Introduction
In late April 2024, my husband Jerry and I, along with our dear friends Dave and Karen, set off on a 25-day adventure through England, Scotland, and Ireland. After months of planning (and more than a few FaceTime chats), we were excited to finally trade our everyday routines for castles, winding countryside lanes, and plenty of shared discoveries.
Jerry and I flew from Denver, while Dave and Karen flew in from Los Angeles. We met up at Heathrow Airport, bleary-eyed but buzzing with excitement. After a long 9-hour flight and wrestling with the 7-hour time difference, we collected our rental car and hit the road.
The rental car pickup provided our first “we’re not in Colorado anymore” moment. As we merged onto the roadway, we suddenly weren’t sure if the speed limit signs were in miles per hour or kilometers per hour. (The UK uses the metric system, right?!) We spent the first few minutes doing mental math and second-guessing every sign until we realized, with a mix of relief and laughter, that the roads in Britain still use good old miles. Classic rookie travelers — we were already off to a memorable start!
Within hours, England began working its magic on us. The countryside unfolded like a storybook, and we quickly realized this trip was going to be even better than we had imagined.
Day 1: Touchdown & The Drive to Ide Hill
After hitting the road, our first practical stop was a quick detour to Costco for supplies. Jet-lagged but determined, we stocked up on snacks, breakfast essentials, and a few familiar comforts (wine) to ease us into the trip.
Jerry and Dave took on all the driving duties for the entire 25 days, while Karen and I helped handle navigation. We’d all agreed beforehand that we would constantly remind the driver to “stay left,” which helped keep us on the correct (well… the wrong) side of the road while smoothly (mostly) navigating the endless roundabouts. It was definitely an adjustment at first!
The drive south to our charming Airbnb in Ide Hill, Kent, was both beautiful and a little nerve-wracking. Those narrow country lanes lined with tall hedgerows were incredibly picturesque, and we soaked in our first real views of the classic English countryside. We were all relieved and excited when we finally pulled up to our cozy cottage-style home. It was perfect for the four of us, with lovely views from every window.
That evening we went to The King’s Head pub for dinner. We all tried the beef stroganoff, which was rich and comforting after our long travel day. Our server, Sophie, was wonderfully friendly and gave us great tips for catching the train into London the next day. Exhausted but happy, we were all tucked into bed by 8pm.
Day 2: Our First London Day Trip
Jet lag hit us hard — Jerry and I woke up at 3am! After making coffee, we took a lovely walk through a nearby forest as the sun came up. Once everyone was ready, we drove to the train station in Sevenoaks and caught a train into London.
We had a mostly sunny day, which was a nice surprise. We started with the Tower of London and walked across Tower Bridge, where the glass floor was both exciting and a little scary. We hopped on a classic red double-decker bus, then stopped at Brewdog Brewery for a refreshing mango sour while waiting for our next activity.
We bought our London Eye tickets online the same day after checking the weather forecast. We lucked out with beautiful clear skies, and the 360° views from the top were spectacular. We could clearly see the Shard, Big Ben, the Walkie Talkie building, and so much of London’s skyline.
We ended the day walking through the Graffiti Tunnel before taking the train back to Ide Hill. A simple “wine dinner” (charcuterie, cheeses, and good wine) was the perfect way to end the day.
Day 3: More London Exploring
We woke to classic English fog and a very plump pheasant outside our window — such a quintessential English moment! After coffee, we headed back into London.
We walked past Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, through St. James’s Park, and over to Buckingham Palace. We stopped for a drink at the Golden Lion pub before continuing to Piccadilly Circus, where we enjoyed traditional fish & chips at Mr. Fogg’s Tavern. We finished at Trafalgar Square before returning to Kent.
That evening we had sourdough crust pizza at The Pheasant Plucker along with more wine and music. These relaxed evenings with our friends quickly became some of my favorite memories.
Helpful Tips from Our First Days
• English Heritage Pass: This was one of our smartest purchases. With so many castles and historic sites on our itinerary, it provided free entry to many of them and saved us a nice chunk of money throughout the trip.
• Trains from smaller towns: Trains from places like Sevenoaks into London were wonderfully easy and efficient—perfect for quick city escapes without the stress of driving.
• London Eye tickets: We bought ours online the same day after checking the weather forecast. We were lucky with mostly sunny skies during our visit, which made the views absolutely spectacular.
Fun Facts from Our First Days in Kent & London
• Those iconic tall hedgerows lining the narrow country lanes aren’t just pretty — many are hundreds of years old (some over 800 years!) and were originally planted as living fences to keep livestock in and mark property boundaries. They’re so valuable that locals actually warned us: in a scrape on those tiny roads, you’d almost rather hit another car than plow through one of these protected “living walls”!
• Ide Hill sits on one of the highest points in Kent, giving our cozy Airbnb those stunning panoramic views over the Weald below. The village name dates all the way back to 1250, originally recorded as “Edythehelle” — basically “Edith’s Hill.” It’s in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, so those storybook scenes from every window were the real deal.
• The King’s Head pub in Bessels Green has that welcoming village-pub charm for a reason — many pubs with this name trace their roots back to the reign of Henry VIII. Our friendly server Sophie felt like a perfect introduction to British hospitality.
• The London Eye isn’t technically a Ferris wheel. It’s the world’s tallest cantilevered observation wheel (supported on only one side). It was originally built as a temporary attraction for the millennium celebrations in 2000, but it proved so popular that they decided to keep it permanently. Bonus: there’s no capsule #13 because of superstition!
Final Thoughts
Our first three days nailed the perfect travel rhythm right from the start. We bounced between proper London sightseeing (the kind that makes your feet ache in the best way) and quiet countryside evenings, and somehow it all felt just right. Jet lag? Handled. Roundabouts? Survived. By the end of those early days, the four of us — Jerry, Dave, Karen, and me — were already laughing about our rookie moments and completely hooked on the adventure ahead.
Up Next:
Our full-day English Heritage adventure visiting multiple castles and historic sites along England’s southeast coast, including the impressive Dover Castle!
