Thursday 28th July 2011 – Wibtoft to London

Fish pond at Kendelie Farm

A bit of a clean up this morning at Kendelie Farm before we set off – cleaning out the fridge etc ready to hand the motorhome back.  Back on the M1.  Traffic was a bit slow as there is so much road works happening.  Looks like they are widening the road.  When we handed the motorhome back we noticed that they had a lot of plastic bumpers and sill panels hanging up in the shed so figured it wasn’t only us returning with some damage to the vehicle.  I scraped our bottom panel coming off a single lane bridge in Scotland.  We were almost off when a car came from the other way.  He couldn’t reverse because there was a car behind him and I thought I had enough room between us and a low barrier.  Another couple of centimetres would have managed it.  I guess that’s why we take out travel insurance which covers damage to hire vehicles.

The Motorhome people dropped us off at Crews Hill Railway Station where we caught the train to Finsbury Park and then changed to the tube to Russell Square.  

We had a bit of a walk searching for College Hall, not helped by the vagaries of the address.  The use of numbered streets is not common apparently.  Dropped everything off and went for a walk.

College Hall, Malet Street, London

College Hall is student accommodation for the University of London.  Double room with an on-suite, very adequate and very well located not too far from things.  Excellent wifi too so should be able to get the blog up to date.  After showers and a nap, we were off to the pub around the corner to dinner.  Pub food is quite good and reasonably priced <£20 for both of us, including drinks.

A bit of washing and then off to bed.

Friday 29th July 2011 – London

Quarter to eight for breakfast in the refectory downstairs.  Quite a selection – bacon, eggs, hash browns, beans cereal etc.

Jill and I walked down to see the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace.  Went via Piccadilly Circus (to visit the Information Centre) and St James Park.  

St James Park

The park was lovely – lots of ducks, geese, moorhens, pelicans and squirrels around the lake.  We were told to be there to get a spot by 11 (for 11:30).  When we arrived about 10:40 we were fortunate to find one of the few remaining spots on the fence so were glad we didn’t arrive any later.  Fortunately, there were a few things happening over the next 50 minutes – guards marching around and the band and troops marching into the quadrangle.  It was also interesting watching the ‘special’ people who got to watch the changing of the guard from the inside.  There was a family with 4 young children (between 4 and 7ish) all dressed up in their ‘Sunday best’.  The children were bouncing about a bit after a while – sitting on the edge of the path tossing gravel.

The ‘changing’ was full of pomp and ceremony and we couldn’t get the Christopher Robin song of “They’re changing guard at Buckingham Palace, Christopher Robyn went down with Alice” etc… out of our head.  It was all quite spectacular.

Walked back to Leicester Square via Trafalgar Square and Nelson’s Column.  

Trafalgar Square

It’s interesting seeing these ‘things’ in reality after all the pictures you see.  Had a seafood stir-fry at a Korean café.  Then walked back to Mallet Street for a rest before heading back to Finsbury Park on the train to see Kiruna and boyfriend Gareth.

Was lovely to see Kiruna – they had some great advice re our stay in London, what to see, do etc.

Off to another pub for dinner – delicious Thai food (spicy seafood salad and a Panang curry).  We have had a chip free day today which is pretty amazing.

Caught up with Jennie and Richard who had been on the Hop-on-Hop-off bus and had been to Greenwich before bed.

Saturday 30th July – London

We planned today at breakfast.  The original idea was to do the Hop-on-Hop-off today but friends Karen and Mark are arriving this afternoon, on their way back to Australia, so we have decided to postpone the bus until Monday.  Instead, it’s off to the Tower of London “To gaze on Ann Boleyn’s ghost” as the poem goes.  Walked to Russell Square and caught a train to Tower Hill.  We purchased Oyster Cards yesterday which makes it easier.  Can be used on all public transport and no lining up to buy tickets etc.

The Tower was pretty busy even at this hour of the morning (glad we didn’t come any later and that we had booked online).  We started off on a guided tour but the group was so large we couldn’t really hear the guide so went and hired a ‘talking guide” instead.  

This place is amazing.  All I knew about the tower was that it was a place where people were imprisoned before being beheaded so expected it to be some sort of prison.  It’s so much more than that.  It was founded towards the end of 1066 as part of the Norman Conquest of England. The White Tower, which gives the entire castle its name, was built by William the Conqueror in 1078.  It was used as a prison since at least 1100, although that was not its primary purpose. A grand palace early in its history, it served as a royal residence. 

The Tower of London

As a whole, the Tower is a complex of several buildings set within two concentric rings of defensive walls and a moat on the bank of the Thames (controlling traffic up and down the river). There were several phases of expansion, mainly under Kings Richard the Lionheart, Henry III, and Edward I in the 12th and 13th centuries.

The Tower has played a prominent role in English history. It was besieged several times and controlling it has been important to controlling the country. The Tower has served variously as an armoury, a treasury, a menagerie, the home of the Royal Mint, a public records office, and the home of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom.

The peak period of the castle's use as a prison was the 16th and 17th centuries.  Despite its enduring reputation as a place of torture and death, only seven people were executed within the Tower – First Baron William Hastings, 1483; Queen Anne Boleyn, 1536, Margaret Pole, Countess of Salisbury, 1541; Queen Catherine Howard, 1542; Jane Boleyn, Viscountess Rochford 1542; Queen Lady Jane Grey 1554; and Robert Devereux 2nd Earl of Essex, 1601.   Executions were more commonly held on the notorious Tower Hill to the north of the castle, with 112 occurring there over a 400-year period.

Tower Bridge from the Tower of London

So much to see it was exhausting.  You need a whole day for this place.  While I queued up to see the crown jewels (very impressive) Jill went back to the moat to watch a medieval dual.  Met up for lunch at one of the cafes within the walls and then headed back to College Hall to meet up with Karen and Mark.  Spent some time catching up on each others travels before heading off for drinks and dinner.

Had drinks sitting outside one of the pubs.  While there Jill saw 2 women about to cross the street – the short one looked like Peta Stamell, Kiruna’s sister (last time we had seen her she was a child but Jill had seen a recent photo of her on Facebook (!!!) – we had also spoken to Kiruna about her when we had met up).  Peta had been visiting a friend who lived nearby.  It’s a small world.  May catch up with her again before we leave London.

On to a Filipino restaurant for dinner (another chip-free day) and then to a supermarket before home.

Sunday 31st July 2011 – London

Skyped this morning - to Bradley and Co (Aylee played the piano for us – she’s having lessons) and to Damian, Sarah and Christopher.  Was lovely to be able to see and speak to them.

Caught a bus to Camden Town to the markets.  Interesting to see a lock in action with a boat passing through.  Found a different coffee “chain” that has soy milk – Café Nero and had some yummy food at the market.  The market was huge.

The Stables at Camden Market

Back to College Hall for a short rest and then on the train to South Bank near Waterloo station to walk along the Thames.  

There were so many people out on a Sunday afternoon.  Passed through a food festival and also an arts and crafts market.  Had drinks in a pub overlooking the river and then walked back to the north of the river across Blackfriars Bridge.

View of the Thames

Visited St Paul’s Cathedral (a very impressive building which dates back to the 17th Century and designed, along with many others, by Christopher Wren) on our way to the station.

St Paul's Cathedral

Back to College Hall briefly before heading off to an Indian restaurant for dinner.

Monday 1st August 2011 – London

Slept in this morning – woke up at 8:15 and quickly hurried to breakfast.  Karen and Mark had a taxi booked for 9am to take them to Heathrow on their way home.  After seeing them off we showered and washed our hair with the intention of getting hair cuts but ended up getting sidetracked at the Sony shop.  Our video camera had been playing up so took it in for them to have a look at it.  They said they could fix it 'temporarily' but it was on its last legs – it is 7 years old!!  They had a new HD camera on special so walked out of the shop with a new toy.  £299 sounds pretty reasonable.

Set out again for hair cuts but would have had to wait so ended up putting it in the “too hard basket” and hopped on the “Hop-On, Hop-Off" Bus instead.  It is a 24-hour pass and includes a cruise on the Thames.  Started off on the red route but changed to the yellow and blue routes.  The red route and blue routes had an “earphone” guide which was pretty good.  The Yellow route had an actual tour guide (an older English lady who was excellent – very clear).  Picked up the bus at Leicester Square and on to The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, Big Ben and Parliament.

Parliament and Big Ben

Got off and had a coffee on the South Bank and then got on a yellow bus which travelled to Downing Street, St Martins-in-the-Fields, Covent Garden, Fleet Street, St Paul’s, London Bridge, Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, Shakespeare’s Globe, Tate Modern, and finished up at Piccadilly where we got off and had some lunch (at a cute little Japanese restaurant).

St Paul's Cathedral

Modern London

 
Finished with the bus for the day on the blue route – the Ritz, Hyde Park, Harrods, Royal Albert Hall, which finished at Russell Square not too far from College Hall.

Harrods

A short rest and a shower and it was off to “We Will Rock You” at the Dominion Theatre in the Theatre District.  As you might guess it leans heavily on the music of Queen.  It was a very cleverly created story and a most enjoyable night.

Tuesday 2nd August 2011 – London

This morning we were back on the HoHo bus (the rest of the yellow route: Hyde Park; The Wellington Museum; Speakers’ Corner; Marble Arch; and Buckingham Palace) and then took the riverboat downstream to Greenwich.

Parliament House

Tower of London from the Thames

After a coffee, we walked to Observatory Hill.  Had our photo taken (by another tourist) with one foot on either side of the Greenwich Meridian.  

Standing on the Greenwich Meridian

Greenwich Park is a lovely spot (as is the whole of Greenwich really).  Back on the boat to Westminster Pier (under the Tower Bridge).  

The Royal Naval College, Greenwich

Walked across the bridge to Waterloo Station and then caught the train to Goodge Street.

Another walk to St Martins-in-the-Field with Jennie and Richard and had dinner in the café in the crypt.  J & R then went on to a piano recital in the church while Jill and I went back to Leicester Square to a Stand Up Comedy Night at the 99 Club.  It was hosted by Gareth Berliner (Kiruna’s boyfriend) and he had invited us when we saw them the other day.  There were 3 comedians who were all pretty good, the last one particularly so.  Gareth did a great job as compare – even gave Kiruna’s upcoming TV show a plug.

Walked home from the show.  It’s great that College Hall is so close to everything.

Wednesday 3rd August 2011 – London

Caught the train to Paddington Station this morning and picked up our tickets for Friday.  It’s from Paddington that we catch the train to Exeter.  A quick coffee and then on to St John’s Wood to have our photos taken walking across the pedestrian crossing at Abbey Road a-la-The Beatles.  There were plenty of other tourists there doing the same thing, some being rude enough to block the road.  The road users must hate it.

Richard and Jennie a-la-The Beatles at Abbey Road

Jennie and Richard then went off to have a look at Lord’s Cricket ground while Jill and I came back to St Pancras to buy our Eurostar tickets for France next month.  Also booked a room at the YHA across the road from the station for the night before we leave.  As our booking is for 5:25 am we didn’t think we needed to be too far away.  Came back to College Hall and Jill had a rest – not feeling 100%.

I went to catch up with Jennie and Richard.  The plan was to go to evensong at Westminster Abbey but when we got there we found it wasn’t on so we didn’t get a chance to look inside after all.  Didn’t fancy the other option of lining up for hours during the day to get in – and paying £18 for the privilege.

Westminster Abbey

Back to Mortimer Arms for Thai (where we had been a few nights ago) and then an early night.

Thursday 4th August 2011 – London

Started the day (well after breakfast, writing postcards etc) going to the post office at Russell Square.  Sent 2 smallish parcels to Aylee/Nate and Christopher.  Postage £18.  Lots of things are good value over here but postage is not one of them.

Coffee at Costa (surprise surprise) and then to Trafalgar Square to visit the National Gallery.  It’s raining today.  First time we have had the rain gear out for some time.  The temperature the last two days was pushing 30 degrees – very warm for London apparently.

Trafalgar Square

The National Gallery is amazing.  Something like 66 rooms full of artworks.  It’s amazing to see the originals of all those paintings you have seen in books all our lives.

A 'real' London Bus

Had lunch near Leicester Square then to London Eye as the weather had cleared a bit and we thought we should do it.  The view was pretty amazing.

London Eye

Looking East from London Eye

Parliament from London Eye

Across the river to Westminster Abbey (Evensong was on tonight).  Service was 40 minutes and gave us the opportunity to have a good look at the Abbey.  The choir was also pretty amazing.  Will be interesting to see things happening in the Abbey in the future and to be able to picture where we were sitting.

The North Gate of Westminster Abbey

Took the train back to College Hall.  Jill had a rest (has a sore shoulder from carrying her ‘heavy’ bag all day) while I went out to get something healthy for dinner for ‘Planet Organic’.  Do some washing and start thinking about packing for the train trip to Exeter tomorrow.