This August was my first trip back to the UK since leaving at the start of November 2014. I wouldn’t exactly call it a ‘holiday’, but it was absolutely fantastic to catch up with family and friends.Given the amount that we did, I won’t bore you with a detailed narrative of my whereabouts and emotions at hourly intervals throughout the trip. Instead, here are LOTS of snaps, and the ‘highlights’ from each stop: (Bangkok stop en route is getting its own little post)

The itinerary:

• Sydney
• Bangkok – 3 nights
• Gatwick
• Exmoor, North Devon (parents) – 3 nights
• Bristol (brother)
• Oxford (school friends) – 2 nights
• London (lots of people) – 3 nights
• Edinburgh (cousin) – 2 nights
• St Andrews/Cupar (Aunt, Uncle and Grandparents)
• London (Book of Mormon) – 1 night
• Aspley Guise, Bedfordshire (sisters) – 1 night
• York (wedding) – 2 nights
• Gatwick
• Sydney

Exmoor, North Devon

What we did:

• Walks (including adopting a runaway dog);
• Visit to Lynton and Lynmouth;
• Pub lunch;
• Afternoon tea;
• Dunster Castle
• Visit to Cobbaton combat collection

Oxford (via Cirencester)

Where we stayed:

• Jesus College, £105 per night including breakfast (only available during university holidays)

What we did:

• Jetlag running tour around Christchurch Meadows;
• Rooftop drinks at The Varsity Club;
• Delicious Thai dinner at Chaing Mai Kitchen;
• Punting from Magdalen Bridge;
• Afternoon tea at The Orangery, Blenheim Palace
• Run to Port Meadow, near Medley Manor Farm pick your own (my beloved summer job for years as a teenager!)
• Riverside dinner at The Trout, Wolvercote

 

London

What we did (basically ate, drank and saw friends):

• Drinks at Queen of Hoxton Rooftop bar;
• Breakfast at Dishoom, Shoreditch;
• Lunch at Bella Vita, Broadway Market;
• Belgian beers at the Dove Freehouse, Broadway Market;
• Drinks at Graphic Bar, Soho;
• Dinner at Gaucho, Piccadilly;
• Afternoon in the sun at Pub on the Park, London Fields;
• Dinner at Flat Iron, Soho

I was clearly have far too much fun, and stuffing my face too much, as I only have ONE photo from London…

Edinburgh, St Andrews and Cupar, Scotland

What we did:

• Drove London – Scotland, suprisingly enjoyable!
• Visited Jedburgh Abbey en route;
• Climbed the Scott Monument, Edinburgh,
• Dinner at Mariachi Mexican, Edinburgh,
• Show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival,
• Lunch at Anstruther Fish and Chips,
• Visited St Andrews Castle,
• Ice creams in St Andrews,
• Family walk in Cupar.

London (part 2)

What we did:

• Book of Mormon, lived up to the massive hype!

Aspley Guise, Bedfordshire

What we did:

• Long overdue family time with my sisters and their husbands and my adorable nieces and nephew.

York

What we did:

• Duxford Imperial War Museum en route (one of the better I’ve been ‘encouraged’ along to)
• Visit to the York Minster;
• WEDDING 🙂

Thanks for the best trip everyone! Until next time! Xx