London Tour 2016

I spent 2 full days in London at the end of April, 2016, preceding a business trip there.  This was my first time in London, so I did the typical touristy things.  So come along for a walk around Westminster and London!

On Friday, I hired a guide who toured me around Westminster and then to the Tower of London.  We started at Big Ben, Parliament and Westminster Abbey which has been the coronation church since 1066!  It was rebuilt in 1245 in its current Gothic style.  The Abbey was worked on and added to over the next centuries, and even now they are building the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Galleries in a gallery above the church that the public has not been in for 700 years!  The new Gallery will open in 2018.

We were there early and were the first inside - coming through a different entrance than the crowds.  How inspiring to be in the cloister (arch and column enclosed yard) all alone in this ancient building!  When we got to the abbey itself, the crowd had not been let in yet so we were first as well for a few minutes.  This was a magical moment for me to imagine scenes from coronations, and other stories that came to life.  It was a quiet thrill!  No photos allowed inside, so following are 2 entrances and the cloister.
(Click on photos to see them larger, click X in upper right to return here.)

Main entrance.  The church is called the "west minster" to distinguish it when it was built, from the "east minster" - St. Paul's Cathedral in the City of London.

Details at the entrance:  the church was actually named The Collegiate Church of St. Peter.

West entrance that we entered from.  The row of 10 statues were added to empty spaces in 1998.  They are 10 Christian martyrs from around the world.

Part of the large cloister - so quiet in the early morning.

Another view of the cloister.  The gothic church was built in 1245.  These flying buttresses were an innovation of the time and made it possible to distribute weight, and have a large dome and huge open area inside the church.

This statue of Churchill is in Parliament Park and faces Big Ben and Parliament.  There are 11 statues of world leaders and dignitaries in the park.  I liked the expression on this likeness of Churchill.

We (the tour guide and I) walked to Buckingham Palace for the changing of the guard.  This is the guard approaching at the Queen Victoria memorial featuring the gold Winged Victory.  I hadn't known the guards' hats are fur from U.S. grizzly bears. 

The guard entering the Palace yard.

 There are many "changing of the guard" ceremonies!  At or near the Palace we saw the mounted Whitehall guard procession, the changing of the guard at St. James palace where Charles and Camilla reside, changing of the guard at Whitehall itself, and also at the Tower of London! 

The Queen's Whitehall guard processing down the mall toward Buckingham Palace.

Whitehall guards approaching the Palace.

Whitehall Changing of the Guard.  The small house is one of 2 guard houses flanking the gates.  

Mounted Whitehall guard at post.  They stand here for one hour and then are replaced.  The horses have to be carefully selected as they must put up with tourists standing next to them, touching them, etc.

Now at the Tower of London - guard getting ready for the changing of the guard.

The Queen's House and green built in 1530 during Henry VII's reign, at Tower of London.  You can see The Shard, Europe's tallest building looming up on the right.  Also notice the guard in the guard house on the left.

On the Wall Walk at the Tower of London with the old buildings (chapel) from the 15 and 1600s and the brand new Shard. skyscraper in the distance.

Saturday I visited St. Paul's cathedral. 

This is the opposite side of the cathedral with a memorial to firefighters who protected London during the Blitz.

That's me on the steps of St. Paul's - an homage to "Feed the Birds" from Mary Poppins!

Keep walking past the firefighter memorial and you cross over the Thames on the Millennium footbridge.  The bridge opened in 2000 and was dedicated by the Queen.  In a few days they had to close the bridge as it swayed and was called the Wibbly Wobbly Bridge.  The bridge was fixed and opened again in 2002.  It leads to the blocky brown building you see ahead, the Tate Modern museum.

View down the Thames from the Millennium footbridge.

There were lots of people in London as the Marathon was the next day!  Here is the terminus of the Millennium Bridge at the Tate Modern.  People on the bottom of the photo are walking up to the bridge.  People on the top will be walking across.  That is the dome of St. Paul's Cathedral, across the Thames.

I thought this tavern looked so British - and I love the name!

This is a street off of Oxford Street (major shopping area).  I loved the building and taxis.

There is no dearth of phone boxes!  The building with the huge ball on top is the London Coliseum theater, currently showing Sunset Boulevard with Glen Close.  Also notice the "cooper" at the top of the white building.  Not sure why he is there but the guide said there is a great pub at street level!

I enjoy window reflections!  Believe it or not, this is an umbrella and walking stick store - you can see them in the window - and the stately building across the street reflected.  Oh, and you see a bit of the photographer on the right.

This is a great deal!  Go to St. Paul's, have a free 90 minute tour.  Then walk down to the Thames and walk over the Millennium footbridge to the Tate Modern Museum which is also free (except for 2 floors).  Go up to the 6th floor cafe for a bite to eat or a drink at the coffee/ale bar and feast on this view, looking back at St. Paul's and London!  (The Globe theater is right next to the Tate as well.)

Thank you for visiting!