Written by Jessica
As a teenager, you dreamed of stopping by Buckingham Palace for a bit of afternoon tea, when suddenly, you run into the prince! He takes you on an amazing adventure all over England and the two of you fall in love along the journey, living happily ever after.
Well, maybe that wasn’t your dream, but it definitely was mine. Sure the falling in love with the prince part never came to fruition… yet. But luckily traveling around England to some not-so-well-known cities did come true. Inspired by our Guernsey book reviews, we’re taking you to four places a little off the beaten path in England you should explore. Though they may not have been the cities you dreamed of visiting, they’re definitely worth stopping by:
- Guernsey: Our first obvious choice is Guernsey, based on our choice of book. Juliet was quite fearless, similar to Elizabeth. She was doing solo trips before they were popular. The island, located on the coast of France, boasts beautiful ocean views, charming places to stay, and a rich history from the time of Victor Hugo’s time spent there to the occupation.
- Lincoln: England is full of castles, fortresses, and gorgeous churches. Lincoln is no exception. The Lincoln Cathedral is beautiful, an underrated location. Also here is Lincoln Castle, one of my favorite places to visit. My dream house happens to be in the center of the fortress, meaning that it is very unattainable, but still a dream nonetheless. Steep Hill is a great walk, with beautiful, old houses from the 12th century.
- York: All around the city is a fortress you are able to walk on. Perfect for amazing photos of York’s historical and inspiring sites. First, York Minster is a gothic style church, dating back to 637. It is one of the largest gothic church in Europe. If you’re more interested in pop culture, you cannot miss The Shambles. This is what JK Rowling used as a model for Diagon Alley. So for any Harry Potter fan, like us, this is a must. It looks almost identical and the people in the area have used this for many Harry Potter related stores. Try to stop in a few and maybe even buy some cool trinkets.
- Doncaster: This city is one that we know best, being able to stay there for more time than any other city in England. We have friends who happen to live there and were able to show us around their adorable city. Cusworth Hall seems like it stepped out of a Jane Austen novel. It is now a museum with a bunch of cool artifacts. The view of the yard and the lake is breathtaking. For a proper pub, check out The Eagle and Child, our personal fave, for a pint and some fish and chips. Be sure to add this city to your list of places to see!
How to get around: I would suggest always flying into London, it is by far the cheapest. There are trains that travel to every part of the country many times a day. Depending on what airport you fly into, you could possibly leave from the airport by train. The other option is King’s Cross Station/St. Pancras, the biggest train station in London. Of course while there, be sure to hit up the Harry Potter store at Platform 9 ¾!
So to all my hopeless romantics, keep dreaming and traveling. Who knows, maybe you will find your own prince in one of these cities. Even if you don’t, you will leave with a new love of all things British, especially the people and the lingo. Hit up England and all it has to offer ASAP, it’s ace!
Travel by the Book 