We were on the blue route, which would take us past most of the major sights.
Tower Bridge in the distance with the Shard dominating the other buildings. The Cannon Street railway bridge was built in 1866 and widened in 1893. It's one of the many bridges crossing the Thames.
Facts not Opinions...a suitable motto for the Kirkaldy Testing Museum. The machines here have been testing components for bridges and structures since the 1800s.
Our tour guide was very dry with a quick wit, if you were listening. In his monotone voice he droned "This is another apartment complex being built that no one will live in because they can't afford it."
According to our guide, this is the longest painting in the world. Although it brightens up the underpass, I couldn't find any evidence to support that claim!
Elephant and Castle...love the names!
And the always stunning Houses of Parliament or Palace of Westminster, which is currently undergoing a major restoration. Apparently, it's only been a patch and mend job since the 1940s.
Big Ben on the right is also having major repairs and since August has been silent for the first time in over 150 years. The chimes would have been deafening to the workers, but it must be strange for Londoners to not have it bonging.
A massive building...the oldest part of the building dates to 1097. Now that's old!
Working our way around to Westminster Abbey. Nothing on this day was fast. We've noticed that with the tour buses in other cities. It's not a fast way to get around due to the traffic, but it is a nice lazy way to see the city.
This is St. Margaret's Church, which is part of the UNESCO world heritage site with Westminster Abbey. It was founded by Benedictine monks in the 12th century.
The stunning Westminster Abbey...picture Kate Middleton entering the church with the long train on her gown. According to our tour guide (and it was the first time I heard this), Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were not able to be married here as they "aren't Royal enough." You have to be third in line or above to have that honour.
Westminster School, an independent boarding school, also has its origin before the 12th century. It currently has about 750 students, a quarter of whom go home on the weekends.
Me Sissy and Trevor...so glad after so much planning and hoping, that this trip happened.
A cool statue of a lioness and a kudu...it was a second casting made to celebrate the opening of Grosvenor Gardens to the public.
The Rifle Brigade War Memorial commemorates the service of the Rifle Brigade in the First and Second World Wars...
Swinging by Buckingham Palace, we coincided with the Changing of the Guard. Double-decker buses are no longer able to drive in front of the Palace.
We were swinging around behind Westminster School again. The Westminster Scholars War Memorial, which features St. George slaying the dragon, is also called the Crimea and Indian Mutiny Memorial. It is in memory of those educated at Westminster School who died in the Russian and Indian wars from 1854-1859. So much history...
Right about now, the sun was hot and the bus wasn't moving too quickly, so we determined it was a good time to bail and get something to eat and drink.
We headed for the Red Lion pub across the street...
Which was another lesson in how London is anything but wheelchair friendly. Up the stairs...Pam gamely getting up the stairs and Trevor hoisting the wheelchair. They were both getting a workout.
It was nice to sit in a different environment out of the sun. Who knew London would be so warm on the first day of June. "Love the Wine You're With"...that's about right!
A cranky lion...I have no recollection of our meal here, although I can't say we ever had a bad meal anywhere. Pam probably remembers as she made it her mission to document every meal!
Feeling refreshed, it was back on the bus and past the Whitehall Palace. People love to have their photos taken standing beside the horses. There is a warning sign: "Beware--horses may kick or bite. (and always polite) Thank you."
There is so much security around London. Look at these two gentlemen with their hands on their guns. I cannot imagine the mind numbing boredom of standing here, yet having to remain alert.
Now we were whizzing by Piccadilly...did you know that London receives 10 million tourists a month?!
Piccadilly Circus...London's version of Times Square with lots of theatres, restaurants and shops.
Wah...I really wanted a Cinnabon, but we never did get there. Next time! It wasn't like we lacked for things to eat.
London Trocadero, which opened as a restaurant in 1896 and closed in 1965, is now home to souvenir hawkers and chain gift shops. For tourists, it's probably heaven.
West End's Leicester Square...London's home of entertainment.
And going by one of our favourite places...Trafalgar Square with the National Gallery and St. Martin-in-the-Fields. St. Martin is an Anglican church, built in the 1700s, but there has been a church on this site since medieval times.
And Lord Nelson watching over the Square...
A great gathering place for people...we've spent many a happy hour there just people watching.
The statue of Lord Nelson is guarded by four lions, which are normally adorned with people getting their photos taken.
We circled by Trafalgar Square twice giving us a different view of St. Martin-in-the-Fields church.
And now...on to St. Paul's Cathedral.
And because you can't do St. Paul's justice with a photo taken from a bus, here is one pilfered (one of my Dad's favourite expressions!) from the internet.
One of many imposing statues of Queen Victoria. Our guide said she is known as the grandmother of Europe, as she had nine children and married each of them to nobility across Europe. So Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip are cousins, and both share Queen Victoria as their great-great-grandmother.
The clock...
The famous dome, which is one of the highest in the world. Also hard to get a photo of from a moving bus...
The wedding cake spire of St. Bride's Church on Fleet Street, one of the oldest churches in London. It was designed by Sir Christopher Wren, and is the second tallest spire only bested another of his creations, St. Paul's.
The monument to the Great Fire of London or more simply known as The Monument. You can get up to the viewing platform by climbing a narrow winding staircase of 311 steps. Maybe next time!
Free cash? I'd like some free cash!
Didn't we see this hours ago? Going across a different bridge with the beautiful Tower Bridge in the background.
And, of course, the Shard. I think I managed to take a photo of it every day.
Potters Fields which apparently was named due to the potteries located here in the 1600s.
The Tower of London and the Gherkin...we must be close to home!
Ah yes, the daily (sometimes twice daily) photo of the Tower of London. It's so magnificent that I couldn't pass by without marvelling at it.
Off the bus after a long day of sun and sights--my head was full! We had purchased a bus ticket that included a cruise on the Thames, and laughingly we thought we might do it all in the same day. Exhausted by now, we trudged home and stopped at another of our favourite pubs close to home, the Minories.
The trains run over it, so frequently inside the old walls, you hear the sound of a train rumbling overhead. Sissy and I made a game of it. No matter who was talking or eating, when the train went over head, you had to shout "Train!" For some reason, Trevor and Jim never quite found the game as funny as we did.
Yes, indeed!
Jim and Trevor at the bar. They made frequent trips! You go up and order your drinks and pay. You go order your food and pay and it's delivered to your table. Don't go up to the bar without knowing your table number. The nice thing was when you were finished eating and drinking and realized how tired you were, there was no waiting for the bill!
Loved these sayings...
Sissy drinking "Feel Good" although it doesn't contain any alcohol. I call that a waste after a long day; she did too.
Very fuzzy and so were we at this point.
Goofy Sissies!
Love the names!
A happy camper!
Stores and restaurants that exist under the overpass...
And because we weren't tired enough, we did a quick walk up to find the Aldgate tube station, which we would be leaving from in the morning. Look at this beautiful sky and the spire of St. Botolph's Aldgate or simply the Aldgate Church. The earliest record of a church on this site is 1115 AD.
With our heads full of facts and amazing sights, and our tummies full of food, it was off to sleep. Tomorrow, we are going to visit Dad's cousin Ann and her husband, Arthur, in Needham Market near Ipswich.
1 comment:
So interesting and great pics! We will be in London in October so do give us some tips when you get to Kingston this summer?
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