England 2025

Our sightseeing tour of England, including time in Liverpool, Manchester, London and the Cotswolds, but the highlight will be 4 weeks touring through the Lakes District. Read more

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Trip start
April 29, 2025
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Day 1
Tuesday, April 29, 2025 at 11:49 AM
⛅ 22 °C
Altitude: 10 m
Australia Sydney -33.935655, 151.16762633°56’8” S 151°10’3” E
Sydney International Airport
April 29 in Australia ⋅ ⛅ 22 °C
It's just a waiting game now as we wait for our flight to London and a 7-week stint in England. We will start with a few days in Manchester and Liverpool, then a month touring the Lakes District, then back to London for a few days, either side of a week in the Cotswolds. Should be good.Read more
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Day 1
Tuesday, April 29, 2025 at 9:52 PM
☁️ 28 °C
Altitude: 35 m
Singapore Singapore 1.365968, 103.9898731°21’57” N 103°59’24” E
Changi International Airport
April 29 in Singapore ⋅ ☁️ 28 °C
A 2 hour stopover here before we continue our flight to London.
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Day 2
Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at 7:00 AM
☀️ 10 °C
Altitude: 17 m
England London 51.482092, -0.14408851°28’56” N 0°8’39” W
London - Heathrow
April 30 in England ⋅ ☀️ 10 °C
We arrived in London right on time and then travelled to Manchester on the train. The adventure begins!
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Day 2
Wednesday, April 30, 2025 at 1:45 PM
⛅ 26 °C
Altitude: 47 m
England Trafford 53.463242, -2.28920653°27’48” N 2°17’21” W
Manchester - Old Trafford
April 30 in England ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
We arrived in London and caught our train to Manchester where it was sunny and warm - perfect weather. After checking in to the hotel it was straight to Old Trafford for a tour of the stadium and the Manchester United museum. It is an amazing ground with so much history. We did think that given their recent results they may have paid us to take the tour, but sadly this wasn't the case. On the way back we got a bit of a look at Old Trafford Cricket Ground, scene of many Aussie triumphs, including Shane Warne's 'ball of the century in 1993.Read more
Also , where Jim Laker took 19 wickets in 1956 against Australia 😡 [Graeme Maher]
5/2/25Reply
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Day 3
Thursday, May 1, 2025 at 9:48 AM
☀️ 19 °C
Altitude: 45 m
England Manchester 53.477768, -2.24357453°28’40” N 2°14’37” W
Manchester
May 1 in England ⋅ ☀️ 19 °C
This morning we toured Manchester on the hop-on-hop-off bus. Manchester is not overly scenic but is certainly historic and therefore really interesting.
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Day 3
Thursday, May 1, 2025 at 3:58 PM
☀️ 18 °C
Altitude: 8 m
England Liverpool 53.401673, -2.99162853°24’6” N 2°59’30” W
Liverpool
May 1 in England ⋅ ☀️ 18 °C
We left Manchester and headed off to Liverpool on the train. We have great views from our hotel on the Royal Albert Docks alongside the Mersey. After an exploration of the docks we abandoned our pub tour and had dinner instead at Gordon Ramsay's Bread Street Kitchen. Two courses for 22 pounds so it was a no-brainer and also delicious. But we were not happy that Gordon wasn't there to cook for us, or to swear at his staff. Surely he had heard we were in town.

Then we went on the Liverpool Wheel for elevated views of Liverpool. One of us sat there with her eyes closed the whole time so that was a waste of 11 pounds.Read more
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Day 4
Friday, May 2, 2025 at 8:46 AM
☁️ 12 °C
Altitude: 28 m
England Liverpool 53.399127, -2.9919253°23’57” N 2°59’31” W
Liverpool
May 2 in England ⋅ ☁️ 12 °C
We spent today in Liverpool. It is a great place and we really enjoyed our time here.

We started off with a visit to The Beatles Story museum which was terrific. Then we went on the Mersey Ferry for a cruise along the river, followed by a tour of the Royal Liver building and a climb to the top of one of its towers for great views across Liverpool and also over the Mersey.

We finished the day with the Beatles Magical Mystery Tour travelling around to all the significant sites in their story, finishing in Mathew Street at the famous Cavern Club.Read more
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Day 5
Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 11:38 AM
⛅ 13 °C
Altitude: 52 m
England Far Sawrey 54.351066, -2.94229454°21’4” N 2°56’32” W
The Lakes District
May 3 in England ⋅ ⛅ 13 °C
We left Liverpool on the train and travelled north to Preston and then to Kendal in the Lakes District where we picked up Lynne and Kate. Our hire car was upgraded from a Ford Kuga to a Jaguar - very flash!!

Next stop was the Windermere Ferry across Lakd Windermere and then on to Near Sawrey, our home for the next 3 nights.

There is only one word to describe the Lakes and Near Sawrey - simplystunning!Read more
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Day 5
Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 2:43 PM
⛅ 15 °C
Altitude: 92 m
England Near Sawrey 54.351867, -2.9701854°21’7” N 2°58’13” W
Near Sawrey & The Tower Bank Arms
May 3 in England ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
Our home in Near Sawrey for the next 3 nights is the historic 17th century village inn, the Tower Bank Arms. Good food, local beers, heaps of character - all the boxes are ticked.
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Day 5
Saturday, May 3, 2025 at 4:34 PM
⛅ 15 °C
Altitude: 96 m
England Near Sawrey 54.351717, -2.96937354°21’6” N 2°58’10” W
Near Sawrey
May 3 in England ⋅ ⛅ 15 °C
Today was spent walking around Near Sawrey, up to Moss Eccles Tarn, along Esthwaite Water and towards Hawkshead. We also visited Hill Top Farm, the home of Beatrix Potter, where she wrote the stories of Peter Rabbit and his friends. The home is as it was when she lived in it.

Being a Sunday and surrounded by sheep farms, the obvious meal choice was the lamb roast at the Tower Bank Arms.Read more
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Day 7
Monday, May 5, 2025 at 9:04 AM
⛅ 8 °C
Altitude: 102 m
England Near Sawrey 54.352568, -2.9713854°21’9” N 2°58’17” W
Near Sawrey
May 5 in England ⋅ ⛅ 8 °C
Today was spent walking around Near Sawrey. We walked up to Moss Eccles Tarn, down through the farms and fields to Far Sawrey, stopped at St Peter's Church and the Cuckoo Brow Inn, before returning to Near Sawrey.Read more
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Day 8
Tuesday, May 6, 2025 at 9:15 AM
☀️ 9 °C
Altitude: 49 m
England Far Sawrey 54.326921, -2.93748154°19’37” N 2°56’15” W
Bowness-on-Windermere
May 6 in England ⋅ ☀️ 9 °C
Today was a quiet one as we drove from Near Sawrey to Bowness-on-Windermere, which was only about 50kms.

Along the way we had some great views of Lake Windermere and also stopped at the rather grand Blackwell House. Once in Bowness we walked around the shops and the lakeshore.

Our apartment has views straight out across the lake which will be very enjoyable for the next few daysRead more
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Day 9
Wednesday, May 7, 2025 at 8:49 AM
☀️ 11 °C
Altitude: 41 m
England Troutbeck Bridge 54.362973, -2.9225454°21’47” N 2°55’21” W
Lake Windermere
May 7 in England ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C
Today we cruised along Lake Windermere, the largest lake in England. We went from Bowness to Lakeside, then caught the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Steam Railway, before returning to Bowness by boat once again. Perfect weather made it a great day out. Once again, the scenery was spectacular.Read more
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Day 10
Thursday, May 8, 2025 at 8:58 AM
⛅ 9 °C
Altitude: 136 m
England Troutbeck Bridge 54.381846, -2.90568254°22’55” N 2°54’20” W
Windermere & Orrest Head
May 8 in England ⋅ ⛅ 9 °C
Another day spent around Bowness and Windermere was a really good one. We climbed up to Orrest Head which overlooks the lake and the surrounding fells and enjoyed its views.

Then it was off to the Windermere Jetty Museum which tells the history of boating on Lake Windermere. We got there just as they were offering a motorboat cruise on the lake so off we went. We were the only ones on it and enjoyed a leisurely 30 minute cruise around some parts of the lake we didn't see yesterday.Read more
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Day 11
Friday, May 9, 2025 at 8:47 AM
☀️ 9 °C
Altitude: 81 m
England Near Sawrey 54.373648, -2.99833354°22’25” N 2°59’54” W
Hawkshead
May 9 in England ⋅ ☀️ 9 °C
We left Bowness, crossed Lake Windermere on the ferry and spent the morning in Hawkshead, an old market town. It is a very pretty place. We went to the old Hawkshead Grammar School, where William Wordsworth was once a student and St. Michael's Church, perched high on the hill overlooking the town.Read more
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Day 11
Friday, May 9, 2025 at 1:19 PM
☀️ 15 °C
Altitude: 142 m
England Westmorland and Furness 54.374018, -3.06500954°22’26” N 3°3’54” W
Yew Tree Farm - Coniston
May 9 in England ⋅ ☀️ 15 °C
After leaving Hawkshead we drove to Yew Tree Farm at Coniston where we will spend the next week. The farmhouse was built in 1690 and is a special place to stay. Beatrix Potter bought it in the 1920's and gave it to the National Trust. It is a fell farm and stocks Herdwick sheep. The farms tenants Jo and John run a Herdwick Experience which tells you about fell farming and 'the herdies' and gives you a chance to feed and get up close to them. Lots of fun.

We headed in to Coniston for dinner at the Yewdale Inn - and had pizza for a change.

PS. The farmhouse at Yew Tree Farm was used in the movie 'Miss Potter' starring Renee Zellwegger, in case it looks familiar to anyone.Read more
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Day 12
Saturday, May 10, 2025 at 8:19 AM
☀️ 11 °C
Altitude: 71 m
England Little Langdale 54.389741, -3.05742254°23’23” N 3°3’27” W
Coniston
May 10 in England ⋅ ☀️ 11 °C
We walked from Yew Tree Farm into Coniston, about 2 miles, along a very pretty woodlands path with plenty of bluebells. Along the way we ran into a charity walk - the Keswick to Barrow 40 - which is a 40 mile walk and there were hundreds of them. Coniston was their half way point.

We looked around Coniston where the girls shopped, visited the church and also went to Donald Campbell's grave. He was killed on Coniston Lake in 1967 trying to break the world water speed record in his jet boat which many of you may remember. The Church also has the grave of John Ruskin - apparently he was a famous writer who was very influential around here.

The local cricket team were playing so we watched that for a while. They have a stunning location for their ground. Then after walking back to the farm, relaxed with well earned drinks then had dinner at the Crown Inn in Coniston.

Once again the weather was unseasonally sensational.Read more
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Day 13
Sunday, May 11, 2025 at 9:22 AM
☁️ 15 °C
Altitude: 122 m
England Ambleside 54.378888, -3.00991954°22’44” N 3°0’36” W
Hawkshead Hill
May 11 in England ⋅ ☁️ 15 °C
Another sunny blue sky day in the Lakes. We drove to visit a friend of Lynne's who lives on Hawkshead Hill, with great views over the valley, to have a look at his stunning and colourful garden, full of all the plants we class as exotic that struggle to grow at home. Amazing colours were on display.Read more
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Day 13
Sunday, May 11, 2025 at 12:19 PM
☁️ 18 °C
Altitude: 204 m
England Little Langdale 54.387432, -3.03823354°23’15” N 3°2’18” W
Tarn Hows
May 11 in England ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
A walk around Tarn Hows, which was yet another pretty spot, was a relaxing few hours.

Yew Tree Farm has its own butcher shop and we stocked up on some herdwick lamb and belted galloway beef which Jon cut up and packed for us. We will eat it over the next few days. It looks sensational.

Speaking of sensational, the Sunday roast at the Yewdale Inn set a new standard. The roast chicken (half a chook), vegetables and sides with bottomless gravy was a visual and taste stunner!!Read more
TravelerI am so pleased the weather is continuing so good. Brilliant photos. We enjoyed to pretty garden too. Thirteen mm rain overnight and more again today. Love from us. 🥰
5/12/25Reply
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Day 14
Monday, May 12, 2025 at 9:47 AM
⛅ 17 °C
Altitude: 50 m
England Westmorland and Furness 54.369006, -3.0757654°22’8” N 3°4’33” W
Coniston
May 12 in England ⋅ ⛅ 17 °C
A very relaxing day today. This morning we walked to the Tom Gill waterfalls which was a pretty walk, then to Yew Tree Tarn, which was also pretty.

After lunch at Yew Tree Farm, we walked into Coniston and spent the afternoon at the Black Bull Inn in the beer garden sampling their Coniston ales. Most enjoyable. We caught the local taxi back to the farm.

Dinner tonight was a Belted Galloway beef burger using the meat we bought from the Yew Tree Farm.Read more
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Day 15
Tuesday, May 13, 2025 at 10:00 AM
☀️ 17 °C
Altitude: 46 m
England Westmorland and Furness 54.35372, -3.05908354°21’13” N 3°3’33” W
Coniston
May 13 in England ⋅ ☀️ 17 °C
Englands unseasonally warm, dry and sunny weather continues, but we are not complaining.

Today we had breakfast at the Bluebird Cafe on Lake Coniston, (a bacon butty), then went to Brantwood Estate, which was the home of writer John Ruskin. It had terrific views over the lake and expansive gardens.

Then it was back to Lake Coniston for an afternoon cruise around the lake on the steam yacht Gondola. Built in 1859, the yacht was designed to carry tourists on the lake and this it still does.

The yacht cruised past Peel Island, better known as 'Wild Cat Island' from the Arthur Ransom books (and movies), 'Swallows and Amazons'. I remember reading them as a child and also watching the old b/w TV series on the ABC.

For dinner tonight we cooked our Yew Tree Farm chops and steak and they were some of the best meat we have had.Read more
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Day 16
Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at 8:56 AM
☀️ 12 °C
Altitude: 61 m
England Skelwith Bridge 54.422026, -3.01657654°25’19” N 3°0’60” W
Elterwater
May 14 in England ⋅ ☀️ 12 °C
This morning we drove to Skellwith Bridge with the plan to have breakfast at Chester's By The River and then walk along the Brathay River to Elterwater. But the cafe was a vegan one and there was nothing whatsoever of any interest on the menu. So we gave breakfast a miss and went straight into the walk (2.8km) which was a really pretty one. We had views up to the Langdale Pikes along the rivers edge.

When we got to Elterwater the first place we came across was a pub - the Brittania Inn - so a pint and some crisps made a good breakfast substitute. We then retraced our steps back to Skellwith Bridge.Read more
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Day 16
Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at 2:22 PM
⛅ 18 °C
Altitude: 47 m
England Westmorland and Furness 54.370061, -3.07609854°22’12” N 3°4’34” W
Coniston Museum & Monk Coniston
May 14 in England ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
In the afternoon we went to the Coniston Museum which told the story of Conistons history - copper mining, sheep farming, mountain climbing, the influence of John Ruskin and also of Donald Campbell. He died on Lake Coniston in 1967 trying to break his world water speed record. His jetboat the Bluebird hit over 300mph, then flipped and he was killed. The Bluebird and his body were recovered from the lake in 2001 and the Bluebird has been restored and is now in the museum.

Then we walked to Monk Coniston, the old manor house for the Coniston estate, which was another pretty spot.Read more
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Day 17
Thursday, May 15, 2025 at 8:42 AM
☁️ 11 °C
Altitude: 96 m
England Little Langdale 54.389217, -3.04830554°23’21” N 3°2’54” W
Torver & Lake Coniston
May 15 in England ⋅ ☁️ 11 °C
This morning I climbed the hill opposite the farm to take some good photos and after that we drove to Torver, which is about 3 miles from Coniston. From there we walked down to Lake Coniston, through meadows, woodlands and farms. Once on the lake we saw the steam yacht Gondola puff past, after which we made our way along the waters edge before walking back up to Torver. The Wilson Arms beckoned us and we had a pint and a yummy lunch.

After a lazy afternoon at Yew Tree Farm we had dinner at the Sun Inn, which had been recommended to us because it is where the locals drink and eat. They also use Yew Tree Farm meats and it was a very good recommendation.Read more
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Day 18
Friday, May 16, 2025 at 9:38 AM
☀️ 14 °C
Altitude: 30 m
England Swarthmoor 54.194583, -3.09477754°11’40” N 3°5’41” W
Ulverston
May 16 in England ⋅ ☀️ 14 °C
This was a really good day. We left Yew Tree Cottage and Coniston and made our way to Eskdale in the western Lakes District.

Our first stop was Ulverston, where we went to the Laurel & Hardy Museum which was good fun. Stan Laurel was born in Ulverston.

We then followed the Furness Peninsula along the coast road down to the bottom tip at Piel Island.Read more
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