Get ready for a modern day treasure hunt through beautiful English cities, towns and villages!

We are going to have so much fun searching for all kinds of second-hand gems, handmade market goodies and antique treasures!

In England there are special secondhand shops called charity shops that directly benefit specific charities. Many markets open on certain days of the week, lining town streets. Being such an old country, England is also a great place to hunt for antiques.

We'll fly direct overnight on a Saturday from DFW Airport (or your local airport) and arrive in London the next morning. Upon arrival we'll enjoy a two to three hour scenic bus ride to Cambridge.

For two nights we will enjoy this beautiful town known for its historic university that began in 1209. Cambridge is also loved for its stunning architecture, peaceful vibe and lovely river bank walk.

We'll enjoy not only the peace and beauty of Cambridge but also its beloved market, which has around 200 independent sellers, 36 charity shops and a handful of antique shops. If we want to explore outside of Cambridge for even more treasures we can easily visit the countryside village of Great Shelford and/or the historic market town of Saffron Walden and their charity shops as well.

Next, we'll travel a couple of hours by bus to Norwich, known as the best city in the UK for thrift shopping! This sweet city has a great feel due to its mix of medieval history and independent artistic spirit. Because of Norwich's charming winding cobbled stone streets it is even known to be the UK's most complete medieval city.

For three nights we'll be based in Norwich to give us plenty of time to wander through their outdoor market that was founded in the 11th century and has more than 200 stalls. Norwich also has 60 charity shops and dozens of places to hunt for antiques, such as St Gregory's Antiques & Collectables, a unique antique shop located in a medieval church.

Finally, for our last two nights we'll stay in Colchester. About an hour's train ride from Norwich, Colchester is Britain's oldest recorded town. The Celts called this area home before the Romans made it the first Roman capital in Britain. Today, Colchester has all kinds of independent cafes- from vintage tea rooms to cat cafes and historic garden hideaways.

Arriving on a Friday means we'll be just in time for the open air weekend market. We should also have the opportunity to enjoy the first Saturday of the month Folk & Bespoke Market, which boasts only high-quality handmade goodies.

On our final day, Sunday, we will head back to the airport in London and fly direct home.

We’ll enjoy a peaceful trip of wandering picturesque streets and market stalls, shopping at small local second-hand shops and enjoy breaks at quaint cafes in between. There will be a lot of walking and some stairs. Thankfully, we generally won’t be on a tight schedule so there will be plenty of time to just enjoy “being” in England. 

This is my favorite time to visit the UK weather and nature wise. Flowers will be in bloom and we love the beautiful cool days, typically in the high 60’s this time of year. 

Many of my favorite clothes, housewares and body care items came from charity shops, antique stores, and markets I've found over the years in England. I can't wait to find more treasures with you!