England/Scotland Trip Preparations

Next week at this time, I will be on a tour of the beautiful city London.

I was there briefly years ago on another tour with my mom. This time I head out again with my mom and in addition to Mimi, Jimi (Pops) and our friends Greg and Dianna.

This is Pops’s first tour vacation aside from the time we were on a bike tour and rode our bicycles across Italy. (amazing trip, by the way, if anyone is contemplating doing this!) He will see that this type of a tour is quite a different experience.

These tours are a bit of a whirlwind way to see some major features of a country in just 10 days (more or less).  You do have to accept that there will be no possible way to see everything you could want to see in say London in a little more than 2 days. But, you will see the highlights and then move on to experience other parts of the country as well.

We start in London where we have 2 days which include seeing all the “biggies” – Westminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Piccadilly & Trafalgar Squares, the Tower of London and St. Paul’s Cathedral. On top of seeing these, I’m hoping to fit in a visit to a museum or two – maybe the National Gallery or the British Museum. This could be wishful thinking on my part though.

After our jam-packed visit in London, we head to Stonehenge and Bath, then up to Costwolds, Stratford, Chester, and Liverpool. I’ve been to Stratford before and loved this charming town which is also Shakespeare’s birthplace (my daughter Mimi will love this as she’s a huge Shakespeare fan). More than that, though, I’m sure she’s truly going to enjoy Liverpool and visiting absolutely anything to do with the Beatles as she’s an even bigger fan of the fabulous four!

After our night in Liverpool, we head up to Scotland for a bit to visit Edinburgh. Let me just say this – I LOVE EDINBURGH!!

Mom and I visited there once before and I found the city and the people absolutely charming!! I love how it’s laid out with the historic side of town in one area and the more modern side opposite it. We’re staying pretty near the castle and the Royal Mile and I just know we’re going to have a great time seeing as much of the city as we can in 2 days here.

After Edinburgh we head off to York and Leeds then on to the University City of Cambridge. Then it’s back to London for our return home.

Phew!!! It’s definitely going to be a jam-packed tour and this is a heads up that I’ll be trying to share our adventures daily on this blog while I’m away….key word being trying which depends on how tired I am and how much time I have in-between touring and taking in all I can and, then of course, snoozing.

Have you been to any of these fabulous places?? And if so, do you have any tips vegan or otherwise? Are there any vegan food products I must buy there and try and possibly carry home??

I know we are in London between both of the major events happening this year..the jubilee and the Summer Olympics – I wonder how much the city experience will be changed by these? I’m sure for the better!!

This will be my first trip as a vegan and not a vegetarian and I’ll have to keep you updated on how I do and how feasible it is on a tour no less. I haven’t had trouble in the past as a vegetarian, but I do remember most meals having cheese in them, so we’ll have to see how it goes.

Thanks for any tips on places not to be missed….stay tuned….