This summer I had the amazing opportunity to study abroad in London for three weeks in a Shakespeare program with JMU. With 11 other students, my professor took us deep into the world of the greatest playwright to ever live and allowed us to adventure in our own way. We had class and a group outing every day that tied directly into the program, then we had the afternoons to explore the city. I can’t believe how much we jammed into three weeks, but I can say that every part of it was memorable and worth seeing again and again.

This is Week 3 in London! Catch Week 1 and Week 2 here!

Monday: This was probably one of my favorite outings from the whole program. I absolutely adored Hampton Court Palace for several reasons, and you’ll see just how many photos I’m posting from it and why. We took a group tour to see the kitchens, where we learned how Henry VIII gave his servants a ridiculous amount of food to eat to prove to his guests that he can provide for his people; we sat in the great hall to admire the expensive tapestries Henry commissioned to show his power (this is also one of two remaining sites where we know Shakespearean plays were performed during Shakespeare’s time); and we walked through halls trying to find his throne room and instead found several portraits of him and his family over time. After the group broke apart, Sarah and I spent hours in the gardens. We rode in a horse-drawn carriage, saw the world’s largest vine, and enjoyed the expertly crafted and varying gardens. Our favorite was by far the rose garden, which we returned to several times to take pictures and talk to the gardeners. I would do practically anything to live there. The walk along the river gave us a great view of the palace, and I promised to return to it again some day.

Tuesday: We went on another walking tour with the group after class. This time, we went to Middle Temple Hall where we saw more manuscripts and stood in the second remaining place where we know Shakespearean plays were performed during Shakespeare’s lifetime. We also saw execution sites, Paul’s Cross, Newgate prison, John Day’s printing house, and the London Coliseum, which remains from when the Romans had control of London. After the walk, a few of us decided to climb all the way to the top of St. Paul’s Cathedral and catch the views. That night, we all got together at The Globe to see a production of Henry IV Part 1, but this time we got to sit down! Better for my legs, worse for my soul, but still an amazing experience!

Wednesday: As a class we went to the Victoria & Albert Museum where we saw collectibles from Queen Elizabeth I’s time. I later explored the museum on my own, then had lunch with Sarah and Cady in the courtyard. I took the long way to a tube station and walked through Hyde Park before going back to the dorm.

Thursday: Instead of class we took a day trip to Oxford, which was just beyond all expectations. We first got a tour of Merton College Chapel (where we were passive-aggressively attacked by a pianist) and Library, which is the oldest library in England. We got to see a first edition of the Canterbury Tales, and all of us being English majors, we freaked out. My professor and I geeked out over how this was where J.R.R. Tolkien attended college, a fact that no one else in our group seemed to enjoy. We then got a demonstration in printing a hand-operated press in the Bodleian Library, where we got to print own pamphlet to keep. Next, we got a tour of the Bodleian Library and sanitarium, which were used in the Harry Potter films. Afterwards, we got some free time to explore Christ Church College (whose Great Hall was also used in the Harry Potter films), Blackwell’s (which has over 3 miles of book shelves), and the bustling streets of Oxford.

Friday: We walked to the British Library to see a treasures gallery filled with first edition manuscripts of Shakespeare. Also in the gallery were first editions and manuscripts of King Arthur (MAJOR geek moment), Brontë sisters, Buddhist maps, THE Magna Carta, and so much more. We definitely got our fill of first editions and manuscripts this trip, and a nerd like me LOVED it. Afterwards, I walked around the area for one of the last times and discovered an extremely cool coffee shop that served my smoothie in a wine glass. I also had an appointment and got my second tattoo: a quill for the writers around and within me.

Saturday: Without a plan, two other students and I decided to join my professor in an extra outing to see the ruins of the Rose Theatre. We watched a documentary narrated by Sir Ian Mckellen, admired the ruins drowned in water, and interacted with objects that were dug up from the site. It was an enlightening experience and it was nice to see my professor so excited about something he has never done (after going to London 22 times in his life!!). On our way back, we commissioned a poet-for-hire to create poems on the spot with his type writer, and I obviously asked him to write about Greek mythology in London. I plan on keeping that piece of paper forever. That night, three of my closest friends and I went to see one last show together, The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, which is definitely not a kid’s production even though it stars children.

Sunday: I had a few hours before my flight so I spent my time in the British Museum. I finished the Greek section, obviously went back to the Parthenon room, and finished with the ancient Egyptian rooms. After a few hours, I went back to the dorms, met up with Cady, and together we went to Heathrow.

Thus ends my three week study abroad program in London. While I was there the days felt so long because they were packed with so many things to do and see, but in the end I realized just how fast it went by. It truly is something different when you go somewhere new, or even somewhere you’ve been before, and really put yourself there for an extended amount of time. You learn to live like the people. You learn the streets, you learn the language and lingo, you learn the public transportation. You learn how adults relax after a long day of work, how families play on their weekends, and how locals spend the few sunny days they get in England. It was such a pleasure to be part of such a hustle and bustle community that really knew how to wind down and enjoy the little things. Not only did I get to live in today’s London, but through this program I got to live in Shakespeare’s London and walk in the footsteps of some of history’s greatest inspirations. Thank you JMU, Dr. Rankin, and all of my classmates for giving me an adventure I will never forget.