Yesterday was Thanksgiving, and while I did consume alarming amounts of chocolate I didn’t feel particularly festive considering I was also alone in my room while doing so and thousands of miles away from NC. Both my host parents were traveling so it wasn’t worth cooking anything special, and the only Thanksgiving-ish thing in France is a half-hearted Black Friday.

But! This weekend I’m making an apple crumble and having my three best friends here over for a Frenchified Friendsgiving. So I’m excited. The friends I’ve made here are the sweetest, most supportive people I’ve ever met, and I’m really grateful for them.

I’m also grateful for this adventure I’m on, and pain au chocolat, and French wine and traveling. Which is why on a whim I decided to post some photos from my fall break trip to the UK a couple of weeks ago. Even if these photos interest no one but my mom, I think they’re beautiful and they make me feel happy and thankful for the opportunities in my life that led me to take them.

At the end of October I visited a British friend whom I hadn’t seen in two years; we met at Sciences Po in 2017. We spent two days together in London, two days at her home in Sheffield, and then I went off by myself to Edinburgh because I couldn’t be so close to Scotland and not go. So here are some photos of my week, and some suggestions for places to go if you’re ever in the area and want recommendations from a friend.

London

For a leisurely Sunday in London, start with brunch— the city treats brunch with all the extravagance the meal deserves. I recommend the Black Penny in Chelsea: its food is fresh and flavorful, their lattes are silky, and it’s situated in a picturesque area. After brunch take your time wandering Chelsea’s chic boutiqued streets.

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If you’re feeling chill and want to avoid the major tourist hubbubs, skip the Tate Modern and British Museum; consider the Victoria and Albert Museum instead. It’s one of the world’s leading museums of decorative arts and design, and has a wonderful variety of exhibitions spanning 5,000 years.

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After all this walking, indulge in afternoon tea (I chose the Strand Palace, where you can get an elegant spread for 25 pounds) or an espresso martini at a cozy bar in the posh Marylebone district— or both! Go wild.

Take an evening stroll along the Thames and end the night with a late dinner in Chinatown.

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Sheffield

If you’re ever near Sheffield you should check out Chatsworth house. It’s mindbogglingly big, with room after room dripping in plated gold, carved wood, and elaborate paintings. The mansion itself is a masterpiece, but it also contains countless works of art and sculptures from all the world.

It’s the home of the Duke and Duchess of Devonshire, but perhaps even more famously the home of Mr. Darcy in the 2005 film adaption of Pride and Prejudice.

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My favorite part of the visit was exploring the grounds. It was a perfect fall day: scarlet leaves, crisp air, blue skies, the scent of wood smoke, and a hot gingerbread coffee in my hands. The estate is huge, with stables, a rock garden, a maze, a waterfall, walking trails, and more.

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If you’re a foodie, after Chatsworth make sure to stop by the Farm Shop for a gourmet selection of groceries.

Sheffield itself is a very cozy, comforting city— a nice break after the chaos of London. You can easily spend an afternoon exploring its downtown, and end the night with a pub quiz at the Stag’s Head.

Edinburgh

Ah, Edinburgh! I loved this city, and after visiting I want to go back to Scotland and spend a couple weeks traveling to its islands and highlands.

If you only have two days in Edinburgh, take a peaceful morning walk through Greyfriar’s Kirk, the city’s famous graveyard. Attend a free historical walking tour, and afterwards (if you’re freezing like I was) warm up at a pub with a pint and a hearty lunch.

Walk along the Royal Mile, and don’t feel too bad if you give in to temptation and buy a scarf from one of the street’s thousand wool shops. Trek up Calton hill at dusk and watch the lights of the city twinkle on as the sea melts into darkness.

At night, visit Stramash for the time of your life. There is Celtic dancing and amazing live music and plenty of local beer.

On your second day, hike up Arthur’s Seat. It’s the site of an extinct volcano, and you can feel the ancient energy of the place in the way the breeze rustles the grass and the sun glances off the craggy rocks. Wear comfortable shoes and be prepared to gasp for breath on the way up because it is a climb!

If you, like me, find the UK soul-crushingly expensive, then visit the Museum of Scotland for free! They have a nice fashion exhibit and myriad ancient Scottish, Egyptian, and Roman artifacts.

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Take a stroll down Victoria Street — the inspiration behind Diagon Alley in Harry Potter — and then splurge a bit on the Scotch Whisky Experience. Here, you can sip a glass while admiring the world’s largest collection of Scotch Whisky.

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At night, pick a pub, any pub— I was in Edinburgh on Halloween, so after a ghost tour I stopped by Frankenstein and it was a riot.

That’s all from me. Enjoy good food and company this weekend!

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