My Road Trip Through England
Turning 30 and Letting Go of the Plan
Last summer, I turned 30. And if I’m being honest, I spent most of my 29th year feeling a quiet kind of anxiety about it.
I think we all carry these internal projections of what we believe our lives are supposed to look like by a certain age. For me, I had marked 30 as the year I should (I know—not a helpful word) have major pieces of my life together: a fulfilling career, a home I could make my own, a romantic partner, and maybe even a family soon on the way.
Much to my own dismay, I don’t have one of those pieces in the way I once imagined.
Although I know I have so much to be grateful for, I can’t help but notice this nagging feeling that my life doesn’t quite look like what I thought it would. Like maybe my twenties hadn’t gone to plan.
For us interior designers, having a plan is fundamental to how we think and how we operate. We want to map things out, to picture them clearly, to make room for all the moments. So when things don’t go to plan, it can feel a little unsettling—sort of like you’ve lost the plot.
On top of that, there was also this underlying feeling throughout my twenties that I had more time than I did—that I would eventually get to where I wanted to be, and that I’d achieve x, y, z “on time.” Then all of a sudden, I was in my 29th year, looking back and wondering where the time had gone.
I think that’s why this trip felt so important. I wanted to mark the start of my thirties as a turning point, an opportunity to start fresh and do things differently. I didn’t want a perfectly optimized itinerary or a list of “must-sees.” I wanted to experience it in real time—to discover things as I went and let it all unfold naturally.
The Route
I had always dreamed of visiting London, but I also knew I’d like to explore more than just the city. I wanted to see the quiet countryside, the rocky coastline, and the charming old-world places in between.
Admittedly, I squeezed a lot into a very short amount of time:
10 days
7 different accommodations
Across these main areas:
London — a fast-paced, vibrant city with layers of historic and modern architecture
Somerset — slower, more rural, fireplaces and countryside
Cornwall — coastal, bright, a mix of sea air and beautiful architecture
Cotswolds — almost storybook-like towns (gorgeous, although the main areas can be quite touristy)
…and back to London
What I Found Along The Way
From delicious food to fairytale towns, and everything in between—what I love about England is how you can experience both the quiet countryside and bustling markets in a single day, with lovely interactions along the way, from quaint shop owners to the people you meet in passing.
Over the next few posts, I’ll be sharing more about the places I stayed, the little shops I found, and some of the most beautiful spots I came across along the way.
Looking Back
Like most things, the trip didn’t go exactly to plan. There were beautiful moments, and there were messy ones. Things didn’t always go smoothly. But looking back, it gave me exactly what I needed.
From adapting to driving on the opposite side of the road, to more abstract moments like learning to keep myself good company, I showed up for myself in ways that felt different from my day-to-day life at home.
More than that, the trip gave me space to think about what I actually want for my life—not just how it looks on paper, but how it feels on a deeper level.
In the end, I came home with beautiful memories, some really good stories, and a different perspective. And in a way, that feels like a reflection of my twenties. They may not have gone exactly to plan—but they shaped me, taught me, and brought me here. And although it may not be how I once pictured it, it’s still a beautiful place.
Maybe that’s the point: learning to let go of the so-called “plan,” and instead embrace life as it is—because there are still so many wonderful things to experience, even without checking every box.
And that felt like a pretty good way to turn 30.
