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# The Fugcation: Our Recent UK Trip
- URL: https://go-fug-yourself.ghost.io/the-fugcation-our-recent-uk-trip/
- Published: 2016-05-10T18:00:41.000Z
- Updated: 2016-05-11T06:17:45.000Z
- Author: Heather
- Tags: #wp, #wp-gallery, #slideshow, #Import 2026-10-07 07:46

## The Shard

![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/bf/b9/bfb99790-924d-4e41-a7e6-5e3c6e04fe57/content/images/static-gofugyourself-com/uploads/2016/05/img_4368-e1462810700873.jpg)

We landed around 1 p.m., which worked out perfectly because it was about 3 or 3:30 p.m. by the time we were fully ensconced in our hotel room. After a full check of our emails and a general Scattering of the Whatnot (toiletry bags in the bathrooms, wrinkle-prone clothes on hangers, outlets and converters scouted and ready), we were starting to flag but very much wanted to conquer jet lag by staying awake as long as possible. A visit to The Shard revitalized us considerably, because it gave us a chance to walk around and perk up and also have a glass of Champagne. Yes, they serve booze on both viewing decks (open air on the 72nd floor, and closed-roof a few floors below).

From our hotel, we just walked down to the Thames ferry pier and used our Oyster cards to hop on and go across the river. They didn't have that when I lived there; it's pretty convenient. Like a Riverboat Tube. Of course, when I lived there, nobody really WENT to the South Bank very much except to take the trains from Waterloo.

## The Shard

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-7.jpg)

This is on a funny little display as you head to The Shard's elevators. It made me laugh. I wish Will and Kate would wear those costumes for real. The Daily Mail would have a stroke.

## View from The Shard

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/IMG_4409-e1462810733533.jpg)

We were blessed with this vista. I mean. Miserable.

## St. Paul's Cathedral

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-2.jpg)

Ah, the cranes of London. And there's St. Paul's, poking up through it all. I feel like St. Paul's gets lost sometimes. Westminster Abbey is the trendy one; it's got all the cool gravestones, the Unknown Soldier, and now the publicity of the most recent royal wedding. We intended to poke our heads in St. Paul's and just never quite made it, partly because it closes at 4 (so be aware, if you go), and I'm very sad about that. I haven't been inside since I was... ten, maybe? My class sang for the American Ambassador. Please don't ask me WHAT we sang. Or whether he enjoyed it. Although he did wink at me, but that's most likely because I was smiling and singing right at him and baiting him into it. At some point you just have to give in to the needy child.

## Tower Bridge

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/towerbridgetwoways.jpg)

I call this "Tower Bridge, Two Ways," like we're on Top Chef or something. The first was taken from our walk back along the river from The Shard; we decided to cross back over Tower Bridge, but we kept compulsively stopping to photograph it because the light was so interesting. The second picture was taken from the balcony of our hotel room. You would not believe how many Tower Bridge photos we have. It was impossible not to walk out there and reach for a camera.

## Tower Bridge

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-5.jpg)

Every time I see a double-decker bus rumbling across the bridge, I think of... every movie, ever, because that's the B-roll shot you see. I freely admit that the first one that springs to MY mind, though, is *The Great Muppet Caper*.

## The Tower of London

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-6.jpg)

What's funny about this is, I have a memory of the Tower being so massive. But something about the modern buildings cropping up all around it -- you'll see in a minute -- makes it seem almost petite. If you're visiting, this is where the Crown Jewels are kept. You can see the tiny crown Queen Victoria favored, and the Queen's iconic one. Another place I wish I'd gone again -- turns out that NO amount of days in London is ever enough days in London.

## Modern Skyline

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/IMG_4428.jpg)

Just to the left of the previous photo, you see this cluster of buildings. It's a part of the skyline that always seems foreign to me, like it's some other city altogether. You can see the buildings nicknamed The Gherkin (right) and The Walkie-Talkie (you don't need me to tell you which one that is). Behind us are The Shard and the new round City Hall, which I call The Lemon (possibly everyone does; I don't know) because it's lit up yellow at night. They are... the opposite of The Tower, in addition to being physically opposite it. The intersection of ancient and modern is always a curious one, but rarely more so than there.

## The Tower

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-9.jpg)

See?

## Cheval Three Quays

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/three-quays.jpg)

The Cheval Three Quays is what they call an apart-hotel -- it's short-stay, like a hotel, but decked out like an apartment -- and is only about two years old. It's smack dab on the Thames right next to the Tower, but strangely managed to feel super private despite being next to such a tourist hub (and a very short walk from the Tower Hill Tube stop, if you're eyeballing it and want to know how to get around; traffic in London is HEINOUS so use the Tube as much as you can).

We stayed at the Three Quays for our first three nights, and thanks to a series of tiny miracles and accidents, we ended up being upgraded to the three-bedroom penthouse. I KNOW. We covered a tour of that on Snapchat, rather idiotically to boot, but here you see the living area and large kitchen behind it. A hallway with a washer/dryer and three bedrooms stretches out to the right of this room and a huge balcony extends the length of it, with entrances from all three sleeping areas. It was... unreal. The type of place you should look into if you're traveling to London in a group and don't mind sharing rooms, because for, say, six pals having a grand adventure, it would be AWESOME.

Also: Yes, that's a TV over the tub, and yes, the toiletries have their own lit display shelf in the shower. I didn't realize I needed such a thing until I saw it.

## Tower Bridge

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/IMG_4364.jpg)

I TOLD YOU. We couldn't stop taking pics. This was from our balcony the morning we checked out. I believe we were sniffling our goodbyes over some toast (the kitchen came stocked with bread, butter, and preserves).

## Brit Movie Tours

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/sherlock-london-tour-.jpg)

We also did a morning checking out various filming locations in the city, hosted by a super charming tour guide whose name we completely forgot to get. The thing about him that ruled was, he knew all KINDS of things, not just entertainment industry trivia (although he was brimming with that also). So what was ostensibly a movie tour was also packed with history. Seriously, that was the one time we were more than happy to be stuck in brutal London gridlock. There was no shortage of stuff to discuss. We would have spent the whole day with him.

Here, you're seeing shots from a Sherlock location -- specifically, from The Reichenbach Fall and the subsequent episode (that ambulance station plays a pretty important part). Sherlock-flavored graffiti decorates the walls of the actual building and the phone box outside.

## Leadenhall Market

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-16.jpg)

This is where Hagrid walks with Harry in the first Potter movie, as he's leading him to the Leaky Cauldron. I just popped in that movie the other night to show the beans, and had forgotten this until we came to that moment and I fully recognized it. This arcade is used in a lot of films; we also saw a clip of *The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus*, aka Heath Ledger's last film.

## Harry Potter

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-10-e1462811112374.jpg)

This building is the original Leaky Cauldron exterior. The tour guide keeps an iPad with him and cues up clips to show you what you're seeing, which is a cool idea. Anyway, they painted it black for the movie.

## Bridget Jones, Wanton Sex Goddess

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-14-e1462811067951.jpg)

I don't want to show you ALL the exteriors, but I knew you'd enjoy the wine merchant that plays The Restaurant Where Hugh Grant And Colin Firth Fly Through The Window Onto The Street. Apparently when Bridget Jones 3 was shooting, Renee would pop over there all the time and sample the wares without removing her pregnancy padding.

## The Goring Hotel

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-15.jpg)

The Goring is a lovely classic London hotel, which shot to recent notoriety thanks to Kate Middleton staying there the night before her wedding. (In *The Royal We* Bex Porter also stays there the night before her wedding is scheduled.)

We ate lunch there, but the bar looks SO COOL. Apparently my parents and sister have stayed there/drank there before, but I have not. WHERE WAS I? WOE. So if you go have a drink -- there was a HUGE ice bucket of Champers bottles on the bar -- please do report back.

## Mmm

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-17.jpg)

I don't usually go in for food photography, because things RARELY look as divine as they are in person. But this salad was... it's a lobster Caesar, and the cheese was so fluffy, and the breadcrumbs so crisp, and the lobster so... lobstery. SEEK IT OUT. (Also it was a SIDE SALAD that came with my entree. Y'all, I feasted on this damn trip.) *(PS: Yes, that is my Breton shirt in the background. Always on brand.- J)*

## Hampton Court

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-27.jpg)

You might recall that Hampton Court is most famously associated with Henry VIII, though it was originally owned by his advisor Thomas Wolsey as part of his power play in Henry's court. Some of the Tudor portions were demolished by William and Mary to make way for a baroque redesign, which has left the palace with a bit of a split personality. It's great.

## Hampton Court

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-20.jpg)

Here is the sense of sprawl. Also, no filters were used in either shot, in case you were curious about the differences in the sky. That's what three hours in England will do. The skies do not stay the same.

It's haunted, also. Catherine Howard, a.k.a. Henry's fifth wife and second to get the chop, has been spotted. *(Also, while we were on the tour, I had a moment where I really thought I might pass out -- this is not that unusual, as I am a fainter, although I HAD felt totally fine prior to that moment -- and once we moved to the next spot on the tour, our guide told us that the place in which we had been just standing was where Catherine discovered she was going to the Tower, and that it is where guests most often pass out when visiting. I swear to you. I had no idea. I actually didn't even mention this to Heather -- I don't know why? -- but it was really eerie. - J)*

## Subtle

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-28.jpg)

This reportedly once hung in Henry's bedroom. It depicts the Pope being bludgeoned to death by the rocks bearing the names of the four writers of the gospels. Henry COMMISSIONED IT. He really was such a champion of subtlety.

## Sigh

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-23-e1462818575204.jpg)

I never get tired of this photo. It's of a stairwell in the William wing of the house, and I cannot IMAGINE how long it took to paint. I'm sure the artist never went in there again. I can't open up one of our books without making tiny mental edits. I'm sure that dude was like, "No. I can't go visit. IT WILL BE MY UNDOING."

## Logistics

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-24-e1462810768544.jpg)

I have ALWAYS wondered about keeping these wall displays spruced up, so imagine our delight when we walked into a room and saw the team polishing the weaponry on the walls. We weren't supposed to interview any employees, or else I would have waited ALL DAY to bend that woman's ear. I find that stuff fascinating.

## Hampton Court

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-22-e1462810832610.jpg)

My mother loves this clock. I had to put it in here for her. It faced Henry's bedroom, naturally. Because if he can't roll out of bed and check the time -- or use a very long stick to part the curtains and glance at the clock from his bed -- then there is no point.

## Hampton Court

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-26.jpg)

Look what a day this became. That is a postcard, right there. No filter.

## Hampton Court

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/IMG_1711.jpg)

ALSO no filter.

## Hampton Court

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/IMG_1707.jpg)

Please note that we live in California, where the only green grass belongs to people who flout the hosepipe bans. (An oversimplification, but still.) Seeing lush, verdant gardens in riotous bloom was an endless delight.

## Churchill War Rooms

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-30.jpg)

We were really determined to milk every hour of time, so after a glorious five-plus hours at Hampton Court, we arrived back in London with enough time to hit the war rooms before they closed. It's a WONDERFUL exhibit (no surprise; it's managed by the Imperial War Museum, which is ALSO fantastic). You basically go right down into the bunker where they ran WWII, and there's a huge piece all about Churchill himself that includes A VELVETEEN JUMPSUIT. (We Snapchatted that. Obviously.) One thing I appreciate about the Churchill-specific piece is how much it focuses on what a great speaker he was, and the potency of words.

## War Rooms

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-31.jpg)

We took a bunch of pictures, but for some reason this one struck me most: That's the ladder down to the living quarters, which hardly had enough room for people to stand fully upright. One woman on the audio tour tells a story about the rigors of trying to work in a bunker and sleep in a bunker-below-a-bunker, and she can't help mentioning how much it sucked that she'd be getting up and shuffling out to start her day looking a bit the worse for wear, and inevitably running into a bunch of super hot officers near the ladder. It made me laugh. It's SUCH a relatable human feeling in such a surreal circumstance.

## Kensington Palace

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-34.jpg)

This old heap was in fine form. I think they'd redone the interior since I was there last; I remember it being heavier on William and Mary, but now there's a whole Georgian section with clothes and games and other odds-and-ends -- there's one nifty piece that uses shadows and projections to show you what it might've looked like when people danced there.

## Games

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-35.jpg)

This is one of the three or four gaming tables in one of the salons. They all have rules on them, and you can sit down and play. My feet were REALLY hurting at this point but I was too stubborn to admit it, so we didn't sit down. FOOLISH. I love a good game.

## Windsor Castle

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-41.jpg)

The moat gardens are SO PRETTY.

## Giant Flag

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-42.jpg)

They fly the Royal Standard when the Queen is in residence and the Union Jack when she isn't -- this is true of all her palaces -- but apparently for official occasions they use an even LARGER Royal Standard. Thirty meters, I think the guide said.

## Guardsmen

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/guardsman-windsor.jpg)

I love watching them march, but I REALLY like it when you glimpse them doing mundane things. Like setting up the music stands and paraphernalia in preparation for a performance on the lawn for the Queen, or... I don't know. Leaving. He's peace-ing out for the day.

## Crowds

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/windsorcrowd.jpg)

On the left, you see people at the window of the hotel opposite where we stood (we were on the sidewalk that runs in front of the castle, which was at our backs). On the right, a jazzed patriotic fan.

## The Band

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-46.jpg)

From our spot right by the castle gates, we saw the band march past and then set up just to our right. They played a variety of songs ("Amazing Grace" was one, but "Jerusalem," my dad's fave, was NOT) before rolling into the national anthem when her car came out. And then, of course, they did Happy Birthday.

## The Queen

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-48.jpg)

See the top of the car? That flag is retractable. When she disembarks, they remove it, as she is no longer "in residence," so to speak. We didn't witness that here, but I saw it once at the beginning of the Ascot procession, where she drove up and got out of her car. The flag retracted and was then flown on her carriage instead.

## Woohoo

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-49.jpg)

Happy Birthday, Ma'am!

(We [covered what fun this was on GFY the day after](https://go-fug-yourself.ghost.io/royally-played-happy-birthday-queen-elizabeth-ii-04-2016/), and I posted on Instagram [a clip of her driving past us, in which you can hear me erroneously shout that she's in yellow](https://www.instagram.com/p/BEdkHp7HhUX/?taken-by=hcocks&ref=go-fug-yourself.ghost.io). Nerd.)

## Presents

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-50.jpg)

More logistics! The Queen has helpers who ferry the flowers and gifts back to a table that's set up just inside the castle gates. I'm sure they eventually get donated.

## Flags

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-40.jpg)

I can't resist a banner.

## Dramatic

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-53.jpg)

I just love what a drama queen Windsor can be. All it takes is a little change in the cloud clover, the light, the wind... it's one of my favorite places in the world.

## The door

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/IMG_1875.jpg)

Okay, so we disobeyed orders in one spot. I feel guilty about this. But: In *The Royal We*, there's a reference to a nondescript brown door behind which lies a guest room for state occasions. You come upon the door when you're going downstairs to leave the castle and head over to St. George's Chapel. You're not allowed to take photos in the palace, and we didn't ANYWHERE ELSE, and would NEVER.... except for here. We couldn't resist. It's an Emotionally Important Door from our novel, and we wanted to document it for you. We are sorry, QE2.

## The Castle Hotel

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-54.jpg)

We didn't stay here, although we did eat lunch there. It's a Sofitel, and you will love this: They have a proprietary scent. Meaning, when you walk in and smell the air, it's a special blend exclusive to THAT specific hotel.

This is a shot of the living room of a suite. I thought you'd enjoy how it's decorated. It took all my restraint not to stick a copy of *The Royal We in there as we left, but we were down to one copy, as we'd already drunkenly pressed the other into the hands of a kindred spirit we met at our hotel.*

## The Berkeley

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-84.jpg)

This is from the Pret-a-Portea service at The Berkeley Hotel, which changes every six months along with the fashion seasons. and is inspired by what they see on the runways. The manager told us that they work three months in advance to get it perfect, starting with studying the photos from the runway collections, making binders of ideas and inspirations, and then tasting and practicing so that they can execute it to perfection.

This particular sitting was a special one-week affair in honor of The Queen, where each confection was inspired by royal accessories. See if you can guess which they are, and then click to the next slide.

## The menu

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/pret-a-portea.jpg)

ET VOILA.

## Kensington Gardens

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-56-e1462821014530.jpg)

I accidentally deleted the best shot I had from our room at the Cheval Thorney Court, which is a shame, but you can still tell from this photo how lovely it was. That is Kensington Gardens right across the street, and you can see Kensington Palace. This hotel really ought to change its slogan to, "Your View Is Right Into Harry's Bedroom." Which... is an exaggeration, and yet also as close as we're ever likely to get. So.

Also, the park entrance is right across the street, and just inside it is a snack shack that serves DELICIOUS-looking sausage sandwiches (I know this because it was ALSO my Diet Coke hookup one afternoon). I am bereft that I didn't get to sample one. GO FORTH AND SAUSAGE, FUG NATION.

Jess thoughtfully took [a shot from a different window of the OTHER buildings we could see](https://www.instagram.com/p/BEc9dVXgKzx/?taken-by=msmorganzola&ref=go-fug-yourself.ghost.io).

## Cheval Thorney Court

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/IMG_1840.jpg)

We also fell down on the job of photographing the room, but it also had a kitchen and was the only room on its floor. Where the Three Quays is new construction, Thorney Court is in a red brick building that feels comfy and residential. And while it's on a main artery of sorts, it's also extremely quiet, and about a ten-minute stroll to the High Street Kensington Tube stop. And the rooms, which you can sort of tell from this shot, are decorated with knick-knacks that have a more traditional feel -- like you're staying with your eclectic great aunt, which I mean as a compliment. It's a quaint vibe and a fun contrast to the other.

## IMG\_1931

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/IMG_1931.jpg)

We moved on to Edinburgh, and I lovingly Snapchatted the train ride... only to have Snapchat eat it all. Thankfully Jessica was on point with her iPhone. We took a Virgin Train, which had WiFi and food and surprisingly comfortable seats. I am a huge fan of train travel; this one takes you through Newcastle, and past Durham in the distance, which we'd been told ahead of time to watch for and we're so glad we knew to look. This is almost ridiculously tranquil.

## The Balmoral Hotel

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-61.jpg)

This photo of our hotel is making me homesick for it. JK Rowling reportedly stayed there while writing Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and I can see why. It's comfortable, it's majestic, it's ancient...

## The Balmoral

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-63.jpg)

... and by night, and the glow of its lights, it's MYSTERIOUS. Also, no filter. The sky was just that awesome.

Jessica also had [the best toast of her life here](https://www.instagram.com/p/BEk0ZG-AK4Z/?taken-by=msmorganzola&ref=go-fug-yourself.ghost.io). Such things are important.

## Bust

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/IMG_1954.jpg)

Jessica's room had AN ACTUAL BUST IN IT. I love this so much. (The bathrooms also had heated floors, and the turndown service left sachets of night cream. I might move there?)

## Edinburgh Castle

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-62.jpg)

We didn't have time to go inside the castle, though we did eat dinner at a restaurant just near it called The Witchery. (HIGHLY RECOMMENDED, by the way, and several Fug Nationals spoke up about it even after it was already on our itinerary.) After, we wandered up to the castle to see the exterior by night, and the views of the city. It's a wonderful place. Everyone in Scotland was friendly and chatty. It reminded me of Calgary, a little? Not in visuals, obviously, but with the pride of place. People there genuinely seem to love where they've landed, and many of them are there by choice rather than by the vagaries of industry (hello, Los Angeles, although certainly some people choose to live here for other reasons).

## Edinburgh

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/IMG_1955.jpg)

It's too bad there is nothing to see in this city, ever, simply by raising your head.

## Arthur's Seat

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-57.jpg)

I \*think\* this might be the famed hike up to the viewpoint known as Arthur's Seat, but let's be honest: It could also just be some random cliff. The point is, such a hike does exist, and I wish we'd had time to do it (no rest for the wicket, don'tcha know). Watching this person pick his or her way along that ridge made me jones for a walking stick and cardigan. Sincerely. And this was a trip with no shortage of great views. I guess I got addicted.

## Holyroodhouse

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-60.jpg)

Holyroodhouse is the monarchy's official seat in Scotland -- Balmoral is private property of the royal family, having been purchased by Albert for Victoria -- and like Kensington Palace, it has a much less imposing and much more comfortable feeling. You could imagine curling up in front of the fireplace with a book and a cuppa. There is also a large portrait of the Queen Mum in there, and while that's not unique to Holyroodhouse, it made me smile. We actually were both thoroughly charmed by the rooms here.

Mary, Queen of Scots, once resided here. Her advisor David Rizzio was also brutally murdered there, stabbed 56 times by her jealous husband. So, no shortage of importance and ROYAL DRAMA.

BTW, Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall had their reception here, which was apparently a real barn-burner after which one of his rugby friends noted that Prince William does a bang-on Bon Jovi. WHEN WILL THE TELL-ALLS COME. (Not really. I mean, yes, I would LOVE that in theory, but I also really prefer that their friends are respectful and tight-lipped.)

## Holyrood Abbey

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-58.jpg)

There is also a big ol' ruined abbey, and when I say "big" and "ol'" I mean them both.

## The Abbey

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-59.jpg)

I love the colors and textures of this place. We spent a hefty amount of time reading the gravestones.

## Tea at Holyroodhouse

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/IMG_2037.jpg)

Snapchat ate my tea. (As did I.) The tea service at Holyrood is in a cute, unassuming room, and was DELICIOUS. They bring you a tea timer with three colored hourglasses, and to achieve optimal steeping time, you observe whichever one matches the type of tea you're drinking (herbal, black, etc). The entire meal was ridiculously satisfying, and I freely admit I didn't expect a casual palace eatery to be so tasty. The More You Know.

## The Firth of Forth

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-66.jpg)

We joined a tour group for a jaunt to St. Andrews and some fishing villages. We drove across this suspension bridge that spans the Firth of Forth; do you see the pieces of bridge just behind it? Those are disconnected sections of a NEW suspension bridge. There are... three of them currently, I think? Waiting to be joined up like so much Gilderoy Lockhart handwriting. The logistics of this are fascinating to me and also vaguely terrifying.

## Anstruther

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-67.jpg)

We only had a short walkabout here -- long enough for us to scamper out onto the chilly pier and then turn and get a shot of the town itself. And its lighthouse. Mustn't forget the lighthouse. I wish I'd gone INTO the lighthouse, but I don't know if we were allowed. Anyway, this town also had a nifty exhibit on lifeboats for search-and-rescue, and a HILARIOUS guy working in the gift shop who told us some great stories about his days working for Mappin & Webb. We almost missed the bus because he was so entertaining.

## St. Andrews

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-69.jpg)

A hole at the Old Course. I wonder how much insurance those buildings have on their windows.

## St. Salvatore's

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-71.jpg)

This is it: The residence hall in which Will and Kate met. (In *The Royal We*, obviously, Pembroke College at Oxford stands in for this; it's much smaller. THIS feels like someone at St. Andrews was like, "PULL OUT ALL THE STOPS. THE PRINCE IS COMING.") It's beautiful and also reminds me vaguely of some of the buildings at Notre Dame. You could have gone THERE, you know, William. I'm just saying. Although we would have missed each other, but I would have gone back for more alumni weekends.

## St. Salvatore's

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-73.jpg)

I mean, it just LOOKS like a place in which one might first bang a prince. No filter, again. I don't know why I keep saying that. We haven't used any filters yet. It would be more noteworthy if I said, "FILTER ALERT. BIGTIME FILTER."

## Flowers

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-72.jpg)

I wasn't kidding when I said we were way into the landscaping. Look at the colors in this arrangement just outside the St. Salvatore's front door.

## Hee

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-74.jpg)

A lady from our tour pointed this out to us. She read us correctly. (Look at the sign in the window.)

## St. Andrews Castle

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-75.jpg)

This is a glorious old ruin on the edge of town, near what I want to call the roiling sea even if it wasn't exactly roiling at this point. There's a cute little museum, a tale of dueling mines -- which I keep wanting to misremember as dueling MIMES -- and lot of things to peer down and risk losing your valuables.

## A mine

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-76.jpg)

Like so. Those are not ours, but SOMEONE is very sad to have lost a cell phone and some sunglasses. In fact, it's a bit of a miracle we DIDN'T lose something down there.

## St. Andrews Castle

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-78.jpg)

This is to give you a sense of how the ruins look with the neighborhood that is its backdrop. Can you imagine waking up and eating your toast whilst gazing upon this view?

## St. Andrews Cathedral

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-79-e1462821122889.jpg)

The ruin of the cathedral is ALSO cool. The lawns are marked with stones that tell you what part of the building would have been there, and you can climb a tower -- a long spiral staircase; think twice about it if it's crowded, because that sucker is fairly one-way -- to get to ANOTHER great vista.

## St. Andrews

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-80.jpg)

I want to go back. WE HAVE TO GO BACK, JESS. \[/Lost\]

## St. Andrews

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/IMG_2008.jpg)

And there is a strip of beach, although I assume the water never warms up enough for a wuss like me to swim.

## Falkland

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/IMG_4979.jpg)

This town doubles as Inverness in the 1940s scenes of "Outlander." Again, we didn't have a ton of time there because there is a palace, and Jessica and I fell headlong into that and never wanted to leave. So we missed the town itself.

## Falkland Palace

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/IMG_20302.jpg)

It was SO good, though. All the docents were dressed in period costume, and were hugely chatty and full of factoids. You can tell they all truly love their jobs, and EVEN BETTER, this place -- effectively a hunting lodge for the likes of Mary, Queen of Scots -- had a lot of drama and violence. There are also some great old photos and a pretty garden. And a great gift shop. I really do prize a gift shop. So as much as it would have been fun to wander the streets, the palace ended up being one of our favorite stops on account of the local flavor. *(This one DOES have a filter, because it's from my Instagram. GUILTY. - J)*

## The Royal Yacht Britannia

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-89.jpg)

The yacht was decommissioned in 1997 and not replaced. Chuck and Di honeymooned on it, as did Anne and Mark Phillips (where I believe they spent the first four days seasick). The exhibit area has a lot of photos, including one they particularly like -- understandably -- of Diana greeting a young William and Harry with delighted open arms.

## Old Things

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/IMG_4990.jpg)

The bridge (I guess? I have no lingo skills so I am turning to Star Trek here) is pleasantly old-school-feeling, including this pipe. I call it a Voice Tube Thingy, which I'm sure is its actual name, and they used it to communicate with the lower decks.

## The Queen's room

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/IMG_4999.jpg)

QEIi slept here. Over to the left is a dressing table, totally normal and plain-looking, with a three-way mirror. No gilded frames in sight.

## Phillip's room

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/IMG_5001.jpg)

The adjoining room is where Phillip slept. I hope he actually did cuddle the stuffed corgi all night. *(My favorite part about this was the open door between the two rooms, presumably so they could yell things at each other all night, instead of just rolling over to chat. - J)*

## Double bed

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/IMG_5003.jpg)

Charles brought this double bed aboard for his honeymoon. You should've gone with a king, Charles. For a number of reasons.

## Games

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-85.jpg)

I LOVE this kind of stuff. If the Duke of Edinburgh wants to throw down with some Scrabble tiles I am HERE FOR HIM.

## Technology

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/london-scotland-trip-recap-87.jpg)

This is the crew's collection of cassette tapes. I'll just let it sit here for you to ogle.

## The dining area

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/IMG_5011.jpg)

Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall had their rehearsal dinner aboard the Britannia, which I assume involved this room, as well as a moment on the deck where Harry walked up behind the Queen and pretended to hurl her overboard.

## Sitting Room

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/IMG_5016.jpg)

The royals all have offices/private studies aboard the ship, but this big sitting room is for all of them. I'm sure I would be off barfing in one of the bathrooms.

## Piano pictures

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/IMG_5013.jpg)

The ACTUAL piano had its lid up, so these are the shots that Phillip had framed in the study he used (and later shared with Charles).

## The St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/IMG_5043.jpg)

This is where we stayed on our last night. It. Is. Something. Seriously, how gorgeous is this? They used this exterior as King's Cross Station in the Harry Potter films, although actual King's Cross is across the street (and less picturesque). The hotel was built in the 19th century originally, but closed down; it opened in its current form in 2011.

The inside is even better. The restaurant, which was the old booking office (and is called, aptly, The Booking Office), has absurdly high ceilings and red walls and abuts the St. Pancras train station (where, among other trains, the Chunnel arrives and departs). Every hallway is a freaking vision. And get a load of the stairs...

## Yay

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/IMG_5026.jpg)

You may recognize these from The Spice Girls' "Wannabe" video. And if not, [let me goose your mind-grapes](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJLIiF15wjQ&ref=go-fug-yourself.ghost.io).

## Stairs

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/IMG_5030-e1462835238765.jpg)

I could have walked up and down these forever. So stunning.

## Ceiling

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/IMG_5033.jpg)

You know I cannot resist a ceiling. We will have way more ceiling photos on Facebook. Eventually.

## St. Pancras Hotel

![](https://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/05/IMG_5041.jpg)

I love how the clock face glowed in the evening light. This was the only night we experienced any rain at all, in a trip where we got PERFECT weather and which was bookended -- while we were on our various flights -- by snow flurries. England and Scotland genuinely gave us the best they had.

[The Fugcation: Our Recent UK TripA love of Great Britain is common ground for a lot of Fug Nation's members, whether the royals themselves interest you or not. When Visit Britain hosted us there the week of the Queen's 90th birthday, we got a lot of requests from readers for trip photos and details of the exhibits we saw (and meals we ate...). Visit Britain, for what it's worth, did not ask us to write this. They invited us and arranged the itinerary, but as I explained on my Instagram, all opinions and compliments are our own -- we would never sell our feelings, and we hope you know how sincerely that's true. We truly wanted to share all this, because a) it was hugely fun, b) it seems like a shared interest here, and c) Fug Nation has been a really reliable place for all KINDS of advice in the past. We thought this post could serve as that same kind of resource for any future trip planning anyone here might do. So beyond the particulars that are coming from us, we invite you guys to share your favorites in the comments. Me, I always encourage people to take train trips out of London when they visit, because England as a whole is such a jewel; it's not JUST about London. So definitely put Hampton Court, Windsor, and even Oxford or Cambridge on your wish lists. Take advantage of the glories of public transportation. Amazingly, this post merely scratches the surface of the photos and videos we took. Here's where you can find more: -- We already put some photos up on Facebook highlighting our first four days, but there are more to come. Drop by and like the Go Fug Yourself page if you want to see the even more detailed albums. -- We posted photos on our personal Instagrams, which are hcocks and msmorganzola. (We also have an account as fuggirls, which you're welcome to follow, but right now you're only likely to get regrams of our personal stuff.) -- We used Snapchat (user name: fuggirls) as a way to document the trip with video. Our grand plan was to save them and upload them to our YouTube page (which currently only houses Fug Madness stuff), but all the video portions are uploading as scrambled grey boxes.WHY GOD. If we can figure it out, we'll upload them later and share the links in Fugs & Pieces. Y'all missed some seriously nerdy, occasionally tipsy nonsense. Like me bursting through a giant tassel. \[Also, we're still active on Snapchat. Obviously that will always be more interesting to you if one of us is traveling, but join us there anyway; in the meantime you can see such luminous sights as horrifying celebrity face-swaps, my curly-hair bedhead, or the beans dancing around singing about cheese. True story. It happened.\] -- We also covered a bit of our trip previously when we showed you all the many places The Royal We ended up. (Including on the lap of a Lego QE2.) Here's the detailed rundown of where we went, and how: OH AND ALSO: When you're traveling at these places, check for "Free Palace WiFi," or the like. Hampton Court, Kensington Palace, and Windsor all had it, as did the Royal Yacht. You might have to enter an email address, but you can uncheck the "send me stuff" boxes and it's worth it to save on data roaming. THANK YOU, Free Palace Wifi, you spicy little hero. (Come to think of it, the V&A also had free WiFi, so... just check everywhere. The UK tourist spots have GOT YOUR BACKS.) Palaces and Exhibits Hampton Court (@hrp\_palaces): This is an absurdly easy 45-minute train ride from London, leaving from Waterloo Station. Hampton Court is the terminus, so you can't miss it, and the palace is about a five-minute straight shot over a bridge from the station (again, you cannot go wrong)(well, you could, I suppose, but it would require some effort). We spent five hours here; the palace tour itself isn't terribly long, but the gardens are a treat, we had dynamite cheese-and-Branston pickle sandwiches (and Roast Ox crisps) at the cafe, and the gardens are WELL worth a wander. The Duchess of Cambridge recently opened a big expansion thereof, and also: HEDGE MAZE. Our Snapchat took you on a spin through that as well. Also we roasted actual meat on a spit in the kitchen. Windsor Castle (@britishmonarchy): This is another easy train ride from London, and you MUST GO. It's worth it. Windsor dates back to William the Conqueror and is the oldest working castle in existence, as well as the home to St. George's Chapel, aka the final resting place of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour, and George VI and the Queen Mum and Princess Margaret (they're all together). It's about 45 minutes to Windsor and Eton Central from Paddington with a change at Slough (that station is so tiny that you will not be confused by this). There's a direct train that leaves from Waterloo, but it's longer AND puts you out at Eton. Although it's fun to enter Windsor by crossing the bridge, as Wills and Harry and their ilk would have, I prefer coming out of the station parade and having the castle just be right there in front of me, all CLICK-BOOM. And also, check before you go and try to pre-book the kitchen tour, which is a timed entry, if they're doing it (it's not always an option). It's fascinating and will walk you through some of the parts they discovered when clearing and repairing the fire damage. They are going to renovate that part of the castle soon to include a cafe, though, so I don't know what effect that'll have on the kitchen tour. Kensington Palace houses exhibits about Victoria and Albert, William and Mary, and George I, in addition to the Fashion Reigns exhibit. It's easily reachable by Tube and by foot, and you can frolic around Kensington Gardens in the hope that the royal nanny might drift past with a pram or two. Holyroodhouse: Edinburgh is about a four and a half hour train trip from London, via King's Cross Station, and is itself an eminently walkable city. Holyrood is the opposite end of the Royal Mile from Edinburgh castle; we caught an early train and were at Holyroodhouse by 1:45 p.m. The "Fashioning a Reign" exhibit runs there through September, I believe, and we loved it. The Royal Yacht Britannia (@BritanniaYacht): This is a cab ride from wherever you might be staying in Edinburgh, but a brief one. (We had a little trouble getting one back, but it ended up okay -- while walking toward the Holiday Inn, which we knew would help us call one, a cab passed by and dropped someone off. We caught it on the flip side. HIGH FIVE.) There is also a tea room here. It's cool to see that the floating palace wasn't as opulent as the ones on the ground, although it's still enormous. Hotels: Cheval Three Quays (@Cheval\_London): Newer apart-hotel designed for short stays (or long ones, if you like), but with stocked kitchenettes. There is also a bakery, a Pret-a-Manger, and a Starbucks right outside. I mean, these things are important. It's also right next door to the Tower of London, in case you want to visit/toss someone in. Cheval Thorney Court: This one has a more residential feel, opposite Kensington Gardens and the Palace. The Balmoral (@The\_Balmoral): Across the bridge from the Royal Mile, and blessed with two good restaurants and a gorgeous tea room. It's also right near a strip of bars and pubs (Rose Street) and shopping (George Street), which made for a really pleasant amble around the city after-hours. St. Pancras Renaissance Hotel London (@StPancrasRen): The highest ceilings ever. And when we checked in, our room had a trio of chocolate-creme eclairs whose frosting was etched with the image of the Houses of Parliament. Our room also overlooked the train station. Our last night in London, we are bunking at @stpancrasren and this is the view from our window. IS THIS NOT COOL? #OMGB #royalbritain #NowBoarding A photo posted by Jessica Morgan (@msmorganzola) on Apr 24, 2016 at 11:30am PDT It's amazing that it wasn't noisy, and honestly, I felt like a five-year old boy in there; I could have sat by the window and watched the trains all day. This is the SPECTACULAR staircase at the @stpancrasren. From the top, it looks like a kaleidoscope, almost. (Also the site of the Wannabe video so extra precious to me.) @lovegreatbritain A photo posted by Jessica Morgan (@msmorganzola) on Apr 24, 2016 at 11:51am PDT Tours: Brit Movie Tours (@BritMovieTours): They do all KINDS of them; ours was a general sampling of movie locations, but our guide was off to do the Made in Chelsea one after he left us. And there is one tour that's ALL Sherlock. They also do a Downton tour (our guide told us that he's there so often for that one that they've \[jokingly\]\[maybe\] offered him a cottage on the grounds). Rabbie's Trail Burners (@Rabbies\_Travel): These tours leave from a cafe right next to The Balmoral; they run tours to Loch Ness and Loch Lomand and the like, as well as the one we took to St. Andrews and the fishing villages and Falkland Palace. Places We Ate and Drank Things: The Guildford Arms: This is a gorgeous pub en route to Rose Street from The Balmoral in Edinburgh. We had great sandwiches there. Also beer. And SANDWICHES. The Duck and Rice (@theduckandrice), on Berwick St. We went here just after I got my hair dyed a fiery red/orange at Bleach London (@BleachLondon), which was the only color they could do on me WITHOUT actually bleaching my hair. The Bleach London stop was on our itinerary to give us a fashion-and-beauty break from walking and sightseeing. It ended up being totally fun. The wizards @bleachlondon spiced up my red with some tangerine notes. It was as funky as I could go without bleaching first; not a huge change, but still spicy. I feel a bit Lohan from Mean Girls. Does this make Jessica my Janis Ian? A photo posted by Heather Cocks (@hcocks) on Apr 18, 2016 at 5:13pm PDT The dye washed out in about twelve shampoos, slowly and naturally, without any weird phase in between. I brought home a couple bottles. They don't ship internationally, so I have to ration them carefully. WHY GOD. The Booking Office, the restaurant in the St. Pancras Renaissance (get the club sandwich) (or the burger) (also some wine). It's beautiful. The Goring (@TheGoring), which I BELIEVE sometimes also does tours of the Royal Suite? Don't quote me on that. Also, right outside the dining room is a mural on which Kate painted the finishing touches while pregnant, and the bar there looks FANTASTIC. Pret-a-Portea at The Berkeley (@TheBerkeley), which was not in their usual tea room due to some ongoing renovations, but was a GREAT example of a lively, nontraditional tea. The Witchery at the Castle (@TheWitcheryEdin). If we ever have an event to throw in Scotland, we would throw it there. Hadrian's, which is a brasserie at The Balmoral. There is also a Michelin-starred restaurant there. And you'd think it'd be daunting to be The One That Doesn't Have The Fancy Michelin Star, and yet Hadrian's takes as much care as if they do. It was really, truly, utterly delicious. One of my favorite meals. Other Odds and Ends: The Shard (@TheShardLondon): An alternative to the London Eye for sweeping city views. We went during sunset, and I think that slightly obscured Parliament and Big Ben; we could JUST see the Eye, but not the rest. Just something to bear in mind. That didn't bother me, but you know. I'm trying to be an Informative Caption. Churchill War Rooms: Treat yourselves. It's wonderful. The V&A: The special timed-entry exhibit right now is a history of undercrackers. You don't need to see that in order to enjoy the V&A, though, which is magnificent all around. Buckingham Palace: It opens up during the summer, when the Queen alights for Balmoral, and sometimes in December and January if she stays longer up at Sandringham. We HIGHLY recommend buying an advance ticket to tour it, if you're planning to go to England, because the rooms -- which feature prominently in the second part of The Royal We -- are grand and tour ends with Champagne. Also, as we've noted before, this summer it will be home to a sweeping, 100-dress version of the "Fashioning a Reign" exhibit we saw at Holyroodhouse and we need y'all to tell us how that goes. BE OUR INFORMATIVE CAPTIONS, FUG NATIONALS.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/bf/b9/bfb99790-924d-4e41-a7e6-5e3c6e04fe57/content/images/static-gofugyourself-com/uploads/2016/05/img_4368-e1462810700873.jpg)](https://go-fug-yourself.ghost.io/the-fugcation-our-recent-uk-trip-05-2016/)