I chose to spend our free day relaxing and getting ready for my return trip as my travel day would start early the next morning. Our group had a nice farewell dinner at The Savoy with entertainment provided by a string quintet. I enjoyed everything I saw and experienced on this Great Britain tour, from the architecture, art and history to the beautiful gardens and landscapes, and it’s one I’ll never forget.
We spent the morning at Westminster Abbey, the location for many coronations and royal burials and weddings since 1066. Taking photos was a challenge as it was crowded with people, but nonetheless it was definitely a fantastic place to visit.
Later in the day we had an early dinner followed by a show of our choice. I saw Phantom of the Opera at West End; it was my first time seeing it, and I loved it! Unfortunately, no photography was allowed, but for your listening pleasure, I have posted an Official London Theatre video of an outdoor performance of “All I Ask of You” and “Music of the Night” by the West End cast.
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We left Bath and headed out to Hampton Court Palace for a tour of the palace and gardens followed by lunch. The home of Henry VIII, the palace is a unique mix of Tudor and Baroque architecture and filled with artwork and tapestries.
We toured London by bus before arriving at The Savoy – the city’s historic five-star hotel. I had a wonderful Dover sole dinner in the River Restaurant, one of Gordon Ramsay’s three restaurants in the hotel.
Royal Albert Hall
Wellington Arch
Buckingham Palace
Victoria Memorial
Westminster Abbey
Houses of Parliament
London Eye observation wheel
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Bath has some of the finest Georgian architecture in England. This morning we took a walking tour of the city. Highlights included Bath Abbey, No. 1 Royal Crescent, The Circus and the Parade Gardens.
Queen Square (across the street from The Francis Hotel)
Royal Victoria Park
No. 1 Royal Crescent
The Circus
Bath Abbey
Parade GardensI spent my free afternoon relaxing at my hotel and had an early dinner to get ready for the next day’s departure to London.
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We left Oxford and headed for Stonehenge, taking back roads through charming villages with homes with traditional thatched roofs.
We spent several hours at Stonehenge and toured the Stone Circle, the Neolithic houses and a special exhibition.
We drove on to Bath for High Tea at the Pump Room Restaurant and a tour of the Roman Baths before checking into The Francis Hotel, which occupies seven of the original 18th century townhouses situated on the south side of Queen Square.
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We drove to Winston Churchill’s gravesite in Bladon and then on to Blenheim Palace (Churchill’s birthplace and home to the Duke and Duchess of Marlborough). The palace is beautiful and reminiscent of the Versailles Palace in France. We had a guided private tour followed by free time to explore the chapel and gardens (and of course shop and eat).
Our afternoon was free, and I spent it at the Ashmolean Museum which has Egyptian, Greek, Roman and Asian exhibits.
Our day ended with a special hosted dinner at Oxford University’s Balliol College. A doctoral student guide gave us a tour of the college, including the courtyard, chapel and great hall, and answered our questions about academic life during dinner.
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This morning we left Wales and visited Anne Hathaway’s Cottage in the village of Shottery, and then drove on to Stratford-upon-Avon where we toured Shakespeare’s Birthplace.
Quirky Gift Shop – where the smart shoppers go (apparently)
A curious name for a British pub…
The Jester statueWe then headed to Oxford for a guided walking tour.
Martyrs Memorial
Radcliffe Camera
St. Mary the Virgin ChurchWe settled into The Randolph Hotel for a two-night stay.
I got a pleasant surprise with my room key card – an “ID” of my favorite author.
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Today was another beautiful day. We spent the morning at Levens Hall and Gardens and had a private tour of the home and gardens, followed by lunch.
Someone obviously didn’t “give way”
After lunch, we drove to Bowness for a cruise on Lake Windermere.
Riverside dining at The Swan Hotel & Spa
While waiting for our cruise departure, I watched people feeding seagulls, ducks and other birds at a nearby park.
After disembarking at Lakeside Pier, we took a traditional steam train back to our hotel.
After a brief rest, we watched a sheepdog and duck herding demonstration, followed by dinner at the hotel with entertainment by Celtic musicians and a quiz competition on Great Britain.
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We left Edinburgh in the morning and headed out to the Lake District.
Who might this barber shop’s clients be?…
We stopped at the ruins of the Jedburgh Abbey and visited a section of Hadrian’s Wall.
We stopped for lunch at Castletown English Country Manor.
After arriving in the Lake District, we visited Dove Cottage and the Wordsworth Museum in the village of Grasmere.
We continued on to Newby Bridge for a two-night stay at our resort hotel, The Swan Hotel & Spa.
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