Our main highlight when visiting England was definitely coming to Oxford. We’re a big fan of C.S. Lewis so we took a day trip to Oxford to do all things C.S. Lewis.
- The Kilns- AKA C.S. Lewis’s home, where he wrote all of the Narnia books. About 2 weeks before arriving, I contacted The Kilns to schedule a tour. To my surprise, I received an email back from a friend of mine from North Carolina who works for the foundation to confirm the tour. We took the Oxford tube from London to Oxford. Once we arrived, we walked to his neighborhood via a wooded trail. Everything was just so normal- there were people walking, someone kicking the futbol, people watering their plants. I’m sure they are thinking, “What are these tourists doing here?”. The Kilns is not a museum, scholars from Oxford actually live there. Our guide was so gracious of our tardiness! In one of the rooms, there was the same painting at the beginning of The Voyage Of The Dawn Treader. We tipped her at the end & she was a bit weirded about it, “You don’t tip here” Oops! Then, we walked out to the garden where E ran around the grass, climbed on the bench, and then lost her water bottle. So, if you see a Hello Kitty water bottle there, that’s hers 😂 *currently closed due to Covid
- The Eagle and Child- We had to drink pints where C. S. Lewis & J. R. R. Tolkien drank pints! We just couldn’t believe that we were at the same place as the Inklings were discussing their unfinished manuscripts, including The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Also, we ate lunch here. It was the perfect timing since E fell asleep.
- Christ Church Cathedral- Since E fell asleep, we decided to stroll around the grounds. We didn’t go inside, but it was quite grand in structure despite being one of the smallest cathedrals of the Church of England.
- George and Danver- We sat on the patio & enjoyed a scoop of ice-cream while people watching. I just love people watching especially somewhere overseas. So many people with different backgrounds & accents. We learn so much from traveling. Not only are we getting to see beautiful places, but learning about different cultures & hearing other’s experiences can’t be found in a text book.
It’s been 4 years since we went to Oxford & I can still remember it like it was yesterday. I can remember getting lost looking for the Oxford tube. I can remember the magical feelings I had when entering C.S. Lewis’s home. Every time I watch Narnia, I am instantly taken back to Oxford. We actually wanted to name our baby after him if we had a boy. He is an inspiration to both my husband and me.
If you are a fan, I highly recommend visiting here.
Here are a few of my favorite quotes by him:
“You can’t go back and change the beginning , but you can start where you are and change the ending.”
“There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.”
“True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.”
“Don’t let your happiness depend on something you may lose”
MRSABBYS 