Last updated on March 12th, 2023 at 12:13 pm
Thanks to watching all those English movies, reading Shakespeare and Jane Austin, there was this picture painted in my head about the United Kingdom (UK), so when I finally came around to visit the UK, I knew I had to bring life to those visuals (which helped me decide where to go) and also have plenty of time to soak it all in to carry back memories for life (which helped in my total duration of stay). Keeping all that in mind, I planned a getaway for almost 2 weeks which was just enough to cover almost everything I wanted to see. I say “most everything” because there’s never enough time to see it all. 🙂
From hanging out in a pub dating back to the Shakespearean era to hopscotching through the meadows of the English countryside (like Marianne Dashwood would’ve in Sense & Sensibility .. ok I’ll stop right there) to being awestruck by historic London to getting the first taste of Scottish highlands, the memories the UK gave me were more than I had imagined.
Not to mention, the famous British sarcastic humor struck me even before I could enter the country. Not seeing any payphones so far in the airport, I happen to innocently ask the immigration officer if there is one at the baggage claim area, and comes his classic response with a very straight face, of course, “we have had phone booths in this country for centuries,” Ha! Gotta love ’em. By the end of my trip, I was craving more tea than coffee, searching for Sticky Toffee Pudding on every dessert menu, missing fish & chips and chicken tikka in the pubs, and finally, my newfound favorite drink, the Pimms.
Well, what I will not miss much will probably be the two taps in the bathroom sink, yes, two taps, one for hot & one for cold water. My hand was always either burning or freezing, and I simply didn’t get the logic behind it.
The 15-day itinerary was a success for me, but I understand not everyone has the same flexibility with time. Hence to keep things organized in small pockets and to be fair to each one of these amazing places, I broke down my trip into six different posts with detailed information. Here, I highlighted the minimum number of days I personally think one needs to see and enjoy each of these places.
- Stafford Upon Avon & Cotswold: 3 days
- London: 3 days
- Edinburgh, Scotland: 2-3 days
- Windsor & Eaton: 1 day (day trip from London)
- Stonehenge & Bath: 1 day (day trip from London)
- Oxford: 1 day (day trip from London)
This also happened to be my first solo trip (well, in most parts); many thanks to a dear friend for inspiring me to do this and also hopping along with me on her weekend breaks. TIP: Don’t let a missing companion stop you from traveling and exploring! Finally, I must say how humbled I was by the hospitality and warmth of people in the UK. Every stranger I met had a story to tell, like the older English couple in Cotswold on their time they had spent in India or the boys biking from one town to another who stopped to chat with the girls they thought were lost or even that drunk chap in the tube who did not approve my usage of the word “ridiculous” (that was too American for him) and deemed “rubbish” as more appropriate.
Back to the point, there is plenty to see and experience in the UK beyond what I have talked about, and I am sure you will plan your own unique itinerary which is close to your heart, but hopefully, the information here will help you judge whether or not these places are worth your dime and time.
Happy Travelling.
