My Week in the English Countryside

Part two of my June 2022 trip to Europe begins here! When we last left off, I’d just parted ways with my dad after an incredible long weekend in Paris and Bruges. You can read that recap HERE. Dad left to catch his flight, and I was on my own for the train ride from Paris to London. I was reading Ernest Hemingway’s A Moveable Feast, his memoir about his time living in Paris, and for the first time, felt deeply homesick. I missed Adam and the girls, and even though I was having the adventure of a lifetime, I felt very alone. It’s funny how traveling and time away can give you perspective and make you appreciate what you have back at home.

Upon arriving to London, I headed straight to Paddington Station to meet Julie Paisley, the host of the retreat, and the rest of the photographers on the trip. I’ve been a fan of Julie’s work for years and had also attended a retreat of hers in Charleston back in 2019. There’s so much commitment and trust involved with an international retreat like this, financially and in the time spent. I absolutely loved this retreat with Julie and am so thankful to have had to opportunity to attend!

All the Pretty Places Retreat Review

I cannot say enough good things about the All the Pretty Places retreat hosted by Julie Paisley. This week in the English countryside was exactly what my tired soul needed. She booked us the most charming cottage in the village of Lower Slaughter, with a beautiful garden and gorgeously updated interiors. It was restorative, peaceful, and creatively fulfilling to spend the week with a small group of like-minded creative women.

Julie planned two editorial shoots for us, both of which were inspired by Jane Austen. This is what drew me to the retreat in the first place, and they did not disappoint! View the Emma editorial here, and the Pride & Prejudice editorial here.

Touring the Cotswolds

On the days we weren’t shooting the editorials, we spent our days touring the English countryside! I’ve never been somewhere that just felt like home quite like the Cotswolds do. The rolling hills, the charming villages, the sprawling farm vistas…I love it all. A piece of my heart is there forever, and I can’t wait to go back again soon. We visited Bibury, Bourton on the Water, and Bath.

Bath was especially interesting to me, as Jane Austen lived there at multiple points of her life. It was really neat to walk the same streets she did, and the city has so much ancient historic charm. We visited the Jane Austen Center and the lavender fields were a major highlight as well!