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Whether we’ve stepped foot on the terra firma of the British Isles or not, the time prior to an anticipated trip to do so, whether already booked or dreamed about, is a skill in patience and preparation. Yep, savoring how we’ve curated what we can right where we live to incorporate what we love most about the culture.
Since my last trip in October 2023, the moment I returned home, I wanted to hop right back on the plane again and head back to Britain. If it weren’t for my pups and my budget, I would have ☺️ But such a feeling is a gift as well. It means we have found what speaks to us, what brings us to life, and that is something to celebrate.
What we do in between our trips will make the next trip all the more a treasured memory. So by exploring and pinpointing exactly what we miss, it can better inform us of what we wish to see, do, and look forward to when we return. So, today, I’d like to share with you 10 things I miss before the next opportunity arises to upload my tickets on my phone and pack my luggage.
1. The theatre
The West End and all of the other theatre offerings around the city and throughout England where many plays begin before they arrive in London is a must-do each time I visit. I can remember sitting next to a woman during one of the plays I attended, she hailed from NYC and stated that she hops the pond regularly to catch up on the theatre and enjoy the city. Sounds like a great reason to visit more frequently to me!
2. Getting lost while walking around London, but knowing as long as I can find a Tube station, I will find my bearings again
London, as British folks already know, is its own map of roads and paths that have existed for centuries, so the urban planning approach for ease of congestion, let alone clarity in how to arrive somewhere wasn’t part of the original design of a modern-day 21st century city. However, what is simple to navigate is the Tube. So, whenever I might feel a bit discombulated, I look for a Tube station and then I can easily get my bearings and also quickly toodle-loo to wherever I am trying to arrive at.
And of course, hearing the phrase “Mind the Gap” sounds like a lullaby in many ways. With my Oyster card or transit app ready, I hop on and enjoy the ease of how the system works.
3. All of the many gardens open to the public to visit throughout the country
From within the city of London to everywhere throughout Britain, gardens abound and of all types and aesthetic styles, inviting us to visit. As I have only just begun to see them in person – Sissinghurst being my first, each trip I return, my intention is to include at least one visit to a new-to-me garden. Many of such gardens I discover while watching Gardeners’ World.
Read and take a tour of the garden in my post “Spending the Afternoon at Sissinghurst Castle Garden in the Spring“
4. An opportunity everywhere it seems for an Afternoon Tea
What would a visit to Britain be without an Afternoon Tea? I shutter to think 😉🫖
5. Electric tea kettles and teapots at-the-ready in any accommodation and tea always being offered wherever you go – train, restaurant, waiting area, etc.
Tea service on the train, multiple tea services if taking a long trip, tea kettles set upon the counter of every vacation rental I have stayed, and even biscuits immediately available to pair. My stay in Kensington in 2017 at London Perfect’s flat exhibited this hospitality was de rigueur, and instantly felt right at home.
6. Free museums to visit (and even if they begin to charge, their oodles of museums to explore!)
The access to visit any major national museum in London for free is a gift to soak up, and I know many TSLL readers and listeners of the podcast have done just that. This availability to the public at first astonished me during my first trip in 2012, and then it communicated the priorities of a culture to me. For however long this gift lasts, Britain, you have been most generous. Thank you.
7. The rain, knowing it could fall at any time and for a very long time
Yep, one of the reasons I love hopping on a plane and flying to Britain is because I know that at some point, I am all but 100% guaranteed that it will rain, and I do love the rain. Especially in the countryside, hearing the rain beat or gently tap against the roof or windows is something I have always found soothing, again, very much like a lullaby that provides comfort and welcome.
8. The ease of train transportation to get about the country without needing to drive everywhere
Each time I return to the States and get back into my car to go just about anywhere, I long for the ease of transportation in Britain. Now, I know as soon as I write this, Brits will remind me that ease is not always the case when there is a strike or mechanical issue, so I acknowledge, nothing is perfect; however, just knowing that train transportation is valued and available so widely is yet another gift I enjoy utilizing while visiting.
9. All of the birdsong and the countryside
Granted I am recalling the soniferous music of the dawn chorus in spring while in the Kent countryside, but the magnificent birdsong while I have been in England is a memory that immediately brings a smile.
10. Antique and charity shops, treasures to be found!
There is something quite exciting about knowing you never know what you will find when you step inside an antique or charity shop. A variety of treasures have been welcomed back to Le Papillon over the years, and in fact, in the photo at the top of this post, the painting, is case in point. While I know similar shops can be found in France (which I also love for treasure hunting) as well as the States, there is something about the history that makes doing so in Britain all the more special.
Where I found Barney! In the Mission Hall Antique shop in Barnard Castle, County Durham!
~Listen to the episode, #382: Antique & Vintage Shopping in Barnard Castle, England + 5 Ways I Decorate with these Treasures
Yep, I am eager to return to Britain. And while I don’t have a trip planned or on the calendar yet. I know it will be sometime soon, and it will be deeply savored and long prepared for when I do.
Now, I am curious to know, what do you miss when you aren’t in the UK and your next trip isn’t planned just yet? We’d all love to hear as I have a feeling it will inspire ideas for others and their itinerary planning. Your fellow Anglophile community thanks you in advance for sharing!
Petit Plaisir
~The Other Bennet Sister, BritBox
Learn more about the series, watch the trailer, and the book that inspired the television adaptation.
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I miss the pub culture of cozy dining in rooms that just feel old and well-loved, never ever pretentious, the accent/s, and the genteel manners that are much more commonplace than over here in the States. Sigh.
Shannon, what areas of the country do you have your eyes on to visit next? I’ve been thinking Cornwall would be very unique and beautiful!
Yes Melissa! I miss popping into a cozy pub when it’s raining, especially when traversing the countryside and ordering a hot cuppa and /or fish and chips with a half pint!
Oh to be in London or any place in Britain! I love to hear the receptionist at a hotel or B&B say “would you like a light read or a heavy read?” when selecting a morning newspaper. Loved to pickup Hello magazine at the busy news stand on the street before stepping onto the tube. Stopping into a local food mart and perusing the interesting food items. Visiting so many lovely chapels and churches and hearing the sound of bells pealing. I could make a list a mile long of the things I miss!
What a great list, Shannon! Like you, I love the theatre and look forward to seeing The Mousetrap (inspired by your trip!). Cheers!