Out and About: Tower of London, Big Ben, Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey

More highlights from our days in London. After our visit to the Tower of London, we took a walk to see the Palace of Whitehall (government buildings), the huge clock tower affectionately referred to as Big Ben (Big Ben is actually the nickname for the Great Bell that rings out the time), the Westminster Bridge that spans the Thames, Westminster Abbey, and a host of other sights along the way. Westminster Abbey was the most astounding experience of all with its impressive tombs and Poet's Corner. It's impossible to do justice to our sightseeing in London, but here are a few photos.

First stop, the Tower of London. You could spend an entire day here...the Tower is actually more like a little village, steeped in history and housing the Crown Jewels. The line was long for the CJ, but it was totally worth it. No pictures inside, so all we have is the sign at the entrance to the exhibit.

 

Next, the Westminster Bridge, which is right next to the Tower. Views from the bridge are spectacular.

Britain's government buildings and Westminster Abbey. No photography is allowed in the Abbey, but there are many interior photos at http://www.timetravel-britain.com/articles/london/westminster.shtml

Theatre, St. Paul's and Portobello Road

Rick Steves, the well-known travel writer, advises London visitors to take time away from sightseeing and enjoy London as a Londoner does, strolling in the parks, shopping at the local markets, attending an Evensong service at Westminster Abbey or St. Paul's, taking in a play in the West End theatre district, etc. We intended to do more of this than we actually did, but one of the highlights of our week in London was attending Mousetrap at the St. Martin's Theatre. Mousetrap, by Agatha Christie, is in its 62nd year (over 25,000 performances!) and the longest running production in London. We thoroughly enjoyed the intimate, historic theatre venue and the performance was superb. After the applause has died down, the cast has a final message for the audience...as with the 61 years of audiences before us, we were solemnly charged with keeping the "whodunit" secret! So, I can't tell you how the play ended, but we ended our evening across the street at "The Ivy" which we later discovered has a history of its own with many celebrity sightings over the years. No celebrities the night we were there, but the food was fabulous.

Our intention to attend an Evensong service did not pan out, but we were lucky enough to arrive at St. Paul's Cathedral during choir practice which was amazing. (No photography was allowed inside the cathedral, so we only have pictures taken from outside.) As for shopping, I (Nancy) managed a morning of shopping in Portobello Road, a picturesque and totally unique area in Notting Hill. Alas, strolling in the parks will have to wait for our next trip.

Magnificent St. Paul's

Portobello Road

Buckingham Palace and the WWI Centenary

We ended our first day in London at Buckingham Palace which was as impressive as you could ever imagine. We didn't see anyone royal, but it was fun to imagine the royal family on the balcony as we have all seen on TV at so many momentous occasions. After seeing the crowds at the Tower of London on our bus tour, we went  early the next day to avoid the busiest times for visitors and hoped to get in without too much time spent in line. However, when we arrived, the area was fenced off and there was a huge police presence. It soon became apparent that "something" was going to happen. It was the centenary anniversary of England's involvement in World War I and many commemorations and memorial events were being held the week we were there. The day we arrived at the Tower, we found out that some member(s) of the Royal Family were expected to make an appearance. It was all very secretive, but we decided the folks with the enormous cameras might be the best source for the real scoop--this turned out to be an excellent hunch and soon we were told that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were expected. This seemed too good to be true, but sure enough, that's exactly who arrived along with Prince Harry. It was an amazing stroke of luck to have arrived for this event unawares. Here are the pictures of the Palace and Centenary event.

Buckingham Palace

Centenary Observance at the Tower of London

Each sculptured poppy is "planted" in memory of a British life lost in World War I.

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