All Save The Queen
In Summer of 2016, my family and I took a whirlwind trip around the UK. We decided to cross the ocean and go on a bus tour of the different countries. The grass really was greener on the other side, but only because it rains so much there! Really, the scenery was so lush and full of life, even on the ride over to the hotel from the airport.
There was always something about London that spoke to me: the double deckers, the red phone booths, fish and chips, the architecture. It's why I'm studying abroad there! The history and stories behind them, as I learned, made them that more interesting. Seeing England specifically was interesting in that it felt like I was sort of learning about our origins -- the origins of America that is. Reading about a culture never really lives up to the experience of experiencing that culture in person. Palaces and royalty aren't something I can really wrap my head around, so it was extremely interesting to see British culture as I've read about it in history books, and functioning right in front of me! Traditions and a type of society still standing. It was nothing like visiting Rome and seeing the remains of an ancient civilization. No, England was still breathing in the (pretty) fresh air.
One of my favorite (or should I say favourite?) experiences in London was visiting Buckingham Palace. It was early June and the colorful flowers in the garden out front were in full bloom. Some guards are horses trotted through the road crowded by all the people who had come to see the Changing of the Guard.
Another favorite was a boat cruise along the River Thames. We passed by the Shard, all of the bridges (my favorite, of course, being the one in Harry Potter), the Globe Theatre, and had an astounding view of Big Ben and the Palace of Westminster.
A bus and walking tour of London showed us around the bustling city - we got to see the sights and learn about the history behind them. Here are some pictures of my favorite spots! We got to visit the Tower of London, where we saw the Crown Jewels (worth the wait!) and Tower Bridge. Trafalgar Square is also a neat little area with lots of shops and cafes around the area. St. Paul's Cathedral is also only 15 minutes away from Trafalgar Square!
Bath is a neat little area of England that everyone should go see! We didn't have enough time to visit the Roman Baths but walking around Bath and seeing all the Georgian architecture was amazing. We were able to check out the Royal Crescent, Bath Abbey, Pulteney Bridge, the Circus, and Royal Victoria Park.
Stratford-Upon-Avon was possibly my favorite town outside London. It was home to Shakespeare when he grew up and has quaint little cottages and shops in the busier downtown.
