England was a lot less stressful than France, and the halfway point of my trip. I was able to enjoy myself more now that I could actually understand people. The air was also a lot cleaner in England than in France. I foolishly forgot to buy a plug-in converter for the UK, so I had to buy a USB plug-in when I got there so I could at least use my phone. The middle part of my England excursion was less enjoyable since I got a cold and didn’t want to do much, but my trip ended on a high note despite that.
MATLOCK, ENGLAND
Matlock was probably one of my favorite cities that I visited. It is a small city in the middle of England. There is a lot of nature around, but still a decent amount of stores and things to do. The first day I stayed in the town and wandered in the parks and went into some shops. Punnydukes is a local shop dedicated to small business artists whose work is inspired by fantastical and bewitching books as well as films. Punnydukes was the reason I came to this town but found other joys within the town. The next day I walked 30 minutes to Matlock Bath and went to the Heights of Abraham. It was A LOT of walking and hills, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. You take a cable car to the top of a massive hill and there are tons of breathtaking views. There are also 2 caves you can tour. On a hot day, the cool caves were very welcome. Arriving there I didn’t realize that the Heights of Abraham was a historical thing. I just found it when looking for things to do, but I am glad I went. On the last day, I wandered Matlock Bath for a while and found a garden to walk around in. After that, I went back to Matlock. The day I was leaving there was a small festival in the square so I went to that since I had a couple of hours to spare. I will put the photographs from that on my Events page. I sadly had to use my phone since I had to lug my suitcase and heavy backpack around, but I think there are some decent shots.
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND
I was in Birmingham the longest since there was a gap I needed to fill from the original plan. On the first day, I went to the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery which was a bit of a let down. Half of it ended up being closed for renovation so the work that I wanted to see was in storage. There was still some cool art to look at though so it wasn’t a total waste. After that, I went to the Birmingham Library. It was massive and stunning. I have never seen a library so big or so many books in one place in my life aside from in films. There were two rooftop gardens, so I got to see the city from above. It was a nice break from people. The next day was Dudley Zoo and Castle. It was pretty much like any other zoo, but with a few animals, I’m not used to seeing. They also had an area where lemurs roamed free. The castle area was serene and peaceful. On the third day of being there, I started feeling sick. Luckily it wasn’t that bad and I could still go out and do things. I went to the Wildlife Conservation which didn’t take long to get through, so I also went to the Botanical Gardens. On the last day, I went to Castle Bromwich Gardens. It was great being surrounded by nature.
BRIGHTON, ENGLAND
I did the least amount of stuff in Brighton which was disappointing. I wasn't feeling good and wasn’t feeling up for much. I stayed in a hostel which was a 5-minute walk to the beach front. I walked along the pier the first day and went to the Upside Down House and went on the i360. The Upside Down House would’ve been fun if I was with someone. The i360 had some cool ariel views, but the reflections were so bad inside you couldn’t get a decent photo. I also went to a few shops that day. The next day I went to the Brighton Museum which wasn’t what I thought it would be, but it had some very intriguing work. I also went to the Royal Pavilion which was gorgeous inside. On the final day, I went to Sea Life and walked along the pier.
LONDON, ENGLAND
London was my last and final stop before going home. It was what I was looking forward to the most since I planned my trip in the beginning. The day I got there I saw a theatre playing Wicked, and I impulsively bought a ticket for that night. It was the best impulsive purchase ever. The show was wicked (pun intended) and totally worth going to. For those who do not know me, I am a massive Harry Potter fan, so London was purely a trip for that. The first day was a Harry Potter walking tour. I got to see where they took inspiration from for the films as well as some of the actual filming locations. It was very fun and exciting. After the tour, I went to the Harry Potter Photographic Exhibition. They had some of the actual props and costumes from the films. It was a good experience, but I’m not sure I would do it again. The next day was the best day ever. I went to the Warner Bros. Studio Tour. It was truly magical. I was in awe the entire time and I cannot wait to get back there someday. The last day there was low-key. I went to a Harry Potter-themed afternoon tea and then to the House of MinaLima.
