Traveling to London for the British Women Writers course was a wonderful experience. Having the opportunity to walk through the city where many great writers lived and set their stories was very interesting and enlightening. The walking tours were informative and helped me to understand the circumstances under which the authors we studied were writing and setting their stories. There is something about being able to experience a place while learning it’s history that makes it, it’s inhabitants, and it’s place in history more vivid and tangible. The two tours that I enjoyed the most were The Darkest Victorian Walking Tour and the Blitz Walking Tour. The tour guides were incredibly knowledgeable, and were able to convey what life was like in Victorian and WWII London. The historical context and interesting stories the guides provided deepened my understanding of the novels and short stories we read for the class, as well as for novels I read previously that were written by British authors.

In addition to the planned activities, being able to explore the city on my own was also a great experience. There are so many fascinating things to see! I particularly liked the V&A Museum, as well as spending an entire morning in some of London’s parks. London is an easy city to navigate using the tube, and would be a great place for those who want to be more independent to begin to venture outside their comfort zones. Additionally, because the trip lasted only one week, it is a great introduction to the study abroad experience. Overall the trip was very enjoyable and interesting. I only wish I could have done and seen more while there!