England

What to pack for 1 week in England (using only a carry-on!)

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Packing everything in ONLY a carry-on (no matter how long the trip is), is always one of my travel goals. The less baggage I have to carry, the faster and easier it is to get around. Below I share what to pack for England.

I went to England for one week at the end of March and early April. It was spring, and a little chilly in the mornings, warm during the day, and sometimes rainy. I fit all of my clothes and items in one backpack and a purse.

My Luggage

I brought along my trusty backpack from Walmart that I’ve been bringing with me on trips for years. I’m sure there are better ones out there, but it has LOTS of pockets and compartments to organize my things which is why I love it so much. I put everything in it that I don’t need during my flight, and put it in the overhead bin.

I brought a purse. I pack my travel essentials in it that I would need during the flight.

bookbag that i bring on trips.
My fancy backpack (just kidding it wasn’t fancy at all)

Clothes: what to pack for England

When packing clothes for a trip, you want to try and blend in so that you don’t stand out as a tourist. In England, they tend to dress up a bit more (think fitted, more business-casual type attire) than dress down (like in sweatpants and sweaters). It was early spring in England, so the weather ranged from 8-15 degrees Celsius.

  • 3 dressy tank tops. I rotated these during my trip.
  • 3 pairs of pants. I also rotated these during my trip.
  • 1 cotton t-shirt. (Harry Potter themed for my day to the Harry Potter Studios…but this is entirely optional!)
  • 2 cardigans. I wore these everyday over my tank tops.
  • Cotton pajamas. I brought two pairs for 7 days.
  • Black boots. They were the only shoes I wore the entire trip. These were SO comfortable, I walked everywhere in these and didn’t get one blister.
  • Slippers. These were cozy to wear around my room at night, and also on the plane.
  • Underwear, socks, bra. You know, the usual…
  • Scarf. I used this as a blanket on the plane, and I also wore it everyday during my trip. If it got too warm during the day, it was small enough to roll it up and shove it my purse.
  • Faux leather jacket. Any jacket that is water resistant will be fine. This one was water resistant, which was great when it rained. And it kept me warm during the day!

Toiletries

First aid kit. This includes any prescriptions, headache relief pills, band-aids, a blister stick, Tums (antacid) , and Imodium.

Tooth brush and toothpaste. Bring small, travel-sized ones to save on space.

Make up and make-up remover. Entirely up to you for how much, or little, you want to bring and can fit in your luggage.

Glasses, Contacts & Contact Lens Solution. I wear contacts, so one small travel bottle of contact lens solution was enough for my trip.

Sunscreen. I forgot mine at my hotel, instead of putting it in my purse for the day, so I had to find a local pharmacy and buy one while I was out exploring. Remember to pack it, AND put it in your day bag!

Technology to bring

External Charger. I won’t go on a trip without it. It will charge my phone during the day so that I can continue to take pictures (and not get lost!). The one that I brought with me says how much power is remaining, which is really handy to know!

Phone. Of course!

Chargers. Easy to forget, but so important to bring!

UK Sim Card. Use your phone like you would at home, and bring a Sim Card! I had one delivered to my home before I left on my trip, so that I was able to use it the minute I landed.

Plug Adapter. If the UK has a different type of plug than you have at home, bring one of these so that you can charge all of your devices while abroad.

Other essentials to pack for one week in England

Passport & ID. Make sure it is in a safe spot while you are travelling to and from the airport. While you are out exploring during the day, leave your passport in your accommodation hidden and locked away.

Copies of Documentation. I always bring copies of my itinerary, passport, travel insurance and hotel and tour reservations. I also leave copies of these at home just in case I lose them.

Umbrella. It rained off and on a couple of times during my stay, so this was definitely a necessity!

Sun Glasses. It gets sunny in England too!

Lock. When you are staying in a hostel, bring locks. One lock is fine, but I had TWO locks, which gave me extra piece of mind. I had a lock on my locker for the hostel, and I also had a smaller lock on my backpack so that no one could get in it IF by chance they were able to get in my locker.

Microfiber Towel. If you are staying in a hostel, check ahead to see if they provide towels or not, and if there is a fee to use them. I like to bring a microfiber towel that rolls up really small.

Travel Journal. It’s all up to personal preference, but I think it’s a fun to record my experiences AND a great way to avoid loneliness while travelling.

I hope that these tips helped you decide what to pack for England! Is there anything that you would recommend bringing for one week? Let me know in the comments below!

Traveling to England as a Solo Female Traveler: Safety Tips & Travel Advice

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How to avoid loneliness during solo travel - a picture that I asked someone to take of me in London England

Traveling solo, especially as a female, can feel intimidating. But I’m here to ease your worries about traveling to England as a solo female traveler with how to stay safe, and why England is a PERFECT destination for solo travelers!

Safety as a Solo Female Traveler

I felt SOOO safe when I traveled around England as a solo female traveler. Throughout my entire trip, I didn’t experience any cat-calling, and no one approached me to give them money, or to buy anything (even in tourist hot-spots!). Everyone kept to themselves, and no one acted erratic and unpredictable.

So what did I do to stay safe as a solo female traveler in England?

Traveling to England as a solo female traveler exceeded my expectations for feeling safe. Compared to other countries, England is easy to travel around and has a low crime rate. I had to keep reminding myself to not get too comfortable. My safety tips below could be used while in England, or anywhere.

Fake it ’til you make it. Pretend to look like you know where you’re going, even if you are lost. Walk with your head up and walk with purpose. It will help you blend in as a local!

If you need to look a map, go somewhere private or be discreet. This is very dependent on where you travel, but in England everyone is looking at their phone. I would sometimes sneak a peek at my phone to get directions (making sure no one could see I was looking at a map).

Don’t stay out late. I probably took this to the extreme, but I would make sure I was back in my hostel by the time it was dark. If I did have to walk around at night (after a play, for example), I made sure I walked home looking confident. In London I walked home at night in the Soho district, and it felt really safe at night. There were people everywhere!

Research neighborhoods. Before I went on my trip I made sure to research which locations were safer than others. In London, I stayed at the SoHostel in Soho and felt safe. It was also busy, next to Oxford Street, and lots of people walking around. I also stayed in Victoria, which was definitely safe, but I was on a side street and it was much more quiet (even during the day), which personally I didn’t like as much.

Listen to your gut. If something doesn’t feel right, don’t do it! This can be for anything – a street that’s too quiet, or someone inviting you out for a drink. Walk down a different street if your gut is telling you to, even if it’s a longer route. If you don’t feel comfortable going out with a stranger, then don’t do it.

Don’t sacrifice your safety for the sake of being nice! Be okay with saying no to others, and to situations, if it doesn’t feel right. Your safety is much more important.

Keep your belongings secure. Bring a crossbody purse that zippers shut to store your belongings in while you are out sightseeing, and keep a hand on the opening to prevent pickpockets. Back at the accommodation, hide your passport and extra money in your bags and keep them locked up.

Bring a SIM card. As a solo female traveler, I wanted to make sure I could use my phone without depending on wifi, and call someone if I needed to. I ordered a SIM card to be delivered to my home before my trip, and I was able to use my phone the minute I landed!

Pay extra money for safety. If you don’t feel safe walking back somewhere, call for an Uber or Taxi (another reason why having a SIM card for your phone is so important!). Or if an accommodation or the location it’s in doesn’t feel safe, pay the extra money to stay somewhere else.

Booking.com

What else is there to know about traveling to England as a solo traveler?

So now that safety is taken care of… what else makes travelling around England so awesome for solo female travelers?

Language

England is one of the best destinations for traveling solo if it is your first international trip, especially if English is your first language. The communication barrier is very small, so if you are lost or navigating the transit system, it is easy to ask for help or find your way.

Transportation

As a solo female traveler, it is really easy to navigate your way around England. Download the Citymappers app on your phone so that you can use the public transportation system easily. If you don’t have a SIM card and are depending on wifi, routes can be saved offline.

To get to and from the Airport, there are various options. From Heathrow there is the Heathrow express, or the tube. From Gatwick, there is the Gatwick Express, or the Southbound train (much cheaper!) . Tickets for these can be purchased at the airport when you arrive. I arrived in Gatwick, and purchased an Oyster card and used that for the Southbound train into London.

Group Travel

If you are traveling to England as a solo female traveler, there are no rules saying that you have to be alone the ENTIRE trip. Sometimes it’s nice to break it up and go somewhere with a group! This can help with avoiding loneliness too. Go on a walking tour, a day trip, or a multi-day trip to explore new places. It can take the stress out of organizing transportation, and provides the opportunity to make new friends!

How to stay safe as a solo female traveller. In the Cotswolds on a solo trip.
Me on a solo trip to England – I took a 2 day overnight group tour and visited the Costwolds!

I hope these tips help you feel comfortable traveling to England as a solo female traveler. England was such a great place to travel to as a solo female traveler, especially if it is your first solo trip. I always felt safe and was never in uncomfortable situation. I would definitely recommend it!

Have you been to England on a solo trip, and what was your experience like? Where was your favourite place to travel solo? Let me know in the Comments below!

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How to spend 1 Day in Brighton

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Brighton is such a nice getaway from the large city of London. Breathing in the ocean air, relaxing on the pebbled beach, exploring the cute side streets and shops make it the perfect seaside getaway. It is a 1 hour train ride from London, so it is easy to add 1 day in Brighton on your trip to England!

How to Get to Brighton from London

From Victoria Station in London, take the Southbound train to Brighton. You will need to buy a ticket for the train since it is outside of the Oyster card zones (you can do this at the station). The train station is in the middle of Brighton, and the city is very safe and walkable.

What to Do in 1 day in Brighton: walking route

Visit the Royal Pavilion

The Royal Pavilion is about a 10 minute walk away from the Train Station. The architecture of the Royal Pavilion is gorgeous, and there is a lovely garden surrounding it. Just walking around the exterior is enjoyable, but if you want to go inside too there will be an admission fee.

Buy your admission ticket here

one day in brighton - visit the royal pavilion
The Royal Pavilion

Get Lost in the Lanes

Across the street from the Royal Pavillion is the entrance to the Lanes. It is like a maze, and is filled with cute shops and restaurants. If you like donuts, make sure to check out DumDum Donuts! They have the best donuts I have ever had.

my galaxy donut from DumDums – I ate it on the Brighton Beach

Enjoy the Excitement of Brighton Pier

Brighton Pier is such a unique spot. There are tons of arcade games and rides you can on. Even if you don’t participate in any of the games, walking to the end, enjoying the atmosphere and seeing the views are amazing.

Relax on the Beach

Grab a beach chair, or just sit on the beach, and watch the ocean. Bring a snack or a picnic with you. I ate my donuts from DumDums on the beach (watch out for the seagulls though!).

if you have 1 day in Brighton, relax on the beach. This is a seagull on the beach with Brighton Pier in the background

See the Views from the British Airways i360 Tower.

If it’s a clear day, see Brighton from above on the British Airways i360 tower. It’s quite expensive though, about $28 CAD as of 2022. While I was in Brighton I debated about going up. There’s nothing I love more than a good view, but I decided not to because of the cost. It doesn’t take a lot of time (about 25 minutes), so if it fits in your budget you can definitely add this to your day!

View from Brighton Pier – The British Airways i360 Tower is off in the distance!

Visit the Beach Huts

The beach huts are about a 30 minute walk from Brighton Pier (just head in the direction towards the British Airways i360 tower and keep walking!). The walk from Brighton Pier to the Huts is worth it, since you see so many beautiful sights along the way!

for 1 day in Brighton see the colourful beach huts

What to do on a rainy day in Brighton

If it’s rainy, there are loads of other things you can do. These are also fun to do on a sunny day if you have more time too!

  • The Aquarium
  • The Brighton Museum and Art Gallery
  • The upside-down House
  • Popping into all of the trendy shops
  • The Brighton Pier is mostly covered too!
  • Grab an umbrella and explore anyway – it’s still worth it!

Tips for 1 Day in Brighton

Bring sunscreen with you! I forgot to bring mine, and it was a really sunny day. I had to walk to Boots in the shopping centre so that I wouldn’t have to spend an arm and a leg for the sunscreen sold on the beach.

beach chairs on Brighton Beach

Have you been to Brighton? What are some of your favourite things to do?

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Need-to-Know Tips for the Harry Potter Studios

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If you are a Harry Potter fan, then going to the Harry Potter Studios in England is a dream come true! Whether it is your first time, or your second or third time there is always so much to see. It is a very special (and magical!) place, and if it is your first time visiting, here are my tips for the Harry Potter Studios!

How to Get There

There are lots of options for how to get to the Harry Potter Studios. These are your options from London.

  • If you go on your own. Take the Tube from Euston station to Watford Junction Railway Station. Then, take the official Harry Potter Studio Tour shuttle from the rail station to the Studios. With this option, you can stay at Studios for as long as you want.
  • With a tour company. There are lots of options on which company to choose, and they will normally give you 3.5-4 hours at the Studios. Some companies only provide the transportation on a coach bus, and other companies include other stops on their tour. During my one week in England, I went on a day trip that included a tour of Oxford and the Harry Potter Studios in one day. It was well worth the extra money, and the entire tour was all about Harry Potter!
  • And of course, if you feel comfortable driving somewhere new (and on the left side of the road) you can drive there!

Book in Advance

First things first, make sure to book your ticket far in advance! Tickets sell out months in advance, so to make sure you book your tickets early. If you book with a tour company, they will reserve the tickets for you, but a lot of tours will sell out quickly too!

What to Expect at the Harry Potter Studios

Don’t worry, I won’t give away any spoilers!! When you arrive at Harry Potter Studios, there is a giant foyer with food and gift shops. When you’re ready, you can then get in line to see the sets and exhibits. My advice is to just get in line right away! There’s gift shops around every corner, and food halfway through, so there will be tons of time for that.

After you get in line, you are led (as a group) throughout a couple of different rooms to watch movies about the Studios. You stand up in the first room, and in the second room it looks like a movie theatre. Not going to lie, I teared up quite a bit here! It’s so surreal to be in the crowd with other people who love Harry Potter, knowing that you’re about to be walking through the sets where they filmed.

After all of the movies are over you get to go into the Great Hall. This section is also done as a group. After you leave the Great Hall, you are able to explore the Studios at your own pace.

Halfway throughout the Studios, there is a spot where you can buy food (and butterbeer!). The food is very expensive, and it takes time away from exploring the Studios so eat well before you go, or bring a snack with you! I definitely bought a Butterbeer and walked around with it.

Enjoying my Butterbeer in front of Privet Drive and wearing my Harry Potter Merch.
Yes, I used a selfie stick for this picture. #NoRegrets

Visiting the Harry Potter Studios as a Solo Traveller

If you are worried about not having fun going alone – don’t be! I went to the Harry Potter Studios as a solo traveler, and I preferred it. It can get very busy in the Studios, so it is nice to wander around the Studios at your own pace and not have to worry about sticking together as a group.

For taking photos, there are staff members you can ask to take your photo. You can also ask other people around you to take your photo. This is what I did, and it was fine. Everyone is really excited and can move quickly, but there will always be someone around to ask! I also brought a selfie stick that I used a couple of times (don’t worry, there will be other people using selfie sticks too).

There are only a couple of exhibits which are meant for two people, but there aren’t a lot, and it didn’t take away from the experience.

Harry Potter Studios as a solo traveller. Getting my photo taken infront of Platform 9 3/4
Getting my picture taken infront of Platform 9 3/4!

Take your time!

When I arrived at the Studios, I knew I only had 4 hours. I wanted to take my time, but I was worried that I would have to rush through the end if I did. Sure, you could always stay for A LOT longer if you read every single piece of information and watched every single movie that played in there, but I thought that the 4 hours was a perfect amount of time.

If you reach the end of exhibits, and you want to see more, DON’T LEAVE. You won’t be allowed back in if you leave! You will know you are at the end when you reach the large model of the Hogwarts Castle. I had reached the end in 3 hours, but I felt like I had rushed a little in the beginning. I didn’t want to leave and wait out in the lobby and look at the gift shops for an hour. So, if this happens to you, you can backtrack throughout all of the exhibits to the very beginning!

Stay in Great Hall for as long as you can

The first set that you will see in the Harry Potter Studios is the Great Hall. It can be busy, since everyone in your group is going in at once. One of my tips for the Harry Potter Studios is to stay in Great Hall until it is almost empty so that you can enjoy it without the crowds and get some good photos. After you leave the Great Hall, you aren’t allowed back in so make sure your time in there counts! You will eventually need to leave so that the next group of people can come in, but I stayed until there was only 3 other people left without any issues.

Enjoying the Great Hall all to myself!

Try and get seats in front of the theatre

Try and be in the front for everything! There are lots of people that are trying to do the same thing, so if you don’t it’s not the end of the world. You will watch a short movie about the Harry Potter Studios before you actually go into the studios. My tip is to get seats in the front of the theatre. That is all I will say about that. 😉

Show your Harry Potter Pride

Have a Harry Potter shirt? Wear it! You are with other people that love Harry Potter too, and it’s so much fun to wear your Harry Potter clothing or house colours. There are opportunities to buy more Harry Potter merchandise around every corner in the Studios, so if you don’t have any then this is THE place to get it!

If you don’t have any Harry Potter clothing before you go to the Studios, and you reeeeally want something before you go, there is a Harry Potter section in Primark on Oxford Street which is MAGICAL (and inexpensive)!

I hope that these tips for the Harry Potter Studios helps you know what to expect when you arrive! Have you been to the Harry Potter Studios? If so, what would your tips be for going?

How to use your phone in England

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Using a phone in a new country without any limitations is probably my #1 essential for a trip. Especially when I arrive and am trying to safely find my way to my accommodation. On a trip to England I was able to use my phone exactly how I could at home, and as a solo traveller this made my trip SO much easier. This post will help you learn how to use your phone in England.

London bus infront of Wesminister Abbey in London
Navigating my way around London like a pro, thanks to having data!

How to Use Your Phone

There are a couple of options on how you can use your phone in England. I’ll be focusing on how to use your phone using a SIM card, since that has so far been the most affordable and reliable option.

Some carriers have international phone plans, but depending on the plan that can be really expensive.

I have tried depending on wifi in the past, but this isn’t always reliable. During a trip to Peru, we got lost and separated from our group. The AirBnB address was incorrect so we weren’t able to find our accommodation. We also couldn’t find Wifi, so we couldn’t contact the AirBnB owner, or people from our group, to come find us. We walked around Cusco, in the dark, for hours trying to find our group again. Luckily, with the help of Google Translate, and just sheer luck, we found our group. Having a local SIM card so that we could make phone calls or use data would have been so helpful!

Unlock Your Phone

The first step to being able to how to use your phone in England is to unlock your phone. If you don’t know what this means, it essentially allows you to use your phone with other carriers. When you buy your phone, they will tell you that your phone comes unlocked. This isn’t completely true – there are more steps involved to completely unlock your phone! (don’t worry, it’s easy I promise!)

  • Call your phone provider and ask for the unlock code.
  • Take your SIM card out of your phone.
  • Put a SIM card from a different carrier in your phone.
  • Enter in your unlock code (the phone will prompt you to do this after you put in a new SIM).

You can now use your phone with any SIM card!

Get a SIM Card

There are a couple of ways to get a SIM card for England. One option is to purchase it at the airport when you arrive.

Another option is to have a SIM card sent directly to your house before you go! When I went on my trip to England, I had a SIM card sent directly to me (for free!). I got my SIM card from GiffGaff. The SIM card itself is free, and it has the options to load different plans on your phone. It can be used within the European Union too which is great if you are travelling to other countries. The steps to use it are also pretty easy as well!

  • Order your SIM card online (takes up to 5 days for it to arrive).
  • Use this SIM Card to unlock your phone!
  • Go to the GiffGaff website to activate your SIM card.
  • Choose which phone plan you want. This is up to you and how much data you think you will use. (you can always top up your data later).
  • Make sure to check the option that you don’t want this plan to automatically renew each month.
  • The GiffGaff SIM will automatically give you an English phone number.

When I arrived in England, I switched out my SIM cards on the plane. So when I landed in England I was able to use my phone instantly and not depend on data.

And that’s it! Now whenever you to travel within Europe, you can take your GiffGaff SIM card and make phone calls and use data.

Do you get SIM cards when you travel to a new country, or do you go offline? Let me know what your experiences are below. 🙂

What to Do in England in 7 Days (for Harry Potter fans!)

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Going to England in 7 days, and choosing what to do and where to go can be overwhelming. There is so much to do, and so little time! This 7 day itinerary is what to do in England, and combines exploring London, the country and the seaside.

Oh, and did I mention that I also LOVE Harry Potter and wanted to experience that as well? If you have 7 days to explore England, and want to add some Harry Potter experiences into your itinerary as well, then this may help you decide what to do during England in 7 days.

Itinerary for 7 days in England

  • 1st Day: Arrive in London (and explore West London)
  • 2nd Day: Explore East London
  • 3rd Day: Covent Garden and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child play
  • 4th Day: Day trip to Oxford and the Harry Potter Studios
  • 4th Day: Avebury, Lacock and Bath (overnight tour)
  • 6th Day: The Cotswolds and Oxford (overnight tour)
  • 7th Day: Free day in London (I decided to take to take the train to Brighton for the day)

Where to Stay

There are no “bad” locations in London, it just depends on what you want to do. The accommodations I chose were very close to what activities I had planned during my stay, so it felt very central (and safe!).

For my 7 days in England, I stayed at the SoHostel in Soho, London for 4 nights, at a B&B in the Cotswolds for 1 night (arranged through my tour), and at the Comfort Inn Buckingham Palace in Victoria, London for 2 nights. It did not feel rushed, and it was nice to break up the trip by staying in different locations.

Booking.com

How to Get Around London

London has excellent public transportation. During my stay, I bought an Oyster Card when I arrived at the airport. I used the Oyster Card to take the train to and from London, and also used it on the buses, tube and ferry. You can also use a contactless card to use their transport system instead of an Oyster card, but I did not do this.

To know how to get around London, I used the Citymappers app. It requires wifi or data to use, but you can save routes to access while offline.

More Tips

Before my trip, I purchased a SIM card from GiffGaff. They sent it to my house, and activated it before I left for my trip. The minute I arrived in England I had data and was able to make phone calls, use the internet, and the Citymappers app without depending on wifi. It was very affordable and easy to do.

7 days in England Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in London

Morning: If you have 7 days in England, try to get a flight that arrives early in the morning. My flight arrived at 9:30am, which allowed me plenty of time to take the train into London, and then get to my hostel in Soho.

Afternoon: After grabbing some lunch and checking in, I walked to Buckingham Palace, around St. James Park, Westminster Cathedral, over the bridge and along the South Bank until it got dark.

Tip: Instead of exploring on your own, there are also many free walking tours you can do as well!

My view from the Double-decker bus I took from Victoria Station to my Hostel in Soho. We are going by Westminster, and the London Eye is in the distance!
Buckingham palace
Walking through St. James Park

Day 2: Explore East London

Today I did a LOT more than I had previously planned. I had learned my lesson from when I went to New York and only planned a few things that day.

Morning

  • I took the ferry from Westminster Pier to Borough Market. It was a great way to save my feet from walking, and to also enjoy the views along the river!
  • I got snacks at Borough Market and wandered around.
  • I went to the Tate Modern, looked at some of the artwork, and went to their top level for (free!) views of London.
  • After the museum, I walked over Millennium Bridge to St. Paul’s Cathedral.

After all of those activities, it was only about 1pm! I had done everything I had planned to do that day, so I had TONS of free time. If you are going to London, this may take you a lot longer depending on how long you spend in the museum.

Afternoon

I last-minute decided to take the bus to the British Museum (the CityMappers App is you best friend when navigating around a new city!). At the museum I had afternoon tea and looked at the exhibits until it closed at 5:30pm. If you are planning to go the British museum, and love museums, then this probably won’t be enough time for you, so plan accordingly!

View of St Paul’s Cathedral

Evening

In the evening, I took the bus to Kings Cross Station to fulfill my Harry Potter dream of seeing Platform 9 3/4. Here’s my biggest piece of advice: If you already have plans to go to the Harry Potter Studio Tours, then don’t waste your time (and money) to wait in line for your picture to be taken here. The line was sooo long. If you go early in the morning before it “opens”, the cart won’t even be there. As a solo traveler, I was easily able to get my picture taken at the Harry Potter Studios.

If you’re looking for Harry Potter merch, there is TONs at the Harry Potter Studios, but there’s also a Harry Potter section at Primark on Oxford Street which is magical.

How lovely are these views!?

Day 3: Covent Garden and Harry Potter Play

Morning

Before the Harry Potter play, I went and explored Covent Garden. I LOVE Covent Garden, the atmosphere is incredible. There are buskers everywhere. They need to audition to busk there, so you know that they are all going to be amazing. I spent about 3 hours just wandering around, watching the buskers, and grabbing something to eat.

Afternoon

Time to go to the harry Potter play!! Tickets are much easier to get now, and I bought mine in advance. Are they expensive? Yes. Worth it? In my opinion, YES. You might get lucky and get a cheaper ticket during the Friday Forty’s.

Since there are two parts, there is a 2 hour intermission to eat between the each part. Make a reservation!! I made a 4:00pm reservation at The Cambridge Pub, which is literally just across from the Palace Theatre.

Also, during the intermission, after you are finished eating, make sure to check out The House of MinaLima, which is literally just around the corner from the Palace Theatre. The graphics for the Harry Potter movies can be found here. It’s really cool place and completely free to visit.

Day 4: Oxford and Harry Potter Studios Tour

Today the Harry Potter Studios tour!! I decided to go on an organized tour which took us to Oxford, and then to the Harry Potter Studios. You have 4 hours to explore the Studios, which was a good amount of time. Book your tour here

Having a walking tour of Oxford earlier that day was also great because it was based on Harry Potter and they pointed out lots of interesting things.

If you take this tour, make sure to check out Christ Church. They also filmed Harry Potter here too! It wasn’t part of the walking tour, so when you have free time hurry on over! There is an admission fee which can be paid at the door.

Suggested Reading: Visiting the Harry Potter Studios as a solo traveler

Harry Potter Studios

Day 5: Avebury, Lacock and Bath

If you have 7 days in England, and really want to see the English Countryside, but aren’t comfortable driving there (like me), then I recommend going on a day or overnight tour.

On this day, I checked out of my hostel and did the 2 day overnight tour with Rabbie’s. On the first day we went to Avebury which has a bunch of stone formations similar to Stonehenge, but isn’t as busy. We also had a walking tour of Lacock. I would recommend going to Lacock Abbey (will need to pay admission), it is another Harry Potter filming location.

We then went to Bath and had free time to explore. They gave us walking maps of the city which was very helpful. We had enough time to eat, wander around, and also go to the Roman Baths. We spent the night in the Cotswolds, which was so charming!

Lacock – How adorable is this town?

Day 6: The Cotswolds and Oxford

This was the last day of the group tour. We spent the morning visiting the Cotswolds, and then went to Oxford. Since I had already been to Oxford, I knew exactly where I wanted to go – Christchurch! (I didn’t find out about Christ Church until AFTER my first time in Oxford – so I was lucky to go back a second time!)

I also went up St. Mary’s Church Tower for stunning views of Oxford. Both of these activities cost money though, but both worth it!

After the guided tour, I had booked my accommodation in Victoria at the Comfort Inn Buckingham Palace Road. This location was very close to Victoria Station and the drop off point for my tour, so it was convenient.

The Costwolds
The view of Oxford from St. Mary’s Church Tower

Day 7: Free day!

For 7 days in England, I planned a day with absolutely no plans. There was SO MUCH more I could have done in London (like Notting Hill, Natural History Museum, etc. etc. etc. I need to move there now please) – but with only one day left I had to choose!

I spontaneously decided to go to Brighton because for my first time in England I wanted to experience the city, the countryside and also the seaside.

The Comfort Inn, Buckingham Palace was a 5 minute walk away from Victoria Station, so I walked over to the train station and bought a return ticket for Brighton. It was 90 minute train ride, so I was in Brighton in no time! The train station is in the middle of the city too, so I was able to walk everywhere. Read more about what to do in one day in Brighton.

Brighton

Have you been to England before? What was your favourite place to visit? Let me know in the comments below!