For me, one of the best reasons to sign up for a family tour like we did rather than travel on our own is for the eclectic itinerary already designed for you. On our Castles and Kilts Tour, we sat back and relaxed on the bus while Julie, our Tour Guide, did all the organizing and researching.
As we drove through gorgeous countryside and quaint, historic UK towns and villages, Julie shared her vast knowledge of each destination with us on the bus.
Here are some of the photographic highlights we enjoyed in the English countryside.
We toured around the cobbled streets of Oxford and visited the prestigious Oxford University. We heard many quirky tales about the history of the school. The kids were also intrigued to hear how the entire cast of Harry Potter spent their summer at the University where much of the first film was shot.
Have you ever heard of Lacock? Me either. It's a tiny village in Wiltshire which seems to be right out of a movie. In fact, it was another of the many authentic backdrops for the Harry Potter films. We had delicious scones and creamed tea at King John's Hunting Lodge Tea Room while sitting in their gorgeous English garden. This is where my 7-year old daughter discovered the beauty of chamomile tea and drank it every day on our trip.
Next stop: Bristol. Did you know John Cabot sailed from Bristol to ultimately discover Newfoundland? His boat is still moored here. Once a very busy port populated by wealthy merchants, Bristol is now a charming, elegant destination with an incredibly engineered suspension bridge built in the 1800's.
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We stay at the Radisson Blu Hotel which was awesome. Very modern and clean, but at 5:30 am, the fire alarm went off. Half asleep we made our way outside to watch the firefighters scope for smoke. Yes it was annoying, but that's part of the quirkiness of travel.
Stay tuned for more from the Castles and Kilts tour....
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