Hiya!
It seems that a lot of people are staying around home this summer for their holidays - I've sold more British travel guides this past month than I have in the entire time I've worked in bookselling!! I really enjoyed reading Collington's post about their cheapish, localish holiday! It realised then that many of us have a wealth of knowledge about our local area and what it has to offer....we could really tap into it and get a wonderful view of what people can see if they come to our area! So...to go along with that vein, I just thought I'd share a few of our favourite trips in the south & south east of England
Although the bulk of our British travel is yet to come, (I've been here about 18 months - but we don't have a car yet!) we've had a few day trips & short holidays that were just plain lovely!
1. In the South East, we went to Groombridge Place, which is a short REAL steam train ride from Tonbridge Wells!! I'd never been on a real steam train, and the experience was just thrilling!
It would be a great place to bring kids, too- because Groombridge has a wonderful Birds of Prey show and a boat ride. Also has an "enchanted forest" for us kids (We really enjoyed it hehe) with a large swings, and a little hobbit like looking village in the side of the stream bed- and much much more! Ok- I sound like a tourist board hehe It was definitely worth the trip! I didn't even tell you about the beautiful house and gardens! It was where Sherlock Holmes writer, Arthur Conan Doyle, spent a lot of his time writing and he's set one of his books!
2. Also went down to Devon and stayed in a wonderful little bed &breakfast right on Dartmoor. I absolutely fell in love with Dartmoor! We explored the moor with it's Dartmoor ponies, Tors (big rocky outcrops) and ancient stone villages that are only visible by the stone circles of foundations! My Future FIL is a tour guide for Dartmoor and brought us to many of the best archaeological sites we spent a while searching for on our own hehe It wasn't like we got extra-special treatment, though- anyone can get guides to the moor and it's advisable that if you're not a big map reader. We had the local OS map of the area , which was really helpful! A-Z also does a great Devon & Cornwall Visitor's Atlas that has great maps & wonderful activity ideas. If you time it right, you might even catch some of the fayres! We just missed Scarborough's Fayre- we're hoping to get back there to see it
We also explored the outer areas (Exeter, etc)and got to see some old castle ruins, a newer "castle" Castle Drogo, and got to hit a book fair where we found a signed Enid Blyton that made future SIL a very happy girl for her birthday this past week! Oh! We'd absolutely recommend the b&b we stayed in in Moretonhampstead- it was wonderful! Something about being out in the middle of such beautiful, undisturbed countryside was just sooo romantic, too
3. We just went to Hampton Court Palace (Surrey) last weekend and had a great time! The gardens were absolutely gorgeous and our favourite part of the day. I'm a big history buff, so I always love touring through houses and grounds of historical homes & castles
Which is why I love to go to the Tower of London! I look forward to 'having' to take friends and family when they visit us
Our next trip is for our honeymoon! We're going down to the south coast, Dorset- can't wait!! It's a first trip for both of us, so we'd love to get tips on what to see! Is anyone familiar with the south coast?
Or- better yet- what are your favourite places visited? What do they have to offer couples and families with children?
Share away!
Jen
