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travel · england

Week 13: England

· Chris Moore

Lawn and countryside at Belle Grove

We moved to the East Coast this week to visit some old friends. James' family runs an amazing little retreat called Belle Grove Barns. It's full of character and smack dab in the middle of some of the most beautiful Suffolk countryside.

Sunday

Katharine went off to explore London. Grammie, the kids, and I walked around Henley. We explored the dam and the lock, walked the tow path, and played on another playground or two. A late lunch and some tea at The Chocolate Cafe was enjoyed by all.

Footpath beside the river at Henley-on-Thames
Green field beneath a blue sky

Tuesday

We're out of here. As much as we hated to leave Henley-on-Thames, it was time to drop Grammie off at Heathrow.

Garden and blue doors viewed through a conservatory window

We were headed East today toward Suffolk. We made a pit stop in Luton (that raised a few eyebrows from local friends). For dinner we drove twenty minutes or so to Letchworth. It's the UK's first Garden City and the home of the first roundabout in the UK!

Map showing a route through Britain

Wednesday

We stopped by to visit some friends I worked with last year. They run a laser engraving shop and treated the kids to some personalized torches (flashlights for the folks at home). Thanks Craig!

Child working beside an adult at a workshop bench

Next it was a two hour trip to Belle Grove. We stayed in two different houses and enjoyed every single minute. They are fantastic. Walking paths, spaceships, giant crabs, dragons, and fairies.

Lawn and countryside at Belle Grove
Family beside an old aircraft displayed on grass
Red sculpture standing in a garden
Child exploring beside a pond and trees
Colorful living room with large garden windows
Tower and rooflines against a sunset sky

Thursday

We stayed close to the farm except for lunch. We drove over to Southwold to get fish and chips at The Harbour Cafe. They were the best I've had so far. I didn't take a picture because I was too busy eating them.

Riverside path beside moored boats

Friday

We had to move houses today. Fortunately it was 100 yards away. The kids played while the parents packed.

Family gathered in a living room

I'm going full English over here. Tea and crumpets, fish and chips, and now this: beans on toast.

Laptop and plate of beans on toast
We don't have these beans in the US even though they come from there.

Saturday

We drove up to Bungay for an English breakfast. It's a neat little town. We walked through the old graveyard and explored the castle ruins.

Full English breakfast with toast, eggs, sausage, and tomatoes
I screwed up. This would have been perfect if it had beans.
Small domed shelter in a town square
Round stone tower and ruined walls
Bungay Castle
Historic brick house with parked cars

After Bungay we drove back over to Southwold to see the pier. It was great. They have a normal arcade and a bunch of one-off artist designed machines as well.

Father and child beside the water
Sign for the Micro Break arcade attraction
Waves rolling under a seaside pier
Sign for the Under the Pier Show
Row of colorful beach huts
Children posing on rocks beside the sea
Sunlight on waves by the seafront

Then a short trip a little further south to see Dunwich. Apparently the town was swallowed by the sea a few hundred years ago. Now the coastline is eroding and even more buildings are slipping over.

Pebble beach beneath a bright blue sky
People walking along a broad pebble beach

We've got two more weeks in England. We're heading South for the rest of the trip. See you next week Brighton.

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