You’ve caught on by now, right?
Jackie and I are country girls who like to travel. We debated a long time about whether or not to take a few days in London at the finish of our Wales trip. In the end, we decided it may be the only time we fly in/out of Heathrow, so we should take advantage and see this historic city. Since Jackie narrowly avoided having a full-blown panic attack in the chaos of the London Underground, we were glad we chose to do a guided tour.
We booked through Premium Tours, which we’d recommend with a couple of caveats: Be prepared to be stranded wherever the tour ends. They do not take you back to where you were picked up! Our tour ended at the Park Plaza Hotel. Others ended at the London Eye or Tower of London.
The other tour negative is that no information was provided about lunch or restroom stops. Don’t stock up on coffee beforehand because you don’t get a break until lunch, which is on your own and not until one o’clock. Luckily we’d thought of this possibility and our hotel prepared us boxed lunches. They gave us so much food that we shared the treats with our new Australian friends!
We met this mother and her two thirty-something-year-old sons while waiting in the bus station for the tour to start. They were as unsure as us about being in the correct place. Humorous confusion started our exchanges and bounced back and forth throughout the day. What fun it was to watch them interact with family quips and ongoing jokes.
Our First Double-Decker Experience!
We were on the top of a closed double decker bus, being driven around London and hearing tidbits of this huge city, marveling at the history. To give you perspective, London has over 8M residents, Jackie’s state of Montana finally topped the 1M mark, and my state of Pennsylvania over 12M.) We were overwhelmed with the expanse of the city.
We saw where the 1666 Great Fire of London started at a bakery on Pudding Lane, ending at Pie Corner. The devastation obliterated 350 acres, including St. Paul’s, in four short days. Londoners: “Fire Fire” is a new exhibit at The Museum of London, on display until April 2017.
Buckingham Palace is the only place we saw law enforcement during our travels (except for the Saundersfoot Spending Police)—extensively armed at that. The exterior of the Palace is austere compared to others I’ve seen. But it is huge and it was grand to stand there and see the Palace Guards.
The Tower of London
The Yeoman Warder (Beefeater) guides at the Tower of London are not to be missed. Our Warder was a grand story teller with a sardonic approach to the various off-with-their-heads stories. Seeing the Crown Jewels was sparkly, but the people mover slides you along so quickly that you see them in greater detail online.
Unlike what I had imagined: a tower with chains in the walls and a place for decapitations, the Tower of London is a sprawling complex of buildings. It covers twelve acres and has multiple towers, barracks, a chapel, the Jewel House and the Queen’s House.
Try to participate in the first tour of the day, when the Tower is not crowded. By the time we finished, it was bustling. The Yeoman’s site provides vast information about visiting—you could spend an entire day here.
About Sherlock Holmes in London
A treat was stopping by St. Bartholomew’s Hospital. We’re fans of the current “Sherlock” series starring Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. St. Bart’s is the hospital where Holmes faked his death in this version of The Reichenbach Fall. We were surprised at the number of messages left for the fictitious detective.
Other Notable Sites
Another interesting spot was a plaque near where Sir William Wallace was put to death in 1305. The guide said that in twenty years of coming there, he has never seen it without tributes. Those sentimental Scots.
We were sad to part ways with our Australian mates after St. Paul’s Cathedral. They were fun and sharing the tour with these folks made it special. St. Paul’s is active with worshipers. Be respectful and remember—no photographs inside.
Twenty minutes to take it in is a third of the time required to walk the sprawling grounds of this grand place. Don’t skip the gardens with various statues, flora, and fauna to enjoy.
Our tour ended with a quiet and relaxing Champagne Tea at the Park Plaza Hotel near Westminster Bridge.
And a lovely walk
To return to our hotel on the far side of Green Park, we strolled over the river, taking in the vastness of Parliament stretched beside the Thames. Research notes that “Big Ben” refers to the Bell itself, rather than the tower that holds it. The Bell weighs 13 tons. For contrast, anyone who has stood before the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, it weighs just over one ton. There are two theories about the actual Ben—one is Sir Benjamin Hall, known in the House as Big Ben, and the other is a heavyweight boxing champion of that era, known by the same name.
Not quite tired and well-recovered from our big-city anxiety, we walked around the Mayfair area, Jackie snapping various photos. A doorman popped out of the Four Seasons and asked if she was a famous paparazzi, so of course, I posed with him so she could get a shot.
Have you been? Did you see the same sights?
Thanks for touring Wales, Bristol and London with me—back to the USA for a while!
I always love booking a city tour the first time I visit a new city. The longest one I ever went on was the nine-hour city tour of Istanbul. I was only there for a day and a night, and it was a great way to fit the main highlights on. On my own, I never would have seen so much. Now I long to go back and spend a week in that city someday.
Oh wow, Jeri, Istanbul! That’s definitely a tour-city. I don’t know how else you could take it all in. Get thee back there! 🙂
It’s a good thing you are so laid back and easy going Rose! A tour that leaves me stranded and no word and food and facilities doesn’t sound too great. Lol. You got some great pictures of London though.
The wit and charm of the tour guide made up for a lot, Susan. The orchestration of it was lacking, but we were so enthralled with the sights–well, what the heck!
What a great post. Those pictures are amazing. I have to say that I need to see the Tower of London sometime in my life. It is a desire I have had since I was a kid.
With your interests, William, the Tower of London would have to be a definite day-long affair for you. It was truly an amazing place with more history to devour than we had in the hour we were there. I was really rather spellbound by it all. Hope you go!
Oh, I love London and have been several times, though I must admit never to St. Bartholomew’s Hospital. In fact, the profile shot I use was taken on my last trip. I was single by then. Ah, the memories! 🙂
Single in London could be a great deal of fun, Marquita!
It was really neat to be at St Bartholomew’s and pretend we were there for a Sherlock filiming.
I enjoyed reading about your London adventure. It’s been 17 years since I visited and it’s all very vivid in my memory. Someday I’ll go back to visit again. I loved the city! I won’t hijack your blog by rambling on with my own stories but will add that the Whispering Gallery in St. Paul’s Cathedral is magical.
Nadine, we would have SO loved more time in St Paul’s. We didn’t have time to explore the whole inside and then the outside, so didn’t see/hear the Whispering Gallery.
You certainly toured London! You visited the great landmarks that us Londoners can so often take for granted. Afternoon champagne was a great way to end the day.
We were in Trafalgar Square a few weeks ago. We walked down to take photographs with the guards and horses. There were so many tourists.
I went on the London Eye roughly 13 years ago and was rather disappointed. I much prefer the Emirates cable cars which travel from Greenwich, London.
We wanted to get to Trafalgar Square, but it didn’t work out. Lots of tourists like us, not knowing what we’re doing? HA!
Cable cars sound like more fun than the eye. I don’t do Ferris wheels. But Pittsburgh has two great cable cars and I love riding them. Or trams..hm, might be more a funicular!
I’m so glad you went to London. It is such a great city. I lived in NYC when I went, so we were truly impressed by the metro. It was so much cleaner than our local subways. That is amazing that your tour didn’t have bathroom breaks. Good thing you skipped that morning coffee!
When we were in NYC a few springs ago, I was impressed by the subway system. It was easier to navigate than I imagined. Then I saw the Bologna, Italy train system, then I saw London…my these things are impressive!
Traveling around on the tube is one of my favorite parts of London. The only downside is that when you are always traveling underground you end up having no idea where things are in relation to each other. I’m sure that I’ve gotten on the tube, switched lines twice, and end up a few blocks away from where I started.
I so totally get what you’re saying there, Ken. I can totally envision doing that. Took more than one trip to little DC before I figured out walking vs. the Metro for being the closest!
London is my favourite city so far. Amazing atmosphere, I really would like to live there one day. My favourite place is St Pauls Cathedral. When the night comes and street musicians start to play, it is incredible
Kristina, we would have liked to spend more time in St Paul’s–the downfall of a tour in the limited time in each place. London is too big and busy for me, but my husband’s nephew lives there and loves it. Too each our own, always!
I love London! It’s on the top of my bucket list to visit along with few other cities. Will keep in mind to again go through the post whenever I do get to visit the place.
I think it was a bit of a kid’s dream come true to see Big Ben and Parliment in person, let alone all the other wonderful sights.
I love London and have visited several times. There is so much to see and do, I find something new every time. Your tour was a great way to get a taste of lots of London in a short time.
I remember reading your London posts and kept thinking of your adventures while we were on a tour. Fun!
Wow, it looks like you did a lot on the tour. My kids are big fans of Sherlock Holmes and Benedict Cumberbatch. They would be so jealous. I would love to visit London and see all the sites. It’s on my bucket list. =) Thanks for sharing the tips about the city.
Tee hee on making your kids jealous. Let me see if I have any other fun ics that I can email you. 🙂
I love London and have been lucky to have traveled there many times. You were wise to book a tour the first time out! I think it so funny that there were so many messages left at St Barts for Sherlock:) Shows how invested we get in our stories, right? I love that!
The eternally beloved Sherlock Holmes, Jacquie. He captures our imaginations iteration after iteration. Glad that you enjoyed your London trips. Although I know there is a lot to see, I’m good with one trip.
For now.
Even looking at the pictures (and I’m in them) I find it hard to believe that this country bumpkin toured London! I would not go back but it was well worth visiting one time!
Ditto, dear Seester, ditto!