Come With Me to London — and the Cotswolds! 🇬🇧
All about my second group trip with Atlas Adventures this fall.
Remember the fabulous group trip I took to London last fall? It was a week of fun that had people commenting: Really, really want to go next time! and Can you please consider doing this trip again??
Great news, friends: I am returning to the UK this autumn with Atlas Adventures!
Working with Atlas Founder Whitney Haldeman and her team was such a delight. As soon as that trip ended, we began brainstorming another. More than 400 (!) of you expressed interest in joining when I asked on Instagram, sharing incredible ideas of what we could do together. We took all of your suggestions and put together a really special itinerary for this October.
We are expanding to six nights from five, which will allow us to visit both London and — gah, I am so excited for this — the Cotswolds. I have always wanted to venture to the quintessential English countryside retreat, with its quaint villages and cozy pubs.
Our trip will begin in the city, taking highlights from last year (including tea, shopping with Susan Caplan, and a night at the theater) and adding the fabulous new royal fashion exhibition at Kensington Palace. Then it’s off to the Cotswolds, where we will visit some very relevant-to-our-interests spots, including Downton Abbey’s Highclere Castle. I cannot wait!
Want to join? We would LOVE to have you. More information below, including dates, cost, and what’s included in the itinerary.
Feeling nervous about traveling with a group of strangers? I hear you. I was, too. I have included some “take the trip!” testimonials from some of the wonderful women who joined our last adventure.
Wondering what Atlas is all about? Keep scrolling for Whitney’s thoughtful insights on luxury travel.
Questions for me? Pop them in the comments, I am happy to answer anything. You can also email me at Hello@SoManyThoughts.com.
But mostly: Mark your calendars — registration for our trip will open Wednesday, April 23 at 10am PT / 1pm ET.
Note: Atlas Adventures is covering the cost of my trip as well as my time. I am excited to be working with them again.
ICYMI: Re-upping my newsletters from our 2024 adventure, including a deeper dive on why I wanted to work with Atlas, inspiring stories from my travel companions and a full recap of what we did (and what I wore). Click below for a peek at all the fun.
London & Cotswolds 2025 — Atlas Adventures x Elizabeth Holmes
(This newsletter may get cut off your inbox, click here to read it in full.)
All about the 2025 trip
Who: A group of up to 22 individuals from the So Many Thoughts community. (Solo travelers are encouraged! You are welcome to sign up with someone, too. The purpose of Atlas trips is to bring together people looking to make new friends.)
When: Sunday, October 5 to Saturday, October 11, 2025
Cost: $6,500
What the trip includes: Three nights in London (staying here) and three nights in the Cotswolds (staying here), and a host of activities. We will visit the Dress Codes royal fashion exhibition at Kensington Palace, enjoy afternoon tea, shop with vintage jeweler Susan Caplan, see the stage production of Wicked, visit Downton’s Highclere Castle and more. Plus, you’ll get a lot of time with yours truly! Click here for all the details, as well as what is not included.
How to join the fun
***Please read this carefully. Atlas has a unique registration process in order to put together a great group of travelers — it’s a big part of why I love working with them.***
Registration requests will open on Wednesday, April 23 at 10am PT / 1pm ET.
The Google form will be posted on the Atlas Adventures trip page as well as on my Instagram Stories and in the SMT Subtack chat. Space is limited to 22 people — please plan to submit your registration request promptly. (If you want to travel with someone, you must both request to register individually.)
Registration requests will be considered on a first-come basis. However, the Atlas team takes into consideration answers to two questions when forming our group: 1) Why do you want to come on this trip? 2) If you follow the royals, what made you interested in them? (In the interest of time, you may want to prepare your short answers in advance!)
The Atlas team will review submissions promptly and extend invitations to register via email. Please be ready to commit! To secure your spot, you must submit a non-refundable deposit of $850 within 24 hours.
Questions about the trip? Click here for more on what is included (and what is not). You can also reach out to Atlas Adventures directly at Info@BlondeAtlas.com.
All about Atlas Adventures:
What is Atlas? From Founder Whitney Haldeman: “We host bespoke, luxury group tours around the world for women that facilitate meaningful connection and authentic cultural experiences with other like-minded travelers. We provide community for women who prioritize travel, regardless of your season of life.”
Need a nudge? Several of the wonderful women who I traveled with last fall offered up their thoughts on the trip for my newsletter here. I wanted to share a few favorite insights:
Amanda on doing something for herself: “I was really, really nervous. I’ve never done anything like this. My son asked me why I was coming on the trip and I thought I would maybe say, ‘To learn’ or ‘For meetings’ or ‘To study.’ I decided to tell him I was coming for fun. And I realized in that moment I hadn’t really done something for fun — purely for fun and purely that was an interest of mine — in a really long time. It felt very indulgent and it felt like a risk. But at the same time, I’m so glad that I did.”
Rhys on the best part of traveling with Atlas: “All the decisions are made. Our plans are there. There are pockets [of time] to do what you want, but you don’t have to think. They tell you every night: This is what we’re doing [tomorrow]. You wake up and go. You get to enjoy it. It’s so nice to have a trip that’s done for you — especially if you are a parent or if planning is a big part of your job.”
Alison on what surprised her most: “I like all the other people on the trip! And I figured: I don’t know about these people as strangers. Would I hit it off with them? But everybody’s been really delightful to be with and it’s been fun getting to know different people from different parts of the country and at different stages in their lives.”
Get to Know Atlas Adventures
Whitney, I am so excited about this! For folks who are new here, remind us who you are and why you started Atlas?
Whitney Haldeman: I’m a London-based Luxury Travel Advisor and the founder of Atlas Adventures. I’ve worked in the industry for over a decade now and am incredibly passionate about curating life-changing travel experiences for people. After years of planning individual trips for clients, I started Atlas Adventures with the goal of bringing together curious, kind and like-minded women who share a love of experiencing the world. I believe travel has the power to transform us — not just through the places we go, but the people we meet along the way. (You can read more of the Atlas philosophy in my earlier newsletter with Whitney here and follow her on Instagram.)
“In a world that often asks women to shrink themselves, to wait, to compromise, there’s something profoundly powerful about choosing to take up space with joy and intention.”
What is luxury group travel all about?
The word “luxury” can sometimes carry assumptions — frivolity, excess, or exclusivity for its own sake. But for me, it’s something entirely different. Yes, we stay in beautiful hotels and seek out extraordinary experiences — but at its core, this is about celebration and self-empowerment.
In a world that often asks women to shrink themselves, to wait, to compromise, there’s something profoundly powerful about choosing to take up space with joy and intention. Many of our travelers describe these journeys as “taking themselves on their own honeymoon,” or finally booking the trip they’ve dreamed of — without waiting for someone else to say yes.
It’s not about indulgence. It’s about agency. It’s about gathering in community, celebrating how far we’ve come and unapologetically claiming the life we want. The magic happens not just in the places we go, but in the friendships that form, the way women champion each other and the energy of a group that chooses expansion — together.
What was the highlight of our trip last fall?
There’s so much I could say. I know my entire team truly valued the spirit of creative collaboration. We loved the fresh perspective you brought, and your thoughtful additions elevated everything we had envisioned (Susan Caplan was a particular highlight—how could it not be?).
But at the heart of it, for me, it always comes back to the people. The intersection of our teams, our travelers and our local partners created something really special—something that felt greater than the sum of its parts.
There was a moment at the farewell dinner that stands out. I looked around the table and saw strangers who, just days before, hadn’t known each other—now deep in conversation, laughing, connecting. There was candlelight, warmth, joy and that unmistakable sense of something meaningful unfolding. It’s in those moments that I’m reminded exactly why I do this!
How is this year’s trip going to be different?
It’s been really fun to continue our creative collaboration on this next chapter — especially with all the brilliant ideas that have come from your community! There’s still so much more to discover in London, so we’ll be keeping the signature moments you loved, like afternoon tea and a night at the theatre, while layering in new experiences, including current exhibitions and fresh perspectives on the city.
This time, we’re also venturing beyond London. We’ll spend three nights in the city, followed by three nights in the Cotswolds. One of the highlights I’m particularly excited about is the day trip to Highclere Castle — the real-life Downton Abbey. It’s something I’ve wanted to include on an Atlas itinerary for years, and with their limited opening schedule, it feels like such a treat that we’re finally able to make it happen!
I have never been to the Cotswolds! Can you paint a picture of what it is like?
The Cotswolds are such a charming slice of English countryside! Think rolling green hills, little stone cottages, winding lanes...and that unmistakable Nancy Meyers magic à la The Holiday. Imagine a cluster of countryside with charming little villages peppered throughout: each one with an abundance of antique shops and charming pubs to enjoy. It’s peaceful, beautiful, and just the right mix of cinematic and real-life cozy!
I hope you’ll join us! Mark your calendars — registration requests open April 23 at 10am PT / 1pm ET. The Google form will be added to the Atlas trip page and I will share the link on Instagram Stories as well as the SMT Substack chat.
Questions for me? I’m at Hello@SoManyThoughts.com. Questions about the trip? Atlas is ready to help — email Info@BlondeAtlas.com.
This trip looks wonderful! …but doesn’t work for my schedule. Hopefully there will be another in the future!
What an incredible experience and trip! Thank you, Elizabeth for the opportunity!