After exploring London on our own for a few days, it was time to meet up with the rest of our Gate 1 Travel tour companions. We were all ready for our 14-day Classic England and Scotland tour.
This trip was going to be a little different, as we were traveling with friends we had met on a previous Gate 1 trip in Mexico, friends of theirs whom we had met on our Gate 1 Costa Rica trip, and six others whom our friends had met on previous trips.
It was a great adventure because, over the next two weeks, everyone gradually drifted into smaller groups, changing things up, enjoying activities and meals together.
London City Tour
On our first day together, the group embarked on a bus tour around London, stopping at several sites along the way.
Our first stop was Parliament Square, just across from Parliament, Big Ben, and Westminster Abbey. As we walked through much of that neighborhood, we saw many of its highlights.
The park is lined with numerous large bronze statues. We’re almost embarrassed to say we knew very few of the iconic British figures. Prime Minister Winston Churchill was recognizable, and thankfully, we also knew Abraham Lincoln, Nelson Mandela, and Mahatma Gandhi.
We also learned a bit of history about Big Ben. We knew that the tower’s name is the Great Clock Tower of Westminster and that Big Ben is the name of the iconic bell. However, we learned that the nickname Big Ben is in reference to the very tall Sir Benjamin Hall, who oversaw the installation of the bell.
We dove through iconic neighborhoods like Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar Square, passing by Harrods, which was close enough for us!
We also made a quick stop at the Royal Albert Hall, which was a bathroom break and a chance to grab a tea and nibble in the cafe. Chuck caught a quick photo of a mural inside. We took in the beautiful brick buildings surrounding the hall and caught a quick glimpse of the Albert Memorial across the street in Kensington Gardens.
Optional: Tower of London and St. Paul’s Cathedral
We booked the Gate 1 Travel optional tour in London and planned our free time before the trip around it.
We knew that continuing on the tour bus to the Tower of London and St. Paul’s Cathedral with a guide and admission tickets would be easier than returning to the hotel and navigating it on our own. It seemed that a majority of our tour group shared the same thought.
Travel Tips:
They offer an audio guide in at least a dozen different languages as well as a digital visitor guide in British Sign Language.
Just across from the Visitor Center/Gift Shop entrance, we found a Pret A Manger (our first time eating there!) and grabbed some Soup and a Sandwich. This was the perfect light lunch before embarking on our tour.
The Tower of London
London, EC3N 4AB
The Tower of London is an impressive and worthwhile destination. This complex has been a Royal Palace, fortress, and prison for nearly 1,000 years.
As luck would have it, we visited on the second anniversary of King Charles’ accession to the throne. When we arrived, they were bringing in several cannons for a salute, firing over the River Thames.
The complex houses numerous towers, a prison, a torture chamber, a green with a chopping block for beheadings, multiple wood-timbered buildings, and, of course, the Crown Jewels.
Crown Jewels
The Crown Jewels have been protected in the Tower of London for more than 700 years. They only leave the Tower of London for ceremonies like the Opening of Parliament, coronations, or royal baptisms.
The exhibition features over 100 objects, including more than 23,000 gemstones. There is no photography permitted, and you ride past a number of the crowd on a moving walkway to keep people from gathering.
The White Tower
The tower was built by William the Conqueror to terrify Londoners and foreign invaders. The imposing building sits in the center of the complex and currently houses an armory exhibit.
The Ravens
The Tower Ravens are kept there and protected because of a legend that says that the kingdom and the Tower of London will fall if the six resident ravens ever leave the fortress. They are said to be highly intelligent and possess distinct personalities.
The Menagerie
From the 1200s to 1835, the Tower of London housed wild animals never seen in London. Many were given as gifts to kings and queens. These included a Lion, a Polar Bear, and an African Elephant. The Tower is now home to incredible wire sculptures that commemorate the animals held in the menagerie.
Who Are The Beefeaters?
Yeoman Warders, also known as Beefeaters, get their name from their positions as Royal Bodyguard, which allowed them to eat as much before as they wanted from the king’s table. They are a detachment of the “Yeoman of the Guard” and have been Royal Bodyguards since at least 1509.
Random Weird Stuff: In addition to the Beefeaters, a watch of Royal Guard is always stationed at the Tower of London, as it remains an official royal residence and is tasked with protecting the Crown Jewels.
We thoroughly enjoyed our afternoon here and could have easily spent hours wandering around!
St Paul’s Cathedral
St. Paul’s Cathedral was founded in 604 AD and has been destroyed and rebuilt numerous times. Christopher Wren was appointed to reconstruct the current church in 1668, and it was completed in 1711 with a significant restoration in 1924.
The Quire mosaic by William Blake Richmond was added in 1904. In the mid-nineteenth century, it was felt that the interior was “dark, dingy, and undevotional.” The mural mosaic is composed of millions of glass tiles and gold leaf, depicting Christian iconography that illustrates the Creation of Creatures.
King Charles and the late Princess Diana married there in 1981, which may be one of the most well-known events in modern history. The architecture, mosaics, and artwork make it worth the visit.
Random Weird Stuff:
We realize that while the cathedral complex occupies a whole city block, it is situated in the heart of London. There are modern stores and shops directly across the street in every direction. For some reason, seeing a 5 Guys Burgers directly across the street when you walk out of the cathedral feels weird. Thoughts?
Stonehenge
After breakfast at our London hotel, our tour group headed off for the rest of our journey. We made our way about two hours from our hotel to the Salisbury Plain and the Stone Circle, also known as Stonehenge—a UNESCO World Heritage site.
The site is believed to be more than 5,000 years old, and research indicates that work was undertaken in stages over time. The stone circle dates back to 2,500 BC. No one is quite sure how the stones were moved there. However, the bluestone is from south-west Wales, about 150 miles away.
Not only does the placement of the stones correspond with the sunrises and sunsets of the winter and spring solstices, but the site appears to be part of a series of prehistoric sites across the Wiltshire countryside.
In recent years, local roads have been rerouted, adding a parking area and a new visitors center. You can take shuttle buses from the visitors center to the stone circle. However, there was quite a wait. A number of us from our group opted to walk along the edge of the road.
It was a stunning English countryside, with hay bales and sheep, but it was also very windy. Even reaching the circle, the wind whips across the plains, so take a jacket!
Our tour gave us plenty of time for photos and a chance to quickly explore the multimedia display, gift shop, or grab something warm, but not enough time to do all three.
Back on our tour bus, we headed to the city of Bath.
Bath
Arriving in Bath, we did a quick drive around the city and checked into our hotel. After checking in, the group toured the famous Roman Baths. We had the afternoon free, or could take an optional tour with dinner. We decided to spend a quiet afternoon walking around and having dinner on our own.
The city has been renowned for centuries for its hot springs and Georgian architecture, with many of the local homes constructed from yellow sandstone.
Hampton Inn by Hilton Bath City
Avon Street
Bath, BA1 1UP, United Kingdom
The Hampton Inn by Hilton in Bath City is nothing fancy. The lobby featured modern seating, with most of the area reserved for the complimentary breakfast buffet. The buffet offered everything for a Full English Breakfast, some cereal, pastry, and fruit, along with an excellent self-serve Waffle maker ( which always makes Chuck happy).
The rooms were of average size, and the beds were very comfortable. We loved the bathroom, as the vanity had ample space, and the walk-in shower was a welcome addition.
Travel Tip:
A LOT of the hotels on this trip had a combination tub and shower. We are both just over six feet tall and had a hard time climbing in and out of them, even with the safety rails and nearby sink counter. Several people our age (or older) or who were much shorter struggled. If you’re having mobility issues, please don’t hesitate to ask about a walk-in shower.
The hotel’s best feature was undoubtedly its location. You could easily walk to the historic district, local shops, and restaurants. Directly across the street, we found a Turkish grocery store with a variety of snacks, drinks, and pastries.
Roman Baths
Abbey Churchyard
Bath BA1 1LZ, United Kingdom
The hot springs on the site of the Roman Baths have been used for over 2,000 years. The Roman Baths constructed here may be one of the best preserved in the world. The first Temple there is thought to have been built between 60 and 70 AD—all the buildings at street level date back to the 19th century.
Random Weird Stuff:
The baths have not been used for bathing as they contain high concentrations of sodium, calcium chloride, and sulphate ions. Local baths, spas, and drinking water come from newer boreholes.
The preserved architecture, multimedia displays showcasing what the baths looked like overlayed across the ruins, and displays of artifacts make this worth the visit.
Optional: Village of Lacock with Dinner
Our tour included an optional excursion to the historic city of Lacock, which also included dinner. Lacock is a historic village with timber-framed cottages that retain their appearance from 200 years ago, making it a popular location for filming movies.
The village is about a thirty-minute drive from our hotel, offering a little time to explore the town and have dinner at a local pub, but I haven’t heard anything else.
We opted for a bit of downtime and dinner in Bath. Reviews of the excursion were mixed.
The Oven- Wood Fired Pizza
3-4 Saw Close
Bath, BA1 1EN
In a drizzle, we walked around Bath and saw a variety of international restaurants. We wandered past The Oven, and the food people had on the terrace looked amazing.
Featuring Neapolitan Pizza, the restaurant is on the small side with some outdoor seating. Their website describes them as:
We are an independent, award-winning artisan pizzeria, specialising in authentic Neapolitan pizza.
Our team of professional Pizzaioli, led by Fabrizio Mancinetti, creates their delicious Pizzas with Fabrizio’s secret recipe, from dough that is made with the most highly regarded Italian stone-ground “Petra” flour.
And they lived up to the hype!
They had an excellent wine list with many options by the glass. Mark started with a glass of Montepulciano d’Abruzzo for £8.00 (approximately $11.00 US), and Chuck had a Peroni for £6.00 (roughly $10.00 US).
We started off sharing their Meatballs with Grilled Sourdough Bread. (£9.00 / $12.00 US). The Meatballs were delicious, the Sauce was flavorful and not heavy, and we loved the Sourdough. This was a great starter.
Travel Tip:
Looking back at their website, they may be changing the menu seasonally. So go hungry, but with an open mind! We also noticed that they offer a decent number of vegan and vegetarian options, as well as a gluten-free Pizza base. Also, please keep in mind that prices reflect the rates in effect at the time of our visit and the prevailing exchange rate.
For our entrées, Chuck chose the Pizza with Sicilian Sausage, Pepperoni, and Pancetta (£16.50 / $22.00 US). It was packed with meat, had lots of flavor, and the crust was quite impressive.
Mark likes being different and opted for the Gorgonzola, Pear, Walnut, and Honey Pizza. (£15.50 / $20.00 US) It was terrific with nothing being overpowered by the Gorgonzola.
This is a must-visit if you are visiting Bath and love Pizza! However, consider making a reservation, as we were given the last indoor table, right by the door. It is a popular after-work place for young professionals.
Next!
After one night in Bath, our tour continued through the Cotswolds and central England, stopping along the way to head to our next destination, Liverpool.
