The fact that I’m almost too busy traveling to update my travel blog is definitely a problem I am not complaining about. Europe is on my doorstep now – so traveling is an almost-every-weekend occurrence – but I’m also determined to explore as much of the UK as possible while I’m here. So far, I have seen Hampton Court Palace, the Tower of London, and the White Cliffs of Dover. I’m looking at going to Brighton as well as a few more of the royal historical palaces on the list before the end of July. I really do love the UK, and I’m glad I’m getting the chance to explore the country I’m temporarily living in.

Hampton Court Palace: Laura, Lily, Angela and I hopped on the train out to Hampton Court Palace late one Saturday morning. (I like train travel more than tube travel, I think.) The cute little lady that worked in the ticket office was so excited to give me my temporary historical royal palaces membership card as I wait for the official one to come in the mail. I think we spent a solid 5 hours at Hampton Court. Can you imagine living there? The palace and the grounds around it were all gorgeous. We only left because it was closing time.

The Tower of London: A group of us got to the Tower in the middle of the afternoon one Sunday (we had just arrived back in the
UK from Dublin that morning – remember the whole too busy to update thing?). There was a fantastic display on armor for past kings and their horses, with life size horse replicas – I didn’t expect the horses from those years to be so huge! Since we had arrived too late for the Beefeater tour, the armor display was definitely the highlight for me. And the crown jewels, which were gorgeous. (Also, I’m definitely going back later on to listen to the Beefeater tour!)

White Cliffs of Dover: Dover was windy and slightly rainy (it may be on the coast, but Dover is still in England), but it was the best picnic I’ve ever had. The girls and I trekked up the road (the long way) from the town center to the cliffs, set out our towels and unpacked our food with an amazing backdrop of hills and cliffs and the ocean. If you ever get the chance to see these cliffs in person, DO IT. It’s only a 4 hour bus ride from London.

Dover was a bit last-minute, because our plans to go to the Isle of Wight fell through. I have to say, this was the best last-minute destination I have ever helped make a decision for. I also love how easy it is to do things like this last-minute from London – we went to the coast – but in the entirely opposite direction we had first planned. Thanks, list of Best British Beaches!

“A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving.”

Lao Tzu