Taking the Virgin Train to Scotland

Three weeks before my travel, I purchased my ticket to Scotland through the Virgin Train website, and got a pretty good fare: GBP 80 for return tickets. 

Browsing online, there were several options for purchasing ticket to Edinburgh but I’ve always thought it better to book direct. I booked through the Virgin Train website, which offers some advantages:

• It allows you to select the Quiet Coach (which is Coach B), if you don’t want be in the regular coach(which can be quite noisy, as per the reviews I have read).  They cost the same, by the way. 

• It also allows you to choose not only window or aisle seats, but also seats by the table, or seats with electrical socket (which are usually window seats). 

• You will be given complimentary wifi for the whole trip duration.  Tickets purchased through other mediums only get 1 hour complimentary wifi.

• If you’re lucky you get to receive an email a week before the trip, saying you can upgrade to Business Class for only 20 GBP (I received one!) which would come with lounge access, food, reclining seats, more legroom and morning paper.

So, I opted for the Quiet Coach, and window seat, and thought about upgrading to business class.

I was excited for this tour well, because finally…alone time, and my first time in Scotland!  I woke up early, and left excitedly to Paddington station.  From Paddington , I took the Circle Line to get to King’s Cross station, which is the terminal for Virgin Train.  King’s Cross is a big station, so my friend advised me to leave before 6 AM to catch my 7 AM trip. From the underground platform, I had to get out of the Kings Cross St. Pancrass underground station and followed the sign to the King’s Cross station. At the station, there are terminals where you can print your boarding pass, if you haven't had them printed yet. 

I waited for 10 minutes and then it was boarding time. I was looking for the staff as I wanted to avail of upgrade to business class however, there was no one- which was a good thing because I found that there were not that many passengers.  I had all 3 seats to myself.  On another thought, going business class would have been an experience in itself…oh, well…

Ready for the 4.5 hour ride!

Scotland, here I come!

PS: You may book your tickets here.

Oxford University: A Look At My Nephew’s Dream School

My short vacation after my graduation started with a visit to Oxford.  My friend and her family picked me up from Hyatt Heathrow at around 11 in the morning-it was really nice to see her and her family again after 3 years or so! The kids have grown up real fast and the eldest is taller than me now.

The Bridge of Sights at Oxford

The drive to Oxford took more than an hour. It is one beautiful place which made me wish I was still a college student , riding my bike to catch my classs. I would have earned money for my allowance by being a tour guide, as what many students do. But who knows, maybe my nephew would have the chance to experience studying in Oxford University, his dream school.

Aside from Oxford being a center of learning, I fell in love with its cobbled steets, the old, “honey-toned buildings”, and the university and college courtyards. Very Harry Potter-ish (well some scenes were shot here).

The Clarendon Building - Broad Street corner Catte Street

We parked  at the Parks Road near the Broad Street, one of the major roads.  It is very near the Bodleian Library of Oxford University, which is naturally our first stop. The  Bodleian Libary, which was founded in 1598 and one of the locations for the Harry Potter movie.  There is a tour of the library which costs 6 pounds and run for 30 minutes. 

Entrance to the Library

A few steps from the Library is the Radcliffe Square where the Radcliffe Camera is. Radcliffe Camera is a beautiful building inside the university built in 1737 and was once the Science Library.  This is the image normally seen in Oxford postcards or travel books. 

We headed to the Oxford University Museum of History of Science along Broad Street.  The collection of early scientific instruments can be viewed for free. We did a stroll around the city, a little shopping (of course I had to buy my nephew the Oxford University shirt) and had a buffet lunch. 

Along Cornmarket Street, on the way to ChristChurch

After lunch, we we also went to Christchurch Cathedral and Christchurch College, which I find to be the most beautiful of Oxford University’s colleges. Unfortunately, we were not able to enter because there was an on going event at the time of our visit.  I had to be contented with the view of the courtyard from the outside. The cathedral is said to have been built in the 12th century. Christchurch College was built by Cardinal Wolsey, the same person who originally owned the Hampton Court Palace in London. Founded in 1525, it is said to be the largest college in Oxford.

View of the Christchurch Cathedral

Facade of the Christchurch College

We were done before 5 PM and decided that we still have time to visit another famous place, The Bath.

And so off to Bath we go.

London: Hampton Court Palace

I guess I am trying to walk in the footsteps of the British royal families that I grabbed every chance I could to visit at least 1 palace when I am in UK.  Buckingham, the home to the British royals, was the first palace I have visited few years back.  On another visit, a friend took me to Windsor Castle, the "oldest inhabited castle in the world". This time, I visited Hampton Court Palace, originally built for Cardinal Wolsey but was presented to King Henry VIII and which is said to be his favorite residence. 

From Bath Road, Heathrow, I took the double-decker red bus #111, for a more than 1 hour joy ride to the borough of Richmond upon Thames, where Hampton Court Palace is.  The bus stop (Hampton Court Palace) is a stone's throw away from the palace gate.  The palace opens for visitors at 10AM and since I arrived quite early, I strolled along the Barge Walk which runs along the Thames River right beside the palace, and around the Rose Garden, one of the castle’s many gardens, where roses of different colors and sizes are in full bloom.

At  10 minutes before 10, the ticket office opened and I purchased a ticket for GBP20.90. It would have been cheaper by around GBP2 had I bought a it online.  We entered through the Seymour Gate instead of the main entrance, as there were some works going on, seemingly for an event, at the main entrance and the base court.  Upon scanning of the ticket, we proceeded to the "Base Camp" for the audio guide and to get a copy of the day’s programme and map. Upon entering the castle, I immediately noticed the decorative bricks and stones, which is a prominent feature of the palace. 

Bricks and Stones

I headed towards the Clock Court, which has the 16th century, still-functional, astronomical clock which shows not only the time, but also the “phases of the moon, the month, the quarter of the year, the date, sun and star sign, and high water at London Bridge.”

The Clock Court

From the Clock Court, I proceeded to the Young Henry VIII's Story section, and to the different rooms which shows the major events of his life, including his controversial marriages.  Visitors will then be led towards William III's state apartments and private rooms, through the King’s Stairs, a very regal staircase. There, guests will see the Guard Chamber, the Presence Chamber or the throne room, the Privy Chamber, the Great Bed Chamber and the Little Bedroom.  Downstairs is William III’s private apartment where they lived. 

The King's Stairs

The Presence Chamber

At the other side of the Clock Court is Henry VIIIs Apartments, which includes the Great Hall.  I visited on a Monday there was a 60 minute play at the Great Hall called “Power Play”, which gives a glimpse of the politics, intrigues and power plays in 1533 during the reign of Henry VIII. Part of the play was musical, and the actors and actresses engaged the audience on some parts and kept us moving. Together with  “King Henry VIII” , we walked to the Council Chamber, and with “Jane Seymour”, we went to the Wine Cellar.  The other half of the audience walked with “Anne Boleyn” to the other parts of the palace.

The Power Play cast

After the play, I went to the Chapel Royal, which is said to be the heart of the palace.  There are regular services held in the Chapel Royal and taking pictures is not allowed.  On the other side would be the Fountain Court, which showcases baroque architecture. The East Front Garden can be accessed from the Fountain Court.

The Fountain Court

My favorite part of the palace is the East Front Garden or the Fountain Garden.  It looked very beautiful with the fountain framed in avenues of clipped yew trees.  I also loved the really colorful flowers. It is said that some of the yew trees in this garden are around 300 years old, and the others 75 to 100 years old. There are seats under the yew trees, which is a very nice place to sit, and to just enjoy the view or to have a picnic.

The fountain

Avenue of Yew Trees

Flowers and Yew Trees

Close to the East Front Garden is the royal tennis court, which is still being used today. From the East Front Garden, there is an access to the Privy Garden. From the Privy Garden, I took a short walk to the Great Vine, passing through the Banquetting House and the Pond Gardens.  The Great Vine, planted in 1768, is still producing grapes until today, making it the world’s largest productive vine.

The Privy Garden

I headed out through the Seymour Gate and went to see the Maze, the Rose Garden (again) and the Kitchen Garden.  The Maze is the oldest hedge maze from the late 17th century.

After 4 hours, I had to head back to the hotel to make it to the evening socials, which officially starts our 1 week workshop.  Time to do some work!

How to get there from the Bath Road, Heathrow:

Hampton is in Richmond Borough.  From the Bath/Nene Road bus stop in Heathrow, Hampton Court Palace is only 1 bus ride via Bus 111, though the journey will take around 1.5 hours. The travel time is shorter if you take the underground train, however it would amount to the same journey time if you count the waiting time for the bus to transfer you from the underground station to the palace.