An English affair: Nostell Priory

At the end of February, I picked up my bags and hopped on a jet plane bound for England. I had made up my mind earlier this year to spend about 10 days exploring a country that's been on my travel list for as long as I can remember. And explore I did. I had the chance to travel through some of England's major cities in the north, and ended my trip with five magnificent days in London. Over the course of the next few posts, I'll share some highlights from the trip, including my favourite sights, sounds, eats and experiences. So visit often!

A love so true
I flew in to Manchester and met my dear friend B., who I've known since my stint in South Korea. B. lives in West Yorkshire, and I spent the first few days of my travels exploring this quaint section of the world she calls home. I can't deny that the sights, sounds, smells and simple beauty of this part of England had me giddy with romantic thoughts. I was finally a part of the English countryside I'd read so much about -- it was no longer simply in my dreams, and it didn't fail to deliver.

Nostell Priory: The big house
I visited Nostell Priory with B. and her sister on my first full day in England. We drove through the country roads and pulled up to the front parking lot of a grand house near Wakefield -- the kind I'd only seen before in BBC dramas or in my imagination while engrossed in Jane Austen novels. I remember seeing the house in the distance and thinking about how magnificent it looked set against the misty English weather I'd come to love.

The Nostell Priory website sums it up quite truly and simply: An 18th century architectural masterpiece. Getting to the house meant walking through the grounds, which seemed to go on for acres. But I didn't mind it. I imagined the ancestors of the Priory (home to the Winn family for 300 years) walking the grounds just like me, but years before; sharing stories, exchanging ideas and dreams. My little romantic heart went pitter-patter as I walked through the well-maintained pathways, and I finally started to realize the inspiration for all my beloved Victorian novels.

The main grounds of Nostell Priory. Photography by StraightFromTheCurls

I hope you enjoy this photo as much as I do. Stay tuned for more from my trip to the other side of the pond. From an actual estate home to a serene walk along the Thames in London, there's a lot more happy memories coming your way.

xo
Simi

My favourite things today include:
- A clean desk at work (I took my lunch hour for some spring cleaning -- absolutely worth the effort).
- My bed (March was a busy travel month, and there's something to be said about the comfort of your own bed).
- The Hundred-Foot Journey (It's the book I'm currently reading, and absolutely love).
- Duck Dynasty marathons on A&E.
- Daily texts from my mother.
- The first signs of Spring (I saw tiny crocuses pushing their way out of the Earth today, and I couldn't help but smile).

Your turn! What are some of your favourite things right now?