On Sunday, September 14, our journey began very early in the morning. At 4:50 a.m. we met at the bus station in Heilbad Heiligenstadt, and shortly after 5 a.m. we set off. After a long drive we reached Calais, where we boarded the ferry to Dover at 5:15 p.m. The crossing took about 1.5 hours, and from Dover we headed straight to London. Around 8 p.m. we finally arrived in the London Borough of Merton and were welcomed by our host families.

On Monday, the day started with a two-hour sightseeing tour through London. Afterwards, we had time to explore the city in smaller groups. Some of us went to Chinatown, others visited the Natural History Museum or Oxford Street, while some took photos at the Elizabeth Tower. A few groups also discovered the Outernet – a modern digital exhibition space.

On Tuesday, we enjoyed a boat trip on the River Thames, where we discovered many fascinating facts about the city’s history. Later, we had more free time in groups. Highlights included Camden Market, Sky Garden, Borough Market, and even the Tower of London.

On Wednesday, we left London for a day trip to Oxford. After about two hours, we reached the famous university city. There we strolled through the historic streets and were impressed by the charm and atmosphere of the colleges.

On Thursday, it was time to say goodbye. In the morning, we loaded our luggage onto the bus and thanked our host families. Before leaving, we still had some time to explore more places. Some groups went to Notting Hill, the St. Paul’s Cathedral, the British Museum, while others went shopping at the outlet in the O2 Arena.