Since London we been to:

Oxford: Here we did a guided walking tour and visited Exeter College, the Radcliff Camera, Exeter’s most well-known building and Britain’s third largest dome, and the College of Divinity where scenes from Harry Potter were filmed.

Windsor Castle: The Queen’s weekend retreat. No personal meet and greet – pretty poor hospitality really!  However, the State and Semi-State rooms we had access to, were lavishly furnished.  Many of course had to be restored after the disastrous 1992 fire.  Queen Mary’s Doll giant house is truly amazing.  Built to scale and has solid silver plates, electric lighting, running hot and cold water and flushing lavatories!  I kid you not.  Wonderful photographic exhibition spanning the Queen’s reign.  All the most relaxed shots were taken at ‘horsey’ events.

Spent time with Gail and Darryl and Peter and Anne.  Great fun and wonderful hosts.

Big Pit – Wales.  Again an entertaining and informative guided tour followed by a great museum with a succession of simulations explaining the mining process – all for free!  We have been paying about 15 to 18 pounds ($30 to $36) entry per person into most venues lately so a lovely surprise.

 

Staying with Donna and Owain while we organise shipping the van back to NZ then we are off to Ireland on Wednesday.