If you haven’t been paying close attention to my little breadcrumbs I’ve been leaving throughout the past few months then you may not know where we decided to go for our honeymoon. With the wedding last week (August 20th) I figured what better time to tell you than now?

We’ve decided to go to the UK!

You might be shocked. Why on earth would newlyweds flock to the UK fresh in the wake of Brexit and all that gloomy weather?

Well for one, Zika deterred us from going anywhere we wanted to go at first. Jamaica. Turks & Caicos. Bali. Even Hawaii ! While we do not fear for our lives or health traveling to these places, we more fear that, as newlyweds concerned for our potential future kids, it wouldn’t be wise if I were to unexpectedly expect in the near future.

Secondly, we have never been to the UK! I have flown over London and seen everything from Big Ben and Buckingham Palace but that’s as close as I came. We like our beer and quaint pubs. We like our castles and history. It just makes sense for us to finally visit our “motherland” of sorts. I have deep roots in British ancestry and my soon to be hubby is part Scottish.

We’ve added Ireland to the list with a stay in Dublin. I’ve been to Ireland and my time there left me convinced that I had to bring my hubby back again with me someday. I’ve been left with little time to plan but because we are going to an English speaking country the planning is a little less intense for me. Usually I am half way through a beginners language class learning how to order food or buy something in a different dialect. Choosing a location with a language you both know can help ease the stress of planning.

Itinerary plans:

 

We land in London at 10 am and plan to stay for 5 days. I figured this would be enough for us to recover from jet lag yet still have enough time to see what we want. I am looking forward to taking advantage of the free art galleries and museums while hubby is looking forward to discovering WWII history. But we’re both excited for a pint or two in our fair share of pubs.

My London must-see:

Westminster Abbey – I am not religious in any sense of the word but I love a good church or abbey. According to an old family history book I have it is rumoured that I have a few ancestors buried among some of London’s most famous and infamous here at the Westminster Abbey.

London Eye – Five days isn’t a whole lot of time to see everything so I am indulging in this touristy attraction to see it all if a clear day presents itself. You best believe I am splurging on the Champagne ticket!

Exploring London Through Food – I want to take a food tour in each city we visit but due to budget we’ll have to make a couple of those a DIY food tour. With the help of TheCulinaryTravelGuide.com I am on it!

His London must-see:

He is all about the WWII history so we are making the Winston Churchill War Rooms a must see.

He loves beer and has even developed a taste for rich dark beers although he normally sticks to ales and his old favourite Budweiser. But as much as it is what you drink it is also where you drink it. Frankly, we both are looking forward to checking out some of London’s oldest pubs.

Together we are excited to be joining Secret Food Tours on their traditional British Food Tour in London! Check them out here.

Additionally, we’re going AirBnB all the way and I couldn’t be more excited. There’s nothing better than having your own bathroom, kitchen, living room and laundry where you’re staying. I am a huge fan of AirBnB and we’ve snagged some unique places to stay in each city.

However, it was really hard finding a place to stay in London. Some places were too good to be true with a shared bathroom or no kitchen. But I am confident we found a great spot in a good location without spending as much as a London hotel. Check it out here.

Or get $40 CAD off your first AirBnB stay by clicking here.

After 5 days in London we are leaving by Virgin train to York for a brief stopover for lunch and exploration. We are packing light to avoid luggage fees and make it easier to get around. With one of our AirBnBs having a laundry service we’ll also avoid wasting time at laundromats.

But after London we’ll be making our way north. York won in a Twitter vote and a Khoollect forum showdown with more locals telling me I needed to go to York over Bath. In the end price won me over as well. And when in York I was assured a proper high tea is in order, the most acclaimed of which is Betty’s tea house.

After 6 hours in York we’re continuing on to our second stay in Edinburgh, Scotland. I’m a huge fan of the Outlander series and Scottish landscape. I am looking forward to taking a food tour (you know a good one?) and getting to know this city by bike if the weather cooperates. We aren’t staying in the centre of town but instead opted for a more historical stay in Leith. Only a 10-20 minute walk to the historical centre of town, Leith is the historical port of Scotland. Leith also hosts a lively food scene with pubs and unique restaurants that tourists tend to miss.

Now for the kicker…our AirBnB is a renovated windmill from the 1600s, later converted into a signal tower in the 1800s. The apartment is circular in shape with a kitchen, bathroom and spectacular views of the port. I can’t wait to drink my morning coffee here…

Aside from eat, drink a pint, repeat, I am open to hear what your top suggestions are for things to do in Edinburgh! Off beat, lesser known, or classic tourist activities. I’m open to hearing it all!

Yep! I am returning to Dublin. I loved it so much the first time I knew I had to bring my hubby back with me. We’ll be checking out the Guinness Storehouse (again!) and heading to see plenty more castles than I did the first time.

Of course we are staying in an AirBnB in Dublin as well. As with all of our AirBnBs we take up the entire apartment and I’ve fully read the rules and reviews of each property. We lucked out with this location and it looks so cosy! It’s right across the street from Queen of Tarts for a quick and sweet breakfast with coffee but I am also armed with plenty of great spots to dine provided to me over a Snapchat friend from Dublin, Chloe of FoodieCafe.

 

Otherwise, our plans are loose and we are open to suggestions! If you did something in one of these cities or countries that stands out in your mind let me know! I want to hear about it all in the comments below!