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England and France
  • kim.walks on Instagram
  • kim.walks on Instagram

England and France

A 14-day adventure by kim.walks on Instagram Read more
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  • Trip start
    August 23, 2026
    kim.walks on InstagramEngland and FranceTraveler
    2

    ✈️ Day 1 - Travel Day

    August 24 in England ⋅ ⛅ 21 °C

    And we’re off! We departed YYZ at 11:50 p.m. and arrived at LHR at 11:30 a.m. After clearing customs, we hopped on the Tube from Heathrow to Earl’s Court and made our way to the Lord Kensington Hotel, just a five-minute walk from the station.

    We checked in around 2:30 p.m. and discovered our room is… cozy. Two twin beds, a basement room — but thankfully there’s a lift, so no hauling luggage up the stairs!

    After getting settled, we grabbed a coffee at Caffè Nero and took a walk around the neighbourhood, enjoying our first little taste of London.

    For dinner, we headed to Eve and tried a few new things. I had my first anchovy — ✔️ another culinary adventure! Carly and I shared a Caesar salad, pasta alla vodka and pistachio gelato. I had a margarita, while Carly went with a dirty martini.

    After dinner, we jumped back on the Tube to Primark, hoping to find some ears and Disney clothes for our upcoming Disney adventure. Sadly, no luck!

    Back at the hotel by 7:30 p.m. and we are exhausted. The early flight, travel day and London excitement have caught up with us.    Read more

  • kim.walks on InstagramEngland and FranceTraveler
    2
    1Famous Notting Hill Jackets2

    Day 2 - London

    August 25 in England ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C

    We packed a lot into today! After a much-needed night of sleep, we set out around 10:00 a.m. for Notting Hill.

    But first, coffee and chocolate croissants at Over Under Coffee — the perfect way to start the day. ☕️🥐

    We took the Tube to Notting Hill Gate Station, wandered through the famous Notting Hill Bookshop and explored Portobello Market before hopping back on the Tube to Westminster Station.

    We arrived just in time to hear the chimes of Big Ben at noon! 🔔

    From there, we took a walk along the South Bank and stopped for drinks at Tamesis Dock. Then we crossed Lambeth Bridge and hopped on the Uber Boat at Millbank Millennium Pier, taking it all the way to Tower Pier.

    After arriving, we crossed Tower Bridge and stopped to take a few photos from Horsleydown Old Stairs — a historic hidden passageway off Shad Thames that leads down to the River Thames.

    Of course, more drinks were in order, this time at One Bar One, where I had my very first Hugo Spritz!

    Then came the longest walk of the day — one whole hour to Covent Garden! But it was definitely worth it because dinner was at Jamie Oliver Catherine St.

    Getting back to our hotel was an adventure of its own. The Piccadilly Line was closed for upgrades, so we had to take a few different routes to finally make our way home.

    Tired feet and lots of steps later (22,133) we made it back to the hotel. It was a great day!    Read more

  • kim.walks on InstagramEngland and FranceTraveler
    2Our AirbnbThe White Hart PubSt. Andrew's ChurchThe Castle Inn

    Day 3 - Travel Day

    August 26 in England ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    Started the day with coffee and a muffin from Costa, then stopped at Sainsbury’s to grab a meal deal for the train — a snack, main and drink for just £3.95. Not a bad deal!

    We headed back to the hotel to check out at 11:00 a.m. and had a bit of a scare as we were leaving. The tube station was suddenly evacuated due to an emergency! Thankfully, crisis averted — the station reopened within about half an hour, and we were on our way.

    We made our way to Paddington Station to catch the train to Chippenham. Once we arrived, we took a very overpriced taxi — £26!, to our Airbnb in Upper Castle Combe for our 3:00 p.m. check-in. Of course, we were then advised that Uber is cheaper and widely available. Ugh! Lesson learned.

    After freshening up, we took an Uber into Castle Combe for dinner before Carly headed off to meet up with the wedding party for cocktails.

    We had a fabulous dinner at the White Hart Pub and enjoyed a lovely chat with a couple from Worcestershire. After dinner, Carly headed off to the cocktail party, while I met up with Brian and Krista Cluett, Daniel’s parents, who are looking after Logan while Karina and Daniel are at the wedding.

    We had drinks, a Pimms and a Hugo Spritz for me, and we made plans to get together tomorrow — while our “kids” are off enjoying the wedding.    Read more

  • kim.walks on InstagramEngland and FranceTraveler
    1
    11The Old StablesSt Cyriac's Church1James and Lily Potter’s “original house” from Philosopher’s Stone.Logan at the Red Lion13th century bridge crossing the River AvonThis building, on the bridge, was used as the town lock-upBrian and Krista1

    Day 4 – Exploring the Cotswolds

    August 27 in England ⋅ 🌧 19 °C

    Carly and I walked into Castle Combe this morning for coffee at The Old Stables. We both had iced coffees, along with a cheese scone for me and a croissant for Carly. A perfect start to the day in such a beautiful village.

    When we got back to our Airbnb, Carly got ready for the wedding while I was picked up by Brian, Krista and Logan for a day of exploring.

    Our first stop Lacock- famous for its frequent appearances as a film and television location. Harry Potter, Downton Abbey and Beauty and the Beast to name a few.

    From there, we headed to Bradford-on-Avon, another beautiful historic town with plenty of character and gorgeous old buildings.

    We stopped for dinner at The White Hart before Brian and Krista gave me a tour of their Airbnb. One of the highlights was meeting the resident peacocks who call the property home! 🦚

    I settled in for a quiet evening with a G&T, Gin from Lacock, and watched The Boy in the Plastic Bubble starring John Travolta.

    Another great day exploring England!    Read more

  • kim.walks on InstagramEngland and FranceTraveler
    The Giant Sequoia1Jane Austen Center1The Featherington home from Bridgerton. No.1 The Royal Crescent1The Royal CrescentThe Circle - historic circular ring of large Georgian townhouses.1Pulteney Bridge completed in 1774The Bath AbbeyPrince Bladud, a legendary Celtic prince, carved in 1859

    Day 5 Bath

    August 28 in England ⋅ ☁️ 24 °C

    Started the day with one last trip into Castle Combe. I met Carly at The Manor House, a beautiful and very luxurious hotel. I had a coffee in her room and, of course, we took full advantage of all the complimentary snacks!

    We walked back to our Airbnb, freshened up, and ordered an Uber to spend the day in Bath, a city famous for—and named after—the Roman-built baths. Bath was also home to Jane Austen from 1801 to 1806.

    Unfortunately, we didn’t visit the famous Roman Baths. At £35 per person at the door, the entry fee was more than we were willing to spend. We walked around the city taking in the sights, and, of course, a little shopping.

    For lunch, we had the lunch special at Pizza Express. It was such a cool pizza—a donut-shaped, wood-fired pizza with a salad right in the middle! Add a soda, and the whole lunch was only £10.

    We decided to pick up dinner at the grocery store and made it back to our Airbnb just as the rain started. Perfect timing!    Read more

  • kim.walks on InstagramEngland and FranceTraveler
    1

    Day 6 - Travel Day

    August 29 in France ⋅ ☁️ 21 °C

    Checkout at the Airbnb was 10:00am, so we packed up and headed to Chippenham Railway Station, arriving about two hours early for our 12:30 train. We took the train to Paddington Station, then the Tube to King’s Cross St Pancras for our Eurostar.

    Check-in for our 3:30pm Eurostar was at 2:15pm, and of course, we were a little late. And just to add a little excitement to the day, one of the wheels on our suitcase decided it had had enough and broke! So, we spent the rest of the journey through the station basically dragging the poor suitcase behind us.

    Security and passport checks went smoothly, and boarding followed soon after. Eurostar Plus was great — roomier seats, plus a light meal and beverage included.

    The high-speed train from London to Paris takes about 2 hours and 16 minutes. Around 35 minutes of the journey is through the underwater section of the 50-kilometre Channel Tunnel (the famous “Chunnel”). We barely noticed we were underwater, other than a little ear popping.

    We arrived at Gare du Nord and grabbed a taxi to our B&B. Paris is one hour ahead of London, so it was already close to 8:00pm by the time we arrived.

    Our hosts, Monique and Louis, were wonderful — super helpful and spoke perfect English. We freshened up and headed out for dinner at Le Petit Marcel, which Monique had recommended.

    After dinner, we walked down to the Seine and over to Notre-Dame Cathedral. Seeing Notre-Dame at night was pretty magical and felt like the perfect introduction to Paris.

    We wandered around for a bit before heading back to the B&B, arriving around 11:00pm.    Read more

  • kim.walks on InstagramEngland and FranceTraveler
    1
    1Tour Saint Jacques1Pont Alexandre IIIGrand Palais1Luxor Obelisk - 3300 years old, a gift from EgyptPlace de la Madeleine1Musée du Louvre1Pont Neuf2Notre Dame CathedralPantheonMusée d'OrsayAssemblée NationaleArc de TriompheView from Place de TrocaderoShakespeare and Company- English language bookstoreLe Cirque

    Day 7 - Paris

    August 30 in France ⋅ ☁️ 17 °C

    Flânez - the art of wandering aimlessly, on purpose. Parisian Sundays are the day of the flaneur; the idle wanderer; for ‘doing nothing’ in particular, but moving through the city, observing all it has to offer that we perhaps don’t have time to notice during the week.

    After a delicious breakfast of croissants, melon, hard-boiled eggs, coffee and orange juice, provided by our host, we met up with Karina and her family at their hotel.

    To my surprise, there are scallop shells on our street, Rue Saint Martin. The Paris camino is obviously much less bucolic and less proper to spiritual meditation than most of the Pilgrim's Roads to Santiago de Compostela, but it crosses interesting neighborhoods and historic sites.

    The Saint James tower (Tour Saint Jacques) is the historic meeting point for pilgrims on their way to Santiago de Compostela from Paris. It is the former bell tower of the Church of Saint-Jacques de la Boucherie that was destroyed in the French Revolution.

    We stopped to shop for picnic supplies — wine, meat, cheese and fresh bread — before taking the metro to the Eiffel Tower. We found the perfect spot at Champ de Mars to enjoy our picnic. The best view and no crowds.

    After lunch, Carly and I hopped on the TOOT Bus for a sightseeing tour around Paris. We got off the bus at 5:50 p.m., just in time to hear the bells of Notre-Dame ringing.

    From there, we walked back to our B&B to freshen up before dinner. By this point, we were pretty tired, so we decided not to venture too far. Luckily, there are lots of restaurants close by.

    We settled on Le Cirque, where I had the Le Clown cocktail along with a Croque Monsieur. Carly had a Margarita and Vodka Penne (which ended up being plain red sauce, disappointing)    Read more

  • kim.walks on InstagramEngland and FranceTraveler
    2
    22Funicular from Place Saint-Pierre to the Basilica of the Sacré-Cœur1Le Sabot RougeOnion soup and escargotThe Artists of the Place du TertreMacarons at LaduréeLa Maison RoseBust of DalidaBoris LumeMoulin RougeThéâtre Mogador1Galeries LafayetteView from the roofThe Great Canadian PubPont NeufVedettes du Pont Neuf - River Cruise1light show happens for five minutes at the top of every hour after dark until 1:00 AMthe Paris 2024 Olympic cauldron is currently on display in the Tuileries Garden. It rises at 8:30pm

    Day 8 – Montmartre & Paris by Night

    August 31 in France ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C

    We started the day with another amazing breakfast from our host—definitely one of the highlights of staying here!

    After breakfast, we walked for about an hour to Montmartre. Rather than tackling the 200-plus stairs, we took the funicular up the hill. Much easier! We spent some time wandering around Montmartre, taking in the charming streets and sights, and stopped for some delicious French cuisine.

    After exploring, we walked back down the hill and made our way to Galeries Lafayette. We went up to the rooftop terrace and were rewarded with an incredible view of Paris.

    We then walked back to our B&B and took a few hours to rest and recharge before heading out for dinner at the Great Canadian Pub.

    To finish off the evening, we took a nighttime cruise along the Seine. Seeing Paris lit up at night was beautiful, but the highlight was definitely watching the Eiffel Tower sparkle.    Read more

  • kim.walks on InstagramEngland and FranceTraveler
    1GoofySlinky Dog Zig Zag Spin1Bo PeepBistro Chez Remy3Rapunzel Tangled SpinPanoraMagique

    Day 9 - Paris to Disneyland

    September 1 in France ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C

    We checked out of our B&B at 11:00 a.m. and took an Uber to our next hotel, Staycity Aparthotel. After dropping off our luggage, we hopped on the city bus to Disneyland Paris and were walking through the gates by 1:00 p.m.

    We spent most of our afternoon and evening around Worlds of Pixar, since we had a 4:15 p.m. dinner reservation at Chez Remy Bistro. The restaurant was so much fun, with classic French-inspired dishes served in an imaginative Ratatouille-themed space surrounded by oversized decor that made us feel like we were Remy-sized.

    We wandered around the park, taking in the sights and doing a little shopping along the way. We stopped for a cheesy pretzel and a Mickey ice cream.

    With our snacks taken care of, we continued exploring and squeezed in some of the park’s more relaxed attractions — definitely not thrill rides, but lots of fun nonetheless! We went on Cars Road Trip, Ratatouille: The Adventure, and Spider-Man W.E.B. Adventure.

    We called it a night around 9:00 p.m. and caught the shuttle back to our hotel.    Read more

  • kim.walks on InstagramEngland and FranceTraveler
    2View from our hotel roomSleeping Beauty CastleDisney Stars on Parade ✨3Maleficent transforms into the dragon1Pirates of the CaribbeanPhantom ManorThe Dragon's Den - under the Castle1The Lion King: Rhythms of the Pride LandsTimon & PumbaaAlice's Curious LabyrinthStorybook Land Canal Boats

    Day 10 - Disneyland Paris

    September 2 in France ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C

    We had a bit of a sleep-in this morning before catching the hotel shuttle to Disneyland at 10:30 a.m. We arrived just in time to find a spot along Main Street and watch Disney Stars on Parade — the perfect way to start another day at the park.

    Today was definitely all about the food — and since we wanted to try as much as possible, we shared everything. We started with Mickey waffles for breakfast, then had empanadas at Casa de Coco. We were actually there for the frozen margaritas, but unfortunately, they were no longer available so we had a beer. Next up was a Mickey pizza at Colonel Hathi’s Outpost. And finally Crepes (Nutella and Sugar) in Fantasyland. Of course, we couldn’t leave without Champagne on Main Street! We even kept the cork as a souvenir.

    We also packed in more rides today. We made our way through Phantom Manor, Pirates of the Caribbean, Les Voyages de Pinocchio, Buzz Lightyear Laser Blast, The Land of Fairy Tales: miniature landscapes inspired by great literary works and legendary Disney classics, and It’s a Small World. We also took in The Lion King stage show, which was definitely a highlight.

    By the end of the day, we decided we had packed in enough Disney magic and chose not to stay for the fireworks. Instead, we caught the shuttle back to the hotel around sunset.    Read more

  • kim.walks on InstagramEngland and FranceTraveler
    1
    MoanaTianaRaysRapunzelWorld of Frozen1Mailing a postcard from ArendelleIn line for Frozen Ever AfterA surprise drop on this ride 😂1Disney Village Sports BarDisney Hotel New York - The Art of MarvelIntermission 😉11Star Tours - The Adventures ContinueWaiting...Disney Tales of MagicAu revoir

    Day 11 - last day at Disneyland Paris

    September 3 in France ⋅ ☁️ 23 °C

    We took the last hotel shuttle of the morning and arrived at Disneyland around 11:30. We headed straight to Adventure World to finally experience Frozenland. The main attraction had been closed on our first day, so it was a priority for our last day — and it definitely did not disappoint!

    We started the day with a Mickey beignet and arrived just in time to catch the Disney Princess Cavalcade on Adventure Way. Then it was off to Arendelle, where I mailed a postcard before we rode Frozen Ever After. The animatronics on this ride were amazing and really brought the whole experience to life.

    After enjoying Frozenland, we decided to leave the park for a while and head over to Disney Village for some lunch and shopping. We had a delicious and relaxing lunch at the Sports Bar & Lounge, where the Vuelta a España was playing on the large-screen TVs. The Vuelta is one of cycling’s three prestigious Grand Tours, alongside the Tour de France and the Giro d’Italia.

    After lunch, we wandered over to check out the lobby of Disney Hotel New York – The Art of Marvel. By this point, we decided it was time for a break, so we headed back to the hotel for a much-needed rest.

    After our break, we took the 7:20 shuttle back to the park and made our way to Tomorrowland. We didn’t go on any rides, but we did grab a slushie to enjoy on our walk back toward Main Street.

    Our next stop was Market House Deli for a ham and cheese toastie (Croque Monsieur) and a Mickey cookie — because there’s always room for one more Disney snack!

    We found our spot on Main Street and settled in for Disney Tales of Magic. It was the perfect way to end our final night.

    Getting out of the park afterward was absolutely crazy. There were only two shuttle buses going to our hotel, and with everyone leaving after the fireworks, the crowds were huge. We decided to skip the shuttle and take the less-crowded city bus instead. Of course, we accidentally got off one stop too early, which meant a 13-minute walk back to the hotel.

    But honestly, it worked out just fine. It was a beautiful night, and we got to enjoy a quiet walk through a residential area.    Read more

  • kim.walks on InstagramEngland and FranceTraveler
    hot, cold, still and sparkling waterSaw Chet Hanks @ CDG airportSaw Caterina Scorsone @ YYZ airport

    Day 12 - 13 Travelling Home

    September 4 in France ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C

    Our penultimate day started with a breakfast buffet at the hotel. After breakfast, we put our bags into storage and spent a few relaxing hours enjoying the hotel patio before grabbing an Uber to our airport hotel.

    We checked into the Ibis Paris CDG and took it easy for a few hours before dinner. There were three restaurants in the hotel, and we chose Pia. Carly had pizza, while I had gnocchi — a simple but delicious last dinner in France.

    The next morning, we left the hotel at 9:00 a.m. and took the shuttle/tram over to Terminal 2 at Charles de Gaulle. Baggage drop-off and security went surprisingly smoothly, and then we had our first celebrity sighting of the trip! We spotted Chet Hanks, Tom Hanks’ son, who we recognized from Running Point. Definitely not someone we expected to see at the airport!

    The flight home was a long eight hours, made even longer when the in-flight TV and movie system stopped working about four hours into the flight. So frustrating! Thankfully, Carly had downloaded an entire season of Outer Banks (OBX), so she was perfectly happy and entertained.

    One of the highlights of the flight was the woman sitting beside us, who was from Thunder Bay. She was a breast cancer survivor returning home from the IBCPC Dragon Boat Festival in Aix-les-Bains, France. What a small world — and what an amazing experience to hear about!

    We arrived back at YYZ, tired but happy to be home. We had our second celebrity sighting of the trip, just as we were getting into our cab home — Caterina Scorsone from Grey’s Anatomy!

    Home safe from an incredible adventure through England and France! 🇬🇧🇫🇷    Read more

    Trip end
    September 5, 2026