• Home
  • About
    • Work with Me
  • Travel Planning & Itineraries
  • Destinations
    • England
    • France
    • Italy
    • Scotland
    • United States
    • Wales
  • Mental Health
  • Lifestyle
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Bloglovin
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
Life Well Wandered

Life Well Wandered

9 June 2019 · Leave a Comment

10 Days in the UK & Ireland: A Travel Journal Part 1

Destinations· England· Ireland· London

Share this post:

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Pinterest Share on LinkedIn Share on Email

A couple of months ago, I spontaneously decided to book a trip with two coworkers at my new job to celebrate our April birthdays. Desperately wanting to get back to Europe but not wanting to wait until a yet-unplanned trip in the fall, I excitedly hit ‘book’ and spent 10 days exploring London, Dublin, and Scotland with two new friends.

image out of an airplane window somewhere over the atlantic ocean

This post has affiliate links. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.

Day One: London

Having studied abroad in London and visited it several times since then, you’d think I’d be tired of going back. Nope! While it is nice to visit new cities, I love going back to cities I already know well, just because there’s always something new to discover and less pressure to fill my days sightseeing.

After a rather long queue at customs, we took the Tube into the city and made it over to Shoreditch (really Hoxton), our home for the next few days. I quickly freshened up from the flight and minimal sleep and headed out to Shoreditch High Street to meet a former colleague for lunch at Haché Shoreditch on Curtain Road. It was the perfect way to wake up from the jetlag slump (and eat much needed non-airplane food).

city of london reflections of the gherkin sunny day

After, I wandered around Shoreditch a bit and then headed down to the City of London. I’d never had a proper wander around the City before and with the blue sky and clouds reflecting off the building surfaces, it was really photogenic.

Walking around London on this day also made me feel a little homesick for the city. The past couple of trips I’ve taken to London have been brief and, to be honest, I wasn’t as enamored with it as I have been previously. I’m glad my opinion of it changed this time around! I should also note that this was my first time not staying in West London on a trip, so that could have something to do with it.

city of london walkie talkie building

I then met back up with my companions at Ace Hotel London in their café/bar before we did some shopping (I can do some damage at M&S) and had a makeshift dinner of sausage rolls, crisps, and Percy Pigs.

Day Two: London

Our first full day in London was a busy one. I was excited to show off my former home to my friends and boy did we see a lot of it! After taking the bus to Monument, I took them to St. Dunstan-in-the-East, still one of my favorite spots in all of London, followed by the Tower of London and St. Katharine’s Docks, another favorite spot.

tower bridge and mayors office view from southbank

By then it was lunchtime, so we went to Borough Market. Although very full of tourists, it is worth a visit in London and has so many lunchtime memories for me. My usual salt beef sandwich stand wasn’t there so I opted for a cold pie from Pieminister that I’d heat up for dinner. Read more about my favorite spots in Borough Market.

See also  The Best Secret Spots in Central London

From there, we went past my old dorm behind the Tate Modern and then stopped for a break at Paul where I had a sandwich and indulged in a chausson aux pommes since they’re so hard to find in the States.

We then headed over Blackfriars Bridge (dodging some climate protestors on bikes) toward Temple. I wanted to go my usual route through Middle Temple but it was unfortunately closed (I guess for the marathon which would be the next day), so we cut up a different way, hit up LSE and Lincoln’s Inn Fields and wandered over to Seven Dials.

london school of economics new academic building kingsway

Sarah and I split off to continue exploring, buying macarons from Pierre Hermé (another purchase I always make when I’m near one) before making our way to Buckingham Palace, Parliament, and Victoria Tower Gardens and back to Southbank again. Needless to say, our feet were dead so the bus ride back was very welcome. What can I say, central London is just so walkable!

For dinner, I had my pie, polished off the sausage rolls, and tried to resist more Percy Pigs. The pollen had been particularly bad that day so I went to bed early because my eyes were in so much pain!

Day Three: London

Our third day in London was pretty slow – a welcome change from the previous day. Justicia, Sarah, and I had afternoon tea at The Ivy. I’d never been before and it was wonderful to eat my weight in scones and clotted cream for the first time in what felt like ages.

the ivy city of london for afternoon tea

We then went to Boxpark, this cool group of shops, bars, and restaurants in these old shipping containers (I think) before going on our Jack the Ripper Tour!

the ten bells jack the ripper tour spitalfields london

The last time I went on a Jack the Ripper Tour it was pouring rain, dark, and very atmospheric. This time around, it was sunny and freezing so although perhaps less atmospheric, it was a great opportunity to see more of the Spitalfields area (and document it during daylight hours). By the end, I was thoroughly creeped out and physically shivering (teeth chattering and all) so I welcomed a hot shower and warm bed.

Day Four: Dublin

The three of us made our way to London City Airport the next morning, hopping on the Tube and then the DLR for a very easy ride there. The flight to Dublin was uneventful despite some turbulence at the end AND I only had to take one ginger Dramamine a big breakthrough for my flight anxiety.

dublin ireland buildings

We had a great Airbnb (use this link for $40 off your first Airbnb booking!) located within walking distance of everything, which made it easy to explore Dublin for the first time. Justicia was feeling under the weather so Sarah and I headed out to explore. I had wanted to see Christ Church Cathedral, but it was closed for a private event so we walked around Dublin Castle instead before eating our first Nando’s of the trip!

dublin castle chapel

Naturally, I had to get a dessert. We discovered that Dublin is weirdly full of donut shops so I was able to find one still open where I purchased a pistachio one for later. Before heading in for the night, we visited Temple Bar, which wasn’t nearly as crowded as I thought it would be (I guess given that it was a Monday and pouring rain), but it was still full of tourists. Am I glad I saw it? Yes. Would I ever go back? No.

murrays bar dublin at night

Day Five: Dublin

Next day in Dublin, we woke up earlier to make it to Trinity College to see the library and Book of Kells. To see the detail depicted on the two open pages of the Book of Kells was something I’ve wanted to do for so long and it did not disappoint.

See also  One Day in the Scottish Highlands: A Review of Rabbie's Tours

The next room after the Book of Kells was the library itself – and can you say dream room?! It smells of old books (one of my favorite scents in the world) and is the perfect mix of wood and leather book covers. Unfortunately, it was impossible to read the titles (a favorite pastime whenever I’m in beautiful libraries with old books), but if that was possible I probably would have spent the entire day going from cover to cover.

trinity college dublin library

We took a recommendation from a local and stopped for breakfast at Keogh’s Café where I had one of the biggest pots of tea and a ham and cheese sandwich. Next stop: cathedrals!

Since we couldn’t visit Christ Church Cathedral the previous day, we made our way back there to have a proper look around. Per my mom’s advice, I spent a while exploring the crypts, which were impressive. You all know I love a good church!

christ church cathedral aisle

St. Patrick’s Cathedral was our next stop. While I’m glad I visited both, I think I prefer Christ Church.

st. patricks catherdal dublin ireland chapel

My blood sugar was dangerously low at that point, so we headed back to one of the main streets where we could find an open restaurant in the middle of the afternoon. I voraciously scarfed down a brisket sandwich and chips so I would be ready for our next stop: the Guinness Storehouse.

I didn’t have that much of a desire to visit the Guinness Storehouse; I’ve had Guinness before and was never a fan but I was interested to see what the experience would be like since I’d visited Glengoyne Distillery last spring in Scotland. Overall, I thought the Storehouse was really well done – well thought out and well put together. It definitely catered to Instagram and seemed almost like a Disney World experience with its curated exhibitions and ordered path to follow. I am glad I got to see it but would probably choose a distillery or brewery where I could see the product being made next time around.

guinness storehouse dublin old advert

Thanks to a suggestion from my brother’s friend, we ended up at The Cobblestone, an Irish pub with live music and a local feel. We chatted with a guy traveling solo from Maryland and then heard about 20 students simultaneously break into choral music in classical Latin. I had tears in my eyes because of the beauty of it all – the students were dispersed throughout the pub, so the sound enveloped the entire room. It is indescribable. That is why I travel. How else could you have a spontaneous experience like that?

the cobblestone pub dublin exterior

Read Part 2 of my trip to the UK travel journal!

See also  Visiting Sudeley Castle: A Castle Hidden in the Heart of the Cotswolds

You may also like

Share this post:

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Pinterest Share on LinkedIn Share on Email
Previous Post: « 10 Days in France: A Travel Journal
Next Post: 10 Days in the UK & Ireland: A Travel Journal Part 2 »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Welcome to Life Well Wandered

alex life well wandered

Welcome to my corner of the internet! Life Well Wandered is a travel blog where you'll find a little bit of everything. I love sharing itineraries from past trips, secret spots I've discovered on my travels, histories of places I find fascinating, and stories about my mental health.

  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
Life Well Wandered

Search

What’s New

  • A Guide to Stow-on-the-Wold in the Cotswolds
  • The Real-Life Inspiration for Moria? Exploring St. Edward’s Church in Stow-on-the-Wold
  • A Lord of the Rings Guide to the Cotswolds: Places That Inspired Tolkien’s World
  • Day Trips from London: Stonehenge & Salisbury
  • Visiting Upper Slaughter in the Cotswolds: A Guide
Follow
college tourist

Note: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Please check our disclosure page for more information.

lifewellwandered

My favorite stop in Bruges was City Hall. Built in My favorite stop in Bruges was City Hall. Built in 1376, it is one of the oldest in the Low Countries and has been used as the seat of the city government for over 600 years. 🤓
Inside City Hall is the beautiful gothic hall. It was remodeled in the 19th century and decorated with beautiful murals and woodwork from floor to ceiling. The ceiling dates from 1385. The murals were painted in the 19th century and depict different people from Belgian history, including Jan Van Eyck, Brueghel, Rubens, and more. 😍 #lifewellwandered
If you fancy climbing up about 400 steps in a spir If you fancy climbing up about 400 steps in a spiral staircase, then consider visiting the Belfry in Bruges. From the top, you'll see just how beautiful Bruges is, with its winding streets and orange rooftops. 😍
Dating back to the 13th century, the Belfry is the most important tower in Bruges. At over 83 meters (272 feet) tall, it was an important status symbol in the Middle Ages. It formerly housed the treasury and city archives, as well as a market for the town. 🏰
At the top of the tower, you'll find a carillon—47 bells playable by hand with a keyboard—with bells ranging in weight from two pounds to 11,000 pounds. Historically, the bells were used not only to mark the passage of time but also to alert residents of fires, work hours, or important events. Today, if you visit at the top of the hour, you'll get to experience the ringing of the bells. 🛎 #lifewellwandered
In March of 2015, I began my biggest trip around E In March of 2015, I began my biggest trip around Europe to date. We had about 5 weeks off (during which we were supposed to be revising for exams) so my friend and I took the opportunity to see as much of Europe as possible while also getting to know each stop as well as possible. A hard balance to strike, but we did the best we could! 🇪🇺
Our first stop was Bruges. We visited on the day of a solar eclipse, but it was already cloudy and foggy so the lack of sunlight wasn’t noticed. We spent our day in Bruges wandering around the streets and eating waffles - not a bad start to a trip around Europe that would be characterized by eating and wandering! 🍽 #lifewellwandered
The last stop on my series of day trips around Eng The last stop on my series of day trips around England was Windsor. I had been close to Windsor once before but had yet to visit Windsor Castle or the town. Windsor Castle was overwhelming. 🏰
It is the oldest and largest occupied castle in the world, founded by William the Conqueror and the home of 39 monarchs. We spent hours walking around the various wings and exhibits, trying to absorb everything we could. Have you visited Windsor Castle before? 👑 #lifewellwandered
Bath is most famous for, well, its Roman baths. As Bath is most famous for, well, its Roman baths. As a Roman history nerd, Bath was on my to-visit list for ages and I spent my entire visit to the baths geeking out over all of the artifacts and ruins. 🤓
For thousands of years, 240,000 gallons of 115ºF water has risen into this spring, known as the Sacred Spring, daily. In Roman times, this phenomenon was believed to be the work of the Gods, so Romans built a temple dedicated to the goddess Sulis Minerva, a deity with healing powers, around the spring. Water from it feeds the Roman baths. 🛁 #lifewellwandered
Three churches have occupied the site of Bath Abbe Three churches have occupied the site of Bath Abbey since 757AD. There was first an Anglo-Saxon monastery, then a massive Norman cathedral (the foundations of which can be seen underground in one part of the Abbey) and then the present abbey church from the 1600s. ⛪️
The first King of England, King Edgar, was crowned here in 973 - his coronation set the precedent for the current coronation ceremony of all kings and queens of England. 👑 #lifewellwandered
I visited Winchester on what felt like the first w I visited Winchester on what felt like the first warm, sunny day in months. When you live in a place without regular sun, you always take advantage of beautiful days. Winchester made the perfect destination for a beautiful day spent walking around and exploring. 🤗
Winchester’s High Street is built along the original Roman street that led through the town. Today, it has buildings dating from the 16th century. The clock was presented after a visit from Queen Anne in 1713. 🕑 #lifewellwandered
Chances are, you’ve heard of the Knights of the Chances are, you’ve heard of the Knights of the Round Table. Did you know that the Round Table of King Arthur can be found in the Great Hall in Winchester? ⚔️
While this table was created around 1290, well after the death of King Arthur and his knights, it’s still impressive to visit. Weighing over one ton, it is thought to portray King Arthur on his throne surrounded by 24 places for his knights. King Henry VIII added a Tudor Rose during his reign. Swipe for a closer look at the table! 🤓 #lifewellwandered
In another edition of always visit the cathedral i In another edition of always visit the cathedral in the town you visit, I bring you Winchester Cathedral. One of the reasons why I chose to visit Winchester of all places was its connection to Jane Austen. Jane Austen spent the last weeks of her life in a house in Winchester and was laid to rest in its cathedral in 1817. ⛪️
Have you ever traveled somewhere because of a favorite author? 🤓 #lifewellwandered
Load More... Follow on Instagram
  • Home
  • About
  • Travel Planning & Itineraries
  • Destinations
  • Mental Health
  • Lifestyle

Copyright © 2023 · beloved theme by Restored 316