First Day in London - Getting to Know THE TUBE

We set out first thing to cash in our pre-purchased "Hop On, Hop Off" bus tickets for a tour of the city. This meant we had to get across town to Trafalgar Square and we decided there was no time like the present to get to know the much-acclaimed people mover in London, The Tube! After figuring out how to get an "Oyster Card" (pre-loaded pass) and make sense of the maps, we were on our way--on our way with the rest of the world. First lesson in London: Accept the huge crowds, realize that everyone is going the same place you are, give up any idea of personal space and just enjoy the ride. It took one ride, and we were hooked. So efficient! You can get ANYWHERE on the London Tube--and we did :-). The HOHO bus was not quite as fun mainly due to the aforementioned crowds, but it gave us an overview of the city which was very helpful in determining priorities for the rest of the week. Here are a few photos from the first day and our first glimpses of some of London's iconic sites. Mid-day, we left the bus and hopped on a boat for a ride down the Thames to Greenwich, but that's a story for another post.

High Street Kensington Station

Our Best Friend, the Tube Map

 Trafalgar Square

 More of Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery

 View from up top on the HOHO bus