Outside London 23-25 Oct 2011

For the photographs of the preceding day, please refer to http://happyotrekker.blogspot.com/2011/11/lake-district-pt-221-221011_21.html.

On the morning of 23.11.2011 (Day 11), it was drizzling when we left Ashleigh Guesthouse for Windermere Train Station. We were told by the Station Master that we were required to make 3 train changes instead of 1 owing to a change of train schedule due to unforeseen circumstances. This was a long train journey. Starting at 11 a.m. we arrived at Euston Station London at 4.20 p.m. after making changes at Oxenholme, Preston and Manchester Piccadilly. The train from Preston to Manchester Piccadilly was totally packed like sardine due to the rescheduling of trains. Consequently, the First Class Coach had to be converted to Standard Coach to buffer the overcrowding.

At Euston Station London, we also lined up for more than ½ hour to buy our Oyster Cards (deposit £5 + amount prepaid – all refundable upon surrendering the cards).

After checking into Generator Hostel, where we would be staying for 6 nights, we went to China Town for dinner and did a walkabout at Piccadilly Circus as well as Soho.

For the next two days, we decided to capitalize on the free train rides by travelling outside London.

Salisbury and Bath Spa (Day 12)

For Salisbury, we took the underground to Waterloo station where caught a train. From Salisbury train station, we took the Stonehenge Bus Tour to view Stonehenge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and Old Sarum Salisbury, the site of the earliest settlement of Salisbury. We also checked out the fine medieval Salisbury Cathedral before training to Bath Spa in the afternoon.

At Bath Spa, we did a walkabout to view the Roman Baths, Bath Abbey, Royal Crescent of Georgian Terraces, Jane Austen Souvenir shop and the elegant curved terraced weir to Pulteney Bridge, one of the sights that helped Bath become a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This 200-year-old bridge is lined with shops.

Stratford-Upon-Avon and Oxford (Day 13)

The next day, we took the underground to Marylebone station to train to Stratford-Upon-Avon, the birth place of Shakespeare. As usual, we did a walkabout to admire the town medieval buildings especially the birthplace and school of Shakespeare as well as the site (New Place) where he died.

It was late afternoon when we left Stratford-Upon-Avon for Oxford to have a look around before returning to London. At Oxford, we visited Oxford Canal and Oxford Castle. We also did a short walk through the town to view the many old buildings. Photography was limited due to poor lighting.

For the photographs, please refer to: http://happytrekker.shutterfly.com/pictures/12110.

For London sightseeing , please refer to: http://happyotrekker.blogspot.com/2011/11/london-26-281011_28.html