Big Ben is only across the street, so we ambled over for someore up close pictures.
Today, Wayne and I struck out on our own rather than taking the hop on bus. Believe it or not, Westminster Abbey is just two blocks from our hotel. We arrived early, about 9 am which worked perfectly. Tours opened at 9:30 am and I was able to get in line without a pre-purchased ticket. I was never sure what time we might be there, so I couldn't arrange an advance ticket.
Wayne wasn't interested in going inside. He had been, before so he found a bench, made new friends with others and I waited in line for the tour to open.
Shortly after they allowed me in line, they shut it down unless you had a pre-purchased ticket. I was allowed to enter about 9:45 am after all the tickets holders entered
You received an audio guide and headphones and was able to wander through on my own. It was crowded with tour groups and guides but I was able to see everything on my own at my rate of speed. It took about an hour for me to listen to the audio guide. Well worth the admission price of 29£.
Here are pictures from inside Westminster Abbey.
The ceilings are so high!
Where the choir sits, stands and sings
So many different altars and niches
Lots of tombs of rotalty
There was a woman doing restoration work in one of the tombs
Their tomb of their unknown soldier. The only area in the church you cannot walk on.
After leaving Westminster Abbey, we walked past Big Ben again, just across the street.
From there, one more block and we were at Downing Street. You can't see anything due to the gates and security force, but I was there.
Other sighta as we strolled the streets around our hotel.
Winston Churchill across from Parliament building and Big Ben.
Abraham Lincoln and Wayne and a place to rest.
Their pubs are all so pretty on the outside. All the flowers are real.
We went back to the hotel and Wayne went to rest. So I struck out on my own. I walked through St. James park and found Churchill's War Rooms. Agay, I didn't pre-purchase a ticket and this time, the line was really long.
St. James park
These pigeons found this woman and wouldn't leave.
Our dinner spot for tonight. Another English pub just a block from our hotel. Wayne had fish and chips for the 3rd day in a row.
We hired a car to take us to the Viking ship tomorrow morning. We just received an email this morning. Due to high winds, the ship is docked at London Tilbury cruise terminal instead of Greenwich where we had been told. For certain, you must stay flexible. We met a couple just finishing their Viking cruise. They didn't get to dock in Dublin due to high winds. You just have to roll with the changes. It's not like you can do anything about it. The Captain's first priority is safety.
So this is my last evening in London. I've seen almost everything on my list. It's an amazing city and the history is rich.
again Ellen such beautiful pictures and narrative to go along with it.
ReplyDelete