The idea of an unscripted journey is often a catch-22. The past week in the UK has been unplanned other than booking the arrival ticket to London. I’ve subsequently darted here and there with only a rough idea of certain must-see locations. After 5 days based out of Brighton (visiting the South Downs, Stonehenge, Seahaven), I headed north through London, Durham, and Newcastle. The last minute decision to meet a traveler friend lead me to Durham, but the unscripted nature cost a dear fortune as the train ticket was 141.10 pounds ($237) for the 4+ hour train ride, cattle-class, standing room only! Needless to say, the UK is exceedingly expensive. It is, in reality, considerably cheaper to fly than to take the coach or train.
As it is, the capricious decision to visit Durham was rewarded with a visit to two Unesco sites: Durham Cathedral and Hadrian’s wall — dating approximately one thousand and two thousand years old respectively. The cathedral at Durham is the epitome of Norman architecture, with precision cut and grand sweeping arches, with stunning art work set on the bend of the river Wear.