The War Memorial Garden at Christ Church College in Oxford (EleSi - stock.adobe.com)
The bases of the 422nd Air Base Group (RAF Croughton, RAF Fairford, RAF Welford) lie west of London is an area of history and beauty. Prehistoric people have occupied the area since the end of the last ice age and their stone monuments are still standing today. Stonehenge is the most famous, but there are sites scattered all over. Visit Avebury for a larger stone circle, see the Uffington White Horse or explore the Rollright Stones near Chipping Norton.
A weekend at Stonehenge and Salisbury
The rolling hills and quaint villages that dot the Cotswolds make up a nearly 800 square mile area of natural beauty. Travel here is known for its connection with nature on trails and bike routes, wandering antique shops in cute villages, cozying up in a traditional pub, and seeing the opulence inside one of the many stately manors.
Central to the area is the city of Oxford. This is the location of the world’s oldest English-speaking university with its beautiful towers and turrets sprinkled throughout the city. Most of its 38 colleges are open to the public and its inspiring to walk the halls that once educated former students like C.S. Lewis, Stephen Hawking and J.R.R. Tolkien. Numerous museums offer a glimpse into the studies undertaken at Oxford University since its founding in 1096.
