The Yeardley's UK, France and Belgium Trip 2012

About this blog

Getting to indulge in my obsession for gardens, history, shopping and chocolate to the full degree with our upcoming trip to the UK, France and Belgium. Connor and Maddie are already reading up on their English royal history and Steve is practicing French by trying to make hotel bookings over the phone to Hotel Francois!

We are flying Singapore Airlines (the longer haul on the new A380 so hopefully not too painful!) with a two night stopover in Singapore on the way so we can explore, swim, and visit Universal Studios.

Then on to London where we are staying in a fancy apartment in Chelsea for three nights while we explore the city. Followed by Paris, a 2 hr trip on the Eurostar for a couple of days before picking up our hire car and driving to the Cotwolds to stay in a cute little cottage over Easter.

We are having a few days in each region to explore. After the Cotwolds, we will visit where Steve grew up around Chesterfield and stay at a farm cottage in Staffordshire. Will definitely have to do a brief visit to Birmingham, just to visit the Cadbury factory (so we will have done the world tour of Cadbury - Australia, New Zealand and England!).

Then on to the Lakes District, staying in a beautiful lakeside inn and exploring Beatrix Potter country. Using all that chocolate for energy, moving on to Yorkshire to visit England's oldest sweet shop (just for Steve who just loves lolly shops of course) and to explore the dales and lots of history in York.

Then a big drive from top to bottom back down to the Kent area where we will have another farm stay and visit lots of famous castles and hopefully see lots of spring bulbs too. On the 30th April we will take the chunnel or ferry to Calais and explore Brugge in Belgium (more chocolate), Flanders, and Lille in France.

Back across to England - a couple of nights at Richmond on Thames which is near Hampton Court (Connor can explain to us all about Henry the Eighth and his wives) and Kew Gardens.

On the 5th May we fly home to Brisbane via Singapore again (but very brief three hour stopover so will be a very long haul) and arrive home on Monday the 7th May at 7am for a big cuddle with Bailey dog and a massive rest :-)