Back when I was pregnant with my soon-to-be three year old I decided to babymoon abroad. Most people thought I was crazy not going local, but if it is going to be our last holiday as the two of us I wanted to go big. My family lives in England, so this was a deciding factor in choosing to go abroad for our babymoon. I wanted to share some of those pregnancy moments with my mum, which I think most daughters want to do. England has a lot to offer and a very comfortable place for a babymoon. The lovely cool weather is a relief from the humidity in Brisbane when you are pregnant and the shopping for adorable baby clothes is on point and will require a massive suitcase to bring it all home. Being our first stop on our babymoon I tried not to go overboard with shopping.
Long Haul Flight
The safest time to travel on a plane while pregnant is during your second trimester. You are past the ‘risky’ stage and you generally start feeling more ‘normal’. I had to carry a letter from my doctor to confirm I was healthy and able to fly, which is something most airlines will require. Some airlines will also have a cut-off time for when they don’t allow you to fly. Make sure you always check the regulations and rules with the airline you book with. I was just within the cut-off time, which is another reason why I brought a letter from my doctor.
My belly had not ‘popped’ yet, so the flight to England was relatively normal (apart from needing to pee every couple of hours). Having the aisle seat really helped with being able to get up, stretch and move around regularly. When flying on long flights during pregnancy I recommend wearing compression socks. This will help reduce the risk of blood clots, which is higher while pregnant. If you have food aversions try buying some snacks or food you can eat from the airport to keep you going through the flight.
Arriving at Heathrow
England has excellent bus, taxi and rail services to get you around if you do not wish to hire a car and drive. We find it easier to hire a car and drive ourselves around. This allows endless exploration, saves time and reduces the chance of cancellations if the weather turns sour.
Hiring a car can be costly but well worth it if you want to explore further out from the city. Heathrow airport has a bus service that connects you to the car hire companies. We usually use Europcar as our preferred car hire company. Once we have our car we head off to my family’s home to relax and get settled. Once settled and rested for the night we were ready to begin our first two weeks of our babymoon. Here are the places we visited, what we did there and some foodie recommendations.
Winchester
Known as a cathedral city, Winchester was the first and former capital of England and dates back to the Iron age. Winchester is our usual first day outing when we go to England and I don’t think we could ever tire of its medieval beauty. Locally known as Hampshire’s foodie capital, Winchester offers an abundance of cafes, pubs and markets to choose from. Our favourite morning tea stop is Eat, Drink and Be, where the coffee is great and the cakes yummy. If you’re ever in Winchester be sure to stop in for a treat while you take a break.
Places we visited in Winchester
- Winchester Cathedral – An 11th century medieval cathedral rich in history and still used to this day. There is a small admission cost, with children under 16 free, but there is a lot to explore within the cathedral. Once inside you can explore the cathedral, see the crypt, take a tower walk, pick up the children’s trail, see the Winchester bible, visit Jane Austen’s grave, browse the gift shop or take a break in the Refectory.
- The Great Hall – Dating back to the 13th Century The Great Hall used to be apart of Winchester Castle. Once you pay your admission fee and head inside you can explore the Great Hall, see the Round Table, view the long Gallery, wander through Queen Eleanors garden, view the underground Sally Port and of course browse the gift shop upon exiting.
- The Eclipse Inn – A 16th Century inn featuring exposed beams and old English charm. The Eclipse Inn will welcome you with a warm embrace, classic ales and classic pub dishes. Located within the historic square between the Buttercross and the Cathedral.
London
It goes without saying that a few trips into London is a must when visiting England. There is so much to do in London that you simply cannot do it all in one day. We caught the train into London both times we went to save ourselves the inner city driving. Being the capital and largest city of England, London has a unique mix of historic and modern architecture. Every old building is beautifully preserved and brought to life. You could walk for hours and feel like you’ve hardly seen anything.
Places we visited in London
- Tower of London – Officially named Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London. The Tower of London is a historic castle located on the north bank of the river Thames in central London. If you want to save time with purchasing your tickets you can book them online here, otherwise you can purchase tickets on the day you wish to go. Once inside expect to be here for most of the day in order to get the most out of your visit. Inside you can line up to see the crown jewels, the white tower, the bloody tower, the medieval palace and much more.
- Camden Markets – A popular market boasting over 1000 shops and stalls selling fashion, food, art and music. The Camden Markets is a fun place to explore with a mix of vintage, punk and homemade goodies. Not to mention the amazing and delicious food stalls to enjoy for lunch.
- Harrods – If you like designer this is the place for you. While it is a very impressive shop and a place everyone seems to like going, it really isn’t for me. I find the atmosphere a tad cold and the layout confusing.
- Oxford Street – Oxford street is for shopping. It has every shop imaginable on this street and a struggle to decide which end to start on. Here I found the cutest baby clothes and may have become a big spender due to all the cute baby clothes.
- Walking – Exploring a city on foot has to be one of the best ways to see the city. On foot you get to explore areas you may have never seen by using public transport. While walking we saw Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Parliament House, Trafalgar Square and much more.
Cotswolds
Beautiful picturesque villages surrounded by lush green rolling hills is what comes to mind when you think of the Cotswolds. While there are bus and tour services to take you to the more popular villages in the Cotswolds, having a hire car really came in handy. Driving ourselves meant we could spend time in each village we visited without the need to feel hurried. After some research we chose three villages to explore.
- Bibury – A charming and quaint village located in the county of Gloucestershire. Here you will be able to see the famous Arlington Row – a row of gorgeous weavers houses that were originally built in the 14th century as a wool store. After wandering along Arlington Row we then headed over to The Swan Hotel for a lovely coffee and delicious scones.
Arlington Row
The Swan Inn - Bourton-on-the-Water – Regularly voted one of the prettiest villages in England, Bourton-on-the-Water is centrally located within the Cotswolds. Once here it is hard not to get lost wandering around the picturesque alleys of this village. After wandering around the village we stopped in at The Duke of Wellington for some lunch. There is also some interesting places to visit here, like the Model Village. The Model Village opened in 1937 and is a mini replica of Bourton-on-the-Water.
Walking around Bourton-on-the-Water
Model Village - Burford – Located west of Oxford, Burford is often referred to as the ‘gateway’ to the Cotswolds. Being our last stop for the day we were short on time to truly explore this village properly and settled on walking around taking in its beauty.
Bay Tree Hotel
Walking around Burford
Arundel Castle and Gardens
Located in Arundel, West Sussex, Arundel Castle is still home to the current Duke of Norfolk. This medieval castle has been restored and remodeled through the years, but retains its medieval beauty and rich history dating back to the 11th century. Honestly, I had never heard of Arundel Castle until we googled castles to visit in England prior to our trip. After visiting, learning and reading about the castle’s history I was astonished I had never come across its name before. This castle has hosted some strong English historical figures over its almost 1000 years. If you would like to read about Arundel Castle’s rich history you can here.
Make sure to plan your visit to Arundel Castle ahead of time as there is plenty to see, do and take in while there. We had a bit of a time delay to the beginning of our day, so unfortunately we missed out on exploring the gardens. This just means another visit to this breathtaking castle, which is never a bad thing. Inside Arundel Castle you can explore the state rooms, the bedrooms, Fitzalan Chapel, Inner Gatehouse and Barbican, the Keep and the Garden Tea Terrace.
Walking up to Arundel Castle.
Bath
Located in Somerset, Bath is a well known destination for relaxation thanks to its Roman-built baths. Visiting Bath requires a full day, if not longer, to really appreciate the unique architecture and history it has to offer. We awoke early and spent a full day in Bath, but would love to stay a night on our next visit, so we can really take in the city.
Places we visited in Bath
- The Roman Baths – This is a must do if you are visiting Bath, as that is the reason the city was named Bath in the first place. The Roman Baths were designed for public bathing and used until the end of the Roman rule in Britain in the 5th century. Once inside you can explore the Sacred Spring, the Roman Temple, the Roman Bath House and a museum. We hired an audio-guide, which came in handy to understand the rich history and uses of each area. To find out more about admission and The Roman Baths click here.
- Mokoko Coffee – This cafe is a great spot for morning tea and close to all the major sites. Here we enjoyed a lovely coffee, scones and the very delicious clotted cream (a game changer) with a lovely view of Bath Abbey.
- Bath Abbey – Bath Abbey is one of the largest examples of perpendicular Gothic Architecture in the West Country. Once inside it is hard to know where to look. Its simple beauty is captivating. The main areas to view inside are the memorials and historic stories told through stained glass windows.
- The Ale House – Just because you can’t enjoy a drink while pregnant does not mean you cannot enjoy a pub lunch. At the Ale House we re-energized on the biggest loaded Yorkshire pudding we have ever seen!
- Pulteney Bridge – Completed in 1774 Pulteney Bridge crosses the river Avon and was originally built to connect the city with the land of the Pulteney family. Now Pulteney Bridge hosts an array of shops on both sides that are worth browsing as you cross over.
- Guildhall Markets – The oldest shopping venue in the city and located opposite Pulteney Bridge. Inside you will find stallholders selling a variety of items and ready to welcome you with a warm greeting.
- The Circus – Built between 1754 and 1768 the Circus is regarded as a preeminent example of Georgian architecture. These historic terrace homes form a circle with three entrances and is quite a unique experience.
- The Royal Crescent – Is one of Bath’s most iconic landmarks and was built between 1767 and 1765. The Royal Crescent is a grouping of 30 terrace homes overlooking Victoria Park and show off Georgian architecture at its best.
Stonehenge
Being a popular tourist attraction means Stonehenge can be easily accessed via tours or bus services. This prehistoric monument is amazing to experience and walking around the site allows you to experience the shear size this wonder of the world truly is. On arrival you go through the usual admission counters where you pay to enter and can also hire an audio-guide. Once through there is an exhibition centre to discover, Neolithic houses to explore, a gift shop and cafeteria. To get to the monument itself they provide a free bus service to and from. Otherwise if you like walking take a leisurely walk there, if the weather permits, and catch the bus back to the main building.
Stonehenge
Salisbury
Not far from Stonehenge you will find the lovely medieval cathedral city, Salisbury. The 13th Century Salisbury Cathedral is well worth visiting if you are a history buff. Inside the cathedral there is a 123m spire, a working 14th century clock and an original copy of the Magna Carta, the Great Charter, a key document from 1215 A.D. The town itself is also worth walking through with a variety of charming pubs to try for lunch or a beverage. Salisbury can be visited on the same day as Stonehenge if you hired a car.
The Vyne
The Vyne is a red brick Tudor style palace dating back to the 16th Century located in Basingstoke, Hampshire. What started out as a cluster of medieval style buildings was then transformed into a Tudor style palace. Over time the Vyne has hosted lords and ladies, Kings and Queens, a girls boarding school and used as a shelter during the second world war. Unfortunately when we were there the exterior had scaffolding up for maintenance, but the interior was quite impressive. After exploring the palace we went down to the café and enjoyed a yummy lunch. There is also the lake and gardens to walk around, as well as a couple of boutique stores. Make sure to wear appropriate walking shoes as it can get muddy around the lake.
This concludes part one of our babymoon, which was a busy start to what was going to be an even busier ending in Italy.
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