Tag: United Kingdom
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Cardiff Bay in Wales | Discovering Great Britain
Spending a relaxing day walking through Cardiff Bay was a fun introduction to Wales in Great Britain. We had initially come into Cardiff, the capital city of Wales, to visit the now defunct Dr. Who Experience, which was incredibly entertaining. Besides Dr. Who, we found the bay to be a pleasant way to spend an…
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Cliffe Castle Museum and Gallery | Discovering England
Cliffe Castle located in Keighley, West Yorkshire is a fascinating place to visit; not only for their interesting exhibitions and collections, but for the Victorian Neo-Gothic home that they are housed in. The building and interiors are stunning, and have been through several transformations since it was first built. It is considered a Grade II…
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Ilkley Toy Museum | Discovering England
I have been to many museums during my travels, but none as sweet and cheerful as the Ilkley Toy Museum in West Yorkshire, England. For over two decades this museum has housed a private collection of dolls, teddies, games, toys, and much more. This charming museum contains one of the best toy collections in England,…
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East Riddlesden Hall – National Trust | Discovering England
Visiting a manor house in England is just another lovely way to spend time learning about this country’s architecture and lifestyle of centuries past. I am all about exploring older homes and locations, seeing the craftmanship of furnishings and decoratives, as well as feeding my curiosity of how other people lived. East Riddlesden Hall, which…
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Skipton’s Medieval Castle | Discovering England
Skipton Castle located in North Yorkshire is a fine example of an English medieval fortified castle, with over 900 years of history. It was originally built in 1090 by a Norman Baron, Robert de Romile, as a motte and baily type castle, and was later rebuilt in stone to withstand Scottish attacks. Skipton Castle is…
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Oxford and Cambridge | Discovering the United Kingdom
Oxford and Cambridge are two of the leading and most prestigious university towns in the United Kingdom. Visiting both cities were inspirational- walking the grounds where many of the world’s leaders, intellectuals, scientists, and entertainers spent their youth was unforgettable. The architecture of both university towns was another reason for my two visits, although Oxford…
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Edinburgh Old & New Town – A UNESCO World Heritage Site | Exploring Scotland
Edinburgh was everything that I was hoping it would be and more. I enjoyed my first round so much that I came back again a couple years later. Much of my love for this city was the majestic Old Town neighborhood, and the Royal Mile. Although New Town Edinburgh was quite exciting too, and where…
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Welcome to York | Discovering England
Welcome to York! This vibrant city in northern England has been a favorite of mine while traveling throughout the United Kingdom. The times that I had visited were always filled with fun and funny moments; from climbing the tower of York Minster, to a ghostly episode inside the city’s most haunted pub. There are no…
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London’s FREE Museum Scene | Discovering England
One of my favorite activities to do whenever I travel London is to visit the city’s museum scene. London is the cultural hub of England, and is saturated with outstanding museums containing priceless masterpieces, archaeological artifacts, and global treasures. The best part of London’s museum scene is that it is absolutely free. Viewing museums in…
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English, Scottish, and Irish Full Breakfasts – Love a Good Fry-Up!
I honestly do not know what comes over me when I am in the United Kingdom or Ireland, I just cannot resist a good morning fry-up. If it is on the morning menu, I will order it. If there are options in a breakfast buffet to make one, I will build it. There is something…
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The Charming City of Chester | Discovering England
Ah, Chester! This city in England is one of my favorites with its lovely black and white rows, or magpies as I like to call them. The city walls are also a favorite, and were first built by the Romans. They are some of the best-preserved walls in the United Kingdom, and have a Grade…
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The Beatles Pilgrimage in Liverpool | Discovering England
The seaport city of Liverpool is the hometown of John, Paul, Ringo, and George – also known as The Beatles. This is where the four British boys who took the world by storm grew up, met each other, formed their band, played for the first time, and began making their music dreams come alive. Liverpool…
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A Classic Scottish Afternoon Tea | The Balmoral in Edinburgh
I have always delighted in the whole experience of afternoon tea; the formality and the deliciousness that comes with a proper tea service. There are many interpretations of afternoon tea from a casual café setting, to the opulence of a Palm Court. There are not many stylish Palm Courts left in the world, a handful…
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A Visit to Gorgeous Glasgow | Discovering Scotland
While on a four country holiday, my friends and I decided on a quick side trip to Glasgow while we were in Dublin, Ireland. It would be my first trip to Scotland but not my last. I enjoyed the country so much that I revisited Scotland two more times after. Glasgow was my introduction to…
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A Visit to Castle Howard | Discovering England
The history, lore, and love for palaces and estates has always been a huge interest of mine while I travel. Visiting Castle Howard was one of those extraordinary stately homes, with 300 years of history that is located in North Yorkshire, England. Although it is not a fortified structure, the word “castle” is often used…
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Lovely Leeds Castle | Discovering England
When a family member was living in Kent, she always spoke about Leeds Castle. I was intrigued by what she spoke about because of my love of medieval castles, cathedrals, and towns. Leeds Castle definitely held up to its reputation from its strong castle walls, fascinating history, and its lovely grounds. Leeds Castle had gone…
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Windsor Castle | Discovering England
Just 20 miles outside of London is the Royal Residence, Windsor Palace. If you follow royal weddings, then you would also know that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were married in St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Palace in May 2018. This castle has a great history of royal weddings, as well as being a royal…
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York Minster & St. Mary’s Abbey Ruins | Discovering York, England
“Climb to the top for lovely views!” That was what I was told prior to my visit to York Minster. I was ready for it. The Central Tower of York Minster is the highest point in the city, and offers magnificent panoramic views of York. The climb is 275 steps up inside a medieval winding…
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Westminster Abbey – A UNESCO World Heritage Site | Discovering England
Visiting Wesminster Abbey was high on my list when I first visited London years ago. It was as stunning as I imagined, from all those times I had seen this Gothic Abbey on whatever forms of media since the 1970s. This was the cathedral where Royal Weddings had occurred for 1,000 years, as well as…
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Inverness, Scotland | Exploring the Scottish Highlands
I had come to Inverness as my jumping off point to the Orkney Islands, which is an archipelago at the Northern tip of Scotland. I had stayed for several days in this pleasant city at the mouth of the River Ness, and was completely charmed. Inverness is very walkable with interesting architecture, a multi steeple…
Trixie Navarre 