Living in London and with the UK’s vast train network, it’s certainly easy to explore the country and that’s just what we’ve been up to over the last few months. So let’s quickly recap…
Cambridge Soon after getting back from NZ, we took a train up to Cambridge for the day to see the NZ Youth Choir’s final concert in the UK and to check out this beautiful city.
We arrived and started our day out with a bit of a walk, taking in all the history of this town. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, it’s very weird walking past a college that is over 700 years old, remembering that New Zealand is a teenager by comparison.
After exploring the city by foot, it was time to relax with a bit of a punt around the College ‘Backs’, taking in the sunshine and the beautiful scenery, before grabbing dinner and heading to St John’s College Chapel for the NZ Youth Choir concert.
In short, the choir was simply sublime, especially in that magnificent building, and I now know why Rebecca went twice before while I was back in New Zealand!
Key things to do
Go on a punting tour with a jug of Pimm’s, or if you feel brave and are okay with looking like a bit of a dork occasionally try a self-hire punt
Take a look around the colleges, and if you can go to an evensong at one of the college chapels – beautiful music without the admission fee
Walk around and just take in the history of this beautiful city
Brighton That same weekend, my brother Adrian was in town so we ventured south to the seaside to check out Brighton. It was the first time Rebecca and I had been there and I can see why so many people venture there from London on a warm summer’s day.
After a walk through the streets, we sampled oysters along the beach before checking out Brighton Pier and the penny arcade, putting all our coins into winning a Green Lantern keyring (and yes, we did eventually get it).
Despite the beach not being a sandy one like so many beaches in New Zealand, we did find a little slice of home on the waterfront with a fish and chips restaurant (Fish + Liquor) for a late lunch which served Monteith’s Summer Ale. It was a nice way to end a lovely day out at the seaside.
As we meandered back to the train station, we saw The Royal Pavilion – a former royal holiday home for George IV and his successors, until Queen Victoria decided Brighton was getting a bit too crowded for her. Built in the 1800s, the building looks like a mini Taj Mahal as architect John Nash was influenced by Mughal architecture.
Key things to do
Go in the summer – it’s a nice way to get out of London and get a bit of fresh air
Try some fresh shellfish as you walk along the beach, or perhaps some fish and chips. Sure it will never be as good as NZ, but Fish + Liquor will make you feel a bit at home with some Kiwi beer options
Walk along Brighton Pier and experience the penny arcades
Oxford The following weekend we ventured out to the other major college town along with our friends Jeffrey (who had just finished Youth Choir tour and was staying in London) and Chelsea (who was staying on a bit longer after tour) for a friends’ house-cooling (they were moving out - it's not some weird Kiwi term for a housewarming).
Catching the train north west, we made it in time on the Sunday morning for the morning service at Christ Church Cathedral – a place we visited last time we went to Oxford in 2014. In the grounds of this cathedral, you can actually see the green door and the garden which was the inspiration for parts of Alice’s Adventures on Wonderland by Lewis Carroll.
Wandering around the town to find a spot for lunch, we came across The Bear Inn – one of Oxford’s oldest pubs. Dating back to 1242 (again, amazing how it has existed longer than New Zealand), this pub also has an interesting and completely random collection of ties hung on the walls, said to have started in the 1950 by the pub owner who would exchange a half-pint for a tie.
Before heading out to our friends’ party, it seemed rude not to have a punt down the river. We popped down to the boat house in Magdalen College (pronounced Maud-lin by the way), bought a couple of glasses of Pimm’s and hopped on the river for a tour. Well, when I say it was a tour, our guide had it easy as Jeffrey and I decided to have a go at it ourselves. Surprisingly, we weren’t too bad at it, and we did get tips as we went along so we didn’t look like dorks and lose the pole or crash the boat. Success!
The rest of the day was spent shopping and was at our friends' place before heading back to London on Monday in time for work.
Key things to do
Much like Cambridge, take a look around the colleges and try and attend an evensong or morning choral service.
Go on a punting tour with a Pimm’s in the summer (although in my opinion Cambridge is better for this)
There are plenty of free walking tours around the place as well if you have a few hours up your sleeve