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Destination: England

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Video: The Oyster Card Is Your Gateway to London’s Tube

Hello from London! I’m in South Kensington, my favorite home-base neighborhood. I just used an automated machine in the Tube station to get my Oyster card — a transit pass that gives local commuters (and travelers) access to the London Underground for about half-price. I saw how befuddled some tourists were with it, and I remembered that I, too, am hesitant to dive into a big city’s public transit system — until I actually do, and then everything goes much smoother.

In this little clip, I’ll show you how simple it is to push the buttons, slide in your money, and get a card loaded up with credit for lots of rides. Remember, with my Oyster card, I get six rides on the Tube for about the cost of one taxi ride…and I never need to wait in traffic. Plus, I’m in the fray with all the locals, and that’s more fun. (BTW, when you leave London, be sure to return your Oyster card. You’ll get a refund for your £5 deposit, and for any unused credit still on the card. It works great.)

 

This is Day 85 of my “100 Days in Europe” series. As I travel with Rick Steves’ Europe Tours, research my guidebooks, and make new TV shows, I’m reporting on my experiences across Europe. Still to come: England, Scotland, Germany, Switzerland, and more. Thanks for joining me here on my blog and via Facebook.

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Video: Cambridge’s Venerable and Inspiring Parker Library

I’m at the University of Cambridge today with my TV crew. We’re visiting Corpus Christi College’s Parker Library, a temple of high-mindedness. As we filmed this venerable study hall, we listened to the oldest two-part harmony ever written. And I got to thumb through a collection of letters written by towering historic figures — kings of England, Holy Roman Emperors, and great reformers. Holding in my fingers letters actually written by Martin Luther and Charles V, for the first time in my life I wished I could read Latin.

One thing I love about travel: It inspires us to be thoughtful. I’ve long believed the best investment our world could make for peace and prosperity would be to collectively establish a fund that would give every American high school graduate money for a one-month trip overseas. It would cost peanuts relative to the expense to our world of Americans being so untraveled.

This is Day 84 of my “100 Days in Europe” series. As I travel with Rick Steves’ Europe Tours, research my guidebooks, and make new TV shows, I’m reporting on my experiences across Europe. Still to come: England, Scotland, Germany, Switzerland, and more. Thanks for joining me here on my blog and via Facebook.

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Video: Exploring Oxford’s Greatest Treasures

I’m in England, filming a new show about Oxford and Cambridge. My goal this week is to get footage that will help our public television viewers decide which of England’s great university towns is best for their itinerary. (On a short trip, you shouldn’t visit both…that’s redundant. Do one or the other, and save time in your itinerary for something entirely different — like hiking through the Cotswold villages or exploring the castles of North Wales.)

In this clip, we’re filming in Oxford’s Weston Library, where the venerable Bodleian Libraries display their greatest treasures.

Cambridge and Oxford have a wonderful centuries-long competition as England’s top two universities. Tomorrow, we’ll be showing off Cambridge’s remarkable answer to this room of iconic treasures. What’s your favorite: Oxford or Cambridge?

This is Day 83 of my “100 Days in Europe” series. As I travel with Rick Steves’ Europe Tours, research my guidebooks, and make new TV shows, I’m reporting on my experiences across Europe. Still to come: England, Scotland, Germany, Switzerland, and more. Thanks for joining me here on my blog and via Facebook.

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Video: Feelin’ Groovy in the Duke of Marlborough’s Backyard

Hello from England! I’m here with my TV crew (Simon and Peter) to produce an exciting new public television show on Oxford and Cambridge. Today, we’re just outside of Oxford at my vote for the finest countryside palace a tourist can see in England: Blenheim Palace.

When filming in England, I’m generally stressed about the drizzly weather. But here, it’s crystal clear and the morning light is particularly fine. And that puts me in a very happy mood…just hanging out in the Duke of Marlborough’s backyard, feelin’ groovy.

This is Day 82 of my “100 Days in Europe” series. As I travel with Rick Steves’ Europe Tours, research my guidebooks, and make new TV shows, I’m reporting on my experiences across Europe. Still to come: England, Scotland, Germany, Switzerland, and more. Thanks for joining me here on my blog and via Facebook.

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English Breakfast Porn

As we wrap up our England shoot and head for Italy, here are a few more observations.

rick steves with defibrillator

Dial 1-800-DEFIBRILLATOR. Today’s England is not your grandmother’s England. Traditional red phone booths are rare, and many of those that survive have found new roles…like defibrillator stations. (My crew — producer Simon Griffith and cameraman Peter Rummel — are so excited to be working in England that I’m thinking it would be smart to know where the nearest one of these is at all times.)

rick steves at airth highland games scotland

We bookended our England shoot filming big events for our upcoming hour-long European Festivals special. We started in Scotland, with the Highland games. I was careful not to break anything as I failed to lift the “Smiddy Stone.” From England, we headed to Siena to film the Palio…and the world’s wildest horse race should be quite a spectacle for our public television viewers. Stay tuned.

full english breakfast

Mmmm… English breakfast food porn. This (or some variation on this plate of cardiac arrest) was my breakfast each day for 18 days:  fried egg on greasy fried bread, fried tomato, sausage, bacon, mushrooms, and often a big scoop of baked beans. (Maybe this explains the need for public defibrillators.) By the time I left England, I was ready for a lighter prima colazione in Italy — and that’s where I’m posting from next.

 

This is Day 89 of my 100 Days in Europe series. As I research my guidebooks and make new TV shows, I’m reporting on my experiences and lessons learned in Vienna, the Alps, the Low Countries, England, Siena, and beyond. Find more right here on my travel blog.