Lovely London Tour Recap
I can’t wait to tell you all about this fabulous trip I took with Holiday Vacations and strangers! That’s right, strangers, who gave me new perspective and lifetime friendships!
I had the most amazing time on a 12-day trip to London last month: beautiful sites, adventures with friends, and so many fun memories that I’ve already lost count.
First, I had no clue this trip would be life-changing for me! When Holiday Vacations first reached out to me, I, of course, was thrilled to go—especially because after posting about it on social media, some dear Instagram friends ended up joining me—but I never expected to come home feeling so creatively recharged and overall refreshed! After the adventures and memories made on this trip, I need y’all to know: Everyone should travel with strangers at least once, including with people outside your age group. We had participants 20 years older and 20 years younger than me, and it was fabulous for a few reasons:
Wisdom and Life Experience:
The seasoned older travelers brought a wealth of experience and knowledge to the journey. Their valuable insights and fantastic stories were enlightening, and I decided on this trip that I need to spend more time with my family and traveling with them. It’s a huge goal of mine in 2024!
Different Perspectives:
Traveling with people of various ages led to a broader perspective of our destination, cultural nuances, and historical context. Y’all, I traveled all over England with people of all different backgrounds and diversity and it was so energizing!
Companionship:
I love the idea of group travel providing companionship and a sense of security, especially for solo travelers. We all learned from each other, yes, but we also forged meaningful connections and lifetime friendships!
Our group became known as the Spice Girls. Our Instagram group of ladies and one gentleman were from North Carolina, Georgia, and Texas, and we enjoyed so many late-night talks about family, hot flashes, you name it, we talked about it and bonded very quickly. In fact, my new friends and I text almost daily now. We can’t wait to travel together again!
Slower Pace:
Older travelers often prefer a more leisurely pace, which can lead to a more relaxed and immersive travel experience, allowing you to truly savor the destination.
I’ll be honest, I would have never in a million years thought I’d enjoy traveling on a coach bus and being told where to go and what to do—Tommy and I are seasoned overseas travelers and typically plan our own trips—but this was the best experience. Holiday vacations took care of everything—I didn’t have to worry about one single thing!
I mentioned that I went in partnership with Holiday Vacations, which offers inclusive, worry-free guided tours. They seriously handle everything to perfection, from airfare, local departures, and expert tour directors to local guides, fantastic attractions, gorgeous hotels, several meals, and more along the way. They truly take the hassle out of planning a trip, and I was able to focus solely on sights and fun with friends! My incredible team took care of everything back home, and I was able to give my brain a break and just soak in the life experience and wisdom of so many of the wonderful people around me. I loved being in London, but my takeaways from these new friends just made the trip that much more meaningful.
Our itinerary was jam-packed—although we did have time for exploration on our own, as well as time to rest, too. I definitely slept well each night! You all sent so many questions and kind responses on social media, so I just knew I needed to sit down and recap the trip for y’all! Keep reading for an overview of our England days!
On our first day, we were welcomed by a phenomenal guide from British Blue Badge—James—who took us to Hampton Court Palace on the River Thames. What a gorgeous day it was to explore Henry VIII’s favorite palace and grounds! Day two took us to Buckingham Palace, where we saw staterooms, the throne room, and—my personal favorite—had the opportunity to visit the garden. This is where the King holds his annual garden party! Y’all know I was in heaven. In the days that followed, we ate (and ate and ate!) fish and chips and took in all the iconic London sites, like the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Piccadilly Circus, and so much more. We even managed to head north to Bletchley Park and Oxford, then to Woodstock to visit the ancestral home of Sir Winston Churchill and on to Bath, home of the famous Roman baths. Next, we headed down to Devon to see Greenway, the home of Agatha Christie. I’m getting tired just remembering all of the gorgeous spots we got to see, but I’m not done yet!
From there, we journeyed to Cornwall, where we walked the village of Port Issac and then enjoyed some free time before meeting back up for dinner at the Jamaica Inn, site of numerous meetups of smugglers and shipwreck looters. We were also privileged to go to Salisbury Plain to tour the prehistoric monuments of Stonehenge before moving on to our last stop: Windsor Castle to see the infamous final resting place of Queen Elizabeth.
It was the best trip, and I hope some of you will join me next time!
Now, I know so many of you were curious about what I packed for the unpredictable England weather—like my trusty green wellies and my favorite rain jacket—so I curated a packing list just for you. Click here to unpack my London suitcase!
