Welcome to our wild & wonderful UK wanderings…

Hello, lovely readers!

The big G (he’s the tall one), travel buddy Ian (he’s the short one) and me

Join us on our latest adventure — a journey across the UK, this time with the big G, the gorgeous man, who, when I quoted Mary Oliver’s The Summer Day (“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”), replied: “Exactly this. Exploring the world with you, starting with Britain, and our buddy Ian is joining us!

From the moment we surfaced from the tube into the London sun at Westminster to our final toast in Notting Hill, this trip was a glorious mix of history, heart and hilarity. We wandered through centuries of stories – stood beneath the Gothic grandeur of Westminster Abbey, wandered along Birdcage Walk, and watched the keys of the Tower of London lock history away for the night.

We strolled through Trafalgar Square and admired the Lion’s kitten paws, chatted with scarlet-coated Chelsea Pensioners and paused at memorials carved in gumleaf granite. We lost ourselves in portraits of icons past and present, marvelled at the luminous Blue Lady at Somerset House, trawled our way through asian restaurants in Soho and sprinted for a Thames cruise in Ted Lasso territory.

Beyond London, the journey unfolded like a story book – punts and pranks in Cambridge, bling races and ghostly alleys in York, Volcanic castles and spyholes in Edinburgh and a bling overload in Windsor. From the decks of HMS Victory to the quiet reverence of the Mary Rose, and the iron pride of HMS Warrior, every stop shimmered with history and humour.

It wasn’t just sightseeing, it was a celebration of friendship, discovery and the joy of saying ‘yes’ to the moment. Each cobblestone, cathedral and pint pulled us deeper into Britain’s wild, wonderful story, chronicled of course!

The Chapters So Far…
  • London’s Blinged-up Beating Heart – Westminster – where the Houses of Parliament compete with Big Ben’s brand new bling
  • Cannons, Captains & Clever Engineering – Portsmouth – three warships that rewrote history in wood, sail and steel
  • Scarlet Coats & Sparkling Stories – meeting the Chelsea Pensioners over a well-earned G&T
  • Lions, Lamp Posts and London Legends – Trafalgar Square – where Nelson keeps watch, lions have cat paws and lamp posts moonlight as police stations.
  • Brains, Bridges & a Bed to Die For – Cambridge – from King’s College Chapel to a punt gone wrong
  • When Monuments Speak – what London’s memorials whisper if you pause long enough to listen
  • Britain’s Family Album – The Portrait Gallery – from Shakespeare to Bowie — and a modern twist by Jenny Saville
  • Dreams, Breaths & Blue Light – Simerset House’s luminous lady invites us to pause and imagine.
  • Keys, Lanterns & Late Night Rituals – The Tower of London’s nightly Ceremony of the Keys.
  • Pints, Punts and Plenty of Ghosts – York – a weekend in the UK’s most haunted (and most pub-filled) city.
  • Pints, Pubs and Pub Runs – From Ted Lasso’s ‘Believe’ to a mad dash along the Thames- Richmond delivers heart, humour and a happy ending.
  • A city of Stories, a Castle of Secrets – Edinburgh – witches, wars, and a sneaky spy hole in Britain’s most besieged fortress

A Barrel of Thanks

And of course, this adventure wouldn’t be complete without a massive barrel of gratitude to our fabulous hosts, Adrian and Christine. There to greet us as we popped out of the tube at Westminster, there for that very last pint at Notting Hill, you were our guides, chauffeurs, planners, and partners in mischief.

You gave us the best of London — from surprise French cannon bollards (the last ones standing!) to VIP Tower of London key handovers, from drinks on Thames-anchored ships to Richmond river cruises, a peek inside the Australian Embassy, and even the secret tip for Horizon 22 — the city’s best complimentary view.

Add in perfect pub roasts, route-planning apps, and endless laughter over a Charcuterie board at the end of a long day, you made our trip extraordinary.

Thank you, dream team! Our door is always open when you next land in Oz.

Up next:

  • A row of pastel facades and pretty pubs in Notting Hill
  • A bird’s-eye view of the City of London – the smallest city in the UK
  • A raft of bling at Windsor Castle – from royal weddings to doll houses

Grab a coffee, indulge in a bit of escapism and feel free to share your own fun stories and recommendations in the comments!