Back in London

Today marked the end of our Britain and Ireland experience tour.  We left Warwick  and drove through the Cotswalds, picture book English rural living!  The Cotswalds are a wealthy area, with farming the main industry there, especially wool and also racehorses.

We then entered Oxfordshire and passed Bleinham Palace, an historical building buut royals do not live there.  We then made our way to the village of Bladon where Winston Churchill is buried.

Then came Oxford which has been a famous city of learning since the 1200's where people of learning gathered together.  Students have to be straight A achievers to even get a look in at these prestigious colleges.  There was an academic ceremony in progress while we were there.

There are many  beautiful buildings in Oxford including churches and several colleges.  This one is

 

the Bodleian Library which aims to house every book published in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

This building was designed by Sir Christopher Wren, and is made up of timber inside in such a way to replicate stone and marble.

This is a beautiful church we visited.  The stained glass was exquisite.

Also thriving market places.

We popped in and saw the oldest university in Oxford, Balliol College, in it's earliest beginnings in 1269.

and the wonderful gardens now.  

It was then time to leave Oxford and return to London, saying goodbye to new friends. 

Then we had the pleasure of saying hello to old friends from our Ballarat days.  We met them at Covent Garden, found a pub and had some dinner and a really great catch up, possibly planning our next trip overseas!  So great to see them.

So now we are back at the Hotel getting organised for the next leg of our trip.