 

Sassafras

We need a definition of 'best'. 
Could Gilmour beat Clapton at tennis or crown bowls?

stickyfiddle

Me, because I make the best waffles. 

(and wis for @guitars4you )

JayGee

I tend to agree with this being a fundamentally silly question, but if you absolutely make me pick a name it’s going to be Jeff Beck on the grounds that he combines awesome technical chops with the ability to turn his hand convincingly, tastefully, and with musicality to pretty much any style you could name or imagine from ‘50s pop through rockabilly and blues to jazz...

Kilgore

Slash.

 He spent his first few years in Stoke-on-Trent and he's got the best hat.

Blueingreen

Admitting all the problems with judging "best" and also the problems with giving the award to someone who isn't a particularly good technician, my vote goes to Keef.  My criteria:

- how much of the music is great?

- how crucial is the guitar playing to the greatness of the music.

In Keith's case I think you can answer "lots" to the first question and "very" to the second. 

Blaendulais

Tino Troy in Praying Mantis.  Genius and no hair

soma1975

Clapton
Green
Page
Gilmour
Beck

Thats the top 5 sorted, in no particular order. 

p90fool

soma1975 said:

Clapton
Green
Page
Gilmour
Beck

Thats the top 5 sorted, in no particular order. 

So nobody who's arrived on the scene in the last 55 years then? 

I'm sure somebody must've had a go at this guitar thing in the last half century or so...

soma1975

In the top 5 of all time? Not for me. Probably a few in the top 10 though. 

Likewise John Williams wouldn’t make my top 5 composers of all time despite being pretty spiffing and he’d mostly be beaten out by people 200 years older than himself.

stonevibe

Jeff Beck obviously.

Master of his instrument and not just a blooze riff ripoff merchant (Gilmour, Clapton etc etc)

Hydra19

Clapton, George Harrison, the guys from iron maiden. I guess currently Matt Bellamy is doing something unique with his guitar playing

Schnozz

Steve Howe.

Sassafras

Kilgore said:

Slash.

 He spent his first few years in Stoke-on-Trent and he's got the best hat.

You shouldn't discount Richie Blackmore in the best hat stakes:

Sassafras

Even though he was born in Seattle, I'd include Hendrix on the list. It wasn't till he came over here and we took him to our hearts that he was able to achieve his full potential.
And he did die on British soil if that counts.