Great Britain
Few places I've visited are able to capitalize on their rich and vast history, while effortless juxtaposing modern times, like Great Britain. Walk in any GB town and you'll stumble upon ancient relics beside futuristic architecture. It is not out with the old and in with the new, but rather effortlessly squeezing in the new around the old. This is especially true for London, where the Shard (London's newest, most contemporary building) is visible just above the horizon of the original Roman wall. Pubs pre-date the Americas, and the murderous alleyways from the Victorian Era are home to modern marketplaces.
Beyond the history there's shopping, dining, theater, and beauty. Most lampposts and window boxes are dripping with bright flowers. London is an especially great place to get lost, because there's something new around every corner. Ditch the map, grab your umbrella and wellies, and hit the town.
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Shakespeare's Globe Theater
Celebrate Shakespeare’s transformative impact on the world by visiting this radical theatrical experiment. Inspired and informed by the unique historic playing conditions of two beautiful iconic theatres, this Shakespeare's Globe Theater harnesses the power of performance, cultivates intellectual curiosity, and excites learning to make Shakespeare accessible for all.
Covent Garden
Covent Garden may be a fashionable, up-to-the-minute shopping and dining destination, but the past remains embedded on the cobbled Piazza and arches of the Market Building.
Discover Covent Garden’s rich heritage through the centuries, from orchard garden of Westminster Abbey, to London’s first residential square, to London’s wholesale fruit and vegetable market.
An area also synonymous with performance, from humble beginnings recorded by Samuel Pepys as the birthplace of the ‘Punch & Judy’ puppeteer show, to the home of street performance today, Covent Garden has never missed a chance to put on a show.
Princess Hotel
My friends and I stayed at the Princess Hotel during our time in London. The hotel price is very competitive, which is what we were looking for. Additionally, the hotel was very clean and well-kept both in the rooms and the shared restrooms. It's important to know that this hotel doesn't cater to special requests or most traditional hotel amenities. You get what you pay for! For example each resident gets one towel for the extent of their stay, no more, no less. There's no catering or ordering food like you would from a chain hotel. However, if you're looking for a good location, great price, and a safe place to rest your head at night, this is a great option.
I stayed in two different rooms during my stay here. Both rooms had a sink, mirror, hairdryer, TV, and tea caddy. I was a little worried about the shared restrooms, but never had any trouble finding an available restroom during our four nights there. The restrooms were small, but included showers and sinks.
Sir Christopher Wren Hotel and Spa
I enjoyed my stay at the Sir Christopher Wren Hotel and Apa, however the experience was unusual. While the hotel lobby is distinctly luxurious, as are the rooms and the dining facilities, certain aspects of the hotel were odd. For example, to get to our suite we had to go up the main staircase to the second floor then take a small hallway with three sets of stairs either going up or down to get to another small hallway where our room was located. No elevators, so we had to lug our bags up and down stairs and through tiny maid hallways to get to the room. However, when we got to the room it was lovely, and we had a wonderful view of the Thames.
Because the hotel is quite old, the plumbing was not the best. We were not able to get the shower temperature correct (scalding hot or freezing cold) so we ended up having to take showers at the spa facilities (outside the main hotel). The shower facilities at the spa were subpar, but they had newer plumbing. Regardless, it was inconvenient having to pack up clothes and toiletries and walk through the hotel and outside to the spa and back for a shower.
The staff were wonderful, and our stay was very comfortable despite the inconvenience of the shower. I would definitely recommend this hotel. The location was great, and the food was delicious.
Oxford Day Trip
Walking the streets of Oxford is a thrill, especially in the rain. On a sunny day you can enjoy punting, and after a long day of touring the campus, have a pint at the famed The Eagle and Child pub.
Campus highlights include: Carfax Tower, Ashmolean Museum, Balliol College, Trinity College, Blackwell's Bookstore, Sheldonian Theatre, Bridge of Sighs, All Soul's College, the Radcliffe Camera, Bodleian Library, Merton College, Christ Church Meadows, and the Covered Market.
Keble College, Oxford
We stayed for one night at the Keble College in Oxford in a suite for four. It was two dorm rooms with a connecting bathroom...perfect for a group of four friends. We had a view of the quadrangle, which was lovely. We were each provided with toiletries and a full set of towels, which was very nice and better than most of the expensive hotels we stayed at.
The best part of our stay was breakfast in the Great Hall. We were served by Oxford students and got a traditional English breakfast. The college is fairly close to campus and Oxford shopping/dining.
My main complaint would be how long we had to walk with our luggage before we could get a taxi to the train station. It's definitely not near the train station by walking standards if you have luggage. Also there's, there's no air-conditioning in the rooms, so it was warm in the room at night. We would have kept the windows open, but we didn't know if it would rain during the night. Also, there was an outdoor bar area near our room and the students would talk and laugh there late into the evening, which made it difficult to sleep.
Cotswolds Day Trip
Those short on time, but wanting to visit The Cotswolds, should visit Moreton-in-Marsh, the only Cotswolds village with a train station. The broad High Street is lined with elegant 17th and 18th Century buildings, among them the White Hart Royal, a former manor house in which King Charles I sheltered during the Civil War, and the rare Curfew Tower with its original clock and bell. In the centre is the Redesdale Hall dating from 1887. This is the town’s main public hall which regularly holds antiques and craft fairs. Moreton’s High Street is lined with elegant Cotswolds stone buildings which house many specialist shops, antique emporiums, tea rooms and delis.
Also, nearby lavender fields make for a fun, sunny afternoon. I recommend Cotswolds Lavender, an active farm and tea room.
Dover Day Trip
A day trip to Dover from London couldn't be easier. While the city isn't much to write home about, the attractions are stellar. Plan to visit Dover Castle, the secret wartime tunnels, and the Roman lighthouse atop the famed cliffs. For a better look at the White Cliffs of Dover, take a cruise out into the bay (many locals offer inexpensive excursions). Then end the day with a good meal at one of the many restaurants that line the shore.
Bath Day Trip
Independent, creative, unique and stylish, Bath is the only place in the UK where you can bathe in naturally hot spa water at Thermae Bath Spa and visit 2,000 year old original Roman Baths, making it the ultimate spa break destination for thousands of years.
Whether you fancy a romantic short break, a fun family holiday, an indulgent foodie getaway or an exciting day out on the bus or train, Bath is guaranteed to delight. Discover England’s most complete Georgian architecture, iconic visitor attractions such as Stonehenge and Longleat Safari Park, great boutique shopping, fantastic nightlife, fabulous festivals and a remarkable range of restaurants, bars and cafés.
