Speaker 1 (00:13) Welcome back to the Anglotopia podcast This episode has been a long time coming. Can you believe it's been five months? Since the trip that we're going to talk about today Six the end of October. It's the beginning of March So When we went on our trip and in October we recorded part one of this podcast Speaker 2 (00:26) No, it's six. Okay. Speaker 1 (00:41) which, and we talked about the first part of our trip before we went to the Cotswolds. And we said that when we got back, we would record part two. a lot has happened in five months, it's been very busy five months. So finally I said, Hey Jack, do you want to sit down and record a podcast? And she said, yes. So I immediately, she's chained to the library floor and we are now, now we're recording part two of this podcast. So we're going to talk about the second part of our trip. Speaker 2 (00:49) Ha ha ha. Send help. Speaker 1 (01:08) and where we spent five days in the Cotswolds and for research and for to do various bits and bobs. Now there's a few housekeeping things that we need to do at the beginning because that's the way it always is. The first is please don't forget to join the Friends of Anglotopia Club. are Achingly close to our 200 member goal to be able to remove the Google ads from Anglotopia net so We are almost there so if you could please join it Costs two cups of tea a month or most people sign up for the year and you get special articles every Sunday in your inbox called the Sunday post that's not published anywhere else and Crucially as a podcast listener you get early access to the podcast which is when we have a new episode. It's released days early on Wednesdays. And we have all kinds of new features coming to the club in the next few months because the club has been a big success for us and it's now a big priority. So please join the Friends of the Anglotopia Club. It is in the show notes. Speaker 2 (02:08) Well, it has always been a big priority. Yes. It's just, it is something that is growing and we want to make sure that we're providing value for our members. Speaker 1 (02:17) Exactly. So housekeeping bit number two. The first part of our trip was to go to the International Churchill Conference. I have now published an article about every session of the conference. And I will put a link in the show notes to the page on the site where you can access them all. If you hear a dog barking, that's our very naughty King Charles Cavalier Spaniel. We don't know why he's barking, but. That's joy of working at home in our library. And so if you're lucky, the dogs will come and want to be on our lap and you can see them. Housekeeping note number three. And I talked about this last week's podcast. We have a new book out. Speaker 2 (02:54) Yay! Speaker 1 (02:55) The British Monarchy, a complete guide to Britain's kings and queens. It is an Anglophiles guidebook to British royal history. It's been a long time in the works. is a compilation of... There's a survey chapter on every monarch since William the Conqueror. That's about two-thirds of the book and in the last third of the book is 17 appendices. This is my Tolkien phase where I'm putting a lot of appendices at the end of things about British royal history, know, like etiquette and the interregnum and who's in the line of succession, which hilariously, I had to rip open the book and update the line of succession at the last minute because I believe it was Eugenie had a baby in February, so it changed the line of succession. So it is as up to date as it can get. It is for sale in the Anglotopia store. It's available from booksellers everywhere. It's available on Amazon. If you don't want to buy on Amazon, as a lot of people don't want to right now, you can buy on bookshop.org. You can buy from Thriftbooks. You can buy from Blackwells in the UK, which I'm pretty proud of. Yeah, you can buy it directly from us. And you can also buy the digital rights management free ebook that you can read on any device you want. So that is the new book. Speaker 2 (04:01) soon enough. Speaker 1 (04:12) Links will be in the show notes. Speaker 2 (04:14) Well the cool thing with the book though is that you did a ton of royalty merch to go with it so you could like, you know, you could wear your right shirts and mugs and that kind of thing and you could wear your favorite monarch. Speaker 1 (04:28) I completely forgot about all that. so see I'm quite proud of my design for the cover. Speaker 2 (04:30) That's why I'm here. As you were showing the ARC Speaker 1 (04:36) Yeah, this is the only copy I had available right now. We sold out of all of our copies. Our first print run. So this is the pre-sale version where we checked everything. I'm quite proud of the cover because it has a nice picture of every monarch from 1066. Now their likenesses, know, history is a great smoke. I'm quite proud of the design. can get it on a mug, can it on t-shirt, you can get it on a laptop bag or phone case. Speaker 2 (05:05) So you could champion your favorite monarch if you want. Speaker 1 (05:07) Yeah, and then in the coming months, we're going to release merch at individual monarchs too. you can like, so for all you Ricardians out there, can get your Richard III t-shirt soon enough. to the trip. Speaker 2 (05:16) Alright. Yes. What people tuned in to hear. Speaker 1 (05:22) So we, our tea, what are we drinking today? We are drinking Twining's English Breakfast Tea. okay. So I've already had a cup of tea this morning. Speaker 2 (05:31) I know I was just thinking the same thing I was like I should have told him DCAT Speaker 1 (05:35) And people are gonna judge us for keeping our tea bags in the cups, but sorry we're timing short right now Speaker 2 (05:40) don't slurp. Sorry. I know, but sorry for anybody who's listening who just heard... Speaker 1 (05:42) It's really hot. So when we left you in part one, which we will link to into show notes if you haven't already listened to it, we were leaving London with our rental car. Yep. And so our plan. Speaker 2 (05:57) Is that the one we recorded in the Cotswolds or did? Yeah, OK, just making sure I wasn't sure if we recorded that or not. Speaker 1 (06:00) Yeah, we recorded it at the castle. Yes. And so we were leaving London and it was a it took us forever to leave London traffic was not great That was an issue we dealt with Speaker 2 (06:14) go into all that. Like, go to that podcast if you want to learn more that. Speaker 1 (06:18) So our goal for it was Sunday. so it being a couple of years since we've been to England, my goal for the day is I wanted a nice Sunday roast in a country pub and to go to a National Trust stately home. Speaker 2 (06:31) Well, I think that our, our like our first part of the trip was very, was very London was very go, go, go metropolitan, like lots of different meetings and cocktail dues and that kind of thing around the conference. And it was just very busy. And so I think we intentionally set. Like we are going to essentially live the fantasy of we're going to go have a long weekend. out in the countryside and we're gonna really kind of revel in and relish in all the joys of the English countryside. So pace changed up a little bit, which was really nice. Speaker 1 (07:06) Yeah, we slowed down a bit. And you know, I love the countryside, so that's where my soul lives. And so, when we were planning the trip, the first order of business was to figure out where we were going to have Sunday roasts. And so, she can tell you, I did hours of research last summer. Speaker 2 (07:23) He takes his Sunday roast very seriously, as any good Englishman would. Speaker 1 (07:27) We're to have a nice Sunday roast and so we decided and and and this is an important thing if you're gonna plan to have Sunday roast and a country pub a good country pub you have to plan in advance and you have to book a table because all the country pubs fill up for Sunday roast. Speaker 2 (07:36) good. Good. Okay, we actually had an experience once, which I won't name or shame, but you know, things that you learn along the lines. If you walk into a Sunday, Sunday roast or carvery or, you know, at a pub and you're the only one in there or one of a very few tables and only people are drinking and not eating, that's not a good sign. It does not bode well for you. So book in advance. A good Sunday. Sunday roast. Speaker 1 (08:12) So we decided on the Highwaymen Pub, which is just outside of Reading. it came highly recommended from all the research I did. And honestly, it delivered. It was fantastic. It was bustling because it was Sunday. There were families having Sunday roasts and everybody was very happy. And there was a burning fire in the fireplace, is gray. It was autumn. Speaker 2 (08:23) It was a... friendly or late October, right? The colors, the colors in the countryside were absolutely spectacular. And we come from a part of the country in the US where we get really vivid colors, but the colors in autumn this year in the countryside were just, I mean, the whole thing was like, I don't know, like kind of like a Richard Curtis movie, right? Like we're jetting off from London down to the countryside and it's like. just completely idyllic and the pub has the most has this beautiful rural setting like you would like you would you would set a movie there like you could set a movie in this setting Speaker 1 (09:09) Tiny Village. Yeah, when we parked the car, you get out of the car and you can smell the wood burning from the fireplaces. there's a Land Rover, Land Rovers lined up along the side of the road. Speaker 2 (09:21) hear sheep. Muddy land rovers. So you know, you know, like, okay, check, check, check. We're in the right spot. I think it's flagstone floor. Gorgeous. Speaker 1 (09:38) So perfect. It completely delivered on on the look and feel that we were looking for. So it gets top marks for that. The food was fantastic. Phenomenal. The Sunday roast was everything we wanted it to be. And then the sticky toffee pudding for dessert. Time I had that. Speaker 2 (09:54) This was the trip that, you know, I know that people make fun of British food and, but in our 20 years of traveling to Britain, British food has come a really long way. And now it's something that we look forward to. So there are these iconic things that we go and have. And I'm like, I'm definitely like, I'm not really one for dessert, but you know, when in England instead of when in Rome. So yeah, you had sticky toffee pudding for the first time and it was, it was very good sticky tot. I think you probably, I was like, we'll just share it. Cause you weren't sure. And I think you ate more of it than I did, which is fine. But I'm like, wait, hey. Speaker 1 (10:33) So that was great. And then when I was doing the research, you always have to follow a Sunday roast up with a walk at a National Trust property. So I... Speaker 2 (10:41) Yeah, that's kind of our story. Because a Sunday roast is a heavy meal. I mean, it's like a stick to your ribs kind of. Speaker 1 (10:48) So the nearest one was Basilton Park. And if you are a fan of British TV drama or British film, you have seen this house a million times. Speaker 2 (10:58) It's Mr. Binley's house in... Speaker 1 (11:01) the 2005 Pride and Prejudice. Speaker 2 (11:03) or the one that he rents. what is that? Speaker 1 (11:05) It's Netherfield. And then they used it in Downton Abbey, they used it in The Gentleman, they used it in... Speaker 2 (11:12) Well, they had a whole exhibit on when we went on. Speaker 1 (11:16) all the stuff that's been filmed there. Tons of stuff in the We'll link in the show notes. I have a gallery of pictures from everything I took there and it shows the exhibition. you can see. very cool. It was very cool. And Basildon Park, like we parked and the way National Trust properties are, the car park is usually far away from the house. There's a visitor center and then you walk to the house. So that's the perfect thing to do after you've eaten a big heavy meal. And it was like four o'clock in the afternoon. Speaker 2 (11:41) In October, so that's one of the things that like pro travel tip by October, your hours of daylight are really short. where that is challenging is that you have to, know, things don't open until 10 or 11 o'clock by four o'clock. It's getting dark. So you really have to know your itinerary. And we were one of like the last kind of group, not group, because they didn't take us through by groups, but we were. We literally just made the cut before they shut the ticket office for the day. And it was crisp. remember like, it's a little chilly out here. Speaker 1 (12:14) It was a nice fall day, were blooming beautiful, the sun was golden, you'll see in the pictures the the bath stone on Basildon Park in the golden sunlight, it was was perfection. Yeah. And so we toured the house. The house is gorgeous. Speaker 2 (12:17) was stunning. gold color. it definitely. Dunning. It was decorated for Dwali. Beautiful. Beautiful. Speaker 1 (12:36) It was. There's some dark history with Basilden Park. Yes. We're not going to go into all the history now. So I've actually already written a long read article about our day at the pub and at Basilden Park. It has all the history and bits and stuff. I will link to it in the show notes, but you have to be an Anglotopia member to read it. So you have to be joined the Friends of Anglotopia Club to read it. And it has all the details of everything you want to know about about Basilden Park and the pub we went to for lunch. Speaker 2 (13:05) The house is fascinating and it was such a treasure to go to. Speaker 1 (13:10) And it's so crazy to like walk through it and you're like this was this this was in this and this was in this Speaker 2 (13:15) Yeah, I mean, it's pretty iconic and well used house for filming. Speaker 1 (13:19) it's kind of a blank canvas. They can easily use it for shooting and move things around and everything. So that was Basildon Park. Speaker 2 (13:28) before we left, what do you do before you leave a National Trust property? Speaker 1 (13:31) You cannot forget tea in scones and cream tea. Speaker 2 (13:35) Yep, so not a full cream tea because we were still like super full from lunch, but sat outside in the walled garden and had a nice cup of tea because by that point, like we walked around, we're like recovering from a big lunch. I was like, man, I need a cup of tea and sat outside and like I said, it was a brisk, but it's so lovely. Like it was a walled garden, so it wasn't too bad. Speaker 1 (13:57) And then it was a long walk back, not a long, not in a negative way. was just a walk back to the car through the woods and the ground. There was a path that you could follow because you could get a little map. It was great. It was a perfect way to spend a Sunday in England. Speaker 2 (14:04) Yeah, we kind of made a circle. out in the Cotswold countryside, 100 % yes, would do again. Speaker 1 (14:17) So when we were done there, we hit the road again and we had to drive to Thornberry Castle, which was our hotel we were staying at for the next three nights. And it was a two hour drive. So we arrived well after dark. Speaker 2 (14:32) stunning though when you pull up. it's all lit up. And they had it decorated fall very tastefully and it was just it was lovely. Speaker 1 (14:39) So, and we checked into the room, which if you watched the last episode, you've seen the room. So. Speaker 2 (14:43) I think we should disclose that we were their guests for this day. Speaker 1 (14:49) we paid but they upgraded us because we were going to do the interview and all that stuff. Full disclosure, they were involved in us coming there and they accommodated us and they paid for one of our dinners as well. Speaker 2 (14:54) So, but it's important to know. And honest to God had they, even if they had not, it was a phenomenal state and a great base in the Cotswolds. Speaker 1 (15:10) So by then it was pretty late. Speaker 2 (15:14) Yeah, we had just got in. That night we actually recorded the first half of the podcast. You can see we're a little weary from our leisurely day. Speaker 1 (15:18) Yeah, that was when we recorded the first bit of the And so, we did have dinner. So they have several dining options at Thornberry Castle. They've got a nice sit down gourmet restaurant. Fine dining. Fine dining with a fixed menu. And then they also have more informal dining in the Great Hall slash lounge library. And then in the library where you can order from a menu. menu and whatnot. So that night we ate the a la carte menu in the library, which was great. Speaker 2 (15:52) which was beautiful. Big roaring fireplaces going. High ceilings. Just really, I mean, and I think it was the perfect dinner for us too because we ate so heavy. And then we were naughty and had cream tea, not like just scones and cream and tea, but that was so a lot. So by the time it was dinner time, was like, whoa. Speaker 1 (15:56) Yeah, So we went to bed. And then the next day, the next morning, so the plan for the second day in the Cotswolds was we were going to do a tour of the castle with the castle's historian, who was a Tony, who was a- Treasure. A wonderful local man who has done all the research and knows everything about the castle. And he- Speaker 2 (16:18) Yep. Speaker 1 (16:37) We so we did two episodes of the podcast about this. We did one where we interviewed him about the historical background virtually. And then we have the episode where he actually took us around the castle. Highly recommend watching that. Yeah, he's a walking encyclopedia and it was such a treat to be shown around Thornberry Castle with somebody who knew pretty much everything about it. Speaker 2 (16:50) It's a walking encyclopedia. Speaker 1 (16:59) And the man is in his 80s and he made us tired walking around the castle trying to keep up with them. was up the stairs and down the stairs and in the gardens. He was incredible. He was great. So hi, Tony, if you're watching this. Thank you again. And so that was the plan for the day was really because we didn't know how long it would take. So we had breakfast in the fancy restaurant where they do breakfast. Speaker 2 (17:07) and down. Yeah, it's like an octet. Speaker 1 (17:26) the octagonal room. And then we did the interview and the tour with Tony, which took several hours. And then we, so then we were done by lunchtime and we're like, well, what do we want to do now? And this is like, this is one of those fun things that, that like you only do if you watch too much British TV. And so, Speaker 2 (17:40) This whole thing. Right here, this guy. Speaker 1 (17:51) And I even shared a picture of this on our social media when we did this and everybody knew what we were doing because we went to the most famous motorway services in Britain. Speaker 2 (18:00) So for Americans who are are not familiar you're like you did what? Yeah, at least in the Midwest Motorway services or rest stops are Typically not great. They're not the cleanest you not you would not go for Speaker 1 (18:17) You wouldn't go out of your way to go to any to any truck stop or rest stop along on the American interstate unless it was a Bucky Speaker 2 (18:24) In most cases. Although I've never been to a Bucky's. Speaker 1 (18:27) The nearest one's 379 miles according to the billboard. So we went to Gloucester services and actually you requested to do this. You're like are we gonna be near Gloucester services because we were near Gloucester and I'm like we are. Speaker 2 (18:31) some pro marketing. I did. I watched the show with you and I remember like the show being on and being like, are you seriously watching a show about Moraway services? And you were like, well, they have gourmet food. there was in the show, there was a lady there, a local artist who made these most beautiful silk scarves. And she, I was like, I want one of these scarves, but I want to go get it from there. And so was like, Hey, are we going be near the services? But unfortunately, they didn't have any of the scope. Speaker 1 (19:12) So for those wondering what she's talking about, there's a British Fly on the Wall documentary series set in the Gloucester services, and we'll put a link in the show notes. And it sounds mind-numbingly boring. Shocked. But these are my favorite kind of British TV shows. they're great to watch when you're laying in bed trying to fall asleep, because they're very relaxing. They're very low stakes. Speaker 2 (19:25) actually pretty interesting. Speaker 1 (19:37) and I don't believe I watched a six-part series on the Gloucester services. So did she. Yeah. Speaker 2 (19:41) them by extension so did I. But like they talked about like the gourmet my gosh pro tip if you are wanting to make like a car picnic or a picnic or you're wanting to take lunch maybe to a national trust or something like that and you pass these services you could make the best picnic out of their gourmet gift shop. was just part of me was sad that we weren't in self catering because Can you imagine what the grocery bill would have been? Speaker 1 (20:09) I'm so glad that we weren't self-created. Speaker 2 (20:11) No, we had a wonderful time where we stayed, but the gift shop was just absolutely phenomenal. It's not a gift shop. It's almost... Speaker 1 (20:22) It's like a grocery store. And then they had a gift shop that has all the... So the philosophy of the family that runs it is everything in the motorway services that's for sale has to be sourced from the local community. And so within like, I believe it's within 40 or 50 miles of the services. And so all the food is sourced locally and all the goods are sourced locally. By local artisans and yeah, they didn't have the scarves unfortunately Because the show was probably filmed two years ago. Yeah, but Speaker 2 (20:50) scar. We had plenty of really lovely things. if you're looking for a unique, that's another pro tip, if you're looking for a unique souvenir, that would be a great spot to source one. Speaker 1 (21:05) Well, and then the services themselves are actually beautiful, which is a weird thing to say architecturally, architecturally, because because they've built it into the landscape so that it blends in with the console of landscape. Yeah, it doesn't look like a truck stop. And then when you sit inside or when you go inside, it's almost like a big airplane hanger. It's just one big expanse of space. And then there's a food court where you can get all the food is made there on. Speaker 2 (21:18) It has a sod roof. Yeah, it's really cool. full food too and I'm really picky about food I'm not a huge fast food eater Speaker 1 (21:39) And then the seating area is along, there's like a little pond and a path along the seating area and everything. Speaker 2 (21:46) Like these are the most extra waste services, but just I'm glad we stopped and we and it was like dreary and rainy and it was I mean true fall weather, but I can't. Yeah, they were. Yeah, they were. Speaker 1 (21:57) they were doing a brisk business and so we had lunch there because we're like can we go to lunch there's Glossier services I had a meat pie you had yeah and the food was great and you know it wasn't it didn't it was one of the most affordable meals we had the entire trip I think it was like 25 pounds Speaker 2 (22:09) think I had macaroni and cheese or some salad. But I think that something that we were talking about as we were eating there like could you imagine? So for us like we kind of yes, we were on the road But we weren't like driving across the country how lovely it would be to stop and know that you're getting a really nice meal You stop sit down have a meal Stretch your legs and then you get back into your car and you're like completely refreshed like Speaker 1 (22:46) Now, I don't like to be a little negative, but there was, there was, I was not impressed with the bathrooms. They weren't as clean and shiny as I thought they would be from the, So, but anyway, if you're driving along the spine of the Cotswolds and is it the M5? Or the M4? Speaker 2 (22:51) I didn't visit the... It's not a Bucky's. No, again, I've never... You are a Speaker 1 (23:10) Sorry, I should know the name of the highway. If you're driving along that motorway and you need gas or you need to use the bathroom or you need to get a snack, go to the Gloucester service. Speaker 2 (23:19) You need an awesome souvenir, you want to stretch your legs. For me to say it's worth a stop at the Motorway Services, that is a massive statement. Speaker 1 (23:27) So yeah, and again, I have an article about this for the Friends of Anglotopia which I'll link in the show notes And I'm a link to the show as well. So it's it was a lot of fun It was worth going out of the way to do and since we were in Gloucester we decided to go visit Gloucester Cathedral and that was gonna be our big thing for the day And running out of energy as well because you know Speaker 2 (23:46) because we were rapidly running out of daylight. I think they did the time change on that trip on that Sunday too. Maybe. I think they did because we were just... Speaker 1 (23:57) Well, we got to do the time change twice because the British do the time change differently. They do it later and earlier. Speaker 2 (24:05) I know we came home and he's like, what time is it? I'm like, I don't know. Daytime. Speaker 1 (24:08) Yeah So yeah, we decided to go to Gloucester Cathedral now we should preface this by saying that We did not follow our own advice because we the when we were going was fixed because of the Churchill Conference Well after the Churchill Conference it was half term for those who don't know what half term is that is the break in the middle of the British school term when the kids get the week off of school and when the when they have the week off of school, the tourist attractions, especially the free ones, are flooded with families. And there's nothing wrong with that. It's just they're very crowded. And we don't like crowds. Neither of us do really. Speaker 2 (24:51) It can be difficult to take in. Speaker 1 (24:54) It's difficult to appreciate the heritage when it's really busy. Speaker 2 (24:58) Well, and you miss a lot of somewhere like Gloucester Cathedral with architectural significance and really intricate and detailed beauty. It can be very difficult to see some of it because the building or the site is very full. Speaker 1 (25:12) And so, and the cathedral was full of families enjoying the day and there was a special exhibition on. So this is the weirdest thing. We walk into the cathedral from the entrance and it was incredible. mean, incredible got the cathedral. Speaker 2 (25:22) building. Hold that thought though, because something that's important is that we mapped our way to the cathedral. We could see the cathedral, you could see the spire coming into Gloucester. You cannot pull up. It's a park and walk thing. So it's a beautiful walk from the car park that we found. I think it was a public car park. It was great. But we kept circling it. It's here, how do you get to it? Speaker 1 (25:37) Anywhere near it, yeah. medieval cities. Speaker 2 (25:52) Pro tip if you are mapping if you're in a rental car Speaker 1 (25:55) Don't matter because of the cathedral. But yeah, so we walked in and as we walked in there is a giant, and I mean giant, like as big as our house. Floating model of the planet Mars. And it's spinning. And I forget the context, it's the god of war and it was a part of an art installation that toured around Britain where actually all the planets Speaker 2 (26:03) Yes. Yeah. Speaker 1 (26:19) were at the various cathedrals. stunning. And it was incredible. mean, this thing was huge. but also it had had turned a normally because, normally in a cathedral there's chairs and it's a quiet, like solemn place had turned it into like a fun art installation where everybody could walk around it and explore and they had experience. Yeah, you could sit under it and there was music playing. Speaker 2 (26:41) like each deck chair is out. Speaker 1 (26:47) It was really, really neat. Speaker 2 (26:49) It was, it was, and at the same time it kind of threw the vibe of a cathedral off. mean it was like there kids running around screaming and it was just it was a little nuts in there that day but people are in the space they're enjoying the space. Speaker 1 (27:04) Yeah, that's my stance. There's people that, you know, the cathedral's free, they suggest you make a donation. So there's people there spending money keeping the cathedral going, which is great. you know, once you got away from Mars and you could explore the various nooks and crannies of cathedral, because it's massive. mean, it's massive. Speaker 2 (27:24) It's worth the trip. It is so unbelievably Speaker 1 (27:27) Yeah, it's incredible. I will I will point out there's two things I want to point out. And there's a link in the show notes to the articles I've already written for the Friends of Anglotopia about this. One is the ceiling. Most cathedral ceilings are amazing, but this one was particularly incredible with the intricate woodwork. So and they even have a special place where there's a giant mirror set out. then so you can look at the mirror and see the entire ceiling. Yeah, it was super cool. So highly recommend that. And then there's a strange American connection that Gloucester Cathedral that that was completely unexpected. So. It was we were walking around and then there was an American flag in the cathedral and there are there are some American flags in British cathedrals. It's not that unusual, but I was like, well, why? Is it there? Well, it turns out, and the man's name escapes me, I should have put it in the notes, but the guy who wrote the tune that our national anthem is set to was from Gloucester and lived in Gloucester and is buried there. And so when the Rotary Club in New York found this out, they constructed a special memorial at Gloucester Cathedral where they put the flags. as a symbol of transatlantic and, you know, unity that, you know, the irony of our national anthem being set to a British drinking song. So, yeah, so there's an article about it on the website. I'll link to it. It's super fascinating. And I'm not doing the story justice because I forgot to put it in the notes here. But so, yeah, we explored the cathedral. It was stunning. I mean. Speaker 2 (28:47) most American thing ever. which Definitely worth. Speaker 1 (29:04) As I said when we were there, this is not a bad way to spend a Monday afternoon walking around a beautiful cathedral. Provencial English City. I'd like to do that every Monday. Thank you very much. Speaker 2 (29:09) was viewed. Speaker 1 (29:13) Limits, Jonathan, limits. So yeah, we did Glossary Cathedral. After that, we were done for the day. Speaker 2 (29:19) And it doesn't sound like a lot, but we were just completely like, oh, thank God the hotel has somewhere for us to eat. We're so tired. Speaker 1 (29:29) So we did the fancy dinner the last night correct? Yes we So this night we went back to the castle and we booked in for dinner in the library again. To have a lighter dinner. Which was fine. And it was fine. Yeah the tub was... We did while we were in it I believe. Yeah it was a giant room for a British hotel. a suite. Yeah it was a suite and the bath was gigantic. Speaker 2 (29:38) Just a lighter dinner. And then I went back and took a swim in the time. Did we talk about the room at all? It's sweet. old slipper tub, not old, but newly renovated room. Really, really beautiful. Beautiful. I would say one of the most beautiful rooms we've been privileged to stay in in England. And the tub in this room was just like, it was phenomenal. Like claw foot slipper tub could just take a bath or take a swim in this thing for me. It was phenomenal. And they gave us slow gin. a complimentary bottle of slow gin and I had never had it before. And I thought, okay, this is interesting. And with the little slow gin glasses, because that part of the Kotz-Waltz is famous for it. And that was like, it was amazing. You know, just a little itty bit, just a sip was, but that in a bath, phenomenal. Speaker 1 (30:40) So then that was the end of the second day or the first day really. First full day. First full day. So then for the next day we actually didn't have anything booked so like I kind of did the last minute itinerary on my phone and we basically followed that for the day. There were some things I wanted to see so I was like okay let's just do this this and Speaker 2 (30:58) But we knew that we... We also were trying to be intentional about just not packing that part of the trip so crazy. Speaker 1 (31:09) Well, and we wanted to make sure we saw some interesting things that we could share with you guys when we write articles and share pictures and all that. So the day was kind of constructed to, hate to say it, but to generate the most lovely content for everybody. Speaker 2 (31:26) Again, we just really found ourselves racing daylight. That was just really challenging. Speaker 1 (31:31) So the first thing we did is we drove over to Barkley Castle, which was nearby. Now, this is a very old castle. I've got an article in Engle Toby we published yesterday that I'll link in the show notes that has all the history. Super fascinating place. Again, it was half term. And when we arrived, this is funniest thing. When we arrived and bought our tickets, they apologized to us. It's the most British thing. She apologized to us. She's like, I'm sorry, it's still decorated for Halloween. Speaker 2 (32:00) know that halloween Speaker 1 (32:03) They're like it's decorated for Halloween and we're like, okay, that's She's like it's a bit much. I'm like Speaker 2 (32:07) She was like, it's a bit much. So to tell Americans it's a bit much, I was like, this will be interesting cultural. Like, what is a bit much? Speaker 1 (32:15) So then we went through and walked the path to the castle, because again, there's always a visitor center and you walk to the castle, go to the castle, go to the castle entrance, already outside, already heated. Speaker 2 (32:25) I mean they had people in the car park looking for empty spots. It was really busy. Speaker 1 (32:32) And so we walked to the castle entrance and showed our tickets and the lady goes terribly sorry But it's decorated for Halloween for like this is the second apology We've gotten about it being decorated for Halloween and we're like, okay. This is this is gonna be good Yeah, so Speaker 2 (32:47) What is going on here? Speaker 1 (32:49) We go into the castle, and we go and start going into some of the rooms and they were right. The castle was decorated for Halloween American style. Speaker 2 (32:59) the time. Speaker 1 (32:59) over the top American style. Speaker 2 (33:02) And the British children that were just eating it up and loving it, which was. Speaker 1 (33:06) Everyone was having a blast but we were just like so we you know I visit these places for the heritage and the history and so like like Took all that away because it's decorated for Halloween which all my pictures have all these Halloween decorations in there Skeleton spiders and I'm like, this is not the pictures are not gonna be great from this Speaker 2 (33:29) Well, or they're just exceptionally unique and nobody else has pictures like this. Speaker 1 (33:33) But I mean, it's great. The castle was heaving. So, you know, they're the castles making money for today. You know, yeah. Preserve everything they preserve because there is a thousand years of history in this castle. A few things in the same family since it was built, which is an achievement in its own. Yes. And there was a king was murdered there and where the supposedly murdered there and where the second was kept prisoner there. He died there under mysterious circumstances. He was murdered and he was actually, we forgot to mention he's buried in Gloucester Cathedral. He's the only king buried there. So he was murdered at Barkley Castle when he was held prisoner after the anarchy. Again, I've got an article that explains all the history. I'm doing a disservice to it, but yeah, so we walked through the castle. Everyone was having a blast. The rooms are decorated. There are still cool things to see. Speaker 2 (34:28) kids you're traveling with kids and you can arrange to do it do the castle around Halloween it's totally worth it yeah if you are grow if you are I would not recommend Speaker 1 (34:39) Don't want that. Don't go at Halloween time. And somebody mentioned in the comments of my article I wrote about this because I go into more in depth in the article that a lot of the stately homes and castles also do something similar at Christmas. they go over. seen that. Different I like Christmas. Speaker 2 (34:53) We've seen that. then like, what is it? It's not long lead. Stourhead. Stourhead does the pantomime. Long lead, the pantomime where you walk through. It was super cool, but. Speaker 1 (35:02) No, that was long late. I did the lights and all that. Yeah, so if you have heritage and like, because we did long- If you have heritage and history in mind, avoid when there's a big holiday that can be decorated for because they're going to decorate for it, to bring in people. Speaker 2 (35:23) And I get that they probably went over the top, you know, for the kids at half term and that kind of thing. but it just, it really, for me kind of pulled something away from the experience. And because it was half term, like it was exceptionally busy to the point where, like there were some spots in the castle that I couldn't even walk. Speaker 1 (35:42) You have to like stop and wait. Speaker 2 (35:44) Well, no, no, wait, that's okay that we have to stop and wait our turn. I don't think either of us have a problem with that, but it was just like twisty, turny, little claustrophobic. I'm like, you know. Speaker 1 (35:55) And then in the great hall, which is an impressive room, there was a dragon. There was somebody in a dragon contraption that took up like half the room. And the kids were waiting in line to get their pictures taken with the dragon. She wouldn't let me get my picture taken with the dragon. Speaker 2 (36:00) Yeah. That was cool. Nice. Speaker 1 (36:14) I didn't really want to give it a try again. Yes, we did And so we we made a quick exit from the castle looked at the We enjoyed it was worth seeing. I mean, I've got like three or four articles out of this castle already Speaker 2 (36:22) We still enjoyed it. I would love to go back and do it again. Speaker 1 (36:31) Yeah, when on a weekday off season when nobody's there. Because we have we have experienced many stately homes and castles when there is nobody there. And it's great. Like I'm not saying I hate people. It's just nice. It's just it's nice to explore a place at your own pace when it's quiet and it in these. Time and these places are special. They're hallowed halls. They. Speaker 2 (36:50) You can take your time moving. Speaker 1 (36:55) have a vibe to them and you can commune more when you're kind of there on your own. One thing I recommend if you do want to explore a place more on your own, get there right when it opens. Yep. that like when we went to Chatsworth, we were the first at the door. And so we got the whole route of the tour through Chatsworth to ourselves because we were the first to line. Yeah. Speaker 2 (37:17) pro tip right there. Or go in middle of the week. Speaker 1 (37:20) I go on a weekday if they're open because again a lot of these places have weird opening times depending on whether it's National Trust or it's heritage or it's privately owned like yeah, yeah, and so But that wasn't the only thing to see in the village of Berkeley so If I pronounced it wrong, I'm sorry. We say Berkeley here in the US we think of Berkeley University or Berkeley where is it where Stanford is? I don't know we say Berkeley but they say Barkley in the UK and so I'm probably gonna say it wrong more than once. next to the castle is the village church and so you can walk to the village church from the castle. Speaker 2 (37:59) even know when they're dated from but it is exceptional. Speaker 1 (38:02) It was really beautiful and a rare thing that we noticed is a lot of the faded Free Reformation painting was still on the stonework, which is that as a tree normally. It's been whitewashed over you can't see it So it was that was a neat little church I mean we always if there's a church somewhere we always walk inside because they're usually pretty they're usually beautiful and so Speaker 2 (38:15) Beautiful. Speaker 1 (38:25) But then the next thing we did was probably one of the favorite things we did the entire trip. Like I knew it was there, but then we're like, well, it's still only 11 o'clock. Like, why don't we just do this? And we're like, okay. And so we went to Edward Jenner's house, which is next to the church. And for those who don't know who Edward Jenner is, yeah, he invented the smallpox vaccine or Speaker 2 (38:30) We just kind of stumbled upon it. wasn't really part of our... father of modern vaccine. Speaker 1 (38:51) like developed it and it was literally the first vaccine and it was a revolution in science and medicine that this vaccine had been developed. I mean, we've literally eradicated swalpox since because of the work he did. And this was in the late 1700s, early 1800s. So this is a long time ago. And so his house is preserved as a museum. It was not decorated for Halloween. Unless you find pictures of postules and swabs? Speaker 2 (39:18) was terrifying, don't get me wrong. But it was really cool. Speaker 1 (39:23) Yeah, it's a big grand old Georgian house. Townhouse like that a country squire would have. And he was the country. He was the village doctor. So he was an educated man and he was a pillar of the community. And he did scientific experiments in his spare time on smallpox. And he noticed that the local villagers who had. Speaker 2 (39:27) Townhouse. Speaker 1 (39:48) been exposed to cowpox, which is a similar disease, that they did not catch smallpox. And so he did experiments giving, inoculating willing participants with the cowpox. sure enough, it proved that the weaker form of smallpox prevented you from getting smallpox. Speaker 2 (40:05) Well, he used his own children. Yeah. I mean, that is I can only imagine over the dinner table. Hey, honey, I have this idea. I'd like to test it on our kids. Like, can you? But it's really cool. All joking aside, unbelievable stories. Yeah. And then the garden in the back. Speaker 1 (40:24) medicinal garden. Speaker 2 (40:26) It's his original medicinal garden and they've got a poison garden back there and all kinds of stuff. It was really, really... Speaker 1 (40:33) Yeah, there's a it's a self-guided tour but there when you go in somebody will kind of give you the background and the introduction you pay your admission and you walk around the house at your own pace and his his actual room where they did the smallpox inoculations is like glassed off so you can't like it's preserved and the house it's just it was cool to walk around an old Georgian house too. I it was a beautiful beautiful home and Yeah, it was it was quite something to be in this house in a village in the middle of the British countryside where one of the biggest revolutions in science took place and you're just like, this is really cool. It was very moving. Speaker 2 (41:12) And can I just say, not to be controversial in any way, but you know, I hadn't been back since the pandemic and in a lot of ways felt that we were only really able to travel for us because we had been vaccinated and, you know, I'm immunocompromised, but I can still receive the vaccine. And just knowing that really kind of all started from there. And I don't know, it was just, I think it was really something to, for me at least, to kind of come full circle that, you know. Speaker 1 (41:44) Yeah. So it was really cool. I have a long re article about his house and all that, all the history and the science. on, it's in the Friends of Anglotopia club. I'll put a link in the show notes. so then after that, we needed, we were hungry, but we also really wanted to visit another national trust property racing daylight. we drove along narrow country lanes to a Newark park and I knew nothing. Speaker 2 (41:44) Full circle. racing daylight again. Speaker 1 (42:08) about Newark Park before I arrive there. That's my favorite way to arrive at these places. There's almost nothing about it because then you learn so much. Speaker 2 (42:16) Well and the foliage down these windy beautiful little country lanes. Speaker 1 (42:20) In Newark Park, it sits on a ridge above the rest of the Cotswolds. So you climb and climb and climb. then when you get there, the house is sitting on this ridge and all. Yeah, on the edge of the ridge, literally like the feet from the house. And you see the beautiful valley that goes all the way to Wales and the Cotswolds. And it's gorgeous. And the house, it's not a particularly grand country house, but. Speaker 2 (42:31) the edge of the. Speaker 1 (42:45) it ended up being one the most interesting places we'd ever visited for Americans because of the American connection here. And I had no idea about any of this. And thankfully the National Trust staff there and all the displays kind of educate you on it. so Newark Park was a house that was in ruins in the 1970s and an American named Bob Parsons who had served in Britain during World War II, and he fell in love with the place and he was an antiquarian. He always wanted to restore a British house. And so the National Trust had put a call out that Newark Park needed to be renovated and that if you agree to take on a renovation lease, which I don't think they do these anymore, because if they did, we would be doing this interview and a National Trust property we're renovating. Essentially, you agree to renovate and restore the house along conservation principles and what the National Trust says, and you get to live in it while you do it and afterwards. And so this American moved to this middle of nowhere. Speaker 2 (43:48) really is remote, or it felt very remote. Speaker 1 (43:51) And he spent the last like 20 years of his life painstakingly restoring this house to its current state. And it is beautiful. I mean, you can you can see all the love this man put into this house. And I'm like, I identify with this man. He's not only a personal hero for me that he saw this place and saw that it was a diamond in the rough and restored it to its former glory. Speaker 2 (44:13) And what's lovely, what I liked about it is a lot of his belongings are still in the house, so there are family pictures and there are... Speaker 1 (44:22) He was an interior designer, so it has his own stamp. It's incredible. I haven't written about this yet, but I'm going to, because I'm I'm I really want to write a long, long article about him and his relationship with the house and all that, because there's a lot to research. So coming down the line in the next few months, if you're a friends of the Inglotopia Club member, keep a lookout for that. So we had lunch there. Speaker 2 (44:25) It's beautiful. Speaker 1 (44:47) Tea gardener is a little like tea stand and we had sandwiches and dessert coffee and tea and toward the house the house is Speaker 2 (44:56) drizzly like it's perfect Speaker 1 (44:58) And because of its remoteness and the fact that it's not really that well known it wasn't that crowded There were families there enjoying the day out, but it was nice and quiet and today and Again, I'll put a link in the show notes to all the pictures. I took at the house an incredible place I'm gonna be writing more about it in the future. So that's a promise So then after that Speaker 2 (45:04) No, was really... Speaker 1 (45:19) where it was only like two or three o'clock. So we were like, well, we can kind of fit one more thing in. If we're fast. If we're fast. And so I really wanted to visit a special village that, so when we did our drive from Lansden to John O'Groats, we went to Barter Books in Northumbria in the Anik and I bought a copy of Cider with Rosie, which is upstairs. And Speaker 2 (45:24) Thank Speaker 1 (45:40) I read it for the first time and just like fell in love with the book. Like what an incredible book. Now this book, for those who don't know what I'm talking about, Cited with Rosie is set in the early 20th century and it's sort of fictionalized memoir of Laurie Lee growing up in a village right before or before after World War I. And it paints the most beautiful picture. of rural English life before it of like disappeared forever. And it's such a beautiful book. I've read you selections of it. so since then, that was in 2018, I've been dying to go to Slad, the village where it's actually set and where he lived out the last of his days because he loved it. And so we drove to the Stroud Valley and to the village of Slad. And we went to the Woolpack Inn, parked our car and You can see the village. It's a very, very tiny village. The valley is beautiful and it's autumnal glory. We walked around the village. We saw the famous cottages from the story and then we went to the pub and just kind of had a drink. And the pub is basically a shrine to Lori Lee now. They are definitely trying to capitalize on their local hero. We sat in the room where you could see they had different covers of all. Speaker 2 (46:39) You all the fireplaces? Speaker 1 (46:59) different covers of the book. They had pictures of Lori Lee and it was, um, and we had a drink. I had a, you know, we toasted to Lori Lee. and then, and then we went on. Checked into our flight. That's the most romantic thing, right? Right. The Lori Lee's pub, we checked into our flights and it was a big pain in the butt because do not get me started on the British Airways mobile website experience. Do not get me started. No, I won't. Speaker 2 (47:09) We checked in to our flights. wants to see that. Speaker 1 (47:26) Yeah, just they need to fix their apps. That's all I'm going to say. And so, yeah, when we then that was the last thing we did. And we're like, well, it's we're losing the last of the daylight. So we headed back to our hotel. And that's when we had our proper dinner. Gourmet dinner in the octagonal breakfast room where we've been eating breakfast the last two days. Fine dining, very Speaker 2 (47:41) Yeah, our core may dare. So fine dining. Speaker 1 (47:50) The the the the maitre d that was running it ran it like a tight ship everything was I think this time peripherally service is great food was great. I have nothing I have nothing bad to say about the meal. No, it was lovely. mean, what better way to end our wonderful trip than to have a nice, wonderful gourmet meal in a great hall in a castle. Just as you as you do. Right. And so after dinner, we went to bed. Speaker 2 (47:56) phenomenal service. Start. Speaker 1 (48:17) And we woke up in the morning and had breakfast and then we had the drive to Heathrow and come home. Speaker 2 (48:22) Do you want to talk about dropping me at the curb at Heathrow and the little tacks on that? Speaker 1 (48:27) Yeah, I don't want to turn into complaining. I don't like to complain about Britain because I love Britain. Speaker 2 (48:33) But this is a travel- Speaker 1 (48:36) This is a travel tip and so we had a we had a hire car or a rental car as we say and I needed to return a rental car but to make things easier I was like Jackie I'll just drop you at the terminal bags so we don't have we don't have to schlep everything on that little bus that they give you to drive you to the airport and so I dropped her at the airport Speaker 2 (48:46) with the bags. Speaker 1 (48:56) Terminal five departures and just they had a they had a new innovation that had happened since the last time we did this They now charge you five pounds to Part to drop off somebody at the terminal Speaker 2 (49:09) Literally, if you drive up to the terminal, you get a charge. Speaker 1 (49:12) You get, they charge you five pounds. And how do they do this? They take a picture of your license plate. And so I saw the signs and I was like, okay, all all right. I'll go to this website when you return, and pay the fee. I'm like, okay, I'll remember to do that. Yeah, well, wait, I did remember to do it, but. So I dropped the rental car off. I dropped her off, then go drop the rental car off, ride the free bus back to the airport. And I should say if you don't want to pay the five pounds to be dropped off at the terminal There's a park and ride and a kiss and fly that you can drive And then there's a free shuttle. Yeah, but anyway, so I dropped the car off took the bus back to the airport Speaker 2 (49:45) But you still have to slip all your bags. Speaker 1 (49:53) the next day I'm like, I gotta pay the five pounds. Well, I go on the website, I put in the, because I had the rental car documents still, so I put in the registration of the car, but for some reason, their system didn't work. The thing didn't work. And I'm like, I can't pay the fee, it's not working. And there's, who am I gonna call? Speaker 2 (50:11) 1-800-HEATHROW. Speaker 1 (50:13) Yeah, what am I gonna do? Like it's five pounds. Well, they can send me the bill. Okay, well, they did send me the bill. So when this happens, because you know, the car rental company owns the car and the registration, the car rental company is going to send you the bill. And sure enough, a few weeks later, they're like, you didn't pay this fee. We paid it on your behalf. Now you owe us 40 pounds. Yeah. For doing this for you. You owe us the fee and the admin costs. And I'm like, okay. Speaker 2 (50:43) To have been a fly on the wall when you told me that. $40 essentially. mean, Speaker 1 (50:46) It like, really? 40 pounds is like, that's like $55. Speaker 2 (50:53) I mean, at what point could I have taken a car to the, you know, like a hired... So... Speaker 1 (50:56) Yeah. Note to self it's five pounds to drop somebody off at Heathrow and if you do that and the you have Speaker 2 (51:07) You have a glitch of any kind because it's not stressful like you're going anywhere. So if it doesn't work Speaker 1 (51:13) So we went on our merry way and flew home to Chicago and that was that. Speaker 2 (51:18) but last really cool pro tip for traveling home, something new that I found. So, I don't, it's just my opinion, but I feel like in all the years that we've been traveling, not naming names of any specific carriers or anything like that in general, I feel like Airplane food is just gotten worse and worse and worse to the point where I really just don't even eat it on the plane I'll pick something up in the terminal and so I did every time I fly out I do my Fortnum and Mason shopping at the airport. So it's duty free and They now make hampers To go so like little picnics to go. So I got a cream tea because we were on an evening flight Or a daytime flight And I knew that by the time we'd be in Chicago, it'd be time for dinner. So, and we had lunch. So I bought a like a little cream tea hamper and it came with a couple of tea sandwiches, a scone, clotted cream and jam, sugar, a tea bag. It was phenomenal. like everybody got served their meal on the plane. And I was so grateful that I thought I had and I wasn't eating what everybody else was eating. was, it was, I couldn't even tell you what it was. and so he pulled out his meal and they give it to you in the cutest little like insulated cooler. So it all stays cool. And here I pull out my, was like, if you've ever seen the movie Dutch, Speaker 1 (52:41) That is a Midwestern deep cut deer. Speaker 2 (52:43) Yes it is. The movie Dutch with Ed O'Neill and they're traveling across the country and there's a scene where with the boy he's traveling with they're staying in a shelter, an overnight shelter, and the boy comes from a very upper class background and sets the table at the shelter to a formal dining. I mean it's really actually very funny but it was like a Dutch moment. Like here I set out my high tea with my napkin on my lap and You're even God knows, I don't even know what that is. I did because I was like. Speaker 1 (53:11) You shared it. That looks really good. Speaker 2 (53:14) So, but no, they do like sandwiches and they do these really, they're a little pricey. I mean, let's be honest, it's Fortnum and Mason. It was not cheap. But you know what? I was so happy to have had that. It was just, it was like the best. So pro tip, again, travel pro tip. I will probably do that every time I fly out of Heathrow now. And it was just, it was wonderful. Speaker 1 (53:37) Yeah, and so that was it for the trip when we arrived home and it's been a whirlwind sense of work and responsibility and Christmas and New Year's and birthdays and now it's almost spring again and I'm wondering when can we go again, Pookie? Putting her on the spot here. Yeah, okay. But I feel like we should introduce the cat who has been in frame this whole time. Speaker 2 (54:03) She's not so pleased that you're introducing her, apparently. Speaker 1 (54:06) This is McGonagall, one of our adopted kitties. We've had her for about 10 years now. She's named after Professor McGonagall from Harry Potter. I named my cats after Harry Potter characters. Somewhere in the house is Ginny, named after Ginny Weasley. And then do we want to introduce the doggies? Everyone wants to see doggies. Cooper, come here. Come here. She's right there. Come here, Cooper. Come on. Speaker 2 (54:09) This is rescue. People want to see the doggies? Where's Lady? Speaker 1 (54:31) Come on. Speaker 2 (54:31) They've been so good. I know. abnormally good. Come on. Speaker 1 (54:34) This is Cooper. We adopted him last year? Year before, yeah. He's a very good boy. Speaker 2 (54:38) year before. No he's not, but we love him anyway. Speaker 1 (54:43) Lady, come here lady, come here. Come on, come on, come on. This is Lady. We've had her for what, five years now? Speaker 2 (54:54) She was a pandemic doggie. Speaker 1 (54:56) So as you can see, we like King Charles Cavalier, Spaniels Yeah, we did. They're very British doggies, aren't they? Speaker 2 (54:59) and we saw them everywhere around. and we missed our babies. Speaker 1 (55:06) So they had fun at the... Speaker 2 (55:08) at the doggy park. Speaker 1 (55:09) stayed. well with that we are finally done talking about our trip and I can stop hassling you to record this podcast. So if you enjoy listening to the Anglotopia podcast please subscribe, please like or comment on YouTube. We appreciate all the comments. If you have any questions feel free to ask. Speaker 2 (55:25) Please. Speaker 1 (55:26) Please join the Friends of Anglotopia Club where you can read the long read research articles about our adventures and also please check out our brand new book about the history of the British Royal Family from 1066 to now. So with that we'll leave you with it. Bye! Speaker 2 (55:42) it too.