We have slept ok. Richard was up early and went to the hotel gym at 6:00 am for an hour. We need to head out for breakfast as we weren't impressed by the pricey food from the hotel last night. I had done some research and had a list of places walking distance from our hotel. We walked to Med Kitchen located at 25-35 Gloucester Road. I had toast with delicious preserves and breakfast tea. Richard had scrambled eggs and toast with English tea. I didn't write down the amount but I think the cost of our breakfast was very reasonable. Now it's time for a long day of sightseeing!
We walk to the Gloucester Road Tube Station and take the circle line to Westminster exit. We use our travel cards and it was super easy! Walking up the stairs we get our first glimpse of that London skyline. Walk on the Westminster Bridge viewing Big Ben, Parliament. The Thames River, the London Eye. I was blown away.
We head to Westminster Abbey, London's oldest and most important church. The Abbey is world famous as the resting place of Britain's monarch, as the setting for coronations, and other great pageants. One of the most glorious examples of medieval architecture in London. Half national church, half national museum. Admission was £9.00/$17.05 senior rate and my guest (husband) was free! We do an audio tour which is quite good. I'm disappointed as there are signs-no pictures allowed. However, I see several people taking pictures but I just can't bring myself to break the rules. I make up for the no picture taking by buying postcards. But I say to myself that if I ever get back to London and tour Westminster Abbey again I will take a few pictures. I take tons of pictures of the outside of this gem. The West Front Towers were completed in 1745 designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor. The interior is mind blowing. I just can't find words to describe the feeling. There is so much to take in that we easily spent almost 3 hours here! Nave, Lady Chapel, Poets' Corner, Tomb of Elizabeth I, Coronation Chair............... I bought some postcards and a die cast toy traditional London black taxi and traditional London red bus for my grandson. Cost £12.90/$24.44.
Continuing with our sightseeing we walk by a telephone booth, a statue of Winston Churchill located in Parliament Square, the cenotaph, Banqueting House, horse guards, 10 Downing Street which we can't go down as it's blocked off.
We stop for drinks at The Lord of the Moon of the Mall/Weatherspoon chain pub. I have a Pimms and Richard has a Strong Bow beer. Cost £5.64. Refreshed we head back out over to Trafalgar Square. This is London's main venue for rallies and outdoor public meetings. The 165' column commemorates Admiral Lord Nelson, Britain's most famous naval captain who died at the Battle of Trafalgar against Napoleon in 1805. The 4 lions were added to guard its base. Here you can also see the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery. There's a statue of Charles I who was beheaded.
Then it's Leicester Square where you can buy day of cut rate theater tickets, Piccadilly Circus-lots of shops, Carnaby. On the look out for soccer gear for my son-in-law and grandson we stop at Lillywhites and Soccer Scene where I make my purchases. A soccer shirt for my son-in-law and a cute set of top, shorts, and socks for my grandson. Cost £77.98/$147.76. Soccer gear is expensive!
We've had a long day. Lots of walking. We hop on the Piccadilly line back to our hotel. After a shower and change of clothes we are ready for dinner. Dinner is at Wetherspoon's Cafe. Chili and Thai noodle salad. Then it's the Victoria line to Green Park. A long walk to Hard Rock where I buy souvenir shot glasses for my step daughter and a T shirt for myself. Cost £26.75/ $50.59. Back to our hotel I am beat. Tomorrow is another long day of sightseeing!
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| Breakfast |
We walk to the Gloucester Road Tube Station and take the circle line to Westminster exit. We use our travel cards and it was super easy! Walking up the stairs we get our first glimpse of that London skyline. Walk on the Westminster Bridge viewing Big Ben, Parliament. The Thames River, the London Eye. I was blown away.
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| View of Big Ben and Parliament from the Westminster Bridge |
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| London Eye |
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| Statue of Boadicea, the British queen who resisted the Romans |
We head to Westminster Abbey, London's oldest and most important church. The Abbey is world famous as the resting place of Britain's monarch, as the setting for coronations, and other great pageants. One of the most glorious examples of medieval architecture in London. Half national church, half national museum. Admission was £9.00/$17.05 senior rate and my guest (husband) was free! We do an audio tour which is quite good. I'm disappointed as there are signs-no pictures allowed. However, I see several people taking pictures but I just can't bring myself to break the rules. I make up for the no picture taking by buying postcards. But I say to myself that if I ever get back to London and tour Westminster Abbey again I will take a few pictures. I take tons of pictures of the outside of this gem. The West Front Towers were completed in 1745 designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor. The interior is mind blowing. I just can't find words to describe the feeling. There is so much to take in that we easily spent almost 3 hours here! Nave, Lady Chapel, Poets' Corner, Tomb of Elizabeth I, Coronation Chair............... I bought some postcards and a die cast toy traditional London black taxi and traditional London red bus for my grandson. Cost £12.90/$24.44.
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| Top left: West Front Top Right: The Nave from the quire screen Bottom Left:The Lantern roof Bottom Right: The Lady Chapel |
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| Stamps |
Continuing with our sightseeing we walk by a telephone booth, a statue of Winston Churchill located in Parliament Square, the cenotaph, Banqueting House, horse guards, 10 Downing Street which we can't go down as it's blocked off.
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| Telephone booth |
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| Statue of Winston Churchill |
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| View of Cenotaph from Westminster Bridge |
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| Cenotaph |
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| Horse guards |
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We stop for drinks at The Lord of the Moon of the Mall/Weatherspoon chain pub. I have a Pimms and Richard has a Strong Bow beer. Cost £5.64. Refreshed we head back out over to Trafalgar Square. This is London's main venue for rallies and outdoor public meetings. The 165' column commemorates Admiral Lord Nelson, Britain's most famous naval captain who died at the Battle of Trafalgar against Napoleon in 1805. The 4 lions were added to guard its base. Here you can also see the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery. There's a statue of Charles I who was beheaded.
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| Admiral Lord Nelson |
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| Statue Charles I |
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| Charles I statue and Admiral Lord Nelson statue |
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| Plaque marking the center of London from which all distances are measured |
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| National Gallery |
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| Admiralty Arch-entrance to The Mall; separates courtly London from the hurly burly of Trafalgar Square |
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| National Portrait Gallery |
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| Booth selling cut price theater tickets |
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| Piccadilly Circus-statue of Eros |
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| Hamley's |
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| Soccer gear I bought for my son-in-law and grandson |
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We've had a long day. Lots of walking. We hop on the Piccadilly line back to our hotel. After a shower and change of clothes we are ready for dinner. Dinner is at Wetherspoon's Cafe. Chili and Thai noodle salad. Then it's the Victoria line to Green Park. A long walk to Hard Rock where I buy souvenir shot glasses for my step daughter and a T shirt for myself. Cost £26.75/ $50.59. Back to our hotel I am beat. Tomorrow is another long day of sightseeing!
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| Victoria Station |
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| Dinner |
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| Our hotel |
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