Napoleon tried to defeat Britain economically with the Continental System, which barred British goods and ships from the continent of Europe Napoleon controlled. This did hurt Britain's economy, but it made Napoleon unpopular in Europe and a tyrant, because it hurt European economies, too. Napoleon could never invade the U.K. because the British military continually cut him off before he had the chance to do so and in some ways the French destroyed their own navy before the British Navy ever got involved. (Being completely surrounded by water may have help them out)