There are so many wonderful places to explore in England and traveling by train is definitely our favorite mode of transportation – especially because it makes it so easy for us to bring our dog, Lily. Oxford had been very high on our list from the outset and our weekend trip to this historic town was even more eagerly anticipated after a full month at home in London.
We decided to keep up our new tradition of treating Lily to a vacation over the late August bank holiday weekend (last year we went to the Lake District) by heading up to the Cotswolds for a lovely, relaxing couple of days spent in the English countryside. One of my childhood friends from Kansas City was visiting us, too, which made this weekend getaway even more special.
Andy and I spent the Early May Bank Holiday weekend on the Isle of Skye and it was truly one of our very favorite weekend trips yet -- and one of the most beautiful places we've ever been. Andy hadn't been to Scotland before and I had only been to Edinburgh, so a trip up north was long overdue. Everything about our stay on the Isle of Skye was absolutely perfect, and it's definitely a place I would revisit someday.
Now that we are approaching our 1-year mark in London, I (finally) feel like I can share a comprehensive guide to what to eat, drink, see, and do in one of the largest and most iconic cities in the world. Sharing recommendations for London is challenging not just because there is SO much history and culture to explore, but also because the city is geographically very spread out. This can make it a bit harder to see everything, so I also have a few tips for getting around.
Between getting married, moving to the UK, visiting 8 countries, and celebrating plenty of professional accomplishments, 2021 was, without a doubt, the craziest and busiest year of our lives. We decided pretty early on that we wanted to stay in London for the holidays so that we could finally take a moment to relax, as well as experience the magic of London at Christmas.
A variety of factors suddenly left us with several weekends in a row with nothing planned. We rectified the situation by booking a last-minute trip to Cardiff, the capital of Wales, which is only ~2.5 hours away from London by train. I knew almost nothing about Cardiff (or Wales, for that matter), but some light research suggested that it was a nice place to visit at Christmastime.
Our first official adventure as expats was a trip to the Lake District over the August bank holiday weekend. Famous for its associations with Beatrix Potter and 'Lake Poets' like William Wordsworth (and for the deep-cut Taylor Swift bonus track, obviously), the area is home to one of the largest and most popular national parks in the United Kingdom, which includes the largest lakes in England and all its land higher than 3,000 feet above sea level.
Lindsey in London 