If we hadn’t already had our fill of castles and fish and chips in Scotland, England certainly made sure of it. Beyond its iconic castles, England offered us beautiful national parks and gardens at every turn. But the highlight for me was finally getting to see something I’ve dreamed of experiencing for most of my life—Stonehenge.
Tuesday, September 17 – East Coast Castles and an Old Wall
We had a slow start to the day, sleeping in and grabbing a quick breakfast at McDonald’s before heading off on our adventure. Our first stop was Bamburgh Castle, a stunning fortress perched high above the North Sea. On our way there, we noticed a line of cars pulled over and soon spotted why—water birds everywhere! Naturally, we couldn’t resist joining in, so we pulled over to snap a few photos before continuing to the castle.
Bamburgh didn’t disappoint. Its sheer size and medieval grandeur had us captivated as we circled the massive structure, capturing shots from every angle. Once we’d had our fill of Bamburgh, we headed north to Lindisfarne Castle, located on Holy Island. This place is special—accessible only by a causeway that gets submerged at high tide. On our way, we veered off down a narrow, one-lane road that led us to the sea and a hidden bird-watching hide. The views were incredible, and I managed to get some great photos of the castle from afar.
Feeling adventurous, we decided to drive toward the causeway itself. There was an electronic sign giving crossing times, but we mistakenly thought it referred to train schedules. It wasn’t until we found ourselves on the causeway, with water already creeping up, that we realized the sign was for the tides! We quickly turned around and headed back, just in time to avoid getting stranded. Back on solid ground, we pulled over and took more bird photos, watching the tide slowly reclaim the road.
From there, we set our sights on Hadrian’s Wall, driving west through scenic countryside. We found the perfect spot to admire the ancient Roman wall stretching endlessly across the fields, a quiet reminder of Britain’s far-reaching history. Nearby, we explored Birdoswald Roman Fort, where we picked up a few souvenirs to remember the day.
Finally, we made our way to a cozy inn, our home for the night. Dinner was waiting for us, and after a day of castles, near-misses with the tides, and centuries-old ruins, it was the perfect way to unwind.
Wednesday, September 18 – Lyme Park & Welsh Lighthouse Adventure
We started our day with a visit to Lyme Park in Peak District National Park. The sprawling estate and its beautiful gardens were perfect for a leisurely stroll, and we made our way out to “The Cage,” a striking structure on the grounds. Afterward, we enjoyed a late lunch of toasties while soaking in the peaceful scenery. From there, we headed to Wales and checked into a Holiday Inn for a brief rest before setting off on a short hike over sand dunes to a lighthouse. The walk was worth every step, and the day ended with dinner at a seaside restaurant, the perfect setting to unwind.
Thursday, September 19 – Cows on a Bridge & a Glimpse of Stonehenge
This morning offered one of the oddest sights of our trip: cows crossing a bridge over the highway as we drove south toward Salisbury! We couldn’t help but laugh at the ingenious setup for cows to move from one pasture to another.
Our first stop was Tintern Abbey, a hauntingly beautiful ruin on the border of Wales and England, surrounded by lush greenery and the River Wye. After exploring, we had lunch at a local tavern. By evening, we arrived at the iconic Stonehenge. Though we didn’t buy tickets to get up close, we parked among RVers and free spirits along a dirt road with a perfect view of the stone circle. I’d waited years to see it in person and took photos at sunset and moonrise, though the results weren’t quite as magical as I’d hoped. Still, the experience and the people we met made it unforgettable. Dinner was a comedic attempt at “American” fare, which fell short but gave us a good laugh.
Friday, September 20 – Up Close with Stonehenge & Exploring Salisbury
Today, we finally bought tickets to get closer to Stonehenge. Though “close” still meant a distance, it was thrilling to walk the path around the stones and see them from every angle. I took tons of photos and indulged in the gift shop afterward. From there, we ventured into Salisbury, stopping first for lunch at the Cozy Club, an eclectic spot with a vintage vibe. Rain cut our plans to visit the cathedral short, so instead, we hit up Primark for some extra luggage to handle our ever-growing collection of souvenirs. We ended the day with a quiet dinner back at the hotel.
Saturday, September 21 – Winchester Cathedral & Jane Austen’s Legacy
After breakfast, we made our way to Winchester Cathedral, where we had pre-booked tickets. Navigating the car park’s parking machine was a bit of a challenge, but thankfully, we had enough change to make it work. Inside, the cathedral was breathtaking, and I had the chance to visit Jane Austen’s tomb, which was a special moment for me. After exploring the gift shop and checking out a nearby craft market, we grabbed lunch at The Bishop on the Bridge before heading to Hursley. Alan reminisced about his time living and working there in the ’80s, and we followed that with a short tour of Jane Austen’s House. A quick detour to Woodhenge, thought to be a sister site to Stonehenge, capped off the day. Dinner was a delicious Indian meal at Amesbury Tandoori.
Sunday, September 22 – Wild Ponies & a Mix-up in Southampton
Our last full day in the UK brought us to New Forest National Park, even in the rain. First up was Furzey Gardens, a whimsical place filled with fairy-themed decorations that was charming despite the weather. We enjoyed a cozy snack—scones with cream and jam for me and a pretzel for Alan—before heading toward a deer sanctuary. Along the way, we encountered wild ponies, small yet rugged, and spotted the wild horses the park is known for, though they looked a little scruffy in the rain. At the car park, we hesitated to brave the elements for the deer, so we simply enjoyed some Jelly Babies and watched the scenery from the car. Our day ended with a surprise—upon checking in at our Southampton hotel, I realized I’d booked the wrong Holiday Inn! Luckily, it worked out for the best, as our alternate location offered a quieter stay outside the city center.
Monday, September 23 – Farewell UK, Hello Cruise
After breakfast, we dropped off our rental car in Southampton—a moment of triumph for Alan, who was more than ready to say goodbye to navigating narrow roads and endless roundabouts. We took our very first Uber ride with Jakub, a friendly driver who even offered to take us to the cruise terminal later in the day. Our conversation with him was a great way to wrap up the road trip portion of our adventure. Next up: setting sail!