Wiltshire, Somerset, Yorkshire & London

Travel Day One - 24 August 2018 - Arriving in London

Engine difficulties at the Atlanta International Airport delayed the flight to London Heathrow. Despite the setback, an early morning arrival eventually came, traveling on the same Virgin Atlantic route my friend and I had taken on our previous trip to London.

Fortunately, a quiet period for international flight arrivals meant short immigration queues and an easy pass through UK Immigration in under 5 minutes. With passport stamped, the Heathrow Express whisked me directly to London Paddington. From there, a train ride to Bath showcased the captivating beauty of the English countryside in Wiltshire and Somerset. It was a busy time for train travel due to the Bank Holiday weekend, and many passengers were going places.

At Bath Spa train station, a friend was waiting. He had arranged for a drive to the Holiday Inn Express in Bath. Everyone was tired, with my friend and his driver having made the long journey down from Manchester, and myself from the flight and consequent train rides. Upon arrival, an early check-in was available, much to our relief. Later on, a nearby pub provided a spot to discuss plans for the next couple of days. Feeling hungry, and budget-conscious, Chinese takeout became dinner.

Day Two - 25 August - Visiting Wells Cathedral

The next morning brought a traditional English breakfast at the hotel: bacon, eggs, beans, croissants, and muffins. The bacon stayed on my plate untouched. Post breakfast, the drive to Wells awaited.

Upon reaching Wells, the search for a parking spot began. Once successfully parked, a pleasant walk towards the cathedral unfolded. The walk was infused with excitement as it was Market weekend, and the town center was bustling with vendors. Right outside the cathedral in the city center, a town crier read out news and humorous ads about local businesses.

The craftsmanship of the cathedral was impressive, especially the stained glass windows that caught our eyes. About two hours went into exploring the nooks and crannies of the cathedral. Afterward, a leisurely stroll back towards the town center continued the exploration of the market and the town of Wells.

After the visit to Wells, a drive through the picturesque countryside of Somerset led back to Bath for the night. For dinner, something different than the usual Chinese takeout seemed appealing, and a pizzeria researched beforehand fit the bill. The place was Franco Manca, situated near the train station.

The pizza at Franco Manca was nothing short of |||||! Probably the best pizza in a while. The crust was perfect, and the toppings tasted incredibly fresh. With satisfied stomachs, the drive back to our hotel included planning for the upcoming day, dedicated to exploring the world-famous landmark of Stonehenge.

Day Three - 26 August - Sunrise at Stonehenge and Avebury

An early wake-up allowed a visit to Amesbury to witness the sunrise at Stonehenge. Special access secured earlier in the year meant walking amongst the stones in the inner circle at sunrise. It was an incredible and unforgettable experience, despite the cloudy sky due to an approaching storm front. A whole hour amidst the stones at Stonehenge passed quickly, the overwhelming energy and captivating aura of the place soaking in.

After Stonehenge, Avebury beckoned with its stone circles, where touching the stones and even playing with the sheep was possible. To me, Avebury had a more laid-back and relaxed atmosphere when compared to Stonehenge. It was indeed an enchanting experience to walk around the stones and explore the town of Avebury, even though rain began to fall by the time the walk back to the car park started.

Following the visit, a drive back through the beautiful Wiltshire countryside led to our hotel in Bath.

Day Four - 27 August - From Somerset to Yorkshire

The journey continued up to Manchester from Somerset, where the past two days had been spent, to visit my friend's father, who had a mini-museum in his home. Upon entering the house, the vast collection of antiques and curiosities was immediately striking. It was an absolute delight to meet my friend's father and get a chance to admire his collection. After enjoying a glass of Chianti wine, the next stop was my friend's house for the next two nights.

Upon reaching my friend's place, settling in for the evening included ordering pizza from a local pizzeria operated by an Italian man with over 40 years of experience in making pizzas. Needless to say, the pizza was delicious! Following dinner, relaxation came in the form of watching a movie before winding down for the night.

Day Five - 28 August - The National Railway Museum in York

The following day brought a drive up to York and a visit to the National Railway Museum which showcases the history of the railroad. The museum had a range of displays, including the Mallard train that broke the record for the fastest train, and the first steam-powered train, built by George Stephenson. A considerable amount of time went into exploring and absorbing the history of the railroad. After viewing the displays, the drive back through the charming Yorkshire countryside led to my friend’s house.

Day Six - 29 August - Train from Leeds to London Kings Cross, British Museum, and more.

The LNER train from Leeds to Kings Cross in London was the day's first leg. Upon arrival, the underground to Russell Square tube station led to a walk to the Morgan Hotel, the base for a night in London before departure from Heathrow Airport the following day.

After settling into the hotel room, a walk around the corner led to the British Museum. A list of items awaited, although some were on loan to other museums for exhibitions. Nonetheless, about an hour exploring the museum passed quickly, and the urge to purchase some postcards from the museum shop proved irresistible. Later, for a late lunch/early dinner, VQ Bloomsbury provided a scrumptious Falafel burger and Chunky Fries.

After the meal, a stroll to Treadwell’s Bookshop allowed for browsing their collection of books. Two books and a tote bag made it to the purchase pile, and then it was back to the hotel for the rest of the evening. Although the hotel room had a shared patio with the apartment next door, which overlooked the back of the British Museum, it went unused. The hotel had been chosen primarily for its close proximity to the British Museum and several bookshops in the area, not for the size of the room.

Day Seven - 30 August - Heathrow to Atlanta

The morning of the flight back to Atlanta started early with getting ready to fly home. One final look around ensured everything was securely packed in the bags, and nothing was left behind in the hotel room. While checking emails, a notification from the airline stated the flight was delayed.

Later that morning, a walk down to the reception desk returned the room key. Afterward, the Euston Square tube station led to a train to Paddington Station, and from there the Heathrow Express to the airport.

However, my flight was delayed, and then delayed again. The delay was due to the pre-flight checks revealing an issue with the electrical panel on the plane. The delay caused me to miss my flight from Atlanta to Nashville. Luckily, Delta airlines proved to be a great help and allowed me to re-book on a later flight as a result of missing my earlier flight due to the delay on the Virgin Atlantic flight.

After all the long flights and delays, I finally made it home to Nashville, albeit exhausted from the journey. To make things easier, I took a Lyft ride home, which was a convenient and comfortable option after a draining journey.

Using points from my Capital One Venture card, I managed to offset some travel-related expenses, which significantly reduced the overall cost of the trip.