Walkabout London 2023 - Trip Report
Well friends, another Walkabout tour is successfully in the books, and I’m so happy to report on our week in London.
Some of you may remember that London was my original Walkabout tour—the one I put together first, shared with my Instagram followers, and realized, after it sold out in a week, that I had something that women were interested in.
I sort of went back to that original itinerary, with a couple of modifications, one being the location of the house where we stayed. I think we all agreed that staying in a leafy “suburban” setting was absolutely wonderful. Hampton Court, at the end of the overground train line, is about 25 minutes outside of London. The house where we stayed (a complete blessing that God brought to me with Christian owners) was just perfect for our group. It was an oasis for us in the middle of a busy week of sightseeing.
I had arrived a couple of days early, staying in my favorite London hotel and the place where our Walkabout England group will be staying next May, the Lime Tree Hotel. I won’t spend too much time on my first two days, however, I did some wandering and came across the Michelin Building, which I thought was so beautiful. The building looks art deco, but it was actually built in the early 1900s.
And this is what I love about London—there’s an interesting story or piece of history just around every corner.
Day 1
The women arrived on a Saturday and we all congregated at the house. One huge blessing was that the owners allowed us to check in early, so everyone could get settled in their rooms and freshened up.
We kicked things off with dinner at a local pub, which was lovely. We even had our own room in the restaurant so we could spend time getting to know each other.
Day 2
What’s the most iconic building in all of London? Buckingham Palace, of course!
And what’s the most iconic ceremony that takes place in front of Buckingham Palace? The Changing of the Guard!
We kicked off our tour of Royal London seeing both Buckingham Palace and the Changing of the Guard parade, after which we learned more about the history of St. James and Westminster. After lunch, we took in the beautiful Evensong service at Westminster Abbey. A beautiful and meaningful way to begin our week focused on God’s attributes.
Day 3
One of Queen Elizabeth’s favorite homes was Windsor Castle, our destination for Day 3. I was especially moved to be able to see the Queen’s burial place within St. George’s Chapel (no photos allowed!).
Later, we traveled back into London to take in Afternoon Tea at Brasserie Max at the Covent Garden Hotel. Everyone at the restaurant was unbelievably kind to us, offering to take pictures and checking in to make sure we had everything we needed. They even sent us home with the scones we couldn’t eat! If you’re looking for a lovely tea that’s a little off the beaten path, I highly recommend this spot.
Day 4
Today was all about C.S. Lewis, so we traveled to Oxford where, first, we stopped at The Kilns, Lewis’s home. We enjoyed a tour of the house and stories from our guide, Colin, who is a C.S. Lewis scholar himself. (Hint: if you want to visit The Kilns, arrangements must be made in advance via their website. Tours are not available every day.)
After that, we went into central Oxford where we had lunch at the famous Turf Tavern, dating back to the 12th century. (It’s also supposedly the place where Bill Clinton “did not inhale” while out with Oxford friends.)
Canal near Magdalen College.
The highlight of our day was a walking tour of Oxford focusing on C.S. Lewis. We saw The Eagle and Child, the pub where Lewis and the Inklings met every Tuesday to discuss their work. We also visited the University Church where Lewis gave his famous “The Weight of Glory” sermon. And finally, we visited Magdalen (pronounced like “maudlin”) College where Lewis taught.
Pulpit where Lewis gave his “Weight of Glory” sermon.
Magdalen College, Oxford
One of the highlights of the entire trip, for me, was seeing Addisons Walk, the path where God took hold of Lewis’s heart, changing him forever.
Addison’s Walk
It was about this place that Lewis wrote these words: "You must picture me alone in that room in Magdalen, night after night, feeling, whenever my mind lifted even for a second from my work, the steady, unrelenting approach of Him whom I so earnestly desired not to meet. That which I greatly feared had at last come upon me. In the Trinity Term of 1929 I gave in, and admitted that God was God, and knelt and prayed: perhaps, that night, the most dejected and reluctant convert in all England."
Day 5
We went back into London on Day 5 , visiting one of my favorite places, Borough Market. We all scattered, grabbing whatever looked good for lunch, then met up to eat together. It was “jolly good fun”!
Lunch at Borough Market
After that, we strolled to Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre for a tour. Some actors were rehearsing for a play on stage, so we got to spend a little time watching. A very fun moment!
Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre
That afternoon, we had some free time to explore and, while most of the women headed to Harrods for some retail therapy, a couple of us went to Daunt Books. This is a place I had never visited but had heard much about, and I’m so glad I got to see it. Not only is it a gorgeous store, it has an unusual way of shelving books—by country. I’ve never seen it done like that before; travel books mixed with fiction, memoir, and anything else you can think of based on the country the book is from or about.
That evening we ate dinner at Maggie Jones, a Kensington institution and one of my favorites. We had a wonderful evening there and were sad to learn that just three days later the restaurant would be shut down because of a fire. I hope they are able to open again soon!
Day 6
I always like to incorporate a "free day” into our schedule so that women can either go do what they want or take a day of rest from our busy schedules. I loved that on our free day, each woman did just what she wanted, from visiting the Churchill War Rooms to Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace (it was still open to visitors that week). Others worked in some shopping at Liberty of London, a favorite. And some stayed closer to home to go antiquing—Hampton Court boasts several wonderful antique stores.
Liberty of London
Day 7
On our final day in London we stayed much closer to home, touring Hampton Court Palace, which was only a 10 minute walk from the house where we stayed. Hampton Court was the home of Henry VIII and his six wives. We had a great tour of the palace by a very knowledgeable guide who also showed us the gardens outside. What a palace!
If you’re in London and want to visit, Hampton Court Palace is easy to get to and definitely worth a day trip out there. I can also recommend The Mute Swan pub, just across the street from the main gate, as a great place for lunch or dinner (with lots of gluten free options).
Sadly, all good trips must come to an end, and, one week after we began our trip together—many of us strangers—we left as friends. I am always so grateful for the ways that God brings each group together. He knows each woman intimately, and he knows just what we need as we travel together. It’s a beautiful thing to see women come together, share their lives with one another, and encourage each other.
London, we loved you. Can’t wait until next time!
*****
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