Day 269: London: Walking Tour Everywhere

November 11, 2016

Today I went on a HUGE 6 hour walking tour. We covered about 20km of London all up. The guide was really funny and knowledgable, and I feel like I now know everything about tourist attractions in London.

We went to dozens of attractions including St Paul's Cathedral, the tower of London, the River Thames, the Changing of the Guard, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square and so so so many more that I can't even list here. It was just like the episode of friends when Joey and Chandler explore London.

I loved it.

Tomorrow, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child xx

Day 268: London: Hogwarts and the Ripper

November 10, 2016

Today I arrived in London. I am in love. If I win the lottery, I will be moving to London immediately.

IThe bus took a few hours to get from Bristol to London, and the sun sets early, so I didn't have a lot of time, but I managed to cram in some important parts.

My hostel is right near Baker Street, the home of the fictional character Sherlock Holmes, so I obviously got a photo out the front of his place.

I then continued my fantasy trek to platform 9 and 3/4, where I attempted to board the Hogwarts Express. Unfortunately I am still a muggle and I was sent home again. (Harry Potter will always be a love of mine). I then went for a walk around the city for a while until it got dark.

I then went on a Jack the Ripper tour which covered the 5 murders of the famous serial killer. It was really interesting, in a morbid, horrific way.

Tomorrow, a really long walking tour xx

Day 267: Bristol: Baths and Jane Austen

November 9, 2016

Today I went on a day trip to Bath. The town is famous not only for its huge hot spring baths, but also being the home of author Jane Austen.

I went on a walking tour of the town and saw most of the major attractions. My favourite was probably walking down the Gravel Walk from Persuasion, but honestly the whole town, which is now heritage protected is beautiful.

The sun sets really early, so I spent the afternoon in the old Roman Baths (not swimming, just looking around) which was incredible. It is so strange, the number of things that the Romans invented that we are only re-inventing now.

I also saw the back of the Archbishop of Canterbury who was giving a special service in Bath.

Tomorrow, heading to London xx

Day 266: Bristol: Bridges and Banksy

November 8, 2016

Today was a fairly jam packed day with lots of walking in Bristol. It did start off with a pretty great brunch though.

After eating, we headed through city towards the Clifton Suspension Bridge. The city is really beautiful, just like off a romcom. I could fall in love with England.

The bridge itself was great, There is a cave you can walk down into for a view over the gorge, and I just have a thing for bridges anyway, and this one is a Brunel.

After the bridge, which was honestly freezing, we headed into the city centre. They are setting up for Christmas already, so there was an ice skating rink already set up!

Bristol is also home to Banksy, one of the most famous street artists in the world, so we checked out a couple of his pieces too. My favourite was slight obscured by a sign, but it is for the Queen.

Tomorrow, Bath xx

Day 265: Bristol: Travel Friends and Arboretums

November 7, 2016

Today I arrived in Bristol, to my amazing friend who lives here, who I met in Vietnam, and joined me in Madrid as well.

We spent the day in one of the most beautiful places I have seen, the Westonbirt Arboretum. We both love a bit of nature, so we spent the day walking around the huge park.

It is always really nice to see people you know when travelling, so you can have a proper conversation, rather than the usual small-talk.

Tomorrow, the Bristol Suspension Bridge xx

Day 264: Scotland: Highlands and Climbing

November 6, 2016

Today was my last day on my tour of Scotland, and it was another beaut!

We started off at Loch Ness again, (still no Nessie, get it together girl) and from there, to Inverlochy Castle. We ended up climbing all over it, which was actually surprisingly fun! And only a little bit unallowed and dangerous.

The rest of the day was through the highlands which are just spectacular in themselves. Nature really is amazing.

We ended up back in Edinburgh where a few of us went out for dinner. There was a strange art installation there too which I have a strange feeling might be a Banksy piece, but I am not sure. A miniature world inside a graffitied shipping container.

Tomorrow, Bristol xx

Day 263: Scotland: Skye

November 5, 2016

Today we spent the day on the Isle of Skye. Beautiful place!!

My favourite stops were the Erlean Donan Castle, the Old Man of Storr and the town of Portree.

On the way back, we headed to the Skye Brewery as well to just trial some beers brewed locally on the island.

There was a Tartan Toga party at Morag's Hostel where we are staying too, but I really wasn't keen on drinking, so I helped a few of the others to tie their togas and went to bed early.

Tomorrow, the Highlands xx

Day 262: Scotland: Nessie and Scotch

November 4, 2016

Today was the first day on my Haggis Adventure tour. After such a good time in Ireland, I hoped to recreate it up North.

I don't know if I could have as good time, but it is pretty good.

We drove up to our main point for the tour, Fort Augustus, right near Loch Ness, home of Nessie! She wasn't there, but we did stop at a scotch brewery on the way.

Tomorrow, Isle of Skye xx

Day 261: Scotland: Edinburgh

November 3, 2016

Today I got into Edinburgh. It is the things of Fairytales.

I left Manchester early and spent most of the day on the bus. I hate that the sun sets so early, it means I only really get half days!

My hostel is right next to the castle, so I just wandered around the city for a while, looking at everything! It is so amazingly beautiful. There are also random people in kilts!

Tomorrow, finding Nessie xx

Day 260: York: Old Friends and Afternoon Tea

November 2, 2016

Today I went to York to see a girl I haven’t seen in 13 years.

I used to live next door to a British family, but they moved back when I was 10 years old, and I haven’t seen them since. When I said I was coming to England, I knew I had to try and see at least my best friend at the time!

We decided to meet in York, as she is studying in a city the other side, so we met in the middle.

Other than having a great time seeing her and catching up on over a decade of news, York was also a really beautiful place. They have a big castle in the middle, and an old city wall around the perimeter – some of it an old Roman wall!! The huge cathedral was really nice too.

The highlight for me though was afternoon tea for lunch. We went to a place called Molly’s and got a vintage tea for two… SO MUCH AMAZING FOOD!

I could barely move after I had finished, but I wouldn’t do anything different.

When I got to Manchester, we tried again to get into Cloud 23, but it was booked out again! I did get to see Professor Flitwick from Harry Potter though. I was too scared to go and get a picture, but we half followed him all the way to his car.

Tomorrow, leaving for Edinburgh xx