June 22, 2026
June 22, 2026
We are leaving Bath for our next stop, Windsor Castle. It’s another beautiful sunny day in England. The sun is shining across the English countryside, making the rolling green fields and quaint villages look like scenes from a postcard.
When we boarded the coach and settled into our assigned seats, we found that Michelle had placed a map of London on each seat and had personally written our names on them. She had carefully circled many places of interest throughout the city and marked our hotel with a large “H” so we could easily find our way around. On the reverse side was information about the show we had selected, along with the name and location of the theater where we would be seeing it.
This was just one of the many thoughtful touches provided by our Tauck Tour Director, Michelle Gammon. Throughout the trip, she consistently went above and beyond to make our experience special.
Several years ago, Steve and I took a Rick Steves tour in Italy. At the time, we thought we were being treated like rock stars. However, this Tauck tour has taken that feeling to an entirely different level. The special access to attractions before they opened to the public, exclusive Tauck-only experiences, exceptional hotels, and first-rate local guides have far exceeded our expectations.
And then there is Michelle. Her warmth, organization, attention to detail, and genuine care for every guest have made an already outstanding trip even more memorable. She has been the perfect finishing touch—the cherry on top of an incredible journey.
How fortunate we were to have Michelle as our Tour Director on our very first Tauck tour. She has set the bar extraordinarily high, and she will undoubtedly be one of the people we remember most when we look back on this amazing adventure.
Our first stop is Windsor Castle, one of the oldest and largest occupied castles in the world. During the COVID pandemic, Queen Elizabeth II chose to live here for much of the time. It is also where Prince Harry married Meghan Markle. There is so much history within these walls that it is hard to know where to begin.
While most people associate the Royal Family with Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle remains a favorite royal residence. During our visit, the Royal Standard was flying, indicating that King Charles III was in residence.
One part of the Castle reminded us of the Fonthill Castle at College of Mt. St. Vincent.
Adding to the excitement of the day, news broke while we were at Windsor that Prime Minister Keir Starmer had announced his resignation. Reporters and news crews seemed to be everywhere, covering this major political development.
We visited the beautiful King George VI Memorial Chapel, where Queen Elizabeth II and her husband, Prince Philip, are buried alongside her parents, King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. It was a moving place to visit and reflect on the remarkable reign of Britain’s longest-serving monarch.
Lunch was enjoyed at The Ivy Royal Windsor Brasserie, just across from the castle. The food was excellent, and the location provided wonderful views of the castle and the bustling streets filled with visitors from around the world.
After lunch, we continued on to London. As we drove into the city, we passed many famous landmarks. We crossed the River Thames and caught sight of the impressive London Eye towering above the skyline. Off in the distance we could see Big Ben!
We also passed 10 Downing Street. The area was crowded with television cameras, reporters, and onlookers. Given the day’s political news, everyone was hoping to catch a glimpse of the Prime Minister or other government officials as events continued to unfold. It felt like we had arrived in London right in the middle of history.
We checked into the beautiful Savoy and took some time to freshen up before heading out to explore London on foot.
Our first destination was Liberty London. Of course, a little shopping was in order! On the way we passed through Soho, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, and Carnaby Street.
While browsing, I stopped to ask a woman in the cosmetics department where I could find the fabric department. After she answered, I smiled and said, “You don’t sound like you’re from London.”
“That’s because I’m from New Jersey!” she replied.
“So am I!” I said.
As we continued talking, I learned she had grown up in Little Silver. When I told her that my daughter lives in Fair Haven, she was amazed. What are the chances of two women from neighboring New Jersey towns meeting in a department store in London? It truly is a small world.
For dinner, we chose a cozy little restaurant called Giovanni’s, just a short walk from the hotel. It was tucked away from the crowds and had the feel of a neighborhood bistro. As luck would have it, we ran into Cathy and Bob from our tour, and they were seated right next to us.
Dinner was delicious. Between us, we enjoyed pasta, ravioli, chicken, and a hearty beef ragù. Good food, good company, and plenty of stories from the day made for a wonderful evening.
Just as we arrived back at the hotel, the rain began to fall. Our timing could not have been better.
Before calling it a night, we decided to explore the hotel a bit more and locate the breakfast room for tomorrow morning. Then we treated ourselves to a drink at American Bar.
The American Bar was not at all what I expected. Instead of a traditional mahogany bar, the room was filled with small tables and comfortable upholstered chairs. In the center of the room, a gentleman was singing and playing the piano while waiters in crisp white jackets moved gracefully through the room serving guests. The atmosphere was elegant, relaxed, and timeless—a perfect ending to our first evening in London.
The combination of royal history at Windsor and modern political history in London made for a fascinating and memorable day.
Comments
Post a Comment