Any recommendations on a killer British distortion pedal? I see there's some very boutique, expensive pedals out there....

Pete Cornish's stuff is used by the likes of Brian May, David Gilmour and other luminaries.  Sort of the Alembic of effects in terms of craftsmanship and cost. www.petecornish.co.uk

If it's British Distortion you want, I've heard good things about the new Vox pedals - the Bulldog and the Big Ben.. Look at the Radials also - the Hot Brit. I have a Trimode and love it.

I just picked up a Crunch Box by MI Audio - it's not expensive and sounds great.
 
http://www.miaudio.com/CB1.htm
 
Peace
Tom

I'm liking the Bulldog...
 
I'm going for that early Pete Townshend sound, if that helps.

Colorsound Tonebender(Original grey box if you can get one) has germanium transistors which supposed to give that dirty sound..similar to Fuzz Face(Jimi's sound)
ColourSound Tonbender Fuzz(silver box with orange logos) uses silicon tranistors, good sound maybe not as dirty but still gives the retro sound..I have had mine since 1973, replaced the footswich only.

Tonebender still being made at Macari's in London, the one I have is ?129(sterling)..I paid ?13 back in 1973
Go to internet, type in Colorsound

Zvex effects recently released the Box of Rock,  which is specifically designed to emulate a dimed marshall.  I am in the process of liquidating equipment so that I may acquire one in the near future.  I have a number of other zvex pedals, and really love their sounds.  The pedal also houses a clean boost.
 
http://zvex.com/boxofrock.html

How about making your own, it is a really easy circuit and there are loads of instructions on the web on how to build one, the components are so cheap too..makes you wonder how much mark up the effects people make.

British distortion=
6 pints and fall down the steps.