The Trip of a Lifetime
I am fortunate enough to have been born into a family where I am an only child and my mom and dad have the travel bug. Thanks to them my childhood memories are filled with the most adventurous excursions a child could ever ask for. Only in the last couple years have I begun to realize how truely grateful I am for them and the opportunities I've had.
That being said, last summer, I went on the best family vacation of my life! Honestly that is no exaggeration. My parents planned a three week long excursion around the United Kingdom which was going to be my second time visiting the UK. The first time was as a gift for my 16th Birthday. I had dreamed my entire life to go to either New York City or London, but since we had gone to NYC a couple years previous, London was bound to be the destination. Then, we stayed in London for a week, at K+K Hotel in Earl's Court and it was a magical experience.
This time around, they surprised me with this trip as a Christmas present. The plan was we were again going to stay in London for a week, and afterwards, drive up and back down the countryside stopping at some other UK landmarks. Since I was focused on school for the months leading up to the trip, my mom did all the planning and so when I say I had no idea what kind of trip I was embarking on, I really mean it!
This post details what we were up to (including pictures and each restaurants we visited) to hopefully be guide when you visit! Every hotel restaurant and landmark I would highly recommend so I hope this help. And if you aren't planning on travelling the UK, I still hope you enjoy going through my Lookbook. I thought about going into detail about exactly what we did each day but that would've simply taken way too much time, and you probably only want to see the pictures anyways. So, enjoy!
Summer 2018 Lookbook/Itinerary
<--Greenwich
<--Oxford Circus
Kensington Palace ->
<--Waterloo Underground Station
St. Paul's Cathedral->
Food: Brasserie Zedel; Oxo Tower; The Old Bank of England; Bill's; Boxcar Butcher & Grill;
<-- Oxo Tower Restaurant
^ Notting Hill St. Mary's Hospital (Lindo Wing) ^
Food: Sotto Sotto; The Ivy; Chez Dominique
Food: Maritime Dinning Room; Courtyard Bar and Kitchen; Jamie's Italian
Food: "The Chippie" (disclaimer this is such a small town that I didn't even catch the name of the restaurant because everyone just calls it "the chippie" aka where you get your fish and chips)
Food: Amber (The Whisky Experience); Bella Italia; Ensign Ewart; The Adamson (St. Andrews, UK)
<-- Edinburgh Castle
St. Andrews University -->
<-- The Scotland-England Border
Food: Cote Brasserie;
Watching the Royal Wedding (lol) ^
Spark: York ^
Oxford University
Food: Leon;
May 23rd 2018 – May 25th 2018 -> Pilgrim Guest House, Newbury, UK
Windsor Castle
Food: Cote Brassserie; Mio Fiore
(hehe)^^ A little Sparkle for the Duchess thanks to M&S
That being said, last summer, I went on the best family vacation of my life! Honestly that is no exaggeration. My parents planned a three week long excursion around the United Kingdom which was going to be my second time visiting the UK. The first time was as a gift for my 16th Birthday. I had dreamed my entire life to go to either New York City or London, but since we had gone to NYC a couple years previous, London was bound to be the destination. Then, we stayed in London for a week, at K+K Hotel in Earl's Court and it was a magical experience.
This time around, they surprised me with this trip as a Christmas present. The plan was we were again going to stay in London for a week, and afterwards, drive up and back down the countryside stopping at some other UK landmarks. Since I was focused on school for the months leading up to the trip, my mom did all the planning and so when I say I had no idea what kind of trip I was embarking on, I really mean it!
This post details what we were up to (including pictures and each restaurants we visited) to hopefully be guide when you visit! Every hotel restaurant and landmark I would highly recommend so I hope this help. And if you aren't planning on travelling the UK, I still hope you enjoy going through my Lookbook. I thought about going into detail about exactly what we did each day but that would've simply taken way too much time, and you probably only want to see the pictures anyways. So, enjoy!
Summer 2018 Lookbook/Itinerary
May 1st 2018 10pm EST Toronto Pearson International ->
Heathrow Airport
May 2rd 2018- May 8th
2018 -> The Westbourne Hyde Park Hotel, London, UK
<--Greenwich
<--Oxford Circus
Kensington Palace ->
<--Waterloo Underground Station
St. Paul's Cathedral->
Food: Brasserie Zedel; Oxo Tower; The Old Bank of England; Bill's; Boxcar Butcher & Grill; <-- Oxo Tower Restaurant
^ Notting Hill St. Mary's Hospital (Lindo Wing) ^
May 8th 2018 – May 11 2018 ->
The Kennard B&B, Bath, UK
I just need to say a little something about Bath. I was not expecting to love this city, especially after having just left London. The INCREDIBLE hospitality not only at our hotel, but the locals and our tour guide. Every single person was so genuine and amazing to be around. And if you don't like the hustle and bustle of London, but still enjoy a lively city, you NEED to visit this place! Also I've HIGHLY recommend the hotel we stayed at! The owner, a woman and her husband, were the sweatest people I've ever met! Plus one of the women who worked there had actually lived in Toronto for 20 years to raise her family and moved back to Bath once her children left the nest. It was an amazing connection and experience we were able to have with them and when I go back, this place is my #1 choice by far!
I just need to say a little something about Bath. I was not expecting to love this city, especially after having just left London. The INCREDIBLE hospitality not only at our hotel, but the locals and our tour guide. Every single person was so genuine and amazing to be around. And if you don't like the hustle and bustle of London, but still enjoy a lively city, you NEED to visit this place! Also I've HIGHLY recommend the hotel we stayed at! The owner, a woman and her husband, were the sweatest people I've ever met! Plus one of the women who worked there had actually lived in Toronto for 20 years to raise her family and moved back to Bath once her children left the nest. It was an amazing connection and experience we were able to have with them and when I go back, this place is my #1 choice by far!
Food: Sotto Sotto; The Ivy; Chez Dominique
The Ivy Brasserie ^
L'Occitane (New Bond St) -->
May 11th 2018 – May 13th
2018 -> The Richmond Apart-Hotel, Liverpool, UK
<-- Salthouse Dock
Crosby Beach -->
May 13th 2018- May 14th
2018 -> The Willowfield, Arnside, UK
May 14th 2018 – May 17th
2018 -> Clarendon Luxury Apartments, Edinburgh, UK
St. Andrews University -->
<-- The Scotland-England Border
May 17th 2018 – May 20th
2018 -> Staycity ApartHotel, York, UK
Food: Cote Brasserie;
Spark: York ^
May 20th 2018 – May 21st
2018 -> Double Tree by Hilton Hotel, Nottingham, UK
Nottingham Castle -->
Food: Oaks
Food: Oaks
May 21st 2018 – May 23rd
2018 -> Marlborough House Hotel, Oxford, UK
Oxford University
Food: Leon;
May 23rd 2018 – May 25th 2018 -> Pilgrim Guest House, Newbury, UK
Windsor Castle
Food: Cote Brassserie; Mio Fiore
May 25th 2018 -> Heathrow Airport to
Toronto Pearson International
And just like that the trip was over. It felt like it went by just as quickly as it probably took you to go through the pictures; incredibly quickly. I still miss every single moment I was there and wish I never had to leave. The trip was so surreal, once we got back home, I legitimately felt like I needed to go back to reality of my life because the trip was such a dream come true. I hope one day all of you experience the amount of joy in your lives that this trip brought me.
xoxo
And just like that the trip was over. It felt like it went by just as quickly as it probably took you to go through the pictures; incredibly quickly. I still miss every single moment I was there and wish I never had to leave. The trip was so surreal, once we got back home, I legitimately felt like I needed to go back to reality of my life because the trip was such a dream come true. I hope one day all of you experience the amount of joy in your lives that this trip brought me.
xoxo
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