London, England is city that marries a long tradition and history with 21st century modernity, and this vibe was evident in what we were able to do and see during our four-day stay. Home to museums, famous landmarks and palaces, world-class shopping and dining, there is much to see and experience in Great Britain's capital.
This post is a transition from our time in Hampshire and surrounding counties to our trip into London for the second part of our travels. We rented a car for our first six days of travel, which was an adventure in itself, and then utilized London's famed public transportation network to get around the city. The kids especially loved our trips on the London Underground.
Like many places we visited, Winchester has a long and rich history dating back to prehistoric and Roman times. Today, the Hampshire County Councils are based in Winchester, and it is said to be one of the most desirable cities in England in which to live. I can understand why. It was a lovely city to visit, and as it was directly on the way to London from Lymington via M3, it is within easy distance of several major cities.
Mentioned in many a Jane Austen novel, and famous on its own for its historic Roman Baths, the city of Bath in Somerset has much to do and see. In addition to the Roman Baths, we walked the Pulteney Bridge that spans the River Avon and, of course, we paid a visit to the Jane Austen Centre.
After visiting Stonehenge on our first full day in England, we drove to the historic city of Salisbury. We paid a visit to the medieval Salisbury Cathedral, a wonder in itself, which houses one of the last four original copies of the Magna Carta. This pivotal document, written in the early 1200s, formed the basis for our modern practices of due process, and has influences many governing documents in the centuries since.
The Cranky Camper 