Visit England’s Bodiam Castle via Steam Train As we gently trundled through the East Sussex countryside on a gorgeous, hot day, with the sun streaming through the windows, we got our first glimpse of the magnificent Bodiam Castle. Located across the valley and standing on the banks of the River Rother, the stone grey traditional, […]
Stumbling Upon Chester, England
As the train rolled into the Chester station, it dawned on me that I knew very little about the northern English town where I’d be spending the next few days. Other than a morning meeting with an editor, my schedule for a long April weekend was empty. With an unseasonably warm English spring in full […]
Durham, England: A Town of History and Charm
For those of us who fell in love with the legends of Camelot, read the Lord of the Rings over and over again and watched breathlessly as armies clashed in modern movies like Braveheart, there can be only one nation that can bring these dreams to life: the United Kingdom. All of the great fantasy […]
Enjoying Outdoor Shakespeare in Exeter, Devon
The Rougemont Gardens in Exeter, Devon come alive each summer with open air productions of Shakespeare. Whilst outdoor theatre is a common phenomenon in the UK during the summer (made all the more unforgettable by the somewhat unpredictable weather), what sets the Exeter Shakespeare in the Gardens performances apart is the fact that they occur […]
Enjoying the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall in London
If you’re visiting London during July, August or September, and you enjoy live orchestral music and want a taste of a Great British tradition, then attending a Proms concert at the Royal Albert Hall is essential. The Proms take place each year in London, from July through to September, and are a series of over […]
“Feed the Birds, Tuppence a Bag…” A Visit to London’s St. Paul’s Cathedral
Though I had harbored fantasies of visiting St. Paul’s Cathedral à la Mary Poppins (crooning sweetly and throwing seed to the nearby birds), a sign reading “please don’t feed the birds” soon dashed my hopes (I didn’t really feel like singing after that…or perhaps it was the “quiet please” sign on display as I […]
Enjoy a Traditional English Tea Service in London
Indulging in afternoon tea is a quintessential experience in England. Not to be confused with “high tea” which is a heartier meal that features more meat dishes and is served in early evening, afternoon tea is a light mid-afternoon snack, served from around 2:30 -5 p.m. Anna Maria Russell, Duchess of Bedford, is the person credited […]
Exploring Bolton Abbey in the Yorkshire Dales of England
It’s picturesque, has a fascinating history, provides plenty of walking trails and is a place that people of all ages can enjoy – it’s Bolton Abbey, in the Yorkshire Dales. The village of Bolton Abbey is located seven miles from Skipton, 17 miles from Harrogate, and lies on the banks of the River Wharfe. There you’ll […]
Why I’m a Fan of London’s Tate Modern
I’ll admit it- I’ve always been a fan of contemporary art. This appreciation turned into a passion during my time working for the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis and I became a full-blown contemporary art junkie. Though I have since pursued a career in academia and world language education, the arts have always remained part […]
Steam-Training Through Yorkshire’s Bronte Country
Steam-Training Through Yorkshire’s Bronte Country The five mile Keighley and Worth Valley Railway starts at Keighley (although you can get on and off at any station on the line) where the traditional preserved line lies alongside the mainline station. Here old steam trains gently chug out of the old station on one side, whilst modern […]