Ventures in the UK

While it is definitely exciting to travel to the different countries in European Union, there are many places in England and the UK that are also worth exploring.

Dover

As a part of the social programme at the University of Roehampton, many of the study abroad students had the opportunity to visit Dover, a southeastern city in Kent, England. After a long coach ride, we made it to our first stop, the White Cliffs. We were met with a beautiful coastal view and were amazed by the 350 foot cliffs made of chalk. After admiring the views, we made a quick stop to the small town to grab lunch. Then we headed to Dover Castle to explore and learn about its history.

Cambridge

Another event within the social programme was a day trip to Cambridge, a historic city in England just about 45 minutes away from London by train. We were given a tour of the city by a blue badge tourist guide, where he pointed out the many historic sites and gave us recommendations on what we can do with our time there. Then we headed to the River Cam, where we were able to go punting while learning about the colleges in University of Cambridge that are along the river. We learned about the many historic figures that attended college there and the great discoveries they made. We were then given free time to explore the city on our own. One of my favorite places that I went to was Michealhouse Café, which is located right inside St. Micheal's Church.

Brighton

Brighton is a seaside city on the south coast of East Sussex, which is about an hour train ride from London. I started the day off at Shelter Hall, where there is a variety of food stalls to choose from. After that, I walked along the shoreline, enjoying the views of the sea and visiting iconic spots like Brighton West Pier, the Upside Down House, the Bandstand, and Brighton Palace Pier. Then I headed to North Laine, which is a popular neighborhood in Brighton, known for its vintage and independent shops. I visited Neeko, a popular café where I enjoyed a pistachio matcha and peanut chocolate cake. After that, I walked around the Lanes, another popular neighborhood, which was filled with colorful artwork, jewelry shops, and independent stores. I picked up a few souvenirs then headed to the beach one last time to watch the sunset.

Wales

I was also able to travel for an overnight stay in Wales with the social programme. Wales is a country in southwest Great Britain, known for its castles and mountainous parks. We visited many ruins, including Raglan Castle, Caerleon Roman Amphitheatre, and Tintern Abbey. We stayed overnight in Cardiff, which is the capital of Wales. We ate at Cardiff Market, where we tried welsh cakes, visited Cardiff Castle, and enjoyed the night life. My favorite part of this trip was visiting Big Pit National Coal Museum. We were able to take an underground tour, where we saw and learned about the original underground workings, wearing the same equipment used by the miners.