The Countryside and Manchester

And the adventure continues! I think there's so many things to do and see in England and it's really crazy to squeeze them all in 10 days. Before I proceed with my update, I just want to share my itinerary:

June 09 - Shropshire
June 10 - Manchester
June 11 - Ambleside
June 12 - Ambleside

June 13 - York
June 14 - Boggle Hole
June 15 - Oxford
June 16 onwards - London

DAY THREE: After a fun day at Stratford Upon Avon, the YHA team brought me to Wilderhope Manor at Shropshire to enjoy the English countryside. The Wilderhope Manor is an Elizabethan manor hour built sometime 1585. It is currently under the care of the National Trust but operates as a youth hostel.

Truth be told, Wilderhope Manor is in the middle of nowhere and may not be the hostel everyone will appreciate, particularly those who are looking for an active nightlife. The view, however, make up for its shortcomings. The hostel is a great place to retreat from the wild urban living and perfect for group outings and weddings. I never had a chance to see the other rooms but they gave me the so-called Bridal Suite, which was a big room on the third floor with a king-sized bed and a bath tub.

My adventure began with Lucy and Joe, Wilderhope Manor's young staff (They're 19 and taller than me, huhu), bringing me to Bridgnorth. This is quite an odd town because it's split into High Town and Low Town. I'm not really familiar of the history of Bridgnorth but basically, there was a castle in the High Town and served as a stronghold during the Civil War but was later sieged by the Roundhead or Parliamentarians (they fought against King Charles I). The castle was demolished and little of the structure remained, including the great tower that leans at an angle of 15 degrees or so. The Low Town served as a bustling port. (All of that are based on online research)

After a quick tour, I asked them if it was possible to go to the Land of the Lost Content Museum at Craven Arms. Joe and Lucy were kind enough to take me there even if they haven't been there. I'm just fascinated with everything vintage and this place, based from online reviews, was a jackpot. They have a wide variety of nostalgic items, from British Airway seats (I swear, how the hell did they get that?) to rugby tickets in good condition. I think both Joe and Lucy had fun reliving some of their childhood memories.

Sadly, I wasn't allowed to take photos inside. But when you're in town, do drop by! :)

DAY FOUR: From this point onwards, I will be guided by one person — Lucy from YHA London Central. My itinerary was to go to Manchester and see the Old Trafford, a football stadium and the home of the Manchester United. We made a quick detour to the Ironbridge though, a top tourist destination for anyone who is in Shropshire. It is also considered to be the "birthplace of the industrial revolution".

But luck was not on our side that day. After visiting the Ironbridge, we found out that we had a flat tire and it took us forever to have it replaced. By the time we arrived at Manchester, most sights were closed. But that didn't stopped us from exploring the first industralised city.

DAY FIVE: First things first, a full English breakfast (well, sort of). I love bacon and eggs! <3

Since the YHA Manchester was a few minutes away from the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI), Lucy and I decided to check it out before heading to Lake District.

Lake District is so beautiful! I'm not into climbing like Sophie but I've considered doing that just to get a good shot of the area. Too bad it was cloudy the whole day. Hopefully, the weather will be better tomorrow.

We went to Wray Castle, a Victorian neo-gothic building that was built in the 1840s. Although not a real castle, the surroundings were quite lovely.