We enjoy watching you so much, and to be honest, you helped us make our decision to move from CA to Scotland permanently! We feel so thankful to be on this new journey 🥰
As an Englishman, I often think that most people from the USA just don’t understand the little nuances of the UK and they think that London IS the UK, but I think you guys get it. You are open minded and understand more than most North Americans exactly what England and the UK is about. You are honorary Brits for sure. You also probably understand more about the differences between England, the UK and Britain than most as well.
Have you ever ridden a heritage railway? There are dozens (possibly hundreds) of restored old railways all over that are now run as visitor attractions, usually using steam engines or early diesels. A day out on one is a quintessential British experience, and I think you'd both love the mix of nostalgia, engineering geekiness and the breathless enthusiasm of the volunteers who keep the trains running.
Im a real American native American Choctaw nation at13 I moved to the uk be with my dad the British are great they lived my American Choctaw history and culture as i took to them great people history culture
Would recommend a trip to The Isle of Wight if you do come back to England. English Heritage pass would cover visits to Osbourne House and Carisbrooke Castle. Food on the island is lovely and so much to see and do, wonderful walks and scenery 😀🇬🇧
The historic naval dockyard at Portsmouth is fantastic,I went 5 times in 12 months because there was so much to see . Portsmouth town is also worth a visit .
Windsor Castle and Edinburgh Castle are an absolute must see. I love the thought of touching walls and walking paths where people walked hundreds of years ago. Gardaland in Italy is a cool theme park to visit (and you can stay at the hotel too just like Disneyland).
Agreed. I was there two days ago and the falconry display was one of the greatest things I've ever experienced. The Wars of the Roses jousting/fighting/history show is great, too. Plus the castle itself, the dungeon tour and peacocks - what's not to like? The crowds, the queues, the insultingly overpriced awful food, the 'gotcha' expensive photo packs you are encouraged to pay for after being through some of the attractions, the Disneyfication of it all pandering to kids and their financially indulging parents. So, decide if the former outweighs the latter...
Warwick Castle is definitely worth a visit. Not sure I would call it enormous, it’s much smaller than Blenheim or Chatsworth (the living quarters). But still very cool.
Best place to go to test your eyesight! (I jumped on this and forgot it was actually Barnard castle and youtube won't let me delete the comment and now I feel like a tit).
Before you even mentioned Bristol I was thinking it would be ideal for you to use as a base for the more southerly end of the UK. It’s a vibrant city with tons to do, a good food scene and a stone’s throw from beautiful Bath. But wherever and whenever you return, we’re looking forward to welcoming you back 😊
If you're looking at National Trust or English Heritage membership then, as a general rule of thumb, National Trust is more about stately homes and gardens and has more in the south, and English Heritage is more about ruined castles and abbeys and has more in the north - although there are plenty of exceptions to that! North Yorkshire has an amazing selection of English Heritage properties, many of which _are_ readily accessible without a car, including Scarborough Castle, Pickering Castle, Helmsley Castle, Rievaulx Abbey (about 3 miles walk from Helmsley), Fountains Abbey (owned by National Trust but EH membership is accepted), Jervaulx Abbey, Middleham Castle and Richmond Castle. One thing to note is that National Trust covers England & Wales (but not Scotland), and English Heritage covers England only. There are parallel organisations - National Trust for Scotland (NT equivalent), and Cadw (Wales EH equivalent) and Historic Scotland (EH equivalent) that will accept NT or EH cards respectively _but not in your first year of membership,_ which is something to think about when planning your trip. The downside to buying a holiday home is that you then feel tied to going to the same place all the time, rather than exploring the rest of the country. Also, holiday homes are not popular with locals (Whitby in particular is putting in rules to stop people buying holiday homes) because they price people out of living in their own community, but because people aren't there much they don't contribute much to the economy.
I've only recently discovered your channel and I love it! I live in London and adore all your recommendations for day trips around this country. Definitely going to Bath before the Autumn kicks in. You've inspired me to visit a city I haven't been to since my mother passed. Also I love seeing your dog and the interaction between the two of you. You create such a lovely vibe between you all and you've become my go to for comfort viewing. Thank you so much and lots of luck for the future :)
I am a National Trust member. It is worth joining as long as you do 3 or more locations per year and the membership includes entrance and parking at any National Trust site. Also, if you book one of their holiday accommodations you also get entry to all National Trust sites (including parking) for the duration of your rental. Their accommodations available to rent are also value for money compared to hotels or Air BnB's and are definitely worth considering if you want to stay in an area where one is available.
I would really recommend visiting the village of Dunster in Somerset. There is a castle there which is a national trust property but what I love is the moment when you turn the corner on entry to the village and see the medieval yarn market over shadowed by the castle on the hil
Totally agree- I live nearby and aside from everything mentioned above if you go from the Mill at the foot of the castle and follow the river around there's an absolutely stunning chocolate box village with a Ford running alongside it going up into green fields and countryside walks. Plus the scones and tea shops are goregous. Beautiful.
I'll add Ludlow Castle to the list. You can get to Ludlow by train and brace yourselves for the 20 min uphill walk with a couple of beers at the micro brewery next to the station. The rest of Ludlow is full of historic buildings. The castle itself is not huge but has spectacular views.
I recently moved to Perth in Scotland and as a single person who is usually too lazy to cook, I mainly live off of M&S food! Even better if you get fresh stuff reduced at 4pm!
I think what the UK does well is the blend and mixture of historical and the contemporary often side by side. You don't always have to tear something down to replace with the new just because it's old.
I would recommend doing some of the summer music festivals - Glastonbury and Isle of Wight are probably the most famous but there is also download, leeds, Reading -so many others. Also there is the Cavern club and the Beatles experience in Liverpool, and there is a The Smiths memorabilia museum in Salford near Manchester.
Love the video. Hastings 1066 boy here! Great to see the net huts which are less than 1/2 mile from me. If you want a real team sport try Rugby Union which is a bit like grid iron without the padding and less stoppages!
Some of my favourite castles... Bamburgh Castle is a must, the epic setting is second to none! Its about 1/2 an hour north from Alnwick so you could go there on the way. Then another 1/2 an hour further north of Bamburgh is Lindisfarne Castle on Holy Island. Lastly (, I could go on and on, truth be told!) another favourite is Culzean Castle in South Ayrshire in Scotland!
Dover Castle is definitely worth a visit combined with a walk from the Castle to St Margaret’s Bay along the White Cliffs of Dover. Stop and have a pint of Spitfire lager at the Coastguard pub at the Bay and visit Ian Fleming’s house where he wrote many of the James Bond books.
Please try Dover Castle; it’s more than you could imagine. It was built in 1180 by Henry II; its buildings and defences have been adapted to meet changing demands of warfare. More recently WWII secret caves below the castle. It’s a great day out with fantastic views of the Northern French coast.
As an American who married a Brit, I have lived in the Cotswolds for a decade. There are great things on both side of the pond. The downside is the weather...rain & wind. I miss warm sunny summer's and snowy winters. Daily English weather is very similar to our fall weather, in most of the states. Living in a period cottage is fantastic, the ocean and the darling villages are wonderful. If you're looking for convenience, this is not the place to be. All and all, it's a different world. You learn to live with the good, and the not so good. I'm sure Brit's would feel the same way with the swap to the states? Also, a trip is a whole lot different than living in the U.K., once you own property , have a bank account, car, a Vet etc.( Mrs. P)
For amusements, I live on the Kent coast currently and grew up on the Essex coast, we have always done seaside holidays so I know my arcades! I would not suggest dreamland, this is close to where I live and not the best in my opinion. I would say clacton on sea is great, although meant to be one of the poorest places the pier and amusements are great. Blackpool also great; and Brighton is a great seaside town. I also would not recommend Southend. You should try some English beaches too, Botanay bay in Thanet is beautiful!
You could literally do a whole trip visiting national trust properties. As a rule, national trust is mostly stately homes and castles, English heritage is more castles and ruins. National trust also have lots of interesting more modern properties, also a membership is super helpful in the lake District where there are lots of nt carparks. You can visit Beatrix Potter's cottage. For me that was magical.
Have you visited North Wales? I am thinking the Snowdonia area, Betws y Coed, Llandudno, Caernarfon, Llanberis, Abersoch, Criccieth, Porthmadog, Porthmerrian. Also Anglesey - Beaumaris, South Stack Lighthouse, Moelfre, Lligwy Beach, Church Bay for sunsets, Llanddwynn Beach, Trearddur Bay. If you do go go Anglesey, try the food at Skye's Creperie in Amlwch- they are a local family business and do a great all day breakfast of all types.
Windsor Castle and Dover Castle are my favourites! Love watching your videos! Hope you come back soon. I can highly recommend New Zealand and Australia we’ve been there from the UK 4/5 times.
Special experience in a place you already know and love: visit the steampunk festival in Lincoln - four days at the end of August, possibly the largest steampunk event in the world (and there is tea-duelling, based on dunking biscuits). And you two in Japan would be wonderful, please go so you can tell us what you thought about it all!
I'd recommend a visit to Portsmouth/Southsea to see all the historic ships/HMS Victory followed by getting the ferry to the Isle of Wight. The island is beautiful, especially the southern side (look at the view from St Catherine's Oratory). You could also visit Queen Victoria's Country home Osborne House that is stunning. I'm from Lancashire originally so if you want pure cheese visit Blackpool and go up the tower and you could also climb Pendle Hill that is famous for the witch trials and maybe a visit to Lancaster Castle. Enjoy! I've visited both States and obviously lived in Britain. Like both but there's something very special about this little island!
M&S is my favourite! I lived around the corner from an M&S Food - it was lethal as I used it like a cheap 'corner shop'... it wasn't. From my teen memory UK bands to check out would be The Jam, Joy Division and T Rex. 😍
I think while everyone will have their own favourites, the most well known theme parks here, to me at least, are Chessington, Thorpe Park and Alton Towers. I'd personally put Alton Towers at the top due to being bigger and just feeling a little more “top tier” but all three are good and each has some really good rides/their own appeal. One thing i'd say, although i'm sure you're aware, that they won't compare to the Disney parks, they're just not on the same level as while i'm sure our parks costs a lot to make/run, they're not spending Disney money, and obviously they don't have all the Disney theming either. I would still recommend checking some out when you're next here, though.
Have you guys heard of *Wicksteed Park*? It is a Grade II listed park in Kettering, England, it has an amusement park and a miniature railway. It was founded by Charles Wicksteed in 1921, the park has a water chute, a pirate ship. If you see playground equipment at other parks & playgrounds, you may see "Wicksteed" as the manufacturer. Bye!
If you're into the 80's music, there's a music festival Rewind, I go every year to Henley on Thames, it's just a chilled weekend out, it's held in mid August every year, well worth the experience
12:50 Skipton and Clitheroe castle in England: Caernarfon, Llansteffan and Harlech for nice ones in Wales to visit. Can’t recommend any up North in Scotland because I’ve not really been there much.
Next time you come, visit Dover Castle. Underneath the Castle you can see tunnels built in World War 2. They had a Hospital, communication hub, recreation centre, everything necessary for troops. The Castle is built on the White Cliffs of Dover.
Not a theme park but I think you’d love Longleat Safari Park and the Manor House, also happens to be next door to Center Parcs in Longleat Forest, which is 100% worth a day pass to use the facilities, if a weekend is out of your budget while travelling. Also about 30-40 minutes drive from there to explore Bristol if you want to see a completely unique city with a mix of historic and modern as well as other notable places such as the Clifton Suspension Bridge, birthplace and tour of Banksy’s street art, the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta (usually first weekend in August), Bristol Harbour Festival (3rd weekend in July), the birthplace of Concorde and to see the last Concorde to ever fly… and so much more. Not sure if you’ve already been but you need to do research before going because it’s often overshadowed by other cities.
So glad you had a great experience over here. If you do come back, or when you do, I recommend the Pendle witch trials here in Lancashire. It’s a lot of history from that period 😊
Arundel castle is my favourite….beautifully preserved surrounded but a very old town in wonderful countryside. Try and visit in the summer….watching a Midsummer Nights Dream performed in the grounds with a picnic is just magical…and I live there.
You should at least visit SOME of: ENGLAND - Cambridge (ancient college/university buildings, churches etc). York (worth several visits!) Whitby (The Abbey with its 199 Steps, its museum, the Dracula connections, the kippers smokery etc) Durham (the Cathedral, river) Ripon (its Cathedral and, just outside, Fountains Abbey & Studeley Royal which together are worth at LEAST half a day) Bath (Roman Baths, Georgian Crescents and Jane Austen connections) WALES: Hay on Wye (books capital of the world!), Snowdonia Conwy and Caernarfon Castles SCOTLAND: Outside Edinburgh & Glasgow go to... Stirling (great castle and the nearby Wallace Monument and Bridge of Allen), Pitlochry, Ullapool and the North West Coast (people often visit these as part of the NC500 trail around northern Scotland), Gairloch, Skye (need to say no more) Orkney - MAGNIFICENT archaeology all in easy reach). NORTHERN IRELAND : Giant's Causeway and various "Game of Thrones" locations BUT I WOULD DEFINITELY SAY - Join English Heritage (or National Trust) for a year. If you do it part-way through your visit it would cover part of your visit next year. If you go to an EH or NT property, you pay an entry fee which add up BUT if you join for a year you get a Credit for that entry fee when paying your membership fee. Then entry at all the other properties are included for the next year. You will save LOADS! For example, in Yorkshire: Rievaulx Abbey, Whitby Abbey, Helmsley Castle, Pickering Castle, Middleham Castle, Richmond Castle, Mount Grace Priory (all within easy reach of each other) are all EH properties, and Fountains Abbey (FANTASTIC!) with Studeley Royal (lovely walks in a sculpted country park with a big lake) are jointly run by EH and the NT so members of both organisations can go to both properties which adjoin each other. Much better than paying for each visit and we save lots of money each year. (Probably visiting Middleham Castle of King Richard III fame again at the end of this week). If coming for an extended period joining the NT or EH is my strongest advice. 32:42
Love you guys. We have room if you ever need to come to semi-rural Scotland. We are 30 minutes from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Stirling with regular trains from our village to the East and West Cost, Loch Lomond and Helensburgh with loads of ferries to go island-hopping. You could even take our motorhome to go further afield if you wanted. We are massive dog-lovers too! Just a thought.
Im american and lived in solihull for a short time. Definitely check out Dudley Castle. It has a Zoo inside of it. You can always take a bus from Colmore Row in Birmingham and it’ll drop you off right in front of the castle.
Lots of interesting Q & As there. Places to live that you might afford? The Scottish lowlands near Ayr (Ayrshire) include some more affordable properties. Yes lots of high price ones too. The area near/in Blackpool has suffered economically recently and prices reflect that. Knowing how time flies, perhaps you should start to think of somewhere to retire?
I’m in Alnwick now on holiday (I live in the south east of the uk). When castles were mentioned, I was shouting Alnwick at the screen! Arundel is great. It’s near my parents. English Heritage is the other one with National Trust
So many castles to visit! Specially in Northumberland and the borders. Edinburgh Castle is amazing. Newcastle castle is easy as it is right in the city centre. Have you visited the Roman Wall? If not, that is a must do. Also Holy Island. Bamburgh Castle is a beauty. It is certainly worth joining the National Trust as that gives you access to a huge number of houses and gardens. English Heritage majors more on landmarks. You need to visit Durham - with one of the most beautiful Norman Cathedrals in the world - and York with its ancient centre and city walls. You definitely need another visit. P.s. next time you are in Newcastle you must come and see a concert in The Glasshouse over the river in Gateshead. Adam Ant is there in November. 😉
St Albans has a load of Roman History. It also has a market and a Cathedral which has a cafe place inside. A great place for historical day trip. The cathedral is right near the every day shops too.
East Anglia is much ignored in the UK, but there is a ton of history and some fantastic places to visit. It is worth heading to North Norfolk, the coast is just lovely. Norwich is a very nice and historic city with great shopping and cathedrals and a castle. Cambridge is obviously worth a visit. (So, so much to see.) Colchester has a great castle and shopping. Even here in Ipswich there are some fascinating places to visit, some lovely architecture and parks. Woodbridge is a very chilled place to spend a few hours. Good food, river walks, old buildings… Even Flatford, which is the heart of Constable country. So many places John Constable famously painted nearby. And many pretty villages between them all. Don’t forget us! (I love Edinburgh and York too btw.)
Arundel and Hastings Castles in Sussex near where I live. Ancient Pevensey Castle - Roman walls. Brighton Pier is fun but beware of the seagulls !! Japan and NZ are fantastic x
Castles. Don't worry about the big ones you've heard of, too expensive and you can see most of how they are from the outside. But Leeds Castle (which is in Kent), Bodiam Castle, Eye Castle and Corfe Castle are worth visiting, but then also the castles on the coast too - Lindisfarne is the big one, but then there's forts in Sandwich and Rye and along that stretch... Deffo worth considering x
I cannot recall if you have been on a canal boat whilst in the UK? If not you should definitely add it to you list of things to do, you can hire them quite easily (with a bit of notice) and spend a bit of time going very slowly around the UK. Try to avoid the cities and you will be amazed at the history and some of the places you can get to.
Uk born and bred and a music lover. Some of my favourite British bands, that you may or may not know of, are 10cc, T.Rex, Slade and a much lesser known but excellent band called The Temperance Movement. I always enjoyed watching Adam Ant too. I would love to see your video where you each choose your top 5 British bands. Love your videos and look forward to your next one.
Cresswell Crags for some of the earliest wall carvings in Europe. Several tours well worth doing of the caves. Book first, lots to do around there as well.
Always enjoy watching your videos. Love how you immerse yourselves into the UK and the detail of thigs you really like. Just after you mentioned M&S, I got an advert for M&S in You Tube! Your influence clearly extends to You Tube advertising algorithms!
Rievaulx abbey in North Yorkshire and Castell Coch (red castle) in South Wales both really nice places to visit. Have you considered doing a P and.O cruise from Southampton? Both Norway Fjords and Baltic cruises are amazing.
My husband and I live in St Leonards On Sea, which is just up the road from Hastings! Did you take the funicular while you were there? Hastings castle is quite interesting, although there's not much of it left. If you ever make it back to the South East of England, Bodiam Castle is definitely worth a visit. There's also a steam railway that runs along close by, a pub opposite and some pretty villages in the area. It's heartwarming to see your love of Britain. I grew up in the countryside in the South East and there's a lot to love about the UK and its history. I've always wanted to have a road trip in the US. You guys have such wonderful National parks and scenery.
Regarding National Trust - Tatton Park is great, as well as the house, the gardens are huge and I love the Japanese garden there. There are also deer in the park around it. Dunham Massey, Powers Castle and Chirk Castle are also favourites.
Thorpe Park is best for rollercoaster fans. Blackpool Pleasure Beach is old skool but a really great all rounder. Alton Towers is the most beautiful but very spread out so be prepared for lots of walking, plus the rides cannot be taller than the trees but they've got created and there's still plenty of thrill rides, also the rollercoaster restaurant is fun and stays open later than the park. For castles, 2 of my favourites are Bodiam and Eilean Donan but honestly there are so many great ones.
Doune castle is high on the recommd list from me so well done for ticking it off. I do find it fun it's Python and Outlander. We just visited Warwick castle for the first time.
Arundel Castle and Windsor Castle are both amazing. Best post-Beatles UK rock n' roll band = Oasis. Start with their first two albums which are legendary. ✌️
Not so much a castle, but one of my favourite 'tourist' destinations is Winston Churchill's home in Chartwell, Kent. It feels like he might still be there and such a beautiful house. Well worth a visit.
We’ve been members of national trust , lots of stately homes, stunning grounds and gardens but it’s worth joining there’s amazing places to visit. Also free parking in the car parks that they own . Which are in stunning places , Peak District , South Downs way .
Hi’ya guys! I moved here right before you both visited and watched your videos to view your experiences. I’m here in visa and going in 2 years. Lived up in Padiham, Burnley- Lancashire. Myself being from Florida- let’s just say, I dreaded the weather! The little towns around d were very comforting and fun to visit. Made some nice friends as well- the accent was something as well. We now reside in Hastings! So happy to see you both visited here! It is lovely and I just love the seafood and beach! 🏴🇬🇧🇺🇸 That being said, I do miss home. I with you both the best and happy travels! Cheers! Bub-bye! ps - castles - Bodium and Hastings castle~ there are so many. Enjoy!
Warwick Castle and Stratford upon Avon is a must when you come back,Warwick Castle is like going back 1000 years in one day,So authentic,Stratford is all about the Tudor period,But mostly Shakespeare.
Having just visited the Mary rose museum in Portsmouth this year on our way to the ferry to France I would highly recommend it - it is absolutely fantastic.
The UK is like the Tardis. Small on the outside, but there's SO much culture, history, dialects and landscapes crammed inside.
Your culture and dialects are sadly being swapped with other cultures and dialects 😢
We enjoy watching you so much, and to be honest, you helped us make our decision to move from CA to Scotland permanently! We feel so thankful to be on this new journey 🥰
Oh wow thank you! We've come across your videos before and you both seem lovely. Happy to hear that you are glad you made the move. ❤
@@TheMagicGeekdom Awe, thanks! Next time you're in the Edinburgh area, let us know!
And your channel is great to watch as well. Good luck in Scotland
Ahh, and Scotland is glad to have Zack and Annie too, I’m sure 😊
Enjoy the beauty - but also cold and rain (very different to California.) 😊
As an Englishman, I often think that most people from the USA just don’t understand the little nuances of the UK and they think that London IS the UK, but I think you guys get it. You are open minded and understand more than most North Americans exactly what England and the UK is about. You are honorary Brits for sure. You also probably understand more about the differences between England, the UK and Britain than most as well.
There is a reason I, a braindead yank, chose to go to Birmingham instead of London. There’s too many Americans in London.
Have you ever ridden a heritage railway? There are dozens (possibly hundreds) of restored old railways all over that are now run as visitor attractions, usually using steam engines or early diesels. A day out on one is a quintessential British experience, and I think you'd both love the mix of nostalgia, engineering geekiness and the breathless enthusiasm of the volunteers who keep the trains running.
Love the channel guys. Harlech castle and Caernarvon castles in north Wales are incredible as is Conwy, definitely consider visiting those.
The Eden Project in Cornwall is unique and truly world class. Also visit the Lost Gardens of Heligan while your are there.
People like you are always welcome here. You'd be an asset to us.
I love our smaller stores here, also known as corner shops. The owners know you, have a chat with you, and appreciate your custom.
Im a real American native American Choctaw nation at13 I moved to the uk be with my dad the British are great they lived my American Choctaw history and culture as i took to them great people history culture
Would recommend a trip to The Isle of Wight if you do come back to England. English Heritage pass would cover visits to Osbourne House and Carisbrooke Castle. Food on the island is lovely and so much to see and do, wonderful walks and scenery 😀🇬🇧
If you haven’t been to HMS Victory in Portsmouth then that’s an absolute must. See where Admiral Nelson fell during the battle of Trafalgar
And the Mary Rose!
Victory is undergoing renovation atm and is demasted and covered in scaffolding and plastic tarps.
Portsmouth would be a good place for a holiday home...cheap, by the coast, full of history, 90 mins to London
The historic naval dockyard at Portsmouth is fantastic,I went 5 times in 12 months because there was so much to see . Portsmouth town is also worth a visit .
Eilean Donan in Scotland. If you make it to North East Scotland sometime, they are all over the place. Craigievar Castle in Donside is gorgeous & pink
Windsor Castle and Edinburgh Castle are an absolute must see. I love the thought of touching walls and walking paths where people walked hundreds of years ago. Gardaland in Italy is a cool theme park to visit (and you can stay at the hotel too just like Disneyland).
Looking forward to hitting Gardaland one day. Did you do Movieland too?
You must go to Warwick Castle, its the best when the medieval re enactments and fairs are on there. It is an enormous Castle.
I think that's the big castle suggestion that we're getting.
Yep, i second this. the falconry display is very good
Agreed. I was there two days ago and the falconry display was one of the greatest things I've ever experienced. The Wars of the Roses jousting/fighting/history show is great, too. Plus the castle itself, the dungeon tour and peacocks - what's not to like? The crowds, the queues, the insultingly overpriced awful food, the 'gotcha' expensive photo packs you are encouraged to pay for after being through some of the attractions, the Disneyfication of it all pandering to kids and their financially indulging parents. So, decide if the former outweighs the latter...
Warwick Castle is definitely worth a visit. Not sure I would call it enormous, it’s much smaller than Blenheim or Chatsworth (the living quarters). But still very cool.
Best place to go to test your eyesight! (I jumped on this and forgot it was actually Barnard castle and youtube won't let me delete the comment and now I feel like a tit).
Before you even mentioned Bristol I was thinking it would be ideal for you to use as a base for the more southerly end of the UK. It’s a vibrant city with tons to do, a good food scene and a stone’s throw from beautiful Bath. But wherever and whenever you return, we’re looking forward to welcoming you back 😊
Bristols great… good transport links, easy to get to London for the day, easy to get to Devon, Cornwall, Bath .. 15 mins on the train..
Bristol is a lovely town!
If you're looking at National Trust or English Heritage membership then, as a general rule of thumb, National Trust is more about stately homes and gardens and has more in the south, and English Heritage is more about ruined castles and abbeys and has more in the north - although there are plenty of exceptions to that! North Yorkshire has an amazing selection of English Heritage properties, many of which _are_ readily accessible without a car, including Scarborough Castle, Pickering Castle, Helmsley Castle, Rievaulx Abbey (about 3 miles walk from Helmsley), Fountains Abbey (owned by National Trust but EH membership is accepted), Jervaulx Abbey, Middleham Castle and Richmond Castle.
One thing to note is that National Trust covers England & Wales (but not Scotland), and English Heritage covers England only. There are parallel organisations - National Trust for Scotland (NT equivalent), and Cadw (Wales EH equivalent) and Historic Scotland (EH equivalent) that will accept NT or EH cards respectively _but not in your first year of membership,_ which is something to think about when planning your trip.
The downside to buying a holiday home is that you then feel tied to going to the same place all the time, rather than exploring the rest of the country. Also, holiday homes are not popular with locals (Whitby in particular is putting in rules to stop people buying holiday homes) because they price people out of living in their own community, but because people aren't there much they don't contribute much to the economy.
It's cheaper to join the Scottish National trust, especially if you're over 60.
That all makes a lot of sense and is really helpful. Thank you!
@@alanmon2690 … and membership of the Scottish NT is fully valid for use in England and Wales. 👍😊
I've only recently discovered your channel and I love it! I live in London and adore all your recommendations for day trips around this country. Definitely going to Bath before the Autumn kicks in. You've inspired me to visit a city I haven't been to since my mother passed. Also I love seeing your dog and the interaction between the two of you. You create such a lovely vibe between you all and you've become my go to for comfort viewing. Thank you so much and lots of luck for the future :)
I am a National Trust member. It is worth joining as long as you do 3 or more locations per year and the membership includes entrance and parking at any National Trust site.
Also, if you book one of their holiday accommodations you also get entry to all National Trust sites (including parking) for the duration of your rental. Their accommodations available to rent are also value for money compared to hotels or Air BnB's and are definitely worth considering if you want to stay in an area where one is available.
I agree.
Don’t join the NT
They have gone so woke
I cancelled my subscription around 5 years ago
🇬🇧🇬🇧🇬🇧🏴🏴🏴🏴🏴
@@joanne26 Please explain. Woke is a meaningless term.
@@user-zp4ge3yp2othey probably mean that they added pieces of history that portray the “great and noble” British empire in a more grey light
@@user-zp4ge3yp2o It's only meaningless if you're so much up your own arse that you don't recognise it.
If you're into 80's, try "Tears for Fears" "Duran Duran", "Thompson Twins" "Police", David Bowie and Queen obviously!
Also Yazoo and Kate Bush!
I would really recommend visiting the village of Dunster in Somerset. There is a castle there which is a national trust property but what I love is the moment when you turn the corner on entry to the village and see the medieval yarn market over shadowed by the castle on the hil
That sounds very cool!
Totally agree- I live nearby and aside from everything mentioned above if you go from the Mill at the foot of the castle and follow the river around there's an absolutely stunning chocolate box village with a Ford running alongside it going up into green fields and countryside walks. Plus the scones and tea shops are goregous. Beautiful.
I'll add Ludlow Castle to the list. You can get to Ludlow by train and brace yourselves for the 20 min uphill walk with a couple of beers at the micro brewery next to the station. The rest of Ludlow is full of historic buildings. The castle itself is not huge but has spectacular views.
20 min from the station to the castle, did you take the long way or did you stop at every pub on the way?
That sounds really lovely once you et there. 😁
I recently moved to Perth in Scotland and as a single person who is usually too lazy to cook, I mainly live off of M&S food! Even better if you get fresh stuff reduced at 4pm!
😂. This is the mantra I live by. When people ask me if I like cooking, I always say, “Hell no! That’s why God gave us M&S”.
I don't blame you for that. We ate more of that than we probably should have when we were there.
No never listen to people who don't cook cooking is good people who don't cook are just wrong tut tut tut😂😂
I think what the UK does well is the blend and mixture of historical and the contemporary often side by side. You don't always have to tear something down to replace with the new just because it's old.
Eilean Donan castle in Scotland is worth a visit,it's in a stunning location and was used as a filming location for the 80s movie Highlander.
Bamburgh Castle is very special in a spectacular location and its an easy day out from Newcastle
We saw it from the outside on our last trip, but we'd love to check it out more.
It’s a must for fans of Netflix show “The Last Kingdom”! Uhtred, son of Uhtred 👍
Absolutely agree. I saw a lot of castles when I lived in the UK, and Bamburgh was one of the most memorable.
I demand to see the top 5 British albums video!
It sounds like we might have to put that out.
I would recommend doing some of the summer music festivals - Glastonbury and Isle of Wight are probably the most famous but there is also download, leeds, Reading -so many others. Also there is the Cavern club and the Beatles experience in Liverpool, and there is a The Smiths memorabilia museum in Salford near Manchester.
You're my fave youtubers. You are just so nice!
Love the video. Hastings 1066 boy here! Great to see the net huts which are less than 1/2 mile from me.
If you want a real team sport try Rugby Union which is a bit like grid iron without the padding and less stoppages!
I'm a massive Erasure fan, and I'm so pleased to learn you are too 🎉❤❤❤😊
Some of my favourite castles... Bamburgh Castle is a must, the epic setting is second to none! Its about 1/2 an hour north from Alnwick so you could go there on the way. Then another 1/2 an hour further north of Bamburgh is Lindisfarne Castle on Holy Island. Lastly (, I could go on and on, truth be told!) another favourite is Culzean Castle in South Ayrshire in Scotland!
Dover Castle is definitely worth a visit combined with a walk from the Castle to St Margaret’s Bay along the White Cliffs of Dover. Stop and have a pint of Spitfire lager at the Coastguard pub at the Bay and visit Ian Fleming’s house where he wrote many of the James Bond books.
Please try Dover Castle; it’s more than you could imagine. It was built in 1180 by Henry II; its buildings and defences have been adapted to meet changing demands of warfare. More recently WWII secret caves below the castle. It’s a great day out with fantastic views of the Northern French coast.
As an American who married a Brit, I have lived in the Cotswolds for a decade. There are great things on both side of the pond. The downside is the weather...rain & wind. I miss warm sunny summer's and snowy winters. Daily English weather is very similar to our fall weather, in most of the states. Living in a period cottage is fantastic, the ocean and the darling villages are wonderful. If you're looking for convenience, this is not the place to be. All and all, it's a different world. You learn to live with the good, and the not so good. I'm sure Brit's would feel the same way with the swap to the states? Also, a trip is a whole lot different than living in the U.K., once you own property , have a bank account, car, a Vet etc.( Mrs. P)
I'd say it's more similar to places like Seattle or Oregon, where I lived for five years.
Leave it until spring, winter is miserable and dark. I love May, everything seems so clean and vivid green.
For amusements, I live on the Kent coast currently and grew up on the Essex coast, we have always done seaside holidays so I know my arcades! I would not suggest dreamland, this is close to where I live and not the best in my opinion. I would say clacton on sea is great, although meant to be one of the poorest places the pier and amusements are great. Blackpool also great; and Brighton is a great seaside town. I also would not recommend Southend. You should try some English beaches too, Botanay bay in Thanet is beautiful!
You could literally do a whole trip visiting national trust properties. As a rule, national trust is mostly stately homes and castles, English heritage is more castles and ruins. National trust also have lots of interesting more modern properties, also a membership is super helpful in the lake District where there are lots of nt carparks. You can visit Beatrix Potter's cottage. For me that was magical.
Have you visited North Wales? I am thinking the Snowdonia area, Betws y Coed, Llandudno, Caernarfon, Llanberis, Abersoch, Criccieth, Porthmadog, Porthmerrian.
Also Anglesey - Beaumaris, South Stack Lighthouse, Moelfre, Lligwy Beach, Church Bay for sunsets, Llanddwynn Beach, Trearddur Bay.
If you do go go Anglesey, try the food at Skye's Creperie in Amlwch- they are a local family business and do a great all day breakfast of all types.
Windsor Castle and Dover Castle are my favourites!
Love watching your videos! Hope you come back soon.
I can highly recommend New Zealand and Australia we’ve been there from the UK 4/5 times.
Special experience in a place you already know and love: visit the steampunk festival in Lincoln - four days at the end of August, possibly the largest steampunk event in the world (and there is tea-duelling, based on dunking biscuits).
And you two in Japan would be wonderful, please go so you can tell us what you thought about it all!
Glad to hear you are enjoying yourselves. Welcome. Hope you can stay as long as you want.
Holy Island (Lindisfarne)?
Beamish?
Alnwick ?
Bamburgh?
Whitby?
Newcastle?
Hadrian's Wall?
And Warkworth castle 👍🏻
Beamish, yes please, just the one pint please.
Yes,northumberland and the northeast. My favourite place..
You are welcome to come and stay with us for a bit when you are here! We can show you the sights of Wiltshire and the southern coast!
I'd recommend a visit to Portsmouth/Southsea to see all the historic ships/HMS Victory followed by getting the ferry to the Isle of Wight. The island is beautiful, especially the southern side (look at the view from St Catherine's Oratory). You could also visit Queen Victoria's Country home Osborne House that is stunning. I'm from Lancashire originally so if you want pure cheese visit Blackpool and go up the tower and you could also climb Pendle Hill that is famous for the witch trials and maybe a visit to Lancaster Castle. Enjoy! I've visited both States and obviously lived in Britain. Like both but there's something very special about this little island!
While near Portsmouth, visit Porchester Castle, a Roman coastal fort.
M&S is my favourite! I lived around the corner from an M&S Food - it was lethal as I used it like a cheap 'corner shop'... it wasn't. From my teen memory UK bands to check out would be The Jam, Joy Division and T Rex. 😍
I always look at dates on my favourite things. I go back on the day, and buy at half price and freeze yellow sticker food. # Addicted to bargains
I know I've heard The Jam before, but I'll have to go back and check them out again. Love T. Rex and Joy Division though.
I think while everyone will have their own favourites, the most well known theme parks here, to me at least, are Chessington, Thorpe Park and Alton Towers. I'd personally put Alton Towers at the top due to being bigger and just feeling a little more “top tier” but all three are good and each has some really good rides/their own appeal. One thing i'd say, although i'm sure you're aware, that they won't compare to the Disney parks, they're just not on the same level as while i'm sure our parks costs a lot to make/run, they're not spending Disney money, and obviously they don't have all the Disney theming either. I would still recommend checking some out when you're next here, though.
Have you guys heard of *Wicksteed Park*? It is a Grade II listed park in Kettering, England, it has an amusement park and a miniature railway. It was founded by Charles Wicksteed in 1921, the park has a water chute, a pirate ship. If you see playground equipment at other parks & playgrounds, you may see "Wicksteed" as the manufacturer. Bye!
If you're into the 80's music, there's a music festival Rewind, I go every year to Henley on Thames, it's just a chilled weekend out, it's held in mid August every year, well worth the experience
12:50 Skipton and Clitheroe castle in England: Caernarfon, Llansteffan and Harlech for nice ones in Wales to visit. Can’t recommend any up North in Scotland because I’ve not really been there much.
We'll have to add that to our list.
Next time you come, visit Dover Castle. Underneath the Castle you can see tunnels built in World War 2. They had a Hospital, communication hub, recreation centre, everything necessary for troops. The Castle is built on the White Cliffs of Dover.
I am 73 and Dreamland was my go to. Was & still is - need to get back there
Oh Lincoln! Did you see the castle and cathedral? If you ever come back you should go try the icecream in blyton or skellingthorp
Glad you liked it here. I love america like you like Britain. Looking forward to your next adventure
National trust membership is SO worth it, so many lovely places to visit with them and free parking locations :)
Not a theme park but I think you’d love Longleat Safari Park and the Manor House, also happens to be next door to Center Parcs in Longleat Forest, which is 100% worth a day pass to use the facilities, if a weekend is out of your budget while travelling. Also about 30-40 minutes drive from there to explore Bristol if you want to see a completely unique city with a mix of historic and modern as well as other notable places such as the Clifton Suspension Bridge, birthplace and tour of Banksy’s street art, the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta (usually first weekend in August), Bristol Harbour Festival (3rd weekend in July), the birthplace of Concorde and to see the last Concorde to ever fly… and so much more. Not sure if you’ve already been but you need to do research before going because it’s often overshadowed by other cities.
So glad you had a great experience over here. If you do come back, or when you do, I recommend the Pendle witch trials here in Lancashire. It’s a lot of history from that period 😊
Love your videos!
Not sure when you next plan to be in UK but always happy to offer some room here. East Anglia.
Arundel castle is my favourite….beautifully preserved surrounded but a very old town in wonderful countryside. Try and visit in the summer….watching a Midsummer Nights Dream performed in the grounds with a picnic is just magical…and I live there.
You should at least visit SOME of:
ENGLAND - Cambridge (ancient college/university buildings, churches etc).
York (worth several visits!)
Whitby (The Abbey with its 199 Steps, its museum, the Dracula connections, the kippers smokery etc)
Durham (the Cathedral, river)
Ripon (its Cathedral and, just outside, Fountains Abbey & Studeley Royal which together are worth at LEAST half a day)
Bath (Roman Baths, Georgian Crescents and Jane Austen connections)
WALES:
Hay on Wye (books capital of the world!),
Snowdonia
Conwy and Caernarfon Castles
SCOTLAND:
Outside Edinburgh & Glasgow go to...
Stirling (great castle
and the nearby Wallace Monument and Bridge of Allen),
Pitlochry,
Ullapool and the North West Coast (people often visit these as part of the NC500 trail around northern Scotland),
Gairloch,
Skye (need to say no more)
Orkney - MAGNIFICENT archaeology all in easy reach).
NORTHERN IRELAND :
Giant's Causeway
and various "Game of Thrones" locations
BUT I WOULD DEFINITELY SAY - Join English Heritage (or National Trust) for a year. If you do it part-way through your visit it would cover part of your visit next year. If you go to an EH or NT property, you pay an entry fee which add up BUT if you join for a year you get a Credit for that entry fee when paying your membership fee. Then entry at all the other properties are included for the next year. You will save LOADS!
For example, in Yorkshire: Rievaulx Abbey, Whitby Abbey, Helmsley Castle, Pickering Castle, Middleham Castle, Richmond Castle, Mount Grace Priory (all within easy reach of each other) are all EH properties, and Fountains Abbey (FANTASTIC!) with Studeley Royal (lovely walks in a sculpted country park with a big lake) are jointly run by EH and the NT so members of both organisations can go to both properties which adjoin each other.
Much better than paying for each visit and we save lots of money each year. (Probably visiting Middleham Castle of King Richard III fame again at the end of this week).
If coming for an extended period joining the NT or EH is my strongest advice.
32:42
In country Durham there are lots of castles within a few miles of each other. Auckland Castle, Raby Castle, Barnard Castle etc 🏰
If staying in County Durham, stay at Lumley Castle at Chester Le Street.
Clearly the best County to visit, by the way 😃
Thank you for the suggestions.
Don’t forget Richmond and middleham.
Love you guys. We have room if you ever need to come to semi-rural Scotland. We are 30 minutes from Glasgow, Edinburgh and Stirling with regular trains from our village to the East and West Cost, Loch Lomond and Helensburgh with loads of ferries to go island-hopping. You could even take our motorhome to go further afield if you wanted. We are massive dog-lovers too! Just a thought.
Im american and lived in solihull for a short time. Definitely check out Dudley Castle. It has a Zoo inside of it. You can always take a bus from Colmore Row in Birmingham and it’ll drop you off right in front of the castle.
Haven't heard fo Dudley Castle before. Thank you for the recommendation!
Your pronunciation is good as well, most Americans pronounce Scotland as Scot -Land when it’s Scot - Lund
Lots of interesting Q & As there. Places to live that you might afford? The Scottish lowlands near Ayr (Ayrshire) include some more affordable properties. Yes lots of high price ones too. The area near/in Blackpool has suffered economically recently and prices reflect that. Knowing how time flies, perhaps you should start to think of somewhere to retire?
I’m in Alnwick now on holiday (I live in the south east of the uk). When castles were mentioned, I was shouting Alnwick at the screen! Arundel is great. It’s near my parents.
English Heritage is the other one with National Trust
Try Leeds Castle (in Leeds Kent ... Not Leeds the city) ... for bonfire night ... the do a big firework display, bonfire night event
So many castles to visit! Specially in Northumberland and the borders. Edinburgh Castle is amazing. Newcastle castle is easy as it is right in the city centre. Have you visited the Roman Wall? If not, that is a must do. Also Holy Island. Bamburgh Castle is a beauty. It is certainly worth joining the National Trust as that gives you access to a huge number of houses and gardens. English Heritage majors more on landmarks. You need to visit Durham - with one of the most beautiful Norman Cathedrals in the world - and York with its ancient centre and city walls. You definitely need another visit. P.s. next time you are in Newcastle you must come and see a concert in The Glasshouse over the river in Gateshead. Adam Ant is there in November. 😉
St Albans has a load of Roman History. It also has a market and a Cathedral which has a cafe place inside. A great place for historical day trip. The cathedral is right near the every day shops too.
East Anglia is much ignored in the UK, but there is a ton of history and some fantastic places to visit.
It is worth heading to North Norfolk, the coast is just lovely.
Norwich is a very nice and historic city with great shopping and cathedrals and a castle.
Cambridge is obviously worth a visit. (So, so much to see.)
Colchester has a great castle and shopping.
Even here in Ipswich there are some fascinating places to visit, some lovely architecture and parks.
Woodbridge is a very chilled place to spend a few hours. Good food, river walks, old buildings…
Even Flatford, which is the heart of Constable country. So many places John Constable famously painted nearby.
And many pretty villages between them all.
Don’t forget us!
(I love Edinburgh and York too btw.)
Arundel and Hastings Castles in Sussex near where I live. Ancient Pevensey Castle - Roman walls. Brighton Pier is fun but beware of the seagulls !! Japan and NZ are fantastic x
You would love Efteling in the Netherlands. It’s a theme park with a fairytale theme and has some really unique attractions and things to see.
If you ever want to stay in a castle and have it to yourself try st lawrence castle near Exeter, loved it
Castles. Don't worry about the big ones you've heard of, too expensive and you can see most of how they are from the outside.
But
Leeds Castle (which is in Kent), Bodiam Castle, Eye Castle and Corfe Castle are worth visiting, but then also the castles on the coast too - Lindisfarne is the big one, but then there's forts in Sandwich and Rye and along that stretch... Deffo worth considering x
Thanks for the suggestions!
Alton Towers theme park is a great place to visit. It's in the most beautiful setting, and they're doing tours of the grounds and gardens now.
i have never seen any of your videos have to find them all now looks so good try Brighton
I cannot recall if you have been on a canal boat whilst in the UK? If not you should definitely add it to you list of things to do, you can hire them quite easily (with a bit of notice) and spend a bit of time going very slowly around the UK. Try to avoid the cities and you will be amazed at the history and some of the places you can get to.
Uk born and bred and a music lover. Some of my favourite British bands, that you may or may not know of, are 10cc, T.Rex, Slade and a much lesser known but excellent band called The Temperance Movement. I always enjoyed watching Adam Ant too. I would love to see your video where you each choose your top 5 British bands. Love your videos and look forward to your next one.
They are all a bit dated
Thank you so much! We know 10cc and T.Rex. We'll have to check out the other two.
Cresswell Crags for some of the earliest wall carvings in Europe. Several tours well worth doing of the caves. Book first, lots to do around there as well.
Listen to Scottish band RunRig, the concert, especially RunRig playing Loch Lomand @ BALLOCH
Alnwick is the home for the Olympic (sister ship to the Titanic) - 1st Class dining room wall. Used by the film to get the colour of wood right.
Richmond the Orange tree pub, first place rolling stones played, Eel Pie Island home to Pete Townsend studio and a music place for years.
Always enjoy watching your videos. Love how you immerse yourselves into the UK and the detail of thigs you really like. Just after you mentioned M&S, I got an advert for M&S in You Tube! Your influence clearly extends to You Tube advertising algorithms!
Rievaulx abbey in North Yorkshire and Castell Coch (red castle) in South Wales both really nice places to visit.
Have you considered doing a P and.O cruise from Southampton?
Both Norway Fjords and Baltic cruises are amazing.
My husband and I live in St Leonards On Sea, which is just up the road from Hastings! Did you take the funicular while you were there? Hastings castle is quite interesting, although there's not much of it left. If you ever make it back to the South East of England, Bodiam Castle is definitely worth a visit. There's also a steam railway that runs along close by, a pub opposite and some pretty villages in the area. It's heartwarming to see your love of Britain. I grew up in the countryside in the South East and there's a lot to love about the UK and its history. I've always wanted to have a road trip in the US. You guys have such wonderful National parks and scenery.
Regarding National Trust - Tatton Park is great, as well as the house, the gardens are huge and I love the Japanese garden there. There are also deer in the park around it. Dunham Massey, Powers Castle and Chirk Castle are also favourites.
Thorpe Park is best for rollercoaster fans. Blackpool Pleasure Beach is old skool but a really great all rounder. Alton Towers is the most beautiful but very spread out so be prepared for lots of walking, plus the rides cannot be taller than the trees but they've got created and there's still plenty of thrill rides, also the rollercoaster restaurant is fun and stays open later than the park. For castles, 2 of my favourites are Bodiam and Eilean Donan but honestly there are so many great ones.
Doune castle is high on the recommd list from me so well done for ticking it off. I do find it fun it's Python and Outlander. We just visited Warwick castle for the first time.
hi, bodium castle is a great casle, its in east sussex
, its also got a moat surrounding it .
I love your videos and thank you for giving Northern England a big 👍 up. I live in the Yorkshire dales x
Visit Whitby on the East coast of you get chance, its where Dracula came ashore when he came to England so a very atmospheric place, esp at Halloween.
Arundel Castle and Windsor Castle are both amazing. Best post-Beatles UK rock n' roll band = Oasis. Start with their first two albums which are legendary. ✌️
Not so much a castle, but one of my favourite 'tourist' destinations is Winston Churchill's home in Chartwell, Kent. It feels like he might still be there and such a beautiful house. Well worth a visit.
We’ve been members of national trust , lots of stately homes, stunning grounds and gardens but it’s worth joining there’s amazing places to visit. Also free parking in the car parks that they own . Which are in stunning places , Peak District , South Downs way .
Hi’ya guys! I moved here right before you both visited and watched your videos to view your experiences. I’m here in visa and going in 2 years. Lived up in Padiham, Burnley- Lancashire. Myself being from Florida- let’s just say, I dreaded the weather! The little towns around d were very comforting and fun to visit. Made some nice friends as well- the accent was something as well. We now reside in Hastings! So happy to see you both visited here! It is lovely and I just love the seafood and beach! 🏴🇬🇧🇺🇸
That being said, I do miss home. I with you both the best and happy travels! Cheers! Bub-bye!
ps - castles - Bodium and Hastings castle~ there are so many. Enjoy!
Warwick Castle and Stratford upon Avon is a must when you come back,Warwick Castle is like going back 1000 years in one day,So authentic,Stratford is all about the Tudor period,But mostly Shakespeare.
Two excellent places to visit are the Big Pit mining museum in Blaenavon, Wales and the Mary Rose museum in Portsmouth.
Having just visited the Mary rose museum in Portsmouth this year on our way to the ferry to France I would highly recommend it - it is absolutely fantastic.
Kenilworth castle…double whammy as it’s not too far from Warwick castle. .
Bamburgh castle is beautiful too as you can walk along the beach too.
Thorpe Park is a good theme park with a focus more on rollercoasters and high thrill rides, well worth checking out.
The two most amazing castles are Bamburgh and Lindisfarne on Holy Island. Just up the road from Alnwick ❤❤ beautiful beaches too 🎉🎉