The Story
Day 2 – It was the first of our day-trips out of London. The original trip had to be amended 
but it ended up being a great trip. We visited multiple villages in the Cotswolds district including Ashton, Brampton, Burton-on-the-Water and Woodstock. The first pic shows the church that was a part of the “Downton Abbey” film locations. The last of our locations of the day trip was to the Blenheim Palace, which is the Spencer-Churchill family palace, the only private palace in England. It was a glamorous palace and it was very fascinating. I have included a few randomly selected pics of the 1000+ pics I took that day lol. Had dinner at Old Compton Brasserie in Soho.
Ended day 2 with 19,724 steps and 13.51kms
On the second day of our trip, we were scheduled to take a tour out of London to “Stratford-Upon-Avon and a tour of Oxford. Unfortunately, the tour company cancelled that tour and gave us an alternative tour to the Cotswalds. Seeing that most of our tour was in an urban setting, we decided to give this tour a try. It was a tour by the Golden Tours company and we went to the meeting point on Bulleid Way. It was a comfortable bus with reclining seats and power outlets to charge our devices. Luckily, it was not a big group of people, so we didn’t feel too crowded in the bus.
We were able to experience a wealth of England’s rural and historical treasures. It was pretty amazing to get out of the urban hubbub of London and explore out the suburban England had to offer. We got to see the fictional ‘Downton Abbey’ village at the village of Bampton. You can see the church that was included in a few shots in Downton Abbey.
We then drove through the town of Burford. They explained to us the difference between a hamlet, village and a town. A hamlet had no central place of worship and no meeting point; a village must have both a place of worship and a central meeting point; and a town was traditionally reserved for ‘market towns’ which were different to villages and hamlets because they were the local economic centre and, more often than not, were larger and had more facilities.
The next stop was at Bourton-On-The-Water. We were mesmerized by the beauty of it. As you will see in the pictures, it is famous for its honey-coloured stone architecture and idyllic village scenes. Straddling the River Windrush, it’s known for its low bridges and traditional stone houses. The Cotswold Motoring Museum features vintage cars and a toy collection. Birdland is home to species including parrots, owls and king penguins, plus life-size model dinosaurs. The Model Village is a 1930s scale replica of the village. It was through the town of Woodstock that we made to our biggest stop of the tour, the Blenheim Palace.
Blenheim Palace is an architectural marvel nestled in Oxfordshire, England. Completed in the early 18th century, it stands as one of the grandest examples of English Baroque style. The palace boasts intricate detailing, beautiful and vast gardens, and a profound historical legacy. It was the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill and remains the only non-royal, non-episcopal country house in England to hold the title of “palace.” It’s a true testament to opulence and grandeur, capturing the essence of its era in every stone and sculpture. We were lucky enough to have witnessed it. To our luck, we were able to witness a fashion show by the famous Vivienne Westwood being hosted at the beautiful palace, using the wonderful rooms it boasts.
After the tour was done, we headed to the Piccadilly Circus, located in the heart of London, is an iconic public space known for its bright lights, bustling atmosphere, and historic significance. Famous for its large video display and neon signs, this vibrant junction connects several major roads, making it a hive of activity day and night. It’s a popular meeting spot and a must-visit for tourists, offering a quintessential London experience with its proximity to theatres, shops, and restaurants. We walked around to grasp in the beauty of it. THe most memorable mooment at Piccadilly Circus on the screen would be the iconic scene of “Sherlock” featuring Benedict Cumberbatch. Piccadilly Circus essentially means a circular open area on Piccadilly. We roamed around to find something for supper and we ended up at Old Compton Brasserie. After a scrumptious dinner we made our way back to the hotel through Chinatown.
