Greetings, fellow adventurers! This post is part 1 of the series that will consist of short posts chronicling our 12-day self-drive road trip through England and Wales. Let’s dive right into the tale of Day 1, a voyage that took us from the renowned halls of Oxford to the rich history of Bath.
Wait a minute, what about the day of arrival?
Great question! We have learnt from our past travels to never plan anything for the day you arrive at your destination. So we will call it Day Zero. Day Zero of our trip was primarily devoted to travel logistics. We arrived in London that morning and used the rest of the day to acclimatize, shake off any jet lag, and collect our rental car for the grand road trip ahead. Because it didn’t involve any sightseeing or significant experiences typical of our journey, we decided not to include it in our travelogue series.
The true spirit of our adventure, filled with exploration and discovery, really started from the next day when we set off from London to immerse ourselves in the rich tapestry of British history and landscapes. That’s where our blog series will begin, capturing the essence of our road trip from the moment we started exploring.
Make sure you check out the overall itinerary to get an idea of where these posts are going next.
Oxford
The second day of our trip was a mix of excitement and anticipation as we left London at 8 am for the historic city of Oxford. We stayed close to the Heathrow Airport in order to avoid London traffic.
After a leisurely drive, we arrived in Oxford, ready to explore the renowned Oxford University. To make the most of our visit, we had pre-booked a self-guided multimedia tour of the iconic Christ Church College. We strongly recommend booking your tickets in advance as they are released on a weekly basis each Friday and get sold out very quickly for the weekends. Not only does this guarantee entry, but it also allows for better planning of your day. You can book the tickets directly through Christ Church College website.
Considering the limited parking available in Oxford, we opted for the Redbridge Park & Ride facility. A wise choice, we realized, as it came with an included bus ticket covering both our journey to the city and return. The car park is convenient, and the buses are frequent and efficient, offering a stress-free way to get into the city centre.
We got off the bus at the Police Station stop, which is the closest stop to Christ Church College. From there, it’s a short walk to the college grounds, where we collected our multimedia kits from the front desk. The multimedia tour was both informative and engaging, allowing us to learn about the university’s rich history at our own pace while following clear signage for directions.
By 11 am, we had completed our tour, feeling both enlightened by the weight of history we’d experienced and excited for the rest of our day’s adventures. Oxford, with its blend of historic grandeur and modern vibrancy, offers an unforgettable experience, and we were glad to have begun our road trip with this iconic city.
Bath
After a morning spent exploring Oxford’s academic grandeur, we journeyed to the UNESCO World Heritage city of Bath. Renowned for its stunning Georgian architecture and time-honoured Roman Baths, the city offers a perfect blend of history and beauty.
Given Bath’s limited city centre parking, we chose to park at the Lansdown Park & Ride. A practical solution, the bus return ticket includes free parking, ensuring a hassle-free transit into the city.
Upon our arrival, we embarked on a self-paced walking tour of Bath. Our trail began at the majestic Bath Abbey, an architectural marvel and a place of worship for over a thousand years. From there, we ventured to the ancient Roman Baths, one of the best-preserved Roman remains in the world, offering a fascinating peek into the past.
It was almost lunch time when we came across LJ Hugs. You can call it a street food, but it was nothing short of amazing. We ordered chicken salad with chipotle and hot sauce. They also carry other combination of meats. I would strongly recommend anyone visiting Bath to stop there for lunch. Did I mention that it is also one of the most affordable places to eat in Bath?
We strolled down to Pulteney Bridge, one of the few bridges in the world with shops across its full span on both sides, a sight that indeed felt like a step back in time. A walk along Bath Street, lined with limestone buildings, further transported us to the Georgian era, making our Bath experience truly immersive.
We continued our walk which eventually led us to the famous Royal Crescent, a striking example of Georgian architecture and Bath’s grandeur. Nearby, we discovered The Circus, a spectacular roundabout of historic townhouses, displaying yet another facet of Bath’s architectural splendour.
Our day in Bath culminated with a treat at The Real Italian Ice Cream Co., where we indulged in a delicious variety of ice creams, a sweet finish to a day of historical exploration.
After a fulfilling day, we hopped onto our bus back to Lansdown Park & Ride, reclaimed our car, and made our way to Trowbridge for a restful night.
Checkout the highlights of Day 1 below.
Join us in the next post as we continue our thrilling road trip, setting our course to the legendary Stonehenge and the mystical town of Glastonbury.
