Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
THE THAMES
VALLEY & THE
CHILTERNS
by Stephen Keeling
The rich landscapes of the Chilterns and Thames Valley
are rooted in 1,000 years of English tradition. Much of
the tourist buzz comes from the region's connections
with English high society: Royal castles, racecourses, rowing
galas, and Britain's poshest university town. Yet it's also the home of inno-
vative restaurants, dynamic local theatre, and a network of cycle paths and
hiking trails rooted firmly in the 21st century.
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SIGHTSEEING
Windsor Castle
is still home to the Royal Family, a
place to enjoy the pageantry of the daily Guard Mounting ceremony (or to
even see the Queen herself). Upriver, the ancient university town of
Oxford
is dripping with history, elaborate medieval architecture, and a
vibrant student population that gives it a surprisingly cosmopolitan atmo-
sphere. Touring the nearby
Chilterns,
you can visit the cottage where
John Milton composed poetry, or the village where Roald Dahl created his
most beloved characters.
EATING & DRINKING
In a region with such a storied past, ancient
pubs and fine English ales take center stage. Grab a pint at Oxford's
White Horse,
or sample craft beers in St. Albans, the home of the Cam-
paign for Real Ale. The region's more creative, contemporary side is on
show in a host of Michelin-starred institutions; dine on snail porridge at
Heston Blumenthal's
Fat Duck,
or modern French cuisine at
Raymond
Blanc's
exalted restaurants.
HISTORY
The area has a rich history. Travel back to Roman times at
St. Albans,
or take a peek into the lives of the English nobility at
Blen-
heim
and
Woburn.
You can meditate on the roots of freedom at
Run-
nymede,
where King John signed the Magna Carta, and wander the
corridors of
Eton,
England's oldest school.
ARTS & CULTURE
Fuelled by its famous university, Oxford is also
the cultural capital of the region, with a range of plays, performances, and
concerts almost every night. Take in some Shakespeare at the
Oxford
Playhouse,
or a high-quality classical recital at the
Sheldonian,
before
