We got a break from the bustling city of London today with a side trip to Oxford.

The hour long train ride was a great chance to get a look at some of the English countryside while getting a chance to sit and relax after a week of busy sightseeing.

When we got to Oxford, I was surprised by how cute and quiet the city was. But it felt like it was somewhere I could see myself living.

We met up with our tour guide, who was great and explained the fascinating history of the town and the university. It was especially interesting to hear about how unique Oxford University is and how different it is from American universities. But no matter what, it was incredibly beautiful – especially all the landscaping (and the centuries old buildings).

Also, a lot of the buildings in Oxford University were used as inspiration for sets of the Harry Potter movies.

After a tour, most of it in the sprinkling rain, we headed out on our own to explore to various shops in the town. We also ran into a beautiful covered market that I loved.

It was mostly a day of shopping and hanging out in Oxford. I got a chance to journal on the train ride and think about all we’ve done on the trip. And when we got back, we had an amazing dinner at a great Turkish place by our hotel.