In June 2024, I spent three weeks in England along with my wife Kamalini and our 9 year old son Rehaan. It turned out to be one of our best trips ever. I had spent almost 3 weeks in England in the past, during various trips across 1987, 1999, 2001 and 2006, but it was largely in London, barring a day each in Birmingham, Oxford and Cambridge. London is undoubtedly one of my favourite cities in the world - along with New York and Paris - and I was excited going back there after almost two decades. I also got to see a lot of England that I had never seen before. For Kamalini, it was her first time in England in a quarter of a century. She has done her M Phil in Cambridge in 1998-99.
We left Delhi on June 2nd and took Vistara Airlines to London's Heathrow Airport. At the airport, we rented a car from Europe Car. We got a Kia Sportage SUV, which was nice and spacious and could easily accommodate all our luggage. I didn't find driving all that tough, because in England, one drives on the left side of the road, just like one done in India. I was, however, on high alert, given how strictly one needs to adhere to traffic rules there, unlike in India where it is often a free-for-all! The first part of our trip was not in London at all. We were in other parts of England, and only got to London on the night of June15th, after which we spent 10 days in London and flew back to Delhi on June 26th.
From the airport, we went and stayed in a place called SleepNeat in the London suburb of Ascot. From there, we drove to Watford, where we spent the better part of the next day at the Warner Bros Studios Leavesden, experiencing The Making of Harry Potter. We got to see the actual sets used in the Harry Potter movies, and it was a remarkable experience not just for Rehaan, but also for Kamalini and me! We came back to Ascot for the night.
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| Rehaan at Warner Bros Studios Leavesden, Watford |
From Ascot, we drove to Stonehenge, to see the world-famous pre-historic rocks there. Our trip was dampened a little by the heavy rain and wind that day, but we managed our visit nevertheless. We then carried on to the county of Dorset, where we stayed at a lovely place called Pixie Cottage in the small town of Stoborough. We spent the next two days in Dorset, and we visited Wareham, Corfe Castle, Swanage, Lulworth Cove and Isle of Purbeck Golf Course. Kamalini is an avid Enid Blyton reader, and Dorset featured in our plans because many of the famous author's books were inspired by places in Dorset.
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| Me at Stonehenge |
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| Rehaan and Me at Corfe Castle, Dorset |
After two full days in Dorset, we stopped for lunch at a place called Martin's Bar and Restaurant, perched up on a hill with a splendid view of the neighbourhood. They had alpacas on display in an open enclosure next to the restaurant. We then carried on to the county of Cornwall. We briefly stopped in Newquay, so that Kamalini could see Hotel Bristol, which again had links to Enid Blyton, and then we made our way to Marazion, where we stayed at Wheal Rodney Holiday Park, just outside the town, The place had 10 small cottages, one of which we had booked. It also had a lot of caravans, with campers setting up their tents there. There was a warm, indoor swimming pool, and a little store for provisions.
We spent the next two days in Cornwall. The places we covered there were Marazion, Penzance and Kynance Cove. We also drive through the small towns on St Ives and Mousehall, but we couldn't stop at either one of them because of the narrow, steep lanes, and the lack of adequate parking. The highlight in Cornwall was the natural beauty, with the famous blue-green Cornish waters.
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| Kamalini and Rehaan at Kynance Cove, Cornwall |
We then drove to Cotswold, and that was our base for the next five days. We stayed at a place called Parlour Farm Stay in the town of Lechlade-upon-Thames. The property was a lovely cottage in the midst of a farm. The farm had horses, cows, sheep and donkeys. Kamalini and Rehaan were absolutely thrilled that they could pet and feed the farm animals!
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| Kamalini and Rehaan with a Horse at The Parlour Farm Stay, Lechlade-on-Thames, Cotswold |
Our friends - the Bhatias [Angad, Isha, their 9 year old son Kabir (Rehaan's batchmate from school) and their 6 year old daughter Tarana] joined us in Cornwall. They stayed in the nearby town of Burton-on-the-Water, and though we stayed separately, we covered a lot of the places in Cotswold together and we spent a significant amount of time with each other, which was really nice. They had also rented a car, so both families were mobile. Rehaan and Kabir were so happy to be together, that they practically forgot about the rest of us! The places in Cotswold we covered included Bampton, Bibury, Bourton-on-the-Water, Broadway, Burford, Glouceser, Lechlade-on-Thames, Lineover Wood, Lower Slaughter, Stow-on-the-Wold and Upper Slaughter.
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| Rehaan and Me at Gloucester Cathedral, Gloucester, Cotswold |
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| Angad, Isha, Kabir and Tarana at Lineover Wood, Cotswold |
From Cornwall, we all also did a day trip to Stratford-upon-Avon, famous for being Shakespeare's birthplace. It was great to see the house in which the famous bard was born, and the church where he was buried. I also did a solo trip to Oxford. Kamalini and Rehaan opted to spend the morning with the Bhatias and with the animals at Parlour Farm Stay. In Oxford, I enjoyed my time immensely, exploring the historical city, but I ended up having to pay a parking fine of 35 Pounds for parking in a reserved parking area! Little did I realize then, but more fines were to come from the most unexpected quarters!
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| Kamalini, Rehaan and Me at Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon |
After our stay in Cotswold, we left for Cambridge. Oxford was on the way, and since Kamalini and Rehaan hadn't gone there with me, we decided I'd drive through the city. I told Kamalini I'd drop them off outside University Church of St Mary the Virgin so that they could see the church and Radcliffe Camera nearby, and I'd do a round and pick them up 20 minutes later. I did just that. Weeks later, after we returned to India, I received fines of 150 Pounds sent to me by Europe Car, because when I stopped the car to drop off Kamalini and Rehaan, and again to pick them up, the car went on the bus lane and that got captured by a traffic camera, though it wasn't for more than a few seconds each time!!
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| Kamalini and Rehaan at King's College Chapel, Cambridge |
In Cambridge, we went to Kamalini's old college - St Edmund's. We then went to Trinity College. A very dear family friend - Dr Anil Seal - is a very senior History professor there. He and my mother were close friends for many decades before my mother passed away in 2019. We parked the car at Trinity College, and used his quarters in Trinity College to freshen up. After our day's sightseeing there, we met Dr Seal for dinner. He treated us at a great restaurant called Cote Brasserie. He's 86 and hasn't been well, but he was still his lively, fun self, with his brilliant sense of humour very intact!! At night, we stayed at Ibis Cambridge Central Station. We usually prefer apartments, as hotel rooms do get a bit cramped for us, but it was only for one night.
The next day, we went to Windsor and saw Windsor Castle. There was heavy rain that day, which somewhat spoiled things for us, but we still had a good tour of the castle. After that, we drove to the Europe Car office at Heathrow, and returned the car. Given London's great public transportation, high traffic, steep parking charges and expensive congestion charges, we were not going to need the car for our stint in the city for the last part of our trip!
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| Rehaan Feeding Swans in the River Thames, Windsor |
Watford
Watford is a town in the county of Hertfordshire. It is about 25 km northwest of Central London. The town has a population of just over 100,000. Leavesden Aerodrome, to the north of Watford, used to manufacture aircraft engines. It is no longer operational, and it was converted to Leavesden Film Studios, now the Warner Bros Studios Leavesden, famous for The Making of Harry Potter.
Leavesden Aerodrome was created in 1940. It was subsequently bought by Rolls Royce to manufacture helicopter engines. In 1994, the unoccupied aerodrome was converted into a film studio, and major productions like the James Bond movie, Golden Eye, were made there. From 2000 to 2010, all eight of the Harry Potter movies were produced at the site. In 2010, Warner Bros completed their purchase of Leavesden Film Studios, which was then rebranded Warner Bros Studios Leavesden.
In 2012, a permanent exhibition was created, called Warner Bros Studio Tour London - The Making of Harry Potter. The immensely popular attraction can host up to 8,000 visitors a day, and has a large collection of sets, props and costumes from the blockbuster Harry Potter movies.
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| Dumbledore's Office, The Making of Harry Potter, Warner Bros Studios Leavesden, Watford |
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| Harry Potter with Hermione Granger and Ron Weasley, The Making of Harry Potter, Warner Bros Studios Leavesden, Watford |
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| Quidditch Set, The Making of Harry Potter, Warner Bros Studios Leavesden, Watford |
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| Harry's Room under the Staircase, The Making of Harry Potter, Warner Bros Studios Leavesden, Watford |
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| Hippogriff at the Forbidden Forest, The Making of Harry Potter, Warner Bros Studios Leavesden, Watford |
Some of the highlights of the tour include the Hogwarts Express steam engine, Diagonal Alley, a model of Hogwarts Castle, the Great Hall, the Forbidden Forest, Gringotts Wizarding Bank and Professor Sprout's Greenhouse (featuring the magical mandrakes).
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| Diagonal Alley, The Making of Harry Potter, Warner Bros Studios Leavesden, Watford |
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| Hogwarts Express, The Making of Harry Potter, Warner Bros Studios Leavesden, Watford |
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| Model of Hogwarts Castle, The Making of Harry Potter, Warner Bros Studios Leavesden, Watford |
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| Mandrakes, The Making of Harry Potter, Warner Bros Studios Leavesden, Watford |
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| The Great Hall, The Making of Harry Potter, Warner Bros Studios Leavesden, Watford |
Stonehenge
Stonehenge is a prehistoric stone structure located in the county of Salisbury. It has an outer ring of sarsen standing stones, approximately 4 meters high and 2 meters wide, topped by connecting horizontal lintel stones. Within the outer layer, there's a ring of smaller bluestones.
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| A Close-up View of Stonehenge |
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| A Distant View of Stonehenge |
The structure was built between 3,100 BC and 1,600 BC. In 1986,the site was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Stonehenge was possibly a burial ground. Human bones have been found there during excavations. No written records were ever kept, so the purpose behind its construction remains a subject of debate. The site has a museum with write-ups, models and archaeological finds.
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| Human Bones, Museum, Stonehenge |
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| Model of the Site, Museum, Stonehenge |
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| Archaeological Finds, Museum, Stonehenge |
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| Video Show, Museum, Stonehenge |
Besides the stone structure and the museum, the site has a visitor centre, a restaurant, a souvenir shop and recreations of the builders' huts. From the visitor centre, buses take visits to the structure. Visitors also have the option of walking to the site.
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| Sample of the Stone, Stonehenge |
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| Workers' Hut Reconstruction, Stonehenge |
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| Interior of Workers' Hut, Stonehenge |
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| Workers' Huts Reconstruction, Stonehenge |
Dorset is a ceremonial county in southwest England. The county has a population of over 750,000, and the largest towns are Bournemouth (population of approximately 180,000) and Poole (population of approximately 150,000). Dorset is spread over an area of 2,653 sq km. It is largely a rural county.
Corfe Castle is a castle that stands on a hill rising above a village that carries the same name. The village has a population of just over 1,400. The castle was built by William the Conqueror in the 11th century, and underwent changes in the 12th and 13th centuries.
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| Corfe Castle |
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| Entrance, Corfe Castle |
In 1572, Queen Eizabeth II sold Corfe Castle to Sir Christopher Hatton. It was bought by Sir John Bankes in 1635. The castle was damaged in the English Civil War in 1635. In 1660, after the restoration of the monarchy, the Bankes Family regained control of the castle. The castle was the inspiration for the famous author Enid Blyton's Kirrin Castle.
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| View from Corfe Castle |
In 1981, Ralph Bankes bequeathed the castle to the National Trust. After significant renovation work, the National Trust opened the castle to visitors in 2008.
At the base of the hill on top of which Corfe Castle is situated, lies the Church of St Edward King and Martyr. It lies in the heart of the village. The village is dotted with several good eateries and interesting shops.
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| Church of St Edward King and Martyr, Corfe Castle |
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| Gallery, Corfe Castle |
Wareham is a town in Dorset having a population of over 5,000. It is situated along the River Frome. The charming town has a host of eateries along its main street, where one also finds the Town Hall. The Priory Church of Lady St Mary is one of the town's main highlights. Another well known church in the town is St Martin's on the Walls, which is located along the town's old ramparts.
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| Priory Church of Lady St Mary, Wareham, Dorset |
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| St Martin's on the Walls, Wareham, Dorset |
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| Town Hall, Wareham, Dorset |
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| King's Arms Restaurant, Wareham, Dorser |
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| Bridge of the River Frome, Wareham, Dorset |
The Blue Pool, a disused clay pit, lies close to Wareham and Corfe Castle. It is located within the 25 acre Furzbrook Estate. In the 17th century, clay used to be dug out from the pit, and it was used to make fine ceramic products. The pit stopped being used in the early 20th century. It is now a popular tourist site, with a cafe, a museum, a gift shop and walking trails. The site is popular because of its peace and tranquility. Around the pool, one can see peacocks, squirrels, rabbits, badgers and other wildlife.
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| The Blue Pool, Dorset |
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| Cafe, The Blue Pool, Dorset |
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| Cafe Interior, the Blue Pool, Dorset |
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| Entrance, The Blue Pool, Dorset |
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| Gnome and Fairy Trail, The Blue Pool, Dorset |
Lulworth Cove is a cove in Dorset's Jurassic Coast. The beautiful cove is a World Heritage Site and attracts numerous visitors. The site has a visitor centre, eateries, shops and hotels.
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| Lulworth Cove, Dorset |
Isle of Purbeck Golf Course is a scenic golf course on a high heathland plateau. It offers views of Isle of Wight, Poole Bay, Poole Harbour, Bournemouth, Brownsea Island, and Purbeck Hills. The golf club was established in 1892. Enid Blyton and her husband once owned this golf club.
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| Restaurant and Golf Course, Isle of Purbeck Golf Club, Dorset |
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| Isle of Purbeck Golf Course |
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| Beach, Swanage, Dorset |
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| Visitor Information Centre, Swanage, Dorset |
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| Martin's Bar and Restaurant, Dorset |
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| Sausages, Martin's Bar and Restaurant |
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| Firefighting Equipment, Martin's Bar and Restaurant, Dorset |
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| Playground, Martin's Bar and Restaurant |
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| Alpaca, Martin's Bar and Restaurant, Dorset |
Cornwall
Cornwall is a ceremonial county is South West England. The county is largely rural, and is famous for its scenic beauty. It has a population of about 550,000, and covers an area of 3,562 sq km. The Atlantic Ocean lies to the North and West of the county, and the English Channel lies to the South.
Marazion is a small town in Cornwall with a population of just over 1,400. The town is well known because of its proximity to St Michael's Mount. It is also close to the larger town of Penzance, which is about 3 km to its west.
Marazion has popular eateries like The Kings Arms in the heart of the town, and The Godolphin, which has excellent views of St Michael's Mount. Wheal Rodney Holiday Park, just outside the town, is a popular residential place for visitors. It has a series of very well equipped cottages for families, a convenience store and even a heated swimming pool. It is also popular with people who come and camp out in their caravans.
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| The Kings Arms, Marazion, Cornwall |
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| The Godolphin, Marazion, Cornwall |
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| Wheal Rodney Holiday Park, Marazion, Cornwall |
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| Marazion Museum, Marazion, Cornwall |
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| All Saints Church, Marazion, Cornwall |
St Michael's Mount is a tidal island situated close to Marazion and Penzance. It is connected to Marazion through a causeway. During high tide, the causeway gets covered with water and one has to use a boat to get to the island.
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| St Michael's Mount, Cornwall |
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| View from Below, St Michael's Mount, Cornwall |
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| Ramparts, St Michael's Mount, Cornwall |
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| Boat, St Michael's Mount, Cornwall |
The castle and chapel at St Michael's Mount belong to the St Aubyn family, a family that has been the owner since the mid seventeenth century. St Michael's Mount was the English counterpart of Mont St Michel in Normandy in France.
A monastery was supposedly located on the island between the 8th and 11th centuries. Edward the Confessor gave the site to the Benedictine order of Mont Saint Michel. It later became a secular chapel and was given to the Abbess and Convent of Syon at Isleworth, Middlesex, in 1424. In 1659, the Mount was sold to Colonel John St Aubyn, whose descendants still own it. In 1954, the Mount was given to the National Trust, which now manages it.
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| Chapel, St Michael's Mount, Cornwall |
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| Dining Hall Ceiling, St Michael's Mount, Cornwall |
Besides the castle and the chapel, St Michael's Mount is also famous for the colourful Garden Terraces. The views of Marazion, Penzance, the countryside and the Cornish Sea from the top are well worth the trip!
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| Garden Terraces, St Michael's Mount, Cornwall |
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| Palm Tree, Garden Terraces St Michael's Mount, Cornwall |
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| Well, Gardens, St Michael's Mount, Cornwall |
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| The Cornish Sea, St Michael's Mount, Cornwall |
Penzance is a town with a population of about 21,000. It is the largest town in the western part of Cornwall. Chapel Street features some of the town's best known landmarks. Egyptian House has a beautiful Egyptian facade and dates back to 1836. Admiral Benbow Inn was home to a smuggling gang in the 1800s and was the inspiration behind the inn in the Treasure island book. St Mary's Church is also situated on Chapel Street.
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| Egyptian House, Penzance, Cornwall |
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| Admiral Benbow Inn, Penzance, Cornwall |
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| St Mary's Church, Pezance, Cornwall |
Kynance Cove is a cove on the eastern side of Mount's Bay in Cornwall. It is located on the Lizard Peninsula, near Lizard Point. It is considered to be one of the most beautiful coves in England. It became popular in the Victorian Era, and had distinguished visitors like Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. It is owned and managed by the National Trust.
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| Kynance Cove, Cornwall |
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| The Pebble Filled Beach, Kynance Cove, Cornwall |
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| Church of St Mary the Virgin, Bampton, Cotswold |
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| Church of St Mary the Virgin, Bampton, Cotswold |
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| St John the Baptist, Church of St Mary the Virgin, Bampton, Cotswold |
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| World War Memorial, Bampton, Cotswold |
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| Bampton Library, Bampton, Cotswold |
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| Arlington Row, Bibury, Cotswold |
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| Close-up of Arlington Row, Bibury, Cotswold |
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| Church of St Mary the Virgin, Bibury, Cotswold |
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| Interior, Church of St Mary the Virgin, Bibury, Cotswold |
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| Cotswold Motoring Museum, Bourton-on-the-Water, Cotswold |
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| Stone Bridge over the River Windrush, Bourton-on-the-Water, Cotswold |
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| Riverside Signage, Bourton-on-the-Water, Cotswold |
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| Bourton-on-the-Water Baptist Church, Bourton-on-the-Water, Cotswold |
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| War Memorial, Bourton-on-the-Water, Cotswold |
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| Broadway Tower, Broadway, Cotswold |
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| Church of St John the Baptist, Burford, Cotswold |
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| Churchyard with Graves, Church of St John the Baptist, Burford, Cotswold |
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| Interior, Church of St John the Baptist, Burford, Cotswold |
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| Stainglass, Church of St John the Baptist, Burford, Cotswold |
Gloucester is a cathedral city in the county of Gloucestershire. The city has a population of about 130,000. Gloucester was founded by the Romans in the year 97 AD. Gloucester Cathedral was originally built in the 7th century AD. In the 11th century AD, the church came under the control of the Benedictine Order. Henry III was crowned there. After a fire in 1222, the church was rebuilt in 14th century. After the dissolution of monasteries in 1555, the abbey was designated as a cathedral. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the cathedral went through major renovation. The cathedral cloisters and their iconic corridors are legendary. In the Harry Potter movie series, the cathedral was used frequently as a filming location.
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| Gloucester Cathedral, Gloucester |
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| Cloisters, Gloucester Cathedral, Gloucester |
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| Cloisters with Stain Glass Windows, Gloucester Cathedral, Gloucester |
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| Courtyard within the Cloisters, Gloucester Cathedral, Gloucester |
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| Stain Glass Window, Gloucester Cathedral, Gloucester |
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| St Lawrence Church, Lechlade-on-Thames, Cotswold |
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| High Altar, St Lawrence Church, Lechlade-on-Thames, Cotswold |
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| The Crown Inn, Lechlade-on-Thames, Cotswold |
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| Cows at Manor Farm, Lechlade-on-Thames, Cotswold |
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| Lineover Wood, Cotswold |
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| Walking Trail, Lineover Wood, Cotswold |
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| Mill, Lower Slaughter, Cotswold |
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| Parish Church of St Mary, Lower Slaughter, Cotswold |
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| The Slaughters Country Inn, Lower Slaughter, Cotswold |
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| The Slaughters Manor House, Lower Slaughter, Cotswold |
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| Garden, The Slaughters Manor House, Lower Slaughter, Cotswold |
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| St Edward's Church, Stow-on-the-Wold, Cotswold |
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| Graves in the Churchyard, St Edward's Church, Stow-on-the-Wold, Cotswold |
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| The Porch House, Stow-on-the-Wold, Cotswold |
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| The Parish Church of St Peter, Upper Slaughter, Cotswold |
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| Churchyard, The Parish Church of St Peter, Upper Slaughter, Cotswold |
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| Shakespeare's Birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon |
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| Children's Bed, Shakespeare's Birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon |
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| Infant's Bed, Shakespeare's Birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon |
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| Parlour Room, Shakespeare's Birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon |
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| View from the Garden, Shakespeare's Birthplace, Stratford-upon-Avon |
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| Statue of Shakespeare, Henley Street, Stratford-upon-Avon |
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| Statue of The Jester, Henley Street, Stratford-upon-Avon |
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| Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon |
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| Shakespeare's Grave, Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon |
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| High Altar, Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon |
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| Nave, Holy Trinity Church, Stratford-upon-Avon |
Royal Shakespeare Theatre is a large theatre with a capacity of over 1,000 people, and it is owned by the Royal Shakespeare Company. The theatre originally opened in 1879 as the Shakespeare Memorial Theatre. It was destroyed in a fire in 1926. The theatre reopened in 1932 and it was renamed in 1961. The "one-room" theatre permits the actors and audience to share one space, as was the norm in Shakespeare's times. In 2010, the theatre reopened after a major redevelopment exercise.
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| Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon |
Shakespeare Memorial Fountain and Clock Tower, also called the American Fountain, is a Gothic style fountain with a clock tower. It was built in 1887 by the American journalist, George W Childs and presented to the town. It was erected as a tribute to Shakespeare, and to commemorate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee on the British throne.
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| Shakespeare Memorial Fountain and Clock Tower, Stratford-upon-Avon |
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| The River Avon, Stratford-upon-Avon |
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| Boats in the River Avon, Stratford-upon-Avon |
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| Tom Tower and Tom Quad, Christ College, Oxford |
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| Christ Church Cathedral, Christ College, Oxford |
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| High Altar, Christ Church Cathedral, Christ College, Oxford |
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| Pulpit, Christ Church Cathedral, Christ College, Oxford |
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| Ceiling, Christ Church Cathedral, Christ College, Oxford |
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| Great Dining Hall, Christ Church Cathedral, Christ College, Oxford |
University Church of St Mary the Virgin is an Anglican church located on High Street. It was founded in 1490. It is possible for visitors to climb the church's tower for fantastic views of the city. The church was the site of the 1555 trial of the Oxford Martyrs, where 3 prominent bishops were tried for heresy and later burnt at the stake.
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| University College of St Mary the Virgin, Oxford |
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| High Altar, University College of St Mary the Virgin, Oxford |
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| Organ, University College of St Mary the Virgin, Oxford |
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| Sculpture, University College of St Mary the Virgin, Oxford |
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| View of All Souls College, University College of St Mary the Virgin, Oxford |
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| Radcliffe Camera, Oxford |
The Sheldonian Theatre is a theatre built in 1669 based on a design by Sir Christopher Wren for the University of Oxford. It is named after Gilbert Sheldon, warden of All Souls College and later chancellor of the university. The theatre hosts music concerts, lectures and university ceremonies.
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| The Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford |
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| Bridge of Sighs, Oxford |
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| Statue of Peter Paul Rubens, Bodleian Library, Oxford |
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| Martyrs' Memorial, Oxford |
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| Facade, Oxford Town Hall, Oxford |
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| Costumes, Museum of Oxford, Oxford Town Hall, Oxford |
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| Diary Card, Museum of Oxford, Oxford Town Hall, Oxford |
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| Staircase, Oxford Town Hall, Oxford |
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| Facade of Covered Market, Oxford |
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| Meat Shop, Covered Market, Oxford |
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| Vegetable Shop, Covered Market, Oxford |
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| Interior, Covered Market, Oxford |
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| Facade, Ashmolean Museum, Oxford |
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| Van Dyck's The Deposition, Ashmolean Museum, Oxford |
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| Rodin's The Age of Bronze, Ashmolean Museum, Oxford |
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| Pissaro's The Tuileries Garden in Rainy Weather, Ashmolean Museum, Oxford |
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| Canaletto's Landscape with a Villa, Ashmolean Museum, Oxford |
The museum's highlights include drawings by Michelangelo, Raphael and Da Vinci; paintings by Picasso, Van Dyck, Cezanne, Constable and Titian; Egyptian antiquities; ancient Greek works of art; and sculptures from India.
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| Monet's A Mill near Vaandam, Ashmolean Museum, Oxford |
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| Degas' Dancer looking at the Sole of her Right Foot, Ashmolean Museum, Oxford |
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| Ganesha, Ashmolean Museum, Oxford |
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| Turner's View of the High Street in Oxford, Ashmolean Museum, Oxford |
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| Van Gogh's The Restaurant de la Sirene at Asniers, Ashmolean Museum, Oxford |
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| Gateway, King's College, Cambridge |
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| King Henry VIII Relief, King's College, Cambridge |
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| King's College Chapel, King's College, Cambridge |
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| Fan Vault, King's College, Cambridge |
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| Rubens' The Adoration of the Magi, King's College, Cambridge |
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| World War Memorial, King's College, Cambridge |
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| Chapel, Trinity College, Cambridge |
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| Statue of Sir Isaac Newton, Trinity College, Cambridge |
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| Great Gate, Trinity College, Cambridge |
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| Meal Table, Trinity College, Cambridge |
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| Great Court, Trinity College, Cambridge |
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| Trinity College Clock, Trinity College, Cambridge |
St Johns College was established in 1511 by the Tudor matriarch Lady Margaret Beaufort. Its alumni have won 12 Nobel Prizes. It is the second wealthiest college in Cambridge or Oxford after Trinity College, its immediate neighbour. The college is well knows for its choir and the annual May Ball. Highlights include the Great Gate, the First Court, the Second Court, the Third Court, the Chapel of St John's and the Bridge of Sighs.
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| Chapel of St John's, St John's College, Cambridge |
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| Bridge of Sighs, St John's College, Cambridge |
Trinity Street is a street that gets its name from Trinity College, which lies to its west. The street continues to the north as St John's Street and to the south as King's Parade. Trinity Street is full of popular commercial establishments, including bookshops and eateries.
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| Trinity Street, Cambridge |
Church of St Mary the Great, or Great St Mary's, is a church built in 1519. It serves as the university church for the University of Cambridge. It houses the University Organ and the University Clock. It is possible to climb the 34 meter tall tower for great views of the surroundings.
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| Church of St Mary the Great, Cambridge |
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| Tower, Church of St Mary the Great, Cambridge |
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| Clock, Church of St Mary the Great, Cambridge |
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| Organ, Church of St Mary the Great, Cambridge |
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| Choir Stalls, Church of St Mary the Great, Cambridge |
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| Chapel, St Edmund's College, Cambridge |
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| Interior of Chapel, St Edmund's College, Cambridge |
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| Round Church, Cambridge |
The River Cam runs through Cambridge. It covers a total distance of 69 km. The distance from Cambridge to the sea is about 60 km. The river passes through several colleges of the University of Cambridge and this section of the river is popular with tourists. Punts and canoes can be seen in abundance along the river.
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| River Cam, Cambridge |
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| Boats along the River Cam, Cambridge |
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| Swans and Ducks in the River Thames, Windsor |
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| Queen Victoria Statue, Windsor Castle, Windsor |
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| Main Entrance, Windsor Castle, Windsor |
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| Round Tower, Windsor Castle, Windsor |
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| Edward III Tower, Windsor Castle, Windsor |
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| Close-up of Edward III Tower, Windsor Castle, Windsor |
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| Curfew Tower, Windsor Castle, Windsor |
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| Norman Gate, Windsor Castle, Windsor |
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| South Wing, Windsor Castle, Windsor |
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| St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, Windsor |
After 2 weeks of travelling around England, it was now time to explore London. That is not the subject of this particular blog. But our time in the beautiful English towns and countryside was absolutely fantastic and we simply loved it!!
