The Grass Is Greener Across The Pond: An England Travel Guide

Your Guide to Exploring London, The Cotswolds, and Oxford!

Oh, where to even begin? Where does one find the words? Traveling has always been it for me. “What do you want to do when you’re older?” Something where I can travel. “Where are you going to live after college?” Some place far. It’s something about returning to that (almost obnoxiously curious) childlike mindset and looking at everything through rose-colored glasses. No matter how often we say we will appreciate the little things at home when we return, we never do. And maybe that’s part of the magic of going?

The day a guy puts the same kind of butterflies in my stomach as the ones I get during my dramatic shuffle down the airplane aisle with some indie band soundtracking the moment through my headphones, I'm marrying him. But what lights the spark of the urge to travel isn’t something tangible; it’s not even a Condé Nast-reviewed destination and a swanky resort. It’s the feeling of going somewhere, seeing what’s different, discovering things about yourself, the constant stimulation. It’s the freedom to choose, letting responsibilities be put on hold, delaying the mundane. The opportunity to wear the outfit and not second guess it the second you step out your door. That’s why I love it. So with that, I want to share with you some of my stories and recommendations from my roadtrip around England.

London!

Just recently named The Best City To Visit In The World In 2023 by The New York Times!

Kicking off the trip with this iconic city was a no-brainer. Shortly after arriving at Heathrow airport, we caught a taxi to the hotel (more to come on this place soon) and hit the ground running. We couldn't check in yet, so I did my makeup in the lobby bathroom and tried my best to rock the "I just spent 8 hours in the middle seat" look. Dark circles under your eyes are chic, right?

Anyway, back to hitting the ground running - DAY 1 IN LONDON

(Although this is my first travel blog, you'll quickly learn I'm not one for famous statues and tourist traps)

• One foot in front of the other! There's no way you'll see all the sights in one trip. Forget the pressure of checking every landmark off your bucket list and just pick a couple. Given our trip length and interests, we chose Buckingham Palace and Harrods. We started toward the palace, a quick walk from our hotel in Leicester Square.

• Buckingham Palace! You've got to do it. The sheer size of this place alone is worth the trip, not to mention marveling at how perfectly in sync the guards are if you get to witness them changing shifts (on the hour every hour / half an hour, depending on the time of year). There are tours you can book ahead that will take you inside, but at this point, the seven-floor department store had yet to be conquered, and we moved on. *Note: Google the correct pronunciation of "Buckingham" before you go, it will save you the embarrassment. https://www.rct.uk/visit/buckingham-palace

• Harrods Department Store! About a half-hour walk away from the palace through Green Park, you'll arrive in Heaven. *Harrods? Sorry. Opening its doors in 1834 as a single-room tea and grocery store, Harrods has grown into the biggest department store in Europe, becoming home to exclusive luxury apparel with designer showrooms and an entire food hall and market. We're not talking Chick Fil A and Panda Express food hall; you'll just have to see for yourself to fully understand. https://www.harrods.com/en-us/

• After hours of immersing ourselves in all of London's cultural and posh sights, walking around different streets and neighborhoods, the lovely jet lag set in. One thing about the Mayberry family, is that we are going to get our 8 hours of sleep (at least). So accepting defeat, we headed back to our hotel for a pre-dinner nap.

• The Londoner! If anyone has any contacts at Travel + Leisure, please send them my way so I can pitch this feature to them. How is nobody talking about this place?! This new hotel (opened in 2021) located in the heart of Leicester Square deserves all the hype and coming from a "I don't care where we stay, I'll sleep in my car" kind of girl... I wouldn't lead you astray. Not only does it come with a Dyson hair dryer in the room, there's also a spa, top-notch gym, speakeasy, and rooftop bar with a beautiful unobstructed view; need I go on? Visit the art gallery on the 2nd floor during the day and hit up the hotel's exclusive Tavern with open-air dining and live music. My trip would've been amazing even if I had never left the hotel! https://www.thelondoner.com/

• The Ivy Collection! Taking the concierge's recommendation, we walked through Chinatown over to The Ivy Collection for a classic English dinner of fish and chips. While it is certainly not my favorite, the other dishes we tried were phenomenal (get the black cod). Definitely a good spot and atmosphere, 8/10. https://ivycollection.com/

DAY 2 IN LONDON!

• Portobello Road Market! We woke up and took a taxi to Notting Hill, hoping to experience the same magic the Julia Roberts rom-com portrayed. Only on Saturdays, all of Portobello Road shuts down, and the streets are flooded with vendors from all over selling art, every cuisine imaginable, antiques, and handmade clothes. You name it, and they sell it. Also, Lovers Lane is a must-see while in the neighborhood; it's the best vintage store I've ever been in with authentic Vivienne Westwood and designer styles straight from the runway (literally). Hitting your steps is no problem here, we walked for an hour or two before stumbling upon a lunch spot. https://www.portobelloroad.co.uk/the-market/

• Pizza East! Situated on the corner with an outdoor dining area, this was one of my favorite lunches from the whole trip. Avocado toast. Truffle pizza. Aperol Spritz. People watching. Absolutely divine. (It has since closed, but no shortage of good spots in this neighborhood!)

• Neal's Yard/Covent Garden! After making our way back closer to the hotel, we explored this little area filled with more shops and restaurants; super fun to window shop here or grab a drink/bite before dinner. Don't miss GANNI or Covent Garden Market! https://www.coventgarden.london/

• Sketch! Sketch was sketchy I won't lie! Yes, it makes for GREAT Instagram content with beautiful decor and a cheeky aesthetic, but I think whoever's paying the bill won't be laughing when the check comes around! The food was good, and the vibes were there, don't get me wrong, but for a 3 Michelin star restaurant, the service was very disappointing. (I sound grumpy, but just looking out for you all and your wallets, lol!) If the content is worth it, get drinks at the bar and skip the dining part (no shame!) https://sketch.london/

• James Corden! We saw him walking home from dinner. Walking behind him and watching people notice was quite literally the funniest thing ever. I can only hope you all get this lucky with a niche experience like this on your trip.

...TO THE COTSWOLDS!

While we had hoped to be on a train to Paris this day, it wasn't feasible with all of the railroad strikes that were happening at this time. That led us to a road less traveled, and for that I am forever grateful.

Keep reading to learn how to have the best day of your life!!

• Step One: Rental Car! Yes, you may not be able to comfortably fit in tiny foreign car. Yes, you may have a driver who is completely unfamiliar with driving on the right side of the road. Yes, a recipe for disaster. But alas, that's part of what makes it a journey, the double-decker bus tours that roll in here just aren't the same.

• Step Two: Time travel back to the 16th century?! The Cotswolds! After researching the best day trips from London, curiosity led us here. Known for their charming cottages, storybook cobblestone streets, and a Cameron Diaz in The Holiday type of getaway. This destination is unlike any place I have ever visited. https://www.cotswolds.com/

• Step Three: Turn on The Lumineers, and drive! There are countless routes you can take on your road trip through the Cotswolds. We ventured through Burton on the Water, Stow in the Wold, and Chipping Camden. These stops were filled with ice cream, bookstores, and pinching each other to make sure this place was real. Pick a couple to hit, walk its streets for a while, and then drive ten or fifteen miles to the next one.

• Step Four: Cotswold Lavender! Hope you're not tired of driving yet! Perhaps the most integral step to having a perfect day is to hit this lavender field. It's pure bliss. God really took his time on this place. Wide open spaces with miles and miles of wildflowers, fresh lavender, and rolling hills. Truly a once in a lifetime experience with a gift shop of souvenirs for all your jealous friends at home! Nothing says I love and miss you better than a homemade lavender scone :) https://www.cotswoldlavender.co.uk/

• Step Five: Cheltenham! Ellenborough Park! And now for the finale! You'll pull into the stunning Ellenborough Park and instantly fall in love; surrounded by goat farms and situated on property with a rich history dating back to 1485. This is my favorite place I have ever stayed in my entire life. So much so that I debated picking up a waitress job at the restaurant and never leaving? I could do an entire post on this place, but I'll leave you with their website if it sparks your interest. https://www.ellenboroughpark.com/

LAST LEG OF THE ENGLISH TOUR: OXFORD!

• The Randolph! Got all checked in at our last hotel, and (you guessed it) hit the streets! When my genius-Oxford-law-exchange-student-of-a-sister got out of class, we met her for coffee and got a local's guide to all of the best pubs and shopping in Oxford! https://www.graduatehotels.com/oxford-uk/

• The Covered Market! This place solves the universal struggle of trying to please every family member by finding a place to eat. With every option under the sun, this market is the perfect, quick and affordable lunch spot while you're out and about exploring. https://oxford-coveredmarket.co.uk/

• New College! One of the most widely known and respected universities in the world, Oxford University is home to some of the most important research and stunning campuses. New College is one of the 44 colleges at Oxford and my personal favorite because the iconic opening scene from Mamma Mia: Here We Go Again was filmed here! However, any of them are worth paying a visit to. https://youtu.be/YSN08rz66zE

• Explore! Walk the streets, let the academia wash over you, and make sure you drive out of this town smarter than when you came.

• Christ Church! Pay for the audio tour, and book it ahead. So worth it. I know trips with your family are always filled with wandering through old churches and you may be looking for something new, but don't miss this. It's the old church of old churches! Fun Fact: it was here where Lewis Carroll, a tutor at Oxford, met Alice (the Dean's daughter), who inspired the story of Alice in Wonderland written by Carroll in 1865. https://www.chch.ox.ac.uk/visit-us

• Victor's! My sister chose this place which immediately checked out when upon arrival you saw a room filled floor to ceiling with flowers. The food here was good, with even better views. 8/10 overall! https://www.victors.co.uk/

LAST DAY, MAKE IT COUNT!

• First things first! Chocolate croissants and a latte! We woke up and headed down the street to The Paper Boat Cafe. Such a cozy little spot, a hole in the wall for sure. Grab a table outside, and you can watch punting boats go down the Thames River! From there, we checked out the park nearby and strolled around. https://the-paper-boat-cafe.business.site/

• Ashmolean Museum! The Museum of Natural History! Pitt Rivers Museum! You know you've been influenced by Oxford when you start wigging out over museums. But the best part is... they're all free! If time is an object, hit The Museum of Natural History. If these interest you, you should also check out the house of C.S. Lewis, which I didn't get to, but would've loved! https://www.oumnh.ox.ac.uk/

• To close out the perfect day and a perfect trip, we ate dinner and cheesecake at the hotel. It was perfect.

Well, that's all! This post was so much fun to make and a great way to document my memories. If anyone has additional questions, I'd be more than happy to answer them in the comments! As always, thank you for reading!

Xo, Maddie Mayberry