Once you venture outside the hustle and bustle of London, you realize that England has much more to offer than the Tower of London or Buckingham Palace (although they are must-sees if you're in the city!). I am fortunate to have family living in Exeter (definitely helped the expense part of the trip, and it never hurts to have you're own personal tour guides!). They assured me prior to my arrival that there would be no shortage of things to do during my 2 weeks in Exeter. Although I had my doubts at first, I have to admit that they were right. On any given day of the week, there are at least two or three different tours offered throughout the city. You can take the Roman Exeter, Medieval Exeter, Cathedral, etc., tours--and they're all free!. The red coat guides are very knowledgeable and ready and willing to answer any questions.
All along the River Exe there are pathways, bridges, and pedestrian subways for those of us who enjoy a stroll (or morning jog) along the water's edge. Nothing beats an early morning run down to the quay with the mist rolling along the surface of the water! The area surrounding Exeter is chockfull of castles, manors, courts, and beach towns worth taking a day trip to. Arlington Court was one of my favorite stops. The grounds are amazing, covered with green hills, ponds, horses, gardens, a carriage collection, and much of the original furniture from the 1800s still found in the main house.
One of the best parts of my trip (which may surprise you) was taking part in the Queens Road auction, which takes place every other Tuesday. I have never laughed so hard in my life! Watching three elderly British women carrying on a conversation about chocolates and mystery boxes while sitting in the front row (quite the distraction for the auctioneer, although he seemed to be as amused as I was!) would bring a smile to anyone's face. Let's just say I arrived with one partially filled suitcase and left with two suitcases filled to capacity!
I met two local rugby players while taking in a Saturday game. They wound up joining my group for dinner at the local pub and friendly conversation about the upcoming ashes cricket games (one of the guys was an Aussie and one was British--go figure!). I hung out with the two of them and a few of the other players at one of the local nightclubs (where I ran into a guy I met at the auction, who turned out to be a bouncer at the club!).
After a first-hand taste of British nightlife, I went with my aunt and uncle to the city of Bath, where we saw the royal crescent, Roman baths, and pump room; took an open top bus tour of the city; and had a traditional British dinner--bangers and mash! Bath is a magical city that is not to be missed! I did have a chance to jet over to Stonehenge and London on my last two days in England. I took my fill of pictures at Stonehenge (how else can I make everyone believe I was there?) and spent the day taking the Tube around London.
I would recommend making time on your schedule to visit the British Museum. It is an immense building with everything you could imagine inside. The Rosetta Stone, Cleopatra's mummy, and artifacts from all over the world can be found at this one of a kind museum. If you have time, you have to stop by Harrod's, the largest department store in the world. The chocolate section alone is worth the trip, with tiny works of art made of chocolaty goodness! And the bread pudding is to die for!!
I was completely exhausted by the time my 2 weeks were over, but I wouldn't take back any of it. If you do make the trip across the pond, don't be afraid to venture out and see some of the less-visited spots--you'll be glad you did!