DAY 14 – SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2026
We enjoyed a slower start to the day with breakfast at our hotel before packing up and getting ready for our 10:30 AM taxi pickup. After several days of hiking, sightseeing, and constantly repacking our bags, a relaxed morning felt nice.
Our driver first brought us to Stonehenge, about an hour from Bath. Before arriving, we had downloaded the audio tour provided by English Heritage Society, which added a lot to the experience. Standing in front of Stonehenge in person is one of those moments where you suddenly realize just how ancient human history really is.
The monument dates back roughly 4,500 years ago, with the earliest construction believed to have begun around 3,000 BC and the larger standing stones added later around 2,500 BC. Historians and archaeologists still debate exactly how the stones were transported and assembled, especially considering some of the smaller “bluestones” were brought from Wales, over 150 miles away. It is incredible to think about the planning, engineering, and sheer effort required to create something so massive without modern tools or machinery.
While many details remain unknown, Stonehenge is widely believed to have served ceremonial and burial purposes, with strong connections to the summer and winter solstices. The stones are carefully aligned with the movement of the sun, particularly sunrise on the summer solstice and sunset on the winter solstice. Even thousands of years later, the precision of the layout is remarkable.
We spent quite a while walking the path around the monument, listening to the stories and theories through the audio guide, and simply taking it all in. It really is one of those places that feels both mysterious and awe-inspiring at the same time.
After our visit, and a quick lunch in the café, we climbed back into the taxi for the just-over-two-hour drive to London. We arrived at our hotel shortly before 4:00 PM and decided we should get out and explore our new neighborhood for this part of the trip: Marylebone.
We wandered along Marylebone High Street, which was lined with cafés, bakeries, bookstores, and stylish shops. Along the way we passed Marylebone Town Hall and counted four different wedding parties coming and going. Apparently Sunday is a very popular wedding day in London!
A little farther down the street we found ourselves outside the elegant Landmark London hotel. We stepped inside “just to look around” and immediately found ourselves admiring the hotel’s stunning glass-covered atrium filled with towering palm trees and natural light. Since it was well past our normal tea time, we decided it only made sense to stay for tea and scones. Sometimes you simply have to make sacrifices for the sake of the travel experience.
After our snack break we attempted to continue toward Regent’s Park, but the weather had other ideas. Rain arrived unexpectedly and, unfortunately, neither of us had packed raincoats for the evening stroll. With our plans officially dampened, we headed back toward the hotel.
A cocktail and dinner at the restaurant connected to our hotel, followed by a quiet evening to relax, turned out to be the perfect ending to another wonderful day in England.
Hammond Adventures 