History and Politics

What a big day out.

So today was about doing a lot of inner London sights.  The day started really early for me planning out the day.  Google is a boon for planning, I simply work out an itinerary, then save it, then break it down into 2 part sectors to get the public transport legs and directions.  In order it was as follows:

• Old Bailey
• St Paul's Cathedral
• The London Stone
• The Monument
• London Bridge
• Tower of London
• Tower Bridge
• Parliament
• Big Ben
• Downing Street

With a little stuffing around we eventually reached St Paul's Cathedral. There was an entry fee but if you were saying a prayer it was free so Lorraine went in to pay her respects and then took in a little sightseeing.  I stayed outside, the life of an atheist is a tortured one. 

Then it was onto the Old Bailey, more as a tick box, really didn't want to bother with security to go inside and see a court case.

London Stone (look it up) we believe had been moved due to road works, but we found a nice little garden where we thought the London Stone would be.

Another  double decker bus ride over London Bridge, discovered a nice chapel, then walked back over LB to the Monument to the London Fires.

Then it was Tower of London, a formidable place full of history and another WOW moment.

Then we crossed Tower Bridge, very awesome and incredible, when crossing London Bridge we did get pics of it being raised and lowered.

But the piece de resistance was the houses of parliament, they are simply breathtaking, even with all the renovation scaffolding.  Unfortunately Big Ben was completely covered for reno's, cest la vie.

New Scotland Yard followed by a garden with statue memorials and we were on our way to 10 Downing Street.  However we were treated to an unexpected surprise of the Cavalry changing of the guard at the Cavalry barracks.

Downing Street was a little disappointing as Lorraine thought we could actually walk past it, but Downing Street is closed to all traffic and guarded by a multitude of heavily armed police.

From here we were going to go elsewhere but it had been a big day so we took a tube back to base with Lorraine saving us from a trip to Wimbledon when I rushed us on to the wrong tube train.  No matter 4 stops later we changed and got home okay, well at least to the local for a pint and hot chocolate.

Tomorrow promises to be another big day out.

From Lorraine:

Really enjoyed wandering around, we covered a lot of ground again and the architecture was spectacular.  There are some really amazing neighbourhoods here.



2019-09-10 - History & Politics