I’ve just returned from a 10-day trip to England. I’m still fighting the jetlag, but the trip was fabulous. We spent seven days in London, then took day trips to Cambridge, Bath, and the Cotswolds.
I hadn’t visited England in decades, not since I was a college student on a term abroad. Long ago, I’d spent a semester in beautiful Bath, including many field trips to other locations—Oxford, Stonehenge, Stratford-upon-Avon, and more. As one of my courses was on British playwrights, we read and saw about a dozen plays. That entailed trips to London to the Barbican Centre, the National Theatre, and of course, the West End.
On this trip, our London tour included a delightful variety of sightseeing and experiences, many of which I hadn’t seen during my previous visit. We toured landmark sights such as Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s Cathedral, and the Tower of London. But the trip also included some fun culinary adventures such as a food tour of the East End and an afternoon tea. Of course, we had to see a show this time too, so we booked tickets to Six: The Musical, which I enjoyed immensely.
One of my favorite trip memories occurred in the Cotswold village of Stow-on-the-Wold, where I snapped this photo of the door to St. Edwards Church. Two entwined, ancient yew trees frame this old wooden portal. This picturesque door is rumored to have provided the inspiration for Tolkien’s Doors of Durin, the entrance to Moria. So cool!
It’s interesting how past experiences can pop up in our work. My former time in England informed parts of my own novel, Bedlam Bewitched. A memorable afternoon tea at a famous department store provided the inspiration for the “high tea” scene in my novel. Perhaps memories from this current adventure will appear in a sequel?
How have your own travels inspired your writing?
“I took a bite, savoring the balance of sugar and fat. I didn’t know which was sweeter, the cake or my ingenious little plan.”
– from Bedlam Bewitched