A quiet night’s sleep was followed by a sumptuous breakfast downstairs at The Bird.
After checking out, we left bags in the car and walked into Bath via the Pulteney Bridge.
The Roman Baths site opened at 9 am today (Monday) and we took the self-guided tour with headset. It did not disappoint.
This is the finest example of a Roman Bath in the world and established Bath as a destination to visit from all over the Roman and Mediterranean world.
We then walked through the town and boarded a double deck bus to tour the rest of the city.
We left Bath and headed north into the Cotswolds. First stop was a quaint village called Castle Combe.
Lunch followed at The Salutation Inn, a pub just up the road.
The Finger Fish and BLT sandwiches on dark bread were amazing.
The final destination was Painswick where we were booked for the night at The Painswick, the 2016 Hotel of the Year in England as voted by The Telegraph in London. We arrived in a slight rain and found fires going downstairs and upstairs.
We finished with dinner in the hotel dining room. Order the Grouse with a Negroni.
Long ago bypassed by an interstate, the skinny, two-lane Historic Columbia River Highway has seen little change since its completion in 1922 as the United States’ first planned scenic roadway. The route winds above 
Picked up a very nice BMW 520 Diesel at Victoria Station at 9:30 am. GPS is a must as there is always a learning curve driving on the left side of the road.
Drove to Windsor Castle and arrived at about 11. Very light crowds as it was threatening rain, but the tour did not disappoint. Beautiful collections of gold and silver work, paintings by Hans Holbein the Younger (who painted Henry VIII and Thomas Cromwell in the 16th Century), and amazing tapestries.
After a quick pint of a Wadworth Swordfish Rum Infused Ale, we finished the drive at our Hotel, The Bird, in Bath.
After a great British breakfast, hopped on the Tube at Tower Hill and headed for the South Kensington station. Arrived at the Victoria & Albert Museum as it opened at 10.
Set out at 9 am across Tower Bridge and experienced South Bank.
Borough Market is a must visit and it delivered delicious stall after stall of every cheese, meat, vegetable and savory or sweet foods.
We then continued along the Thames for a quick view of Shakespeare’s Globe, followed by a tour of the Tate Modern.
Headed north to Buckingham Palace before walking through St. James Park to the National Gallery.
After touring the Tower, three blocks west lies (very appropriately) The Hung, Drawn & Quartered.
They feature Fuller’s Frontier lager and an excellent small plate food selection. We decided on Crispy Squid, Steak & Fuller’s Mini Pie and Chorizo in Red Wine. All were very good and followed up with another Fuller’s Craft Lager.
Heathrow Express to Paddington Station in 20 minutes.
Grab a Black Cab outside and enjoy a great ride to your hotel near the Tower Bridge.
Check into your hotel and walk over for a 2-3 hour tour of the Tower of London.
The presence of the inn itself demands this kind of myth-making. Its hulking imperfections, hidden staircases and infinite doorways, narrow pathways and intricate stonework, call to mind an honest, handmade world, where times were slower and things made to last. Rumors of its past are worn proudly on its proverbial sleeve — stripped wood where there once was a second floor balcony, prominently displayed plaques of historic register, mismatched sediments of historic photos, the speckled outline of a dart board and creaking floorboards. The front door was originally the back door because most guests arrived by boat.
Boomers Daily 