Portsmouth

Portsmouth is located on the southern coast of England. It was historically a naval base, and tourist hot spot and has a population of about 200 000. 

The city has beautiful views of the sea, beaches and lots of history. 

Lighthouse by the Sea:

Beaches with the historic walls:

An old building left as a monument:

Portsmouth has two piers, similar to many other cities by the sea. One is home to a small amusement park. 

One of the piers in Portsmouth: 

Portsmouth has recently struggled economically. Commuting out of Portsmouth, less tourism and less industry are contributing factors. One key redevelopment is GunWharf Quays, a shopping and restaurants on the water, complete with an observation deck. The development is very well designed and an inviting place to visit. 

An example of the boardwalks and patios along Gunwharf Quays:

Portsmouth is a lovely English city along the sea, and parts of it even feel tropical. I would definitely recommend it for a visit! 

The Cotswolds

The Cotswolds is probably what a lot of people think of when they think of the English countryside. An area with beautiful landscapes, lovely towns and villages and thatched roofs. 

We stayed in a lovely B and B called the Bird in Hand near Witney for the weekend. It had 16 unique rooms and a lovely restaurant attached. 

Bird In Hand Inn:

We visited several towns and villages during our stay. We visited Burford, where we looked at shops along the High street and a cafe. On Saturday we had breakfast at the Inn and then visited Blenheim Palace in Woodstock. It is a UNESCO world heritage site. The grounds are equally as lovely as the palace. If we had more time I would have done one of the walks available throughout the grounds. 

Blenheim Palace and Gardens:



We went to Broughton on the Water, a lovely quaint English tourist spot with shops and a creek running through it.  

I had my first Cornish Pasty here, so tasty!

Finally, we visited Oxford which I will post about later…