The day was rainy, not really a surprise for October in England, and puddles seemed to dominate the small Suffolk roads. Fields lined the sides of the roads, doing their best to funnel the water back into the path of the sparse traffic, or at least so it seemed to my eyes, and I was…
Editor's note: I am delighted to introduce you all to Mandy Meehan, our newest writer at The Royal Tour. I met Mandy when I was preparing a trip to Marseille, France, since she was living there and had an Instagram full of incredible photos that I stumbled upon. We have been close friends ever since!…
England is the largest country of the four making up the United Kingdom, and one of the easiest international trips for Americans to make. It is where our country began, we speak the same language (with some nuances), and there are oh so many flights to London. But there are some things to be aware…
London is vast. It is overwhelming. The city has so much going on that I don't think it would be possible to see everything or explore fully in a month, let alone a week or less, as is the normal vacation. Heck, in my most recent two week trip to the British capital, I feel…
There are so many things I take for granted in my life, and especially when I travel. I carry in my pocket more computing power than existed in the entire world in 1980. My phone tells time and always knows where I am. It's hard for me to remember a time before smart phones, let…
London is known, rightfully, for being one of the most expensive cities in the world, both for residents and for visitors. Hotels are pricy, meals equally so, and many of the top sights are outrageously priced (in my opinion). However, for those who travel on a budget, London also has a surprising number of amazing…
It is nearly 10:00 AM, and the excitement is building. I wait among dozens of other eager museum-goers, glancing down at our watches and up at the doors, still closed. We know what is on the other side of these simple wooden barriers, standing in stark contrast to the magnificence of the building that puts…
"It's just a stone circle." "It's too crowded." "I don't see what the big deal is." These were the things people told me before I went to Stonehenge. And... yes, it's a stone circle. Yes, it's crowded, even in the pouring rain. But Stonehenge is absolutely a big deal. For that matter, so is Salisbury,…
What do you get when you combine the setting for several of Jane Austen's books and the most famous Roman baths in the world? You either get a fantastic tale of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennett meeting after a day of soaking and massages or an exploration of the English city of Bath. Bath was…
I have been a fan of Shakespeare for as long as I can recall. I've read Shakespeare. I've watched Shakespeare, both on screen and the stage. I've even performed Shakespeare; my high school portrayal of Don Pedro in Much Ado About Nothing was greeted with much fanfare by my parents. I've written about Shakespeare, most…