A Royal Visit- Part Two

 After exploring Buckingham Palace, a day at Windsor is always a lovely follow up. 

Windsor Castle is located outside of London in Windsor. A short train ride will bring you to Windsor or you can easily hire a car. 

If  you hire a car, parking is found all around the castle and there are a number of car parks to utilize. 

Again, if you are traveling with someone with limited mobility, you may make prior arrangements for  free wheelchair use, discounted admission and free admission for companion. 

Windsor is also a sprawling property and to visit it properly allow an entire day although you can easily see the main parts in a half day. 

Make sure you check to make sure the castle is open for visitors-typically available spring to fall. 

There are of course gift shops on the castle grounds, but there are numerous shops that line the street as well. As at Buckingham, there are a number of places to grab a bite to eat, take a break and rest for a bit before returning to the castle to continue your visit. 

As you visit the castle grounds you will see lovely works of art, learn about the history of the Royal family and tread where some of the worlds most influential rulers have walked. 

You may catch a glimpse of one of the royals that live here, dog walkers and of course the royal guards. 

To plan your visit to England, please contact Trip Along Travel. Where will Y OU go? The World is waiting!

A Royal Visit: Part One-Buckingham Palace

 There are so many things to see and do in Great Britain it is often hard to decide what to see first. 

On my third trip to England, we decided to take in Buckingham Palace, something that my octogenarian mom wanted to do. (She picks the places and I make it happen.)

In planning your visit to this iconic attraction, make sure that it is open for tours. When the Queen is in residence the Palace is closed to public tours. Usually the Palace is open during the summer months but always check ahead.

Plan to spend the whole day if you will be touring the Palace, Mews and the Queens Gallery.  You can easily take a lunch break and enjoy fare from any of the numerous places the line the street to have a quick sandwich or something more substantial. 

There is a lot of walking and stairs even if you opt to only tour the Palace. If you need assistance, or require a wheelchair, you can make arrangements ahead by calling the Palace ticket office to purchase your handicap accessible ticket. The good news is that the ticket is discounted and your companion goes free. This ticket will get you to all areas of the Palace, Mews and Queens Gallery, bypassing the stairs and using the hidden elevators. The wheelchairs are NOT motorized. 

Your tickets are timed entry. The Palace has done an excellent job at moving the lines and you get plenty of time to see everything. Tours are via audio headsets and you go at your own pace. The Queens Gallery is an ever changing exhibit and you never know what wonderous works you will find. 

Photos are not allowed inside the Palace, but you may purchase guide books with memorable pieces of art highlighted that you saw on your tour. 

Photos are allowed at the Mews. The Mews is the stable yard. Here you will see an example of a Windsor Grey and a Cleveland Bay amongst the exquisite carriages. You even have an opportunity to climb into one for a photo op-no not the gold covered one. Sorry to disappoint. 

There are extensive gardens to enjoy and a lovely tea service that you can enjoy during your day. 

Often during the season, there are special events (additional tickets required) so always check the website to see what is on offer.  

Dreaming of Travel

September already. 

Temperatures starting to dip, especially at night. The days are noticeable shorter. There is a crispness in the air that wasn't there just a few weeks ago. Soon the leaves will add vibrant gold, red and orange to the landscape and the scent of fallen leaves will permeate the air. 

My favorite time to travel is fall. 

Cooler temps are a blessing from the sweltering heat of mid-summer trips. Crowds tend to be less and all the main visitor sites are still open. (At least in normal  years)

Commonly called the 'shoulder season', deals for travel can be found to make your budget stretch even more. 

While international travel is all but halted seemingly for the rest of 2020, domestic travel is up and people are getting out learning what is available in their own backyards. Now is a great time to take in some of your local attractions that you just haven't had time to fit in before. 

Now is the best time to plan for next year's vacation. Many tour companies are offering some unbelievable rates with no change fees should you need to reschedule your trip. 

Make sure you are following me on facebook and my website to keep abreast of some of the best deals available. Another option is to sign up for my newsletter with offers delivered right to your inbox. 

For now, keep safe and keep dreaming of next year!

Where will YOU go? The World is Waiting!

Trip Along Travel

www.tripalongtravel.com