~ UK adventures ~
Hearing the Gravity Story at the Bike Shed in London
Back in 2021, we we’re excited to visit the Bike Shed Motorcycle Club (aka BSMC), a unique venue that blends motorcycle culture with a stylish social space, to hear how British technology company, Gravity Industries, founded in 2017 by a former Royal Marine Reservist, Richard Browning, came to be.
Seeing the iconic ‘Yomper’ statue at the Royal Marines museum in Southsea
Unveiled on 8 July 1992 by Baroness Margaret Thatcher, and standing proudly outside the former Royal Marines Museum in Portsmouth, The Yomper is an 18-foot bronze statue that honours the endurance, determination, and courage of the Royal Marines.
Experiencing Winchester’s stunning Cathedral
Dating back to 642 AD when the first Christian church was built in Winchester, Winchester Cathedral, one of the largest and most historically significant cathedrals in Europe, stands in the heart of the Hampshire city.
Exploring the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, on a beautiful sunny day
Designed by Sir Christopher Wren and built between 1696 and 1712, the Old Royal Naval College, located in Greenwich, London, is a masterpiece of British architecture and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Seeing the Ouse Valley viaduct, the most elegant viaduct in Britain
Completed in 1841, the Ouse Valley Viaduct, also known as the Balcombe Viaduct, is a stunning example of Victorian engineering, located in West Sussex, England.
Immersing in Norwich’s incredible Cathedral
Founded in 1096 by Herbert de Losinga, the first Bishop of Norwich, Norwich Cathedral is one of the most stunning and historically significant buildings in England, located in the heart of Norwich, Norfolk.
Seeing the stunning Cutty Sark on a sunny day in London
Built in 1869 on the River Clyde in Scotland, the Cutty Sark, is one of the last and fastest British tea clipper ships preserved in Greenwich, London.
Staying at Field Marshal Kitchener’s country house in Canterbury
Purchased by Field Marshal Herbert Kitchener , 1st Earl Kitchener in the early 20th century, Broome Park is a historic country estate located near Canterbury in Kent, England.
Exploring the House of Vans for the VC London takeover
Set in the atmospheric tunnels beneath Waterloo Station, the VC London takeover of the House of Vans was an electrifying collision of two empowering worlds: the rebel spirit of VC London and the creative energy of the House of Vans.
Finding Tommy near Durham
Created by artist Ray Lonsdale, the Tommy Statue, officially titled "1101," is a striking war memorial located in Seaham, County Durham, England.
Exploring the incredible Dover Castle
Often referred to as the "Key to England”, Dover Castle, located in Kent, England, is one of the most iconic and historically significant castles in the UK.
Experiencing the grandeur of an empty Windsor Castle in winter
Windsor Castle, located in Berkshire, England, is the world's oldest and largest inhabited castle, serving as a royal residence for over 1,000 years and remaining an official home of the British monarch.
Seeing the remarkable Royal Observatory Greenwich in Central London
The Royal Observatory Greenwich, located in London, England, is a historic site of immense scientific significance.
Locating Shackleton’s boat, the James Caird, at Dulwich College
The James Caird, a 23-foot lifeboat, is one of the most significant artifacts from Sir Ernest Shackleton’s legendary 1914–1917 Endurance Expedition to Antarctica.
Finding the Robert Burns (aka 'The Bard') statue in central London
Robert Burns, born on January 25, 1759, in Alloway, Scotland, is celebrated as one of Scotland's greatest poets and lyricists, and his significant cultural influence is commemorated with a statue on Victoria Embankment Gardens.
Exploring the stunning Barbican Conservatory (like a movie set!)
The Barbican Conservatory in London is a hidden oasis nestled within the brutalist architecture of the Barbican Centre, one of the city's most renowned cultural landmarks.
Marking the 100-year anniversary of Mallory and Irvine’s disappearance on the 1924 Everest expedition at the Royal Geographical Society (RGS)
With a few days in London, I decided to make a trip the Royal Geographical Society (RGS) to catch a special exhibition showcasing photographs from the ill-fated Everest expedition of 1924 where George Mallory and Andrew "Sandy" Irvine sadly disappeared.
Whilst having a huge interest in mountaineering and Everest, I didn’t know much about the early Everest expeditions not least the 1924 one.
Seeing the Longest Johns live in Bristol
If you’ve not heard of them, ‘The Longest Johns’ are a vocal group from Bristol, that came together through a shared passion for folk music, sea shanties, and maritime rock. Comprising Andy Yates, Dave Robinson, Jonathan “JD” Darley, and Robbie Sattin, the quartet began their musical journey by performing traditional songs and their own original compositions.
Seeing the Bolt’s Law standing engine, near Rookhope, in Weardale
The information plaque mounted nearby highlights that it was made in 1846 by the Weardale Iron Company and was part of the Bolt's Law Railway Incline, the highest standard-gauge railway in the UK at the time, designed to transport iron ore and limestone from Rookhope to Tow Law Ironworks.
Exploring the stunning Crag Lough
Crag Lough is a picturesque lake nestled within the Northumberland National Park in Northumberland, England. It's renowned for its stunning natural beauty, surrounded by rugged crags and lush greenery, making it a popular destination for outdoor enthusiasts, particularly hikers, climbers, and birdwatchers.