Here is a video of our week in London:
We had a wonderful time enjoying a week in London. Previously, in our abroad experience, we have been in London two other times, but the first was for a short day trip and the other was flying out of the London airport. This time we stayed in a beautiful row house in London.
My London was so excited to finally be in London; we all were excited. We enjoyed seeing and riding the red double decker buses, seeing the Tower of London, and the Tower Bridge. We enjoyed riding the Tube and the Overground train, visiting the British Museum and the British Library. Also, we enjoyed the musicals Wicked and Phantom of the Opera, and a Royal Ballet dance performance.
With London’s expansive public transportation, a car was not necessary, and we soon learned that only the extremely wealthy drove cars in London. There is a Congestion fee each day a person drives there and parking is extremely expensive. We ended up parking our car outside of the Ultra Low Emission Zone and leaving it there for the week. Because most people don’t drive in London, this was the quietest and calmest big city we were in on our abroad experience. The main thing to be ware of in London was to look to the left for traffic when walking, instead of right, so you don’t get hit by a taxi or bus.
National Gallery
The National Gallery was incredible. It is free to everyone and holds Van Gogh’s Sunflower painting, which I adore. We enjoyed walking around and seeing so many famous paintings that we have previously only seen in books but never in person.
The Tower of London
The Tower of London is located on the Thames river in London. It was built in 1097 BC by William the Conqueror. It was first built of wood and later rebuilt of stone. This Castle’s dungeons held hundreds of prisoners who were executed on Tower Hill and 22 who were executed inside the grounds of the Tower Castle.
There are also 32 Yeoman, also called Beefeaters, who are the guards at the Tower of London. These guards, and guards just like them, have been guarding the castle for over 500 years. Our tour guide was a Yeoman Warden, and explained that after serving England for twenty years he was hired to be a Yeoman. Now him and his family live at the Tower of London and carry on the tradition of guarding the castle. He also told us his proudest moment was when he was selected to walk next to Queen Elizabeth ll’s coffin as it was brought to its burial spot in the King George Vl Memorial Chapel.
We enjoyed seeing the Crown Jewels, taking a tour of the area and hearing stories of things good and bad which occurred here. It is also interesting, that the mote surrounding the Tower of London was drained in the 1840’s because of the horrible smell when the tide went out. It has been a waterless ditch or “fosse” ever since.
Westminster Abbey
This day, Brooklyn stayed home because previously she had visited Westminster Abbey with Isaiah when he was visiting. The rest of us enjoyed walking through this grand and magnificent cathedral. We all had headsets to wear which guided us through the Abbey and explained the rooms to us.
It is incredible how many famous people are buried in this Abbey. Here is a list of a few: Isaac Newton, Stephen Hawking, Charles Dickens and Queen Elizabeth I. Others area remembered in the Poets corner of Westminster Abbey, such as William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, and the Bronte sisters.
Musicals and Ballet
We decided to divide up and only those who really wanted to go to a musical or ballet would attend. Justin and Eliza went to see the Phantom of the Opera. Brooklyn, Eliza and I attended Wicked. Sicily and I went to the Royal Ballet’s Draft Works performance. We all really enjoyed ourselves. It was very fun to watch such great talent.
Buckingham Palace
We enjoyed a walk to Buckingham Palace, even though it was raining. It is such an iconic building and home to England’s Monarch’s. I learned that England has had eight reigning queens since the medieval times.
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