Our 12-day trip to England and Wales was abso...

England | May 12 - May 21, 2025

Our party of six was airport-weary when we arrived, and we are grateful that The Mitre let us check in early. The staff was friendly and helpful, especially Elwyn. We had 3 rooms and they were all excellent. The beds were comfy and housekeeping was attentive. (Thanks, Anju!) Breakfasts accommmodated all sorts of tastes, from fresh fruit over waffles to the full English breakfast. The location in Greenwich is extremely walkable with a convenient tube station and a neighborhood with its own personality, with less crows and hustle/bustle of central London. We would return here in a heartbeat. Thanks!

Our party of 6 adored the atmosphere at The Northey Arms. From the stately stone exterior to the charming upscale pub vibe to the inventive menu and the inviting outdoor seating, we loved this location. The rooms were inviting from the moment we walked in. Of course, a property can only be as good as its staff, and the staff of The Northey Arms functions like a well-oiled machine. The manager, Maddy, clearly has a top-notch training program in place, since all of the employees were a cut above. Katie, Chloe, Lottie, Marie, and Richard were all professional, friendly and helpful. The little touches like fresh flowers on the tables did not go unnoticed, and the food was memorably delicious. The mini-chocolate chip cookies served with tea were ever so yummy, and when we had to leave early on our last morning prior to the serving hours for breakfast, Maddy was kind enough to pack chocolate croissants for us to take along. We would return here in a heartbeat!

Sandra and Chris have created a delightful retreat in north Wales. Tastefully decorated common areas and bedrooms, a yummy snack and convenient tea tray/amenities in each bedroom, very cozy beds with down comforters. Breakfasts tables are laid beautifully and delicious breakfast served in attractive style. Sandra was very helpful with logistics and planning for local activities, transportation options, and recommendations.

Graham and Laura have created a delightful retreat in Oxford. Our party of 6 travelers had 3 rooms and all of us enjoyed our stay immensely. The property has an inviting drive up to a quaint country home and stables. The rooms have been beautifully updated with modern amenities, but with an attractive nod to their historic past. Two of the rooms had private backyards, and the peacocks wandering through the courtyard on occasion were an added bonus. The drawing room had a piano and sheet music as well as board games and a large table. The bedrooms contained an extremely helpful notebook with recommendations for activities and restaurants, as well as easy-to-follow instructions on transportation. Breakfast was delicious and plentiful, and while eating breakfast we had the added bonus of watching riders astride their show jumping horses. When the airline moved our flight 2 hours earlier, the staff kindly packed 6 take-away breakfasts with yogurt, fruit, croissant and juice for the ride to Heathrow.

We did not have a retired royal guard because we requested someone more knowledgeable of history and culture--we weren't interested in the "royal gossip." We were absolutely thrilled with our tour from Blue Badge Guide Olga B. Her love and appreciation for London are contagious! She gave an excellent balance of history and modernity, and was more than willing to answer every question and tailor the tour to our particular interests. She spoke to some local merchants and we were allowed to pop in and see notable features of their shops (such as Winston Churchill's tobacco merchant). She also made wonderful recommendations of what to do with our remaining time in London. We highly recommend Olga's tour for those who want to make the most out of their 3-hour overview of London.

Our punter, Angus, gave us a delightful trip and added helpful commentary along the way.