Blenheim Palace
July27

After a guided tour of the palace, we visited the gardens. Blenheim is the home of Duke of Marlborough and the birthplace of Winston Churchill.

Didcot Railway Center is an outdoor museum showing the history of steam railways. We rode in the coach of a 1930 steam locomotive. It is amazing how heavy and huge the steam trains are. We saw them fill the engines with coal and water. An eye opening experience was going down in a World War II Air Raid Shelter built in 1940. It was a concrete structure covered with large rocks. (sadly, my picture disappeared from my camera). The shelter was complete with air raid siren, the sound of bombs dropping overhead and the voice of Churchill declaring war. A 78 year old lady was standing beside me, and she told me, "I survived the air raids, and this brings back many memories." Afterwards, the students talked about how frightening it must have been.

Thursday was our free day in London. Each group planned their own trip.

We visited the London Hard Rock Shop. The six story toy store (Hamleys) and Lily Whites (the world's largest sporting goods store was having a 70% sale). Our students were thrilled with the bargains. From Piccadilly, we walked to Covent Garden and mingled in the huge crowds, watched the street performers, and had dinner at the Essex Serpent Pub. Afterwards, we took the bus to Victoria Palace for the amazing performance of "Billy Elliot" arriving back at the Charterhouse at 12:15.

British Museum, Covent Gardens, Hampton Court, Leeds Castle, Canterbury

British Museum
July 24, 2011

During our two hours at the British Museum, we spent our time looking at the Elgin Marbles, the Rosetta Stone, the mummies in the Egyptian Room, the Japanese rooms, and the gift shop.

Covent Gardens
We hiked to Covent Gardens where the crowds were large and there were many street entertainer and market vendors.

July, 24, 2011

It was so relaxing to get to beautiful Hampton Court. Andrew decided he would just like to lie on the grass and look at the blue sky and feel the sun (a rare event).

King Andrew found another spot to nap. King Max looks like a natural in that chair.

King Henry sits in King Henry VIII's chair.




Feast Time at Hampton Court

Leeds Castle

July 25, 2011

Two beautiful castles in two days! After touring the apartments, we were off to the Maze. This maze was much more difficult then the one at Hampton Court. Leeds Castle grounds were full of back and white swans, peacocks, and geese.

Canterbury Cathedral

July 25, 2011

We found the spot in the Cathedral where St. Thomas Becket was murdered by Henry II's knights. The students had free time in Canterbury to shop. Our English friend's mother owned a fudge shop next to the Cathedral, and we were invited to drop in to see how the fudge was made and each of us received a little fudge gift bag.

Stratford-Upon-Avon, Oxford, Tower of London, St. Paul's Cathedral

Stratford-Upon-Avon - July 21, 2011

As we entered Stratford-Upon-Avon, we saw the Long Boats on the River Avon. We toured Shakespeare's birthplace. A guide met us and took us on a tour of Stratford. Harvard House

Royal Shakespeare Theatre

In front of Shakespeares's Birth Place
In the garden behind Shakespeare's home.

Oxford was on our agenda for the afternoon. A tour guide met us and took us on a 45 minute tour of Oxford. After our tour, we hit the sweatshirt shops where many of the students bought Oxford sweatshirts. We would have loved to have had more time both in Stratford and Oxford.

Tower of London, July 22

Outside traitors gate with a view of Tower Bridge. Our first stop in the Tower was to see the fabulous crown jewels. After that, the students visited the White Tower and the Bloody Tower.

In the afternoon, the students climbed to the very top of St. Paul's Cathedral (over 600 steps!)
Sunday, July 24

Sunday was an on-campus sports day. I was able to visit James Oglethrope's home in Godalming which is now a residential rehab home for people with epilepsy.


Entrance to walled garden at Oglethrope's home.

July 21, 2011

Stonehenge, Bath, London

Stonehenge, July 18, 2011


Rain, Rain, Go Away!!!










Stonehenge was cold, windy and wet! -- but still amazing. Some said it just added to the mystic.

Sylvia, Max, Rebecca (our new English friend), Andrew, Henry




Just clowning around at Stonehenge.

Bath - July 18, 2011

The Pig and Lion are symbols of Bath. The local
people made pigs and lions and painted them and sold them for charity. There is only one pig andone lion left, and we were challenged to find them.We found the pig

Max listens to an audio presentation of Bath





Old and new friends at Bath

Walking Tour of London - July 19, 2011

We had about four season in one day - rain, cold, sun, warm and, we walked for miles - from Lamberth Palace in Westminster, across the Thames to Parliament and Westminster Abbey to Saint James Park for a picnic, down the Mal to Buckingham Palace and St James's Palace, back to Churchill War Rooms to Horse Guards Parade and 10 Downing Street, to Leicester Square, to Piccadilly Circus and to Harmarket

Our group was standing under Big Ben at 11 a.m

News Media from all over the world were outside Parliament for the Murdoch hearing in Parliament. We heard that s young man threw a plate of shaving cream in Murdoch's face during the hearing and was told he was "a greedy billionaire."

Media across the street from Parliament and beside Westminster Abbey.

Our city tour guide gave us an hour tour of Westminster Abbey. Before we left we saw a wonderful display of Kate and Williams's wedding photos. As you see below, we saw where "the kiss" took place. Queen Elizabeth was hosting a Garden Tea Party. Guests were arriving decked out in tails, and we saw some pretty interesting hats on the ladies.

Churchill War Rooms

Max and Andrew decided to dress up as Churchill and other members of the War Room




Check out Churchill (Andrew with his cigar).

Horse Guard and Number 10 Downing Street