January began with a change of pace and a long-anticipated trip overseas. The journey started with a night in Seattle, breaking up the travel before heading onward. We spent the evening downtown, sharing Thai food and slipping into a few bars for drinks before turning in ahead of a late morning departure back into Canada and on to London.
Landing in London after the long flight, we made the decision to take an Uber into the city. It turned out to be a great choice. The drive passed many of the landmarks that define the city. Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, the London Eye, Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral, and Tower Bridge all slipped past the windows in quick succession, offering an immediate sense of scale and history before we had even arrived. We checked in at Wombats Hostel near London Bridge, dropped our bags, and allowed ourselves a short nap before resurfacing for a few drinks in the hostel bar and a relaxed dinner nearby. The evening ended early, with jet lag already making itself known.
The next morning began slowly. Breakfast at the hostel was followed by the full weight of jet lag settling in, but we pushed ourselves out the door anyway. Camden was the first stop, somewhere I had never visited during earlier time in London. The streets were busy, layered with stalls, shops, and people moving in every direction. From there, we made our way to the Back to the Future pop-up experience, leaning fully into the nostalgia before returning to the hostel for some much-needed rest.
Rest became necessary before heading back out, but the evening was always going to be worth it. The West End came alive that night with Back to the Future: The Musical. We were seated in the McFly Zone, close to the front, where the DeLorean lifts off and floats out over the audience during the finale, even tilting upside down above the crowd. The production was outstanding from start to finish. The staging, effects, and performances carried the show completely, even if getting out of bed beforehand had felt like a struggle under the weight of jet lag. After the show, we briefly ran into Roger Bart, who played Doc Brown, outside the theatre, a surreal and fitting end to the night.
The following day arrived with slightly clearer heads. Windsor Castle became the focus, a trip I had never made before despite previous time in England. The castle grounds were expansive and imposing, the history tangible in every stone. Walking through the surrounding village afterward felt like stepping into a quieter, slower England. We shared fish and chips nearby and wandered through the small streets, soaking in the atmosphere before heading back into London.
That evening took us to Shoreditch, another first for me. We met up with Sarah’s cousin and spent time moving between bars, the area buzzing with energy but still feeling distinctly local. The night ended early again, with an early morning train ahead.
The next day, we boarded a train north to Nottingham, where Sarah’s parents picked us up and drove us to Mansfield. The pace shifted immediately. Over the next few days, life became about family meals, long conversations, and exploring places rooted deeply in local history. Time was spent moving between Mansfield and Nottingham, walking parts of Sherwood Forest and reflecting on the stories that have shaped the area for centuries. Standing among the trees, it was easy to imagine the myths of Robin Hood taking form in the landscape itself.
We spent time with Sarah’s sister, attended a Nottingham Panthers hockey game, and visited local breweries scattered throughout the region. One day included a visit to Rufford Abbey, an English Heritage site with expansive grounds, old stone buildings, and carefully kept gardens. Another stop took us to Creswell Crags, where limestone cliffs and caves revealed layers of history stretching far beyond written record. These quieter moments grounded the trip, balancing the busier days in London.
After three nights, we returned by train to London, closing out the England portion of the journey. The city felt more familiar now, its scale less overwhelming, its rhythms easier to read. From here, the journey would continue onward into Europe, beginning with a flight to Luxembourg and the start of a new chapter of travel.
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