I have been back at my dad’s for a few weeks now, enjoying home-cooked meals and sleeping in my own bed again. After almost two months of travelling, my last stops in England were York and the Lake District National Park. It has also been nice to relax on the terrace again, not to mention doing some more cycling around the Fichtelgebirge area. Weather permitting, of course.
Now that I have had some time to look back on the journey, here is my small England trip summary, including my travels through Scotland and Wales as well. There were quite a few disappointing towns along the way and some surprisingly pretty ones. Which is usually the case when travelling for such a long time.
York and the Lake District National Park have definitely been added to my favourites from this trip. Both were great final stops and a nice way to wrap up almost two months of travelling around Great Britain.
Read more below…
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My England trip summary
What is there to say about the United Kingdom? And by the U.K., I mean all the places outside the rich and pretty London area. I spent three weeks travelling around the U.K. and, I must say, I was rather exhausted from all the travelling by the end of it.
First of all, driving in the United Kingdom is a pain (apologies for the language, but it is true). It was the first country where I had to check the traffic report before starting any trip for the day. There is generally a lot of traffic and, in addition, there always seems to be some kind of accident, traffic jam, or complete road closure. They just love closing roads.
Driving was tiring and exhausting and inevitably took longer than expected. Especially when, at times, there are only one or two roads leading to a particular destination, for example, in Scotland. So, if something happens on one of those roads, you are basically stuck. Read about driving in Scotland here – Where to go in Scotland!
One of the good things about the U.K. is that the toilets are free. Believe me, when travelling, this is important information worth mentioning. However, what I saved on toilet visits, I spent on parking. Whether it is in the city, on the outskirts, or at a tourist attraction, even when going hiking, there is consistently a parking fee to pay.
Crazy!
That said…
…people are generally friendly, which is nice. But they do love a drink. There were towns where I felt uneasy walking around the streets. Conversely, I have also been offered unused parking tickets by other drivers. On more than one occasion, which is definitely more often than anywhere else throughout my travels. Very kind.
So yes, driving through the U.K. was tiring, but the scenery was amazing and the people were friendly. English pubs are definitely pretty and full of atmosphere. However, my one and only ‘Carvery Buffet Dinner’, complete with the famous Yorkshire pudding, wasn’t the best.
But hey, you have to experience it to know it. It is all part of travelling.
I hope you like my little England Trip summary. Next, it’s all about the Lake District National Park and York.
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Lake District National Park
The Lake District National Park is England’s largest National Park and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It should definitely be on your list of places to visit if you are planning a trip through northern England.
Make sure to stop in Windermere and Keswick, two cute towns surrounded by beautiful lakes, rolling hills, and mountain views. Windermere is probably the most famous stop, while Keswick felt a little more relaxed and closer to nature.
I stopped several times along the way just to take photos and enjoy the views. Even the drives between towns were scenic, with stone walls, green fields, sheep, narrow roads, and lake views appearing around almost every corner. It is the kind of place where you do not really need a strict plan. Just drive, stop when something looks pretty, take a few photos, and enjoy the scenery. Weather permitting, of course. A gorgeous place to be and see!
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York and Harry Potter
I absolutely loved York. It was such a cute and idyllic little town, and I couldn’t get enough of walking through the streets of the old town. And, to top it all off, I suddenly found myself standing in front of the Harry Potter street. Here he was once again! The weather wasn’t perfect, but at least it didn’t rain.
Of course, there is also a grand cathedral to see, and Constantine was patiently waiting for me.
Overall, besides the Lake District National Park, York was one of the biggest surprises of my trip. Absolutely amazing! What a gorgeous town. I could have easily spent a few days here, settling in with the locals and enjoying the atmosphere. Next time for sure!
Just a little bit like Zwolle in Netherlands.
All the other towns of England
To add to my England trip summary, Lincoln was a cute little town, and Cambridge felt like a smaller version of Oxford. There were, of course, a few towns that I wouldn’t necessarily consider worth stopping for… let’s not mention Nottingham, Leeds, Bristol, or Lancaster. The Lake District National Park was definitely worth visiting.
But you can be sure of one thing in almost every town in the U.K.: there is always a cathedral to find. Some grander and more impressive than others, but somehow, there is always one waiting around the corner.
After a while, I almost stopped being surprised. Another town, another cathedral. Welcome to England! Still, that is the beauty of travelling. Some places surprise you, some disappoint you, and others simply become a quick stop and a photo before moving on to the next destination.
And so…
And so, it was time to leave England. But I will be back one day. After all, I would love to explore the Lake District National Park again and revisit Oxford and York for sure. Not to mention London, of course.
For now, though, it is time to relax and cycle in Germany! I jumped on a ferry back to France and started the drive home. Finally back on the right side of the road again.
(post 109)
