Amazing Two Week Family Trip Through England and Scotland
Aug 17th, 2009, 09:20 AM
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Amazing Two Week Family Trip Through England and Scotland
ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND
2009
June 8
The Scholar (son, age 14) and I just concluded a two week trip with his 8th grade French class. We flew from Nice on British Airways this afternoon to arrive in London, tomorrow our family: DH (Mario), youngest son (Lunatic Maximus – age 11) and my parents – Honey and Pop, arrive from the U.S.
The Scholar and I land at Heathrow. We had previously arranged to be picked up by Simply Airports – we looked for about 30 minutes and could not find our driver, so we take the Heathrow Express to Paddington and get a cab to our hotel. Before leaving on the trip to France, I was determined to get a great hotel in Mayfair at a great price on Priceline. However, Priceline must have been out of inventory in Mayfair because I went pretty high for 4* and 5* and could not book rooms. At the last minute, I bid on the Kensington area and got rooms for $85 per night plus tax and fees... The Scholar and I are staying tonight at the Copthorne Tara Kensington.
We arrive at the Copthorne Tara around 6:00 p.m. – extremely friendly staff and comfortable room. I am thrilled to see a nice bathtub after being in 3* hotels on a group tour through France. The Scholar eats the rest of his calzone which he ordered for lunch in Nice – it was ginormous! When our family arrives tomorrow, our reservations are at the NH Kensington, so I leave the Scholar in the room, make the short walk to the NH to make sure I know where it is. It is rainy and dreary – why did I leave Nice again? I e-mail Simply Airports – they said their driver waited two hours for us – I have no idea how we missed him, but they promise they will pick up our family when they arrive at 6:50 tomorrow morning. We’re tired and we go to sleep early.
June 9
The Scholar and I awake early and pull our bags the few blocks to the NH. I thought I would have time to make a quick grocery run, get our bags checked with the front desk staff, etc., but literally, the moment we arrive at NH our family arrives via the Simply Airports car. We are so excited to see each other. My parents – Honey and Pop – have never traveled to Europe. My mother has always dreamed of going to England. They both had a very difficult health year last year and Mario decided if we were ever going to make this family trip together, we should do it now. They are weary from the transatlantic flight, but excited to be in London! We store our bags at reception.
We walk across and down the street a few minutes and find a restaurant where we have a great cooked breakfast for about 5 pds per person – great fellowship all around a big wooden table. Then we walk across the street to the Earl’s Court Tube station – purchase travel cards for the day and in 15 minutes are in the heart of London – so convenient and easy! We get off at Victoria Station – before leaving home, I prearranged family tickets on the Big Bus Hop on Hop off tour. I have to tell you, I thought this was a great way to spend our first jet lagged day in London. Our guide, Rob, was fantastic. It was fun to sit upstairs and marvel at being in one of the great cities of the world! From the Tower of London, we take the cruise to Westminster … a bit disorganized walk, we make it back to the Big Bus. Our family is fading so we make it back to the hotel where we check into our rooms. We walk back down to the Earl’s Court Tavern where we have Fish n Chips, etc. – all good. The family turns in early and Mario and I sit in the garden behind our Kensington hotel, drinking some of the wine I brought from France and catching up. We’re off to a glorious start!
2009
June 8
The Scholar (son, age 14) and I just concluded a two week trip with his 8th grade French class. We flew from Nice on British Airways this afternoon to arrive in London, tomorrow our family: DH (Mario), youngest son (Lunatic Maximus – age 11) and my parents – Honey and Pop, arrive from the U.S.
The Scholar and I land at Heathrow. We had previously arranged to be picked up by Simply Airports – we looked for about 30 minutes and could not find our driver, so we take the Heathrow Express to Paddington and get a cab to our hotel. Before leaving on the trip to France, I was determined to get a great hotel in Mayfair at a great price on Priceline. However, Priceline must have been out of inventory in Mayfair because I went pretty high for 4* and 5* and could not book rooms. At the last minute, I bid on the Kensington area and got rooms for $85 per night plus tax and fees... The Scholar and I are staying tonight at the Copthorne Tara Kensington.
We arrive at the Copthorne Tara around 6:00 p.m. – extremely friendly staff and comfortable room. I am thrilled to see a nice bathtub after being in 3* hotels on a group tour through France. The Scholar eats the rest of his calzone which he ordered for lunch in Nice – it was ginormous! When our family arrives tomorrow, our reservations are at the NH Kensington, so I leave the Scholar in the room, make the short walk to the NH to make sure I know where it is. It is rainy and dreary – why did I leave Nice again? I e-mail Simply Airports – they said their driver waited two hours for us – I have no idea how we missed him, but they promise they will pick up our family when they arrive at 6:50 tomorrow morning. We’re tired and we go to sleep early.
June 9
The Scholar and I awake early and pull our bags the few blocks to the NH. I thought I would have time to make a quick grocery run, get our bags checked with the front desk staff, etc., but literally, the moment we arrive at NH our family arrives via the Simply Airports car. We are so excited to see each other. My parents – Honey and Pop – have never traveled to Europe. My mother has always dreamed of going to England. They both had a very difficult health year last year and Mario decided if we were ever going to make this family trip together, we should do it now. They are weary from the transatlantic flight, but excited to be in London! We store our bags at reception.
We walk across and down the street a few minutes and find a restaurant where we have a great cooked breakfast for about 5 pds per person – great fellowship all around a big wooden table. Then we walk across the street to the Earl’s Court Tube station – purchase travel cards for the day and in 15 minutes are in the heart of London – so convenient and easy! We get off at Victoria Station – before leaving home, I prearranged family tickets on the Big Bus Hop on Hop off tour. I have to tell you, I thought this was a great way to spend our first jet lagged day in London. Our guide, Rob, was fantastic. It was fun to sit upstairs and marvel at being in one of the great cities of the world! From the Tower of London, we take the cruise to Westminster … a bit disorganized walk, we make it back to the Big Bus. Our family is fading so we make it back to the hotel where we check into our rooms. We walk back down to the Earl’s Court Tavern where we have Fish n Chips, etc. – all good. The family turns in early and Mario and I sit in the garden behind our Kensington hotel, drinking some of the wine I brought from France and catching up. We’re off to a glorious start!
Aug 18th, 2009, 12:16 PM
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June 10
The first glitch of the trip … who could have predicted the 48 hours tube strike? Yesterday, our transportation on the tube could not have been more convenient, quick and efficient - not so much today! It took us quite literally 2 hours to get from our hotel making connections, crammed on buses to the Tower of London. There really was no alternative, because the city was at such a gridlock, even a cab (if you could get one) couldn’t get you there quicker. However, once we get to the Tower – we are excited. We arrive just moments before a Yeoman’s tour – this is so great! Honey wants to see the crown jewels, the boys want to see the armor – they snicker at a few (yes, you know the ones). Because we have tickets for the Ceremony of the Keys, we stay in the area for dinner – unfortunately, we walk a little too far in search of more fish ‘n chips, but settle on Pizza Express (which is actually quite good). We walk back to the Tower. I wrote off in February for Ceremony of the Keys tickets and was delighted to get them – there are a few more people than I thought on the tour, but the Beafeater is great and he is really serious. “Who goes there?” “The keys.” “Whose keys?” “Queen Elizabeth’s keys.” Can you imagine her key ring?!
Our journey back to Kensington is long and difficult. My parents are absolutely exhausted, but everyone is still thrilled to be here! We crash when we return to our comfy rooms!
June 11
I curse the tube strike! Really, was that necessary? Honey’s ankle is swollen, so she decides to stay in the room today and rest it. The rest of us actually pick up breakfast at McDonald’s – I know that’s a bit blasphemous, but it was quick, inexpensive, and everyone really got what they wanted. Then jump on the bus (the roads and buses are a bit less crowded today because a lot of people decide to stay home) for Waterloo station – about an hour and a half. Then train tickets to Hampton Court. I actually added a day in London in order to go to Hampton Court. After reading all the Phillipa Gregory books, watching the Tudors, etc. I really felt that this was a must see. I know that I would have enjoyed it much more had the transportation not been such a big issue.
Once off the train, it is an easy walk to the palace – we decided to only tour the Henry VIII part with the audio guide. The palace is preparing for a concert – there is a trio doing sound check – I think it would be magical to be here for part of the concert series. Henry the VIII in the flesh is walking around the grounds with his friends in preparation for his wedding to Katherine Parr (Lunatic Maximus is particularly excited by this)! The tapestries are breathtaking (I had no idea that they were second in value to the crown jewels), the original paintings of Henry, the wives, children and his mother are phenomenal. I am always amazed that these priceless items are not behind glass and surrounded by armed guards – I feel privileged to view them! From the palace, we go to the rose garden and the maze – Lunatic Maximus is determined to make it to the center first and I believe he does. Everything about it is beautiful!
We make the long trip back to Kensington. Before leaving home, we made contact with some friends who have been living in London for about ten years. We decide to do a pub crawl with them. Honey is feeling better, so we leave the boys with Honey and Pop and we take off for Mayfair. We meet our friends at the Punch Bowl, a gastro-pub at 41 Farm St. – which is owned by Guy Ritchie. When we arrive at the Punch Bowl, it is a gorgeous night and people are pouring out onto the street drinking a pint. We are thrilled to see our old friends – we join them at the bar and then to our table. Our dinner is spectacular! I have the butternut squash risotto – everyone is thrilled with their meal and the conversation is even better. From there, we walk a few blocks to Audley (where we are told the O’Bama’s dined a few days ago – the girls had Fish n Chips and Michelle oddly enough had Steak – pun intended) – we have drinks here. Then we walk a few more blocks to a private club that they belong to – Alfred’s at Bourdon House – 2 Davies Street – which had previously been owned by the Duke of …. I think Westminster. I have the Belini here which was the Harry’s bar recipe from Venice – off the charts. Our entire evening really created a “pinch me” moment – we are in London! Alfred’s is special and the red room upstairs is just beyond! Our friends give us a lift back to the hotel. Even with the tube strike, it was a great day!
The first glitch of the trip … who could have predicted the 48 hours tube strike? Yesterday, our transportation on the tube could not have been more convenient, quick and efficient - not so much today! It took us quite literally 2 hours to get from our hotel making connections, crammed on buses to the Tower of London. There really was no alternative, because the city was at such a gridlock, even a cab (if you could get one) couldn’t get you there quicker. However, once we get to the Tower – we are excited. We arrive just moments before a Yeoman’s tour – this is so great! Honey wants to see the crown jewels, the boys want to see the armor – they snicker at a few (yes, you know the ones). Because we have tickets for the Ceremony of the Keys, we stay in the area for dinner – unfortunately, we walk a little too far in search of more fish ‘n chips, but settle on Pizza Express (which is actually quite good). We walk back to the Tower. I wrote off in February for Ceremony of the Keys tickets and was delighted to get them – there are a few more people than I thought on the tour, but the Beafeater is great and he is really serious. “Who goes there?” “The keys.” “Whose keys?” “Queen Elizabeth’s keys.” Can you imagine her key ring?!
Our journey back to Kensington is long and difficult. My parents are absolutely exhausted, but everyone is still thrilled to be here! We crash when we return to our comfy rooms!
June 11
I curse the tube strike! Really, was that necessary? Honey’s ankle is swollen, so she decides to stay in the room today and rest it. The rest of us actually pick up breakfast at McDonald’s – I know that’s a bit blasphemous, but it was quick, inexpensive, and everyone really got what they wanted. Then jump on the bus (the roads and buses are a bit less crowded today because a lot of people decide to stay home) for Waterloo station – about an hour and a half. Then train tickets to Hampton Court. I actually added a day in London in order to go to Hampton Court. After reading all the Phillipa Gregory books, watching the Tudors, etc. I really felt that this was a must see. I know that I would have enjoyed it much more had the transportation not been such a big issue.
Once off the train, it is an easy walk to the palace – we decided to only tour the Henry VIII part with the audio guide. The palace is preparing for a concert – there is a trio doing sound check – I think it would be magical to be here for part of the concert series. Henry the VIII in the flesh is walking around the grounds with his friends in preparation for his wedding to Katherine Parr (Lunatic Maximus is particularly excited by this)! The tapestries are breathtaking (I had no idea that they were second in value to the crown jewels), the original paintings of Henry, the wives, children and his mother are phenomenal. I am always amazed that these priceless items are not behind glass and surrounded by armed guards – I feel privileged to view them! From the palace, we go to the rose garden and the maze – Lunatic Maximus is determined to make it to the center first and I believe he does. Everything about it is beautiful!
We make the long trip back to Kensington. Before leaving home, we made contact with some friends who have been living in London for about ten years. We decide to do a pub crawl with them. Honey is feeling better, so we leave the boys with Honey and Pop and we take off for Mayfair. We meet our friends at the Punch Bowl, a gastro-pub at 41 Farm St. – which is owned by Guy Ritchie. When we arrive at the Punch Bowl, it is a gorgeous night and people are pouring out onto the street drinking a pint. We are thrilled to see our old friends – we join them at the bar and then to our table. Our dinner is spectacular! I have the butternut squash risotto – everyone is thrilled with their meal and the conversation is even better. From there, we walk a few blocks to Audley (where we are told the O’Bama’s dined a few days ago – the girls had Fish n Chips and Michelle oddly enough had Steak – pun intended) – we have drinks here. Then we walk a few more blocks to a private club that they belong to – Alfred’s at Bourdon House – 2 Davies Street – which had previously been owned by the Duke of …. I think Westminster. I have the Belini here which was the Harry’s bar recipe from Venice – off the charts. Our entire evening really created a “pinch me” moment – we are in London! Alfred’s is special and the red room upstairs is just beyond! Our friends give us a lift back to the hotel. Even with the tube strike, it was a great day!
Aug 18th, 2009, 02:18 PM
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Hi Kimig,
Just as the last poster said really - as a Londoner, I love reading trip reports about the city. Fascinating to hear your impressions of the things I see every day (well, ok not quite everyday! If only I could spend most days in the office, but I'm sure you get my drift!).
Please post more!
Just as the last poster said really - as a Londoner, I love reading trip reports about the city. Fascinating to hear your impressions of the things I see every day (well, ok not quite everyday! If only I could spend most days in the office, but I'm sure you get my drift!).
Please post more!
Aug 19th, 2009, 09:56 AM
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annhig and quiUK - we absolutely fell in love with your country! Thank you for your kind words. Yes, stokebailey, the tube strike was a bummer, but we kept our smiles on, readjusted our trip a bit and continued on. Here's more:
June 12
Yeah … the tube strike is over! As the trip coordinator – I am relieved! We walk down and have breakfast again at McDonalds and then quickly hop on the tube – so easy, comfortable and 15 minutes later get off at the Green Park stop. Today, we are taking the Westminster Walk with London Walks. We easily meet our guide and additional walkers – we walk through Green Park, to watch the new guard come out of St. James Palace, up to Buckingham Palace - Honey is so thrilled by this. Had I known that the Trooping of the Colors was tomorrow – I could have arranged for us to still be here, but oh well. Then we walk onto Westminster Abbey. We have a lovely guide here – we see all the graves of the royals, the Henry VII chapel, ooh and ahh at the architecture. We walk down to the Westminster Pub and have Fish n Chips and then to the Churchill Cabinet room – fascinating. For the Tower, Hampton Court and Churchill Cabinet room, I had the 2for1 vouchers which was really helpful. My parents decide to call is a day and take the tube back to Kensington – its just so easy! Mario, the boys and I walk past Big Ben, across the Thames to the Eye – Lunatic Maximus is so excited to ride the Eye! We talked about taking a ghost walk tonight, but in lieu of our long day tomorrow, we take a family vote and all decide to go back to our hotel. Once back at Earl’s Court, we go into the Salisbury grocery store – pick up some nice English cheese, chorizo and salami, crackers. We have our wine from France – the six of us sit in the garden behind the NH and have a lovely little picnic. The sun is still high in the sky at 10:00 – the days are so long! We go inside and play a game of cards – our time in London has been great!
June 13
Today is my birthday. Our Simply Airports driver picks us up efficiently at 9:00 a.m. and we’re off to the Hertz rental car agency at Heathrow. We rented the largest vehicle we could find – a VW Sharon. I asked from the States to have a luggage carrier, but they could not guarantee one – Murphy’s law – no luggage carrier. Fortunately, my neighbor had a nylon collapsible carrier that we folded in our luggage and brought just in case – thank goodness we did! We also brought from home a Garmin – yeah – we nickname her Lizzie III. So, we’re off for Stonehenge – I would like to say it was easy, but I won’t relive our frustration of looping the M25 (ooops, just did), oh well, we make it to Stonehenge. The family decides not to take the time to do the audio guide and just take some photos. It is what it is. As we leave Stonehenge, Pop buys strawberries from a local vendor – it’s nice to know that some things are the same all over the world. Then off to Salisbury Cathedral. As you may remember, the Scholar and I were just here a few weeks ago on the 8th grade class trip and we only had time for a photo stop – this cathedral is a true marvel and I’m thrilled to be back here with a little time. We efficiently find parking – Honey and Pop brought their handicap placard from the States and it’s helpful in getting them as close as possible to the sites. We enjoy the little town of Salisbury – I would love to return here and spend a few days in the future. Honey and I enjoy a few shops, then we are blown away by the cathedral, viewing the Magna Carta and just imagining how life must have been when they built it. If you haven’t read “Pillars of the Earth” , I think it’s a must and gives you a better appreciation for how life must have been.
We reluctantly leave Salisbury and follow Lizzie III around little roundabouts, over gorgeous hills and alongside sheep filled pastures to Chipping Campden. We arrive at our destination later than we anticipated - The Badgers Hall (www.badgershall.com). We are a bit road weary, but we are greeted by the loveliest smiles and hospitality – Paul, Karen and Lillie immediately make us feel so welcome. I love this place! It is my birthday, so they help us squeeze reservations into Joel’s in about 30 minutes. We view our lovely 3 rooms – they are spacious, comfortable – just gorgeous. We all freshen up and walk across the street to Joel’s, a French restaurant. It is a gorgeous night and we sit outside and watch the sunset on the beautiful golden rock walls – I am enchanted. Our food is off the charts! I have the pork in the apple Calvados sauce, everyone has something different – Venison, steak, halibut, etc. – it is I think the best dinner we have in the UK and actually one of the best meals of my life! We sit for three hours at dinner, laughing, enjoying a lovely French wine, celebrating my birthday and being together as a family on this lovely adventure – I think this is the best birthday of my life! We linger, laugh and just soak up this spectacular evening! My sons give me the best card that proclaims me as the queen – her worshipfulness … it is one of those silly cards with sound – lots of bowing, doot-to-doot horn sounds – I play it every day of the trip!
June 12
Yeah … the tube strike is over! As the trip coordinator – I am relieved! We walk down and have breakfast again at McDonalds and then quickly hop on the tube – so easy, comfortable and 15 minutes later get off at the Green Park stop. Today, we are taking the Westminster Walk with London Walks. We easily meet our guide and additional walkers – we walk through Green Park, to watch the new guard come out of St. James Palace, up to Buckingham Palace - Honey is so thrilled by this. Had I known that the Trooping of the Colors was tomorrow – I could have arranged for us to still be here, but oh well. Then we walk onto Westminster Abbey. We have a lovely guide here – we see all the graves of the royals, the Henry VII chapel, ooh and ahh at the architecture. We walk down to the Westminster Pub and have Fish n Chips and then to the Churchill Cabinet room – fascinating. For the Tower, Hampton Court and Churchill Cabinet room, I had the 2for1 vouchers which was really helpful. My parents decide to call is a day and take the tube back to Kensington – its just so easy! Mario, the boys and I walk past Big Ben, across the Thames to the Eye – Lunatic Maximus is so excited to ride the Eye! We talked about taking a ghost walk tonight, but in lieu of our long day tomorrow, we take a family vote and all decide to go back to our hotel. Once back at Earl’s Court, we go into the Salisbury grocery store – pick up some nice English cheese, chorizo and salami, crackers. We have our wine from France – the six of us sit in the garden behind the NH and have a lovely little picnic. The sun is still high in the sky at 10:00 – the days are so long! We go inside and play a game of cards – our time in London has been great!
June 13
Today is my birthday. Our Simply Airports driver picks us up efficiently at 9:00 a.m. and we’re off to the Hertz rental car agency at Heathrow. We rented the largest vehicle we could find – a VW Sharon. I asked from the States to have a luggage carrier, but they could not guarantee one – Murphy’s law – no luggage carrier. Fortunately, my neighbor had a nylon collapsible carrier that we folded in our luggage and brought just in case – thank goodness we did! We also brought from home a Garmin – yeah – we nickname her Lizzie III. So, we’re off for Stonehenge – I would like to say it was easy, but I won’t relive our frustration of looping the M25 (ooops, just did), oh well, we make it to Stonehenge. The family decides not to take the time to do the audio guide and just take some photos. It is what it is. As we leave Stonehenge, Pop buys strawberries from a local vendor – it’s nice to know that some things are the same all over the world. Then off to Salisbury Cathedral. As you may remember, the Scholar and I were just here a few weeks ago on the 8th grade class trip and we only had time for a photo stop – this cathedral is a true marvel and I’m thrilled to be back here with a little time. We efficiently find parking – Honey and Pop brought their handicap placard from the States and it’s helpful in getting them as close as possible to the sites. We enjoy the little town of Salisbury – I would love to return here and spend a few days in the future. Honey and I enjoy a few shops, then we are blown away by the cathedral, viewing the Magna Carta and just imagining how life must have been when they built it. If you haven’t read “Pillars of the Earth” , I think it’s a must and gives you a better appreciation for how life must have been.
We reluctantly leave Salisbury and follow Lizzie III around little roundabouts, over gorgeous hills and alongside sheep filled pastures to Chipping Campden. We arrive at our destination later than we anticipated - The Badgers Hall (www.badgershall.com). We are a bit road weary, but we are greeted by the loveliest smiles and hospitality – Paul, Karen and Lillie immediately make us feel so welcome. I love this place! It is my birthday, so they help us squeeze reservations into Joel’s in about 30 minutes. We view our lovely 3 rooms – they are spacious, comfortable – just gorgeous. We all freshen up and walk across the street to Joel’s, a French restaurant. It is a gorgeous night and we sit outside and watch the sunset on the beautiful golden rock walls – I am enchanted. Our food is off the charts! I have the pork in the apple Calvados sauce, everyone has something different – Venison, steak, halibut, etc. – it is I think the best dinner we have in the UK and actually one of the best meals of my life! We sit for three hours at dinner, laughing, enjoying a lovely French wine, celebrating my birthday and being together as a family on this lovely adventure – I think this is the best birthday of my life! We linger, laugh and just soak up this spectacular evening! My sons give me the best card that proclaims me as the queen – her worshipfulness … it is one of those silly cards with sound – lots of bowing, doot-to-doot horn sounds – I play it every day of the trip!
Aug 19th, 2009, 11:44 AM
#11
hi kimi
Badger's Hall looks great - how did you find it? not that I'm likely to be wanting to stay in Chipping Camden in the (near) future but you never know.
and what a terrific birthday. how lovely to have the whoel family there - those memories can't be beaten.
I'm looking forward to the rest of the trip with great anticipation.
Badger's Hall looks great - how did you find it? not that I'm likely to be wanting to stay in Chipping Camden in the (near) future but you never know.
and what a terrific birthday. how lovely to have the whoel family there - those memories can't be beaten.
I'm looking forward to the rest of the trip with great anticipation.
Aug 19th, 2009, 01:08 PM
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Thanks so much for sharing your trip with us. I already love it! I just booked round trip tickets for next June, arrival in Manchester, during the World Cup, and we'll tour England and Scotland for 3 weeks.
We've only been to London and a few points south, so all the tips you can share will be so appreciated!
We've only been to London and a few points south, so all the tips you can share will be so appreciated!
Aug 19th, 2009, 01:42 PM
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Great report.
That really is too bad about missing Trooping the Colour. We did one of the dress rehearsals (same as the real deal, just sans Queen) in 2007 and it was the highlight of our trip. I think that everyone who goes to London in early June should try to make one of those ceremenonies in some fashion. Much better than changing of the guard.
That really is too bad about missing Trooping the Colour. We did one of the dress rehearsals (same as the real deal, just sans Queen) in 2007 and it was the highlight of our trip. I think that everyone who goes to London in early June should try to make one of those ceremenonies in some fashion. Much better than changing of the guard.
Aug 20th, 2009, 07:46 AM
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Badgers Hall is AMAZING! It was, by far, our favorite place of the trip (as was Chipping Campden). I initially found Badgers Hall, I think via the Fodors UK book, then checked trip advisor as well as a few trip reports then contacted Karen via e-mail in February. They only have four rooms and we needed three, so I crossed my fingers for availability - it worked and it really was beyond my expectation. As I mention in my trip report, Paul and Karen have thought of everything to make their guests comfortable, welcome and quite frankly - spoiled!
June 14
Today is a perfect day! We all feel so rested after a luxurious night’s sleep. Our rooms are so comfy, fantastic showers and literally every little touch thought of! We are gathered around the large breakfast table at 9:00 a.m. and our morning feast begins. Paul and Karen have prepared a large pot of porridge, cured ham, bacon, eggs, pancakes, potatoes, tomatoes, toast and scones, coffee and tea – unbelievable! The six of us laugh, are having such a wonderful time and eat until we can eat no more – we feel spoiled! The Scholar, Honey and Pop decide to stay in Chipping Campden for the day – they relax at the B and B and then Pop and the Scholar take some time to walk around our beautiful town.
Lunatic Maximus, Mario and I jump in the VW Sharon and explore the Cotswolds. It is a sunny day and so perfect to explore these picturesque little towns. We begin in Broadway, where we park the car and stroll in and out of little shops down High Street. We drive through amazing lavender fields, then canola fields, through the lovely little towns of Stanton, Stanway, Upper Slaughter, Lower Slaughter, we put Lunatic in the stocks in Stow in the Wold then back to our favorite town – Chipping Campden. We all love this area of England and feel that we chose the most beautiful town and B and B to call home for a few days. Back at Badgers Hall, we arrive in time for cream tea – omg – the scones, the sweets, the tea – I’m going to waddle my way out of England! Little did I know, that I would try scones through the UK and none would compare to those made by Paul!
After tea, the Scholar joins us and we take the Rick Steves walk through Chipping Campden – great little walk and very informative. We find the little hidden garden – it feels like our secret garden, we walk back past the Greve house dating to 1327 to St. James church – this is such an exquisite town and I’ve never seen this exact shade of gold anywhere. Back at the B and B, we have a nice visit with Paul and Karen and then walk down to the Eight Bells for another fine meal. After dinner, everyone goes back to the B and B, and Mario and I stroll hand in hand through the little back streets of our town. Every home has the most spectacular flower gardens – it must be a contest – if so, I have no idea how they would declare a winner – they are all gorgeous!
June 15
Another perfect day! After gorging ourselves on Paul and Karen’s abundant breakfast, the six of us took off in the van for Blenheim Palace. Before coming on the trip, we had planned to spend today in Stratford upon Avon, but we have met several people in the past few days that have raved about Blenheim – so we decided to go take a look. Somehow, I skipped over Blenheim in all the guide books so I don’t really have any previous knowledge about it – however, after spending a day there I would call it a “must see” of any trip and the most spectacular of all the palaces/castles we visited. The beauty of the palace rivals that of Versailles or the Doge Palace in Venice – still lived in by the Duke of Marlborough, the home still contains the original furniture, paintings and tapestries. Since Winston Churchill was born here, there is a fantastic Churchill exhibit – actually I think even more impressive than the museum in London. We have a wonderful guide and also enjoy the 2nd floor exhibit! The gardens are beyond compare – Lunatic Maximus enjoys the maze, the life sized chess game and the train. Honey and Pop are blown away – they are enthralled – and they buy me the most beautiful champagne glasses for my birthday in the gift shop!
Back in Chipping Campden, we enjoy another cream tea - I really think I could eat one of Paul’s scones, clotted cream and jam every day of my life – of course, I would have to live on a treadmill, but wow – what a treat! We all go our separate ways for a few hours and explore Chipping Campden – Honey finds a little church flea market and buys some special items including a beautiful Limoge vase. While in Stow in the Wold yesterday, Mario stopped in the grocery and picked up more English cheese, sausages, etc. We are so full in the evening that we snack on these things, share a bottle of champagne and all play a card game at the front table of the Badgers Hall. It is a rainy evening and people walk by and look in our window enviously at us – we are having such a great time. Mario and I walk around in the rain a bit – it is a gentle rain and then listen to the thunderstorm and we sleep. We love this place!
June 14
Today is a perfect day! We all feel so rested after a luxurious night’s sleep. Our rooms are so comfy, fantastic showers and literally every little touch thought of! We are gathered around the large breakfast table at 9:00 a.m. and our morning feast begins. Paul and Karen have prepared a large pot of porridge, cured ham, bacon, eggs, pancakes, potatoes, tomatoes, toast and scones, coffee and tea – unbelievable! The six of us laugh, are having such a wonderful time and eat until we can eat no more – we feel spoiled! The Scholar, Honey and Pop decide to stay in Chipping Campden for the day – they relax at the B and B and then Pop and the Scholar take some time to walk around our beautiful town.
Lunatic Maximus, Mario and I jump in the VW Sharon and explore the Cotswolds. It is a sunny day and so perfect to explore these picturesque little towns. We begin in Broadway, where we park the car and stroll in and out of little shops down High Street. We drive through amazing lavender fields, then canola fields, through the lovely little towns of Stanton, Stanway, Upper Slaughter, Lower Slaughter, we put Lunatic in the stocks in Stow in the Wold then back to our favorite town – Chipping Campden. We all love this area of England and feel that we chose the most beautiful town and B and B to call home for a few days. Back at Badgers Hall, we arrive in time for cream tea – omg – the scones, the sweets, the tea – I’m going to waddle my way out of England! Little did I know, that I would try scones through the UK and none would compare to those made by Paul!
After tea, the Scholar joins us and we take the Rick Steves walk through Chipping Campden – great little walk and very informative. We find the little hidden garden – it feels like our secret garden, we walk back past the Greve house dating to 1327 to St. James church – this is such an exquisite town and I’ve never seen this exact shade of gold anywhere. Back at the B and B, we have a nice visit with Paul and Karen and then walk down to the Eight Bells for another fine meal. After dinner, everyone goes back to the B and B, and Mario and I stroll hand in hand through the little back streets of our town. Every home has the most spectacular flower gardens – it must be a contest – if so, I have no idea how they would declare a winner – they are all gorgeous!
June 15
Another perfect day! After gorging ourselves on Paul and Karen’s abundant breakfast, the six of us took off in the van for Blenheim Palace. Before coming on the trip, we had planned to spend today in Stratford upon Avon, but we have met several people in the past few days that have raved about Blenheim – so we decided to go take a look. Somehow, I skipped over Blenheim in all the guide books so I don’t really have any previous knowledge about it – however, after spending a day there I would call it a “must see” of any trip and the most spectacular of all the palaces/castles we visited. The beauty of the palace rivals that of Versailles or the Doge Palace in Venice – still lived in by the Duke of Marlborough, the home still contains the original furniture, paintings and tapestries. Since Winston Churchill was born here, there is a fantastic Churchill exhibit – actually I think even more impressive than the museum in London. We have a wonderful guide and also enjoy the 2nd floor exhibit! The gardens are beyond compare – Lunatic Maximus enjoys the maze, the life sized chess game and the train. Honey and Pop are blown away – they are enthralled – and they buy me the most beautiful champagne glasses for my birthday in the gift shop!
Back in Chipping Campden, we enjoy another cream tea - I really think I could eat one of Paul’s scones, clotted cream and jam every day of my life – of course, I would have to live on a treadmill, but wow – what a treat! We all go our separate ways for a few hours and explore Chipping Campden – Honey finds a little church flea market and buys some special items including a beautiful Limoge vase. While in Stow in the Wold yesterday, Mario stopped in the grocery and picked up more English cheese, sausages, etc. We are so full in the evening that we snack on these things, share a bottle of champagne and all play a card game at the front table of the Badgers Hall. It is a rainy evening and people walk by and look in our window enviously at us – we are having such a great time. Mario and I walk around in the rain a bit – it is a gentle rain and then listen to the thunderstorm and we sleep. We love this place!
Aug 21st, 2009, 07:58 AM
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June 16
After another spectacular breakfast, I don’t think I can button my pants. Paul, Karen and Lillie have been the most wonderful hosts. They are gracious, but not intrusive, they make lovely suggestions and have made a beautiful B and B. I would recommend Badgers Hall to anyone traveling to the Cotswolds – perfect for families like us or romantic couples – in retrospect, all of us commented that it was our favorite location of the two week trip. We hug, take photos, Honey purchases a blouse at a shop a few doors down that she has been eyeing in the window, we load up the “people carrier” and follow the Lizzie III to the M6.
We drive for two hours, then take a little break and fuel stop, Honey finds coca-cola and some cute little coke glasses as a promotion, then back in the van for two more hours. We exit at the Lake District – since we are only here for one night, we have all packed an overnight bag and don’t lug in our luggage. We drive to the lovely town of Ambleside to our home for the evening, the Old Vicarage (www.oldvicarageambleside.co.uk). We are greeted by Helen and she brings us tea out on the terrace, we devise our afternoon plan. Honey decides to rest in the room, so Pop, Mario, the boys and I drove down to the dock and purchase tickets for the ferry to Bowness and back. It is a little chilly, but a sunny afternoon – the lake, the mountains, the scenery are lovely and it is a restful ride over and back.
Back at the Old Vicarage, the guys all enjoy a swim in the pool and enjoy the hot tub and sauna. Honey and Pop take the boys around the corner for fish and chips and Mario and I decide to explore Ambleside – what a charming town. We walk up and down the beautiful streets – once again, the days are so long, I’m not sure that it ever really gets completely dark this time of year. We settle on dinner at a lovely Italian restaurant, Dodd’s (www.doddsrestaurant.co.uk) . We enjoy a great bottle of wine from Montlepulciano and a tasty meal. When we get back to Old Vicarage, the boys have several DVD’s that they have picked out to watch for the evening (the hotel has an enormous collection), as I go to sleep Mario is watching Jurassic Park – I think I dream of Dinosaurs.
June 17
As we awake, it is raining gently outside our window. We have a very nice breakfast, Mario and Lunatic play a game of snooker on the small billiards table, we load back up and take “the road less traveled”. We accidentally take the wrong turn out of Ambleside – fortunately Lizzie III recalculates and we take the mountain pass to Ullswater – I am so glad we took this wrong turn, the drive is spectacular. As I mentioned before, it is a bit misty and foggy – the mountains take on an ethereal look, the stone walled pastures go straight up into the mountains – this drive is a challenging one on narrow little curvy roads, but this wrong turn led to the most spectacular drive – an unexpected treat. We get back on the M6, quickly pass into Scotland, then Lizzie III takes us into the back entrance of the Cromlix House (www.cromlixhouse.com). As we drive up the little lane to the Cromlix House, rabbits are jumping all around and it is really cold when we exit the van. Fortunately, the Cromlix House is nice and toasty and we are greeted by a very charming, but sort of aloof staff – we are surprised that no one offers us tea. We all have lovely rooms and we all retire to our rooms for a little nap, the boys watch a DVD. I was hoping that we could spend some time outdoors here and enjoy the grounds, but is is rather cold and all the trails are muddy – not really conducive to a stroll – I’m a little bored.
As we leave the house for dinner, we see a pheasant chasing the rabbits – we count 20 rabbits down the lane. We go into Stirling for dinner – we don’t have a recommendation but everyone wants Italian – The Scholar suggests using Lizzie III to find an Italian restaurants and sure enough, she leads us right to Italia Notstra – Pop treats us to a great Italian feast. On our way back through Dunblane, we stop at the Tesco for ice cream bars. It is such a privilege to enjoy these lovely days with all the people I love the most.
Once back at the house, we count the bunnies going down the lane again … The Scholar says, “No wonder the Scottish sing about my bunny lies over the ocean.” For some reason, we all crack up – it was just a moment. In the wood paneled lounge, sitting on tartan covered furniture, we have another card game. It seems that we have the entire hotel to ourselves until the Japanese guests arrive.
After another spectacular breakfast, I don’t think I can button my pants. Paul, Karen and Lillie have been the most wonderful hosts. They are gracious, but not intrusive, they make lovely suggestions and have made a beautiful B and B. I would recommend Badgers Hall to anyone traveling to the Cotswolds – perfect for families like us or romantic couples – in retrospect, all of us commented that it was our favorite location of the two week trip. We hug, take photos, Honey purchases a blouse at a shop a few doors down that she has been eyeing in the window, we load up the “people carrier” and follow the Lizzie III to the M6.
We drive for two hours, then take a little break and fuel stop, Honey finds coca-cola and some cute little coke glasses as a promotion, then back in the van for two more hours. We exit at the Lake District – since we are only here for one night, we have all packed an overnight bag and don’t lug in our luggage. We drive to the lovely town of Ambleside to our home for the evening, the Old Vicarage (www.oldvicarageambleside.co.uk). We are greeted by Helen and she brings us tea out on the terrace, we devise our afternoon plan. Honey decides to rest in the room, so Pop, Mario, the boys and I drove down to the dock and purchase tickets for the ferry to Bowness and back. It is a little chilly, but a sunny afternoon – the lake, the mountains, the scenery are lovely and it is a restful ride over and back.
Back at the Old Vicarage, the guys all enjoy a swim in the pool and enjoy the hot tub and sauna. Honey and Pop take the boys around the corner for fish and chips and Mario and I decide to explore Ambleside – what a charming town. We walk up and down the beautiful streets – once again, the days are so long, I’m not sure that it ever really gets completely dark this time of year. We settle on dinner at a lovely Italian restaurant, Dodd’s (www.doddsrestaurant.co.uk) . We enjoy a great bottle of wine from Montlepulciano and a tasty meal. When we get back to Old Vicarage, the boys have several DVD’s that they have picked out to watch for the evening (the hotel has an enormous collection), as I go to sleep Mario is watching Jurassic Park – I think I dream of Dinosaurs.
June 17
As we awake, it is raining gently outside our window. We have a very nice breakfast, Mario and Lunatic play a game of snooker on the small billiards table, we load back up and take “the road less traveled”. We accidentally take the wrong turn out of Ambleside – fortunately Lizzie III recalculates and we take the mountain pass to Ullswater – I am so glad we took this wrong turn, the drive is spectacular. As I mentioned before, it is a bit misty and foggy – the mountains take on an ethereal look, the stone walled pastures go straight up into the mountains – this drive is a challenging one on narrow little curvy roads, but this wrong turn led to the most spectacular drive – an unexpected treat. We get back on the M6, quickly pass into Scotland, then Lizzie III takes us into the back entrance of the Cromlix House (www.cromlixhouse.com). As we drive up the little lane to the Cromlix House, rabbits are jumping all around and it is really cold when we exit the van. Fortunately, the Cromlix House is nice and toasty and we are greeted by a very charming, but sort of aloof staff – we are surprised that no one offers us tea. We all have lovely rooms and we all retire to our rooms for a little nap, the boys watch a DVD. I was hoping that we could spend some time outdoors here and enjoy the grounds, but is is rather cold and all the trails are muddy – not really conducive to a stroll – I’m a little bored.
As we leave the house for dinner, we see a pheasant chasing the rabbits – we count 20 rabbits down the lane. We go into Stirling for dinner – we don’t have a recommendation but everyone wants Italian – The Scholar suggests using Lizzie III to find an Italian restaurants and sure enough, she leads us right to Italia Notstra – Pop treats us to a great Italian feast. On our way back through Dunblane, we stop at the Tesco for ice cream bars. It is such a privilege to enjoy these lovely days with all the people I love the most.
Once back at the house, we count the bunnies going down the lane again … The Scholar says, “No wonder the Scottish sing about my bunny lies over the ocean.” For some reason, we all crack up – it was just a moment. In the wood paneled lounge, sitting on tartan covered furniture, we have another card game. It seems that we have the entire hotel to ourselves until the Japanese guests arrive.
Aug 22nd, 2009, 07:54 AM
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hi kimig~ just wanted to let you know how fantastic it was to read about your trip ~ love your descriptions and especially name for your mom (honey) your itinerary has been a great help in planning our three week trip with my parents in Sept. & Oct. to celebrate our 30th wedding anniv. and 50th birthday ~ thank you so much for your time and attention to detail ~ cindy in florida
Aug 24th, 2009, 12:34 PM
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Azzure: you are very perceptive!
Clatiak: All of my mother's grandchildren actually call her Honey - so now, we all call her Honey. It is very endearing. Thank you for your kind words - I am thrilled that our trip report is helpful to you. It was truly a trip of a lifetime for my parents and it provided memories for a lifetime for all of us!
June 18
It is gently raining as we go to sleep, we leave our windows open and draperies pulled back. I’m aware around 11:00 p.m. that it’s not entirely dark, then between 3:30 and 4:00 a.m. I awake to see the sun rising over the trees – beautiful – I fall back to sleep. The family all meets in the breakfast room at 9:00 a.m. for a very elegant breakfast – lovely china, crystal, abundant meal, formal staff, all overlooking the back garden of the Cromlix House and watching bunnies out on the lawn.
We hop in the van and drive across the bridge to Stirling. We plan to tour the castle, but it is raining hard, very windy and so cold. We park, take photos out front with Robert the Bruce, walk up to the gift shop, make a few purchases and decide not to tour the castle.
Today, we wing it and come across the loveliest people and the most beautiful countryside. We first drive to Braco and on to Creiff. We stopped at a crystal outlet, had a little tea and lunch and had a nice conversation with the man behind the counter of the sandwich shop and he tells us about a gorgeous scenic drive. We stop briefly at the Grouse Whiskey Distillery, then to Crainlarich to Loch Lomond through the most gorgeous mountains, past waterfalls and scenic views – truly majestic! There are no words that fully describe the beauty of this drive! We read somewhere to expect to experience all four seasons in one Scottish day and today, we did …. One minute blustery and cold, the next warm and sunny. We pull over several times for picture stops – we were admiring a gorgeous waterfall when we stumble on the Drovers Inn (www.thedroversinn.co.uk) near Inverarnan – we stop in to find this dank, musty building full of dead animals and armor – wait staff in kilts – now this is Scotland! We’re just not hungry, but we take a few photos and the food looks excellent. We keep driving, then back near Dunblane we stop for dinner at the Rob Roy Bar – every entrée is 5 pds and the boys profess that they have the best ribs. We are all gathered again around a large wooden table, reflecting on our day and our trip. It is a restful night back at our manor house.
June 19
After another elegant breakfast watching bunnies on the lawn – we all decide to pass on the black pudding and haggis – we load up the van for the short trip to Edinburgh. We arrive early at the Holiday Inn Express City Centre – Lizzie III takes us straight there, we park and unload the luggage. The hotel is so conveniently located to pubs, shopping and a short walk to the Royal Mile. Not knowing exactly how far the walk is and being consciences of Honey and Pop, we get in a cab for a very short trip to the Royal Mile. The cab drops us at the top of the mile.
I don’t know why, but for some reason, I just don’t have a handle on Edinburgh before leaving the states. I have viewed the maps, I know about Old Town and New Town and have read several trip reports, but I wasn’t prepared to love it as much as I did. It is a fantastic, vibrant, magical city! We enjoy walking in and out of the little shops and making little purchases. We take a left turn and walk half a block to a little Italian sandwich shop and have the best, freshly made sandwiches – Café Bei and Nannini. We continue walking down the mile, we watch a few street performers, Honey and Pop buy the Scholar a hoody and Lunatic buys a ridiculous looking tam with red hair hanging from it – he’s adorable wearing it!
Back at the hotel, we check into our rooms, freshen up, Honey and Pop decide to stay close to the hotel and eat dinner. Mario, the boys and I go back to the Royal Mile to have a lovely French meal at Le Sept (www.eloc.demon.co.uk). We had planned on visiting several establishments in search of Scottish music, but when we exit the restaurant the temperature has dropped about 20 degrees – it is freezing and windy – we get a cab and go back to the hotel. Around the corner from our hotel, we go into Café Picante and the boys order a fried Mars bar – huge hit! They love them. Back at the hotel, we play a game of cards and call it a night.
Clatiak: All of my mother's grandchildren actually call her Honey - so now, we all call her Honey. It is very endearing. Thank you for your kind words - I am thrilled that our trip report is helpful to you. It was truly a trip of a lifetime for my parents and it provided memories for a lifetime for all of us!
June 18
It is gently raining as we go to sleep, we leave our windows open and draperies pulled back. I’m aware around 11:00 p.m. that it’s not entirely dark, then between 3:30 and 4:00 a.m. I awake to see the sun rising over the trees – beautiful – I fall back to sleep. The family all meets in the breakfast room at 9:00 a.m. for a very elegant breakfast – lovely china, crystal, abundant meal, formal staff, all overlooking the back garden of the Cromlix House and watching bunnies out on the lawn.
We hop in the van and drive across the bridge to Stirling. We plan to tour the castle, but it is raining hard, very windy and so cold. We park, take photos out front with Robert the Bruce, walk up to the gift shop, make a few purchases and decide not to tour the castle.
Today, we wing it and come across the loveliest people and the most beautiful countryside. We first drive to Braco and on to Creiff. We stopped at a crystal outlet, had a little tea and lunch and had a nice conversation with the man behind the counter of the sandwich shop and he tells us about a gorgeous scenic drive. We stop briefly at the Grouse Whiskey Distillery, then to Crainlarich to Loch Lomond through the most gorgeous mountains, past waterfalls and scenic views – truly majestic! There are no words that fully describe the beauty of this drive! We read somewhere to expect to experience all four seasons in one Scottish day and today, we did …. One minute blustery and cold, the next warm and sunny. We pull over several times for picture stops – we were admiring a gorgeous waterfall when we stumble on the Drovers Inn (www.thedroversinn.co.uk) near Inverarnan – we stop in to find this dank, musty building full of dead animals and armor – wait staff in kilts – now this is Scotland! We’re just not hungry, but we take a few photos and the food looks excellent. We keep driving, then back near Dunblane we stop for dinner at the Rob Roy Bar – every entrée is 5 pds and the boys profess that they have the best ribs. We are all gathered again around a large wooden table, reflecting on our day and our trip. It is a restful night back at our manor house.
June 19
After another elegant breakfast watching bunnies on the lawn – we all decide to pass on the black pudding and haggis – we load up the van for the short trip to Edinburgh. We arrive early at the Holiday Inn Express City Centre – Lizzie III takes us straight there, we park and unload the luggage. The hotel is so conveniently located to pubs, shopping and a short walk to the Royal Mile. Not knowing exactly how far the walk is and being consciences of Honey and Pop, we get in a cab for a very short trip to the Royal Mile. The cab drops us at the top of the mile.
I don’t know why, but for some reason, I just don’t have a handle on Edinburgh before leaving the states. I have viewed the maps, I know about Old Town and New Town and have read several trip reports, but I wasn’t prepared to love it as much as I did. It is a fantastic, vibrant, magical city! We enjoy walking in and out of the little shops and making little purchases. We take a left turn and walk half a block to a little Italian sandwich shop and have the best, freshly made sandwiches – Café Bei and Nannini. We continue walking down the mile, we watch a few street performers, Honey and Pop buy the Scholar a hoody and Lunatic buys a ridiculous looking tam with red hair hanging from it – he’s adorable wearing it!
Back at the hotel, we check into our rooms, freshen up, Honey and Pop decide to stay close to the hotel and eat dinner. Mario, the boys and I go back to the Royal Mile to have a lovely French meal at Le Sept (www.eloc.demon.co.uk). We had planned on visiting several establishments in search of Scottish music, but when we exit the restaurant the temperature has dropped about 20 degrees – it is freezing and windy – we get a cab and go back to the hotel. Around the corner from our hotel, we go into Café Picante and the boys order a fried Mars bar – huge hit! They love them. Back at the hotel, we play a game of cards and call it a night.
Aug 24th, 2009, 06:37 PM
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It is a fantastic, vibrant, magical city!
No disagreement, here, lol. Two visits and i am wishing for another!
Did you like your hotel, KimiG? Is that the HIE on Picardy Place? Thanks for the info.
No disagreement, here, lol. Two visits and i am wishing for another!
Did you like your hotel, KimiG? Is that the HIE on Picardy Place? Thanks for the info.
