Ten Days in England
Before departure, there are many anxieties, such as safety issues, transportation issues, climate issues, accommodation and cash, in short, all kinds.
Due to the long-haul flight of over ten hours, I chose business class for the outbound trip. There are many cheap flight recommendations on a certain app, but after comparison I still felt uneasy, so I opted for the Ctrip platform which I have been using for twenty years. Also, two-thirds of the hotels were booked through Ctrip, and the airport express and attraction tickets were also booked on Ctrip. Mainly because I think Ctrip has good service and communication is convenient. Flights and hotels are the major expenses of the trip, and the combined total exceeded 100,000 RMB. This time, some of the travelers were not in good health, so the hotels were booked with flexible cancellation policies, costing about 10% more.
My travel sequence is: first finalize the specific itinerary, then book the various tickets – this is very important. If you book hotels and flights first, it is difficult to adjust when changes occur during the trip. So the itinerary must come first, and it must be very specific and detailed.
Safety: This time I did not feel any safety problems at all. In the UK, it is generally bright until around 9 PM and dawn starts at 5 AM. As long as you walk normally during the day, there is basically no problem. Once, we were late shopping in Bicester and then went to Tesco at 10:30 PM. We tried to call an Uber back to the hotel but couldn't get one at night. Finally, we had a brainwave and called the hotel. The old gentleman at the hotel gave me the phone number of a taxi company, and a taxi arrived in five minutes.
Finances: Bank of China Zhuojun card, 500 pounds in cash. For the subway and train tickets, all expenses can be paid by card. Cash is mainly for buying things at markets, storage fees, and possible tips. However, the UK is a non-tipping country; service charges at restaurants are paid together with the bill by card.
Transportation: Shanghai to London was a China Southern business class flight, surprisingly without Wi-Fi, and the food was average. The return flight was with China Eastern, economy class also had Wi-Fi, and the food was better. Of course, service was good on both. This time I saw large patches of lightning and sunrise on the plane. From now on, I know to choose a window seat on the east side. Train tickets were all bought on Trainpal, with 30% off for adults and 40% off for children. British trains are often delayed, but you can take other trains in the same direction as long as your ticket is not restricted. This time we encountered connecting train delays, and also a train that suddenly changed its destination – we were called off by the conductor and then persuaded back on by platform staff. It was all a bit hectic, but overall it was convenient. In the city center, there are subways and buses. Children under 10 travel free. Sometimes Google Maps shows the same color line for subway transfers, but you still need to change trains. We encountered this twice, but luckily kind people helped us. The British people we met this time were quite nice.
Hotels: This depends on personal preference. We prefer larger beds, but such hotels are rare in London. We found two B&Bs, basically without air conditioning. Do not book attic rooms. Hotels generally have air conditioning, but on cool days it can be left off, making sleep very comfortable.
Climate: In August, London's weather is generally 15-26°C, with occasional days two degrees lower or over 30°C, and it rarely rains. We only encountered rain once, and it stopped within an hour. Usually, a short-sleeve shirt with a jacket is enough. For those who get cold easily or are sensitive to wind, a thin wool sweater can be added, but it should be easy to take off – layering is convenient. I really like the British summer; it's great for a holiday, except for the high cost.
Cost: The following is per person: flights + hotels 33,000 RMB, transportation + dining 15,000 RMB, plus attraction tickets and other expenses.
DAY1: Fly from Shanghai to London, take the Heathrow Express to Paddington Station, stay 300 meters from Paddington Station.
DAY2: 10 AM British Museum – booked the Admonitions Scroll in advance. Room 95 is the best for Chinese collections. Afternoon: St. Paul's Cathedral – free entry after 5 PM to attend evensong. We bought tickets on Ctrip and entered at 4 PM, which was already late. Those with energy can climb to the top for the view.
DAY3: 10:30 AM Changing the Guard ceremony. We arrived a bit late, and it was extremely crowded. Arriving at 10 AM would allow you to stand on the central steps to watch, but the first day was tiring and jet lag hadn't settled, so we decided just to take a quick look. After the procession entered the palace, there was a long ceremony. In the process of walking, I encountered good luck – many people left after the opening part, and when we walked to the main gate of the parade, we were stopped just in time! Then we got a very close view of the procession from the front row, including the handsome mounted police. Afternoon: Visit Buckingham Palace. There are three viewing points: a small museum, the carriages, and the main state rooms – the most beautiful part, but photography is not allowed inside.
DAY4: Tower Bridge (not London Bridge), Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and the London Eye – all standard tourist photo spots. Afternoon: V&A Museum. The restaurant there has a great atmosphere and is very photogenic. No reservation needed. The duck leg rice was a favorite for some.
DAY5: Morning: Walk in Hyde Park, then through to Kensington Park. I personally love it there – I sat on a bench watching a large group of swans, pigeons, and ducks under a very blue sky. At 10 AM, take the train to Bath. The station is Paddington to Bath Spa. First, drop luggage at the Apex Hotel, then go for the best fish and chips in the UK. Afternoon: Bath East Asian Art Museum – a niche place, only for those who like Chinese ceramics. Then visit the Roman Baths. On the way, see the Pulteney Bridge – very beautiful! I found the Roman Baths average. At this point, someone felt unwell and returned to the hotel to rest. I took a taxi alone to Stonehenge, arriving at 5:50 PM. There were no buses left, so I walked 2 km to see it for free from the perimeter. The best time to view is at sunset; sunrise felt too cold. In the evening, I wanted to eat the crab at that restaurant again, but after we ordered, we were told it was just sold out. After that, we vowed to order faster.
DAY6: Bath to Oxford. Near Oxford station, store luggage first – £5 per piece. Then visit the Ashmolean Museum. The university campus is also beautiful. The Bridge of Sighs leads to New College, which is very beautiful but requires an additional ticket. After that, take a taxi to Bicester. We booked a very rustic country-style hotel. In the evening, there was a big party, and we joined them for drinks, listening to them happily sing and dance. The brand-name items at Bicester Village were not very cheap, so we only bought a few things, but I got a pair of favorite sunglasses.
DAY7: Train to Manchester. The reason for going to Manchester was that I made a mistake when booking football tickets – originally they were for London, but thanks to this mistake, I fell in love with this city. Prices here are much lower than in London. Football fans can pay homage at Old Trafford. This time I watched the match between Manchester United and Chelsea, deeply experiencing the enthusiasm of British fans and the electrifying atmosphere in the stadium – it was truly worthwhile. In the evening, my Chinese stomach couldn't take it anymore, so we compromised and had Japanese teppanyaki, which was delicious.
DAY8: Train to York. York Minster – the most beautiful cathedral on this trip. Betty's Tea Room – must go early and sit on the first floor. M&S goods here are cheaper than in London, good for gifts: skincare, tea, and biscuits. Return to Manchester that evening.
DAY9: Manchester to Cambridge. Fitzwilliam Museum – I really liked it; they have my favorite Jianzhan tea bowl with leaf pattern. Fans of Van Gogh and Monet can also see some works. Then go punting. Found a cost-effective company, but someone wanted a handsome boatman and was unhappy. There are several punting companies; the ones in green are more popular on social media and more photogenic. The one I booked was more affordable, mainly because it was getting late. The weather was just right when we boarded – usually they close at 6:30 PM. After punting, we had Japanese food again; the Thai restaurant we wanted was full.
DAY10: Cambridge to London. Visit the V&A again because the fourth floor I wanted to see was closed on the first visit. Many museums in London lack air conditioning, so on very hot days the top floors can be unbearably hot. This time I was lucky and finally got to see it. Then went to Kensington Park again, then took a double-decker bus to Chelsea. Pre-booked a French restaurant. It still took us nearly an hour to choose dishes, but the food was exceptionally delicious – the best-tasting and most expensive meal of this trip.
DAY11: Midday flight. Gatwick Airport to Pudong Airport.
