London Day 3

If you are wondering from my pictures if it has been raining the answer is no. Not a drop but it has been quite cloudy everyday. The guide yesterday on the walk said he swears it rains twice as much in New York City but that London is often cloudy. So I am pleased I brought exactly the kind of clothes I needed - a trench coat, scarf and gloves and have worn all three everyday.

My day started at Westminster Abbey and luckily I had bought a ticket and made a reservation online a couple of weeks ago when I decided to make this trip. It was a large group of people when I arrived so if you didn’t already have a ticket there were tickets available but quite a bit later in the day. The ticket automatically gives you an auto guide which was helpful. It’s a very large church but the actual inside where services and weddings and coronations take place was actually smaller than I expected. I think it’s because there are so many people buried in large tombs inside of it! So it felt like not just a church but a cemetery to me. Much of the tour is visiting the graves of so many previous kings and queens and hearing their history.

That doesn’t take away from how beautiful it is. I love the ceiling in the main part of the church.

This is the main alter. The coronations take place right in front of this alter with the person taking over the throne seated in the coronation chair facing the alter.

You get to see the coronation chair but it’s at the very end of the tour right before you leave. It’s taken quite a beating. They have been using it since 1308! And apparently for quite awhile it was left outside and anyone could sit in it. That’s when the graffiti appeared.

Here’s another cool ceiling in the Chapel of King Henry VII also called the Lady Chapel. The ceiling is carved stone not plaster which is quite astonishing. There are lots of banners hanging because the Knights of the Bath meet in this room.

I was there over an hour and a half. Time to move on. What’s right next to Westminster Abbey? Parliament and Big Ben. I didn’t tour Parliament but walked over to the bridge to take a picture of the two since that’s the best place to do it. It sits right on the Thames River.

I walked past #10 Downing Street which is where their Prime Minister lives but you can’t get anywhere close to it. The entire street is closed off with an iron tall gate and tight security everywhere. I read there is no way to open the door to it from the outside. There is a guard inside 24 hours a day and it must be opened only from the inside. I walked past the horse guards - 2 in total. They guard that entrance to Buckingham Palace.

Then I headed back toward the government buildings to take the tour of the Churchill War Rooms. It’s a walk through the underground headquarters of the British governments WWII fight against the Nazis. There are two parts. The rooms themselves and then a museum dedicated to Winston Churchill. It also comes automatically with an audio guide. It was used from 1939 to 1945, and everything has been left exactly as it was when the war ended. Literally they all just walked out the door. Well and climbed a bunch of stairs because it was built in the basement of the Dept of Defense. There were over a hundred people working down there and many actually slept in little tiny rooms and didn’t come up for days. It was interesting but I was getting pretty claustrophobic. It reminded me of being on a submarine and before you ask, yes I have been on a submarine. Not for very long but still not much room. It was such a throwback in time where so much was done by hand. Maps with thumbtacks tracking the war. I didn’t take pictures when I was down in it as the space was small and I’m managing an audio device and just trying to get through it all. But interesting for sure and so in awe of the job they did to fight back against Hitler.

I had one more big thing on my agenda and I just didn’t get to it. I had a reservation for the National Gallery - a beautiful huge art museum. I just couldn’t do it. I have to accept my capacity is now two big things per day. I needed to get something to eat and get some fresh air. So that will have to be something I return to do because tomorrow is Saturday and there is no way it’s not going to be super crowded and I already have two other big things planned. I have made peace with it.

I criss crossed the beautiful St James Park at least 4 times today. It’s totally fall and the trees look spectacular. There is a large pond with all kinds of ducks and geese that have zero fear of humans. This one was two feet from me and didn’t give me the time of day.

That’s Buckingham Palace in the distance.

I had tea! Something I love to do and I was able to implore the host to seat me even though I had no reservation at a super popular restaurant called The Wolseley. Very cool spot that used to be a grand 1920’s showroom for a long-defunct British car by the same name.

Just the Cream Tea not the full blown High Tea. Cream Tea is tea and scones with clotted cream and jam. A full High Tea is scones, finger sandwiches, an assortment of desserts and tea - too much food for one person. It was all delicious!

I found Carnaby Street! That was popular even a bit before my time but I remember hearing about it as a youngster in the 60’s.

Liberty Department Store was established in 1875 and best known for its Liberty Print floral patterns. Not sure if this is their original shop from 1875 but it looks like it could be.

Check out the interior - I love it! But don’t think the merchandise is dated. Designer labels throughout the store.

I couldn’t resist stopping in Hatchards. The largest bookstore in Britain and this is their flagship location. Been selling books since 1797. Seven floors but still felt cozy.

Look who is in the window - that local bear Paddinton❤️

Well that’s it for day 3. More to see and do tomorrow. Have a good weekend!