Hello, lovely readers!

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

And just like that, our grand romp across the UK comes to a close – a tapestry of misty mornings, midnight ceremonies, pastel streets, castles perched on volcanoes, and more belly laughs than we ever expected.

From Westminster’s sunlit grandeur to Windsor’s royal sparkle…

From punting mishaps on the Cam to ghost tales in York…

From scarlet-coated storytellers to Ted Lasso pep talks in Richmond…

From Viking digs to volcanic heights…

From art that stirred the soul to history that tugged the heart…

Every chapter gave us something: a moment, a memory, a quote, a giggle, a pint, a surprise, a story to retell later with dramatic embellishment (as is our right).

And woven through it all was the simple truth we keep circling back to – that this is what we choose to do with our one wild and precious life. To explore. To wonder. To laugh. To feel history beneath our feet and possibility in our pockets. To spend time with people we adore, in places that ignite something inside us.

So here’s to the UK – for its charm, its chaos, its courage, its characters…and for reminding us that adventure doesn’t need to be perfect to be extraordinary. As mentioned right at the start…what do you wish to do with this ‘one wild and precious life?’ Exactly this!

Until the next journey, lovely readers.

Bags at the ready. Hearts wide open.

More stories await.

Dive into our chapters with a lazy scroll through…

• 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
• Dreams, Breaths & Blue Light – Somerset 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
• A city of Stories, a Castle of Secrets – Edinburgh – witches, wars, and a sneaky spy hole in Britain’s most besieged fortress.
• Crowns, Clocks and Cozy Cafes – Windsor – from bling and butter pats to one poor chap lighting 300 fires – Windsor Castle at its royal best.
• Pastel Homes and Aussie Hospitality – Notting Hill – where the pubs are bright, the Aussie service fantastic and every street’s ready for a close-up.

And a barrel of thanks…

And! A barrel of thanks and gratitude to our fabulous hosts, Adrian and Christine. There to greet us as we popped out from 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, and you made our trip extraordinary.

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

So lovely, readers… grab your bevvy of choice, kick back, indulge in a spot of escapism, and feel free to share your own fun stories and recommendations in the comments!

Married to a man who is a walking horse pedigree encyclopaedia, soaking up the energy of the Ebor Races was one of his bucket list essentials. And oh boy, don’t the Brits take their racing seriously!

Hi again, lovely readers.

Today, we armed ourselves with hats and a fascinator snaffled from the markets, pop heels and dress shoes into overly stuffed bags (Edinburgh next), jump on an early train and do a dress up Houdini in a York pub before joining the masses on this, the last day of the race meet.

A Snap from the Track

Those kick ass heels!

First things first, the Ebor Festival isn’t just a race meet, it’s a four-day celebration of drama, glamour and top-tier flat racing. Running every August at York Racecourse, its roots stretch back to when the Ebor Handicap first galloped to life in 1843. Today, it’s Europe’s richest flat handicap, offering an impressive £500,000 purse to the winner and carrying centuries of tradition along its turf.

Each festival day has its own theme:
• Wednesday: Juddmonte International Day
• Thursday: Ladies’ Day, stilettos and sipping
• Friday: Nunthorpe Day, speed and surprise
• Saturday: The iconic Ebor Day — the crescendo of racing week.

Folks drop in by smoking parachutes, there are snipers on the roof, and Queen Camilla pops in to present the trophy to Ethical Diamond, taking the Ebor crown with style and reminding us all why racegoers love this sport.

Aching feet, Moët fugue, happy-chappy, gotta say it’s a significant relief to find our delightful Air B&B nearby and crash, ready to hit York tomorrow.

York – More Than Just a Racetrack

York, by contrast, whispers history – the kind that unfolds between winding lanes and hidden corners, wonky streets, medieval gateways and the home of scrummy Yorkshire puddings with rich gravy (took one for the team and ate two serves!) – this gem of a city holds so many fun facts – here’s my top ten!

1. York is home to Whip-Ma-Whop-Ma-Gate, one of the world’s shortest streets – just 35 metres long – with a name that loosely means “neither one thing nor the other.”

2. York Minster’s Great East Window is the largest expanse of medieval stained glass in Europe, completed in 1408 and telling biblical stories across more than 300 panels.

3. The city boasts over 365 pubs, more per square mile than anywhere else in England – from haunted taverns to centuries-old inns.

4. With over 500 recorded ghost sightings, York is considered Europe’s most haunted city. Ghost tours through The Shambles and Treasurer’s House are legendary. Definitely on the agenda for next trip!

5. The Jorvik Viking Centre brings York’s Viking roots to life with recreated streets, smells, and artefacts from excavations of the original settlement. This was fascinating!

6. Its medieval walls stretch over two miles, the longest and best-preserved in England, offering the perfect walk with views over the Minster.

7. The infamous Gunpowder Plot conspirator Guy Fawkes was born here in 1570. His birthplace is now the Guy Fawkes Inn.

8. York has twice been England’s capital: as Roman Eboracum and later under Edward I during his Scottish campaigns.

9. They say that York’s crooked medieval street, The Shambles, inspired Diagon Alley in the Harry Potter films, though JK Rowling disputes this. Regardless, The Shambles capitalises on this with loads of small shops devoted to Potter memorabilia.

10. Every September, the city hosts the UK’s largest food and drink festival, celebrating local produce, street food, and craft drinks.

York Minster

Little Shamble Street

Kinda packed in the Shambles!

G sampling one of those pubs

Final Thoughts

Rome’s cobbles, Viking secrets, and horse racing excitement all rolled into two days – York gave me contrast and context in the most delightful way – like stepping from history into haute-couture sport and back.

Next stop Edinburgh.