Slightly Brilliant: ::Tweedy's Take the World

Hey y'all!

Get your travel pants ready! Today I'm taking you to England!

Well to a few places in England anyways!

This was my second trip {last time was 11 years ago} and I loved it even more this time!

Picking up where we left off!

Day 8 : Travel Day

We began our journey on my birthday, leaving Dublin and landing in London! I was SUPER excited because a friend, I hadn't seen in almost 7 years to the day, picked us up at the airport.

PS - We flew RyanAir. I honestly suggest you avoid it if you can Although, they are cheap!

Day 9 : Snettisham Park | Sandringham House | Bury St. Edmunds

I was so excited to see my Tom & Liz, who I haven't seen in 7 years! Tom was able to take off work and show us around where he grew up and it was a BLAST!

Tom & Liz in front of their adorable abode!

I can't wait to go back and visit them again!

Gadalf the Goat | Snettisham Park | Kings Lynn, England

Snettisham Park | Kings Lynn, England

Piggy Tails | Snettisham Park | Kings Lynn, England

Sassy Cow | Snettisham Park | Kings Lynn, England

Hey Mama | Snettisham Park | Kings Lynn, England

Snettisham Park | Kings Lynn, England

Giant Squirrel! | Sandringham House | Norfolk, England

Sandringham House | Norfolk, England

Beautiful Countryside on the way to Bury St. Edmunds | England

Bury St. Edmunds, England

Abbey Gardens | Bury St. Edmunds, England

Abbey Ruins | Bury St. Edmunds, England

Saint Mary's Church | Bury St. Edmunda, England

Saint Mary's Church | Bury St. Edmunds, England

Day 10 : Drive to the Cotswolds

Driving is the way to go if you want to see the country side, but our 2.5 hour trip ended up taking us closer to 7.5 hours! I guess that is Friday traffic around London for you!

Local pub for dinner | Coln Saint Aldwyns, England

Oh my! Don't get me started on pub food! It is so yummy!

Tree on the property of our annex | Ampney Crucis, England

This night was our "quiet night" and it definitely was just that! The Annex we stayed in felt so luxurious. I was super spoiled by heated floors in the bathroom and rainfall shower!

The adorable annex we stayed in | Ampney Crucis, England

Day 11 : Breakfast | Bibury | Drive to London

Of course, I have to share our breakfast with you. It was amazing! As hard as I tried, I wasn't able to eat it all, but I wanted to!

After breakfast, we started our trip back to London. On our way, we a stop in Bibury. I mean, how could you not?!? It was so beautiful!

Bibury, England

First time I've seen a Black Swan in person. BEAUTIFUL! | Bibury, England

Tree covered road | Cotswolds, England

Our first night in London, we ate at Nando's and I highly recommend eating there. It is a Portuguese chicken restuarant that is delicious! They are very easy to find!

Day 12 : Tate Modern | St. Paul's Cathedral | Herman Ze German | London Eye | Big Ben | St. James Park | Buckingham Palace | Wellington Arch | Piccadilly Circus | Wagamama

If it seems like we did a lot on this day, it's because we did! We started our day by hopping off the tube at London Bridge Underground Station. We walked out to view Tower bridge from there.

Tower Bridge | London, England

From there we walked to The Globe Theater and on to Tate Modern.

Ruins of a church on Clink Street | London, England

Globe Theater | London, England

After visiting all five floors of Tate Modern, we decided to cross the Millennium Bridge and head toward St. Paul's Cathedral.

Millennium Bridge | London, England

St. Paul's Cathedral | London, England

We opted out of touring the cathedral since we were on a budget and it would have cost us as much as a day's worth of food. So, we headed back to the River Thames and wandered along the bank to the Golden Jubilee Bridges. Located just north of these bridges is Herman Ze German! If you like brats and are in the area, eat here!

Anyways, after we filled our bellies and took a wifi/coffee break at Starbucks {TIP: need free wifi? Find a Starbucks!} we crossed the Golden Jubilee Bridges to see the London Eye up close.

View looking south from the Golden Jubilee Bridges | London, England

London Eye | London, England

As much as we wanted to go for a whirl on the Eye, the line was long and we were on a budget.

{Our choice of the Emirates Stadium tour was an awesome way to spend fun money.}

We did stop and enjoy a few of the "shows" happening around the Eye while we rested.

Bicycle tricks | London, England

Street performer | London, England

Once we got our fill of silliness, we crossed Westminster Bridge to stand in the shadow of Big Ben and see the Queen, of course.

Big Ben | London, England

Churchill War Rooms Building | London, England

St. James Park | London, England

Buckingham Palace | London, England

Since the queen was in, Mattie & I were speculating what she was doing.

Mattie said "Watching reruns of 'Murder She Wrote'".

I said "Sliding around the halls in her socks".

We got a good laugh out of it none the less.

From the palace we walked over to the Wellington Arch.

Wellington Arch | London, England

Then trekked on up to Piccadilly Circus!

Piccadilly Selfie | London, England

We finished this long day, eating at Wagamama in Leicester Square and wandering our way up to the Holborn Underground Station. By the time we got back to our flat, we had walked a whopping 12 miles! It was worth it though.

Speaking of Wagamama, they need to come to the U.S. right now! I'm still having withdrawals!

We started our 12th day in Oxford Circus. We wandered around and had some lobster rolls for lunch. After we just strolled through Hide Park into Kensington Gardens.

Peter Pan Statue | Kensington Gardens | London, England

Kensington Gardens | London, England

Silly pigeon wanting his photo taken | Kensington Gardens | London, England

Kensington Palace Gardens | London, England

Orangery | Kensington Palace | London, England

Albert Memorial | Kensington Gardens | London, England

I'm pretty sure we strolled 4 miles aimlessly through Kensington Gardens that day.

We then headed over to Harrod's! Mattie probably couldn't care less, but I loved looking at all the designer merchandise.

Harrod's : What dreams are made of! | London, England

Day 14 : Emirates Stadium | Regent's Park | Primrose Hill

Our last day in London started with a bang! We toured Emirates Stadium, home to Arsenal! It was amazing to see up close where so many of the world's best footballers have played!

Emirates Stadium | London, England

Sitting in the players seats | Emirates Stadium | London, England

Emirates Stadium | London, England

Player's seats | Emirates Stadium | London, England

Interview Room | Emirates Stadium | London, England

Mattie playing Arsene Wenger | Emirates Stadium | London, England

Press Room | Emirates Stadium | London, England

What is a trip to London without taking this photo?!?

London Underground | London, England

We had to visit my sister's old stomping grounds. Sadly, her flat was torn down and this building replaced it. Every time I smell curry, I think of my first time in London and her flat.