London Wrap-Up (Cornerview up in the Sky)




The view was amazing!
Everytime we would go around and I would see St. Paul's Cathedral
the song from Mary Poppins played in my head.
Feed the birds "Tuppins for the birds"









On our last day in London the sun finally came out to greet us, though it did not bring the heat we so craved (as you can see by our layers), but who is complaining.  London is great in the sun or in the rain.  There is just so much to see and do!  So much history!  If you want to go on the London Eye, you should purchase your tickets in advance and get a scheduled appointment.  This will save you time and can save you money if you do one of their combo tickets with other attractions around the city.  Take time to see the 4 minute 3D movie.  It is a great little introduction to London.  If you are like me, then you are a planner.  I like to plan my vacations out so I can get the most of my vacation; however, word of advice be flexible.  We ended up scrapping our plans to see the Royal Observatory and The Greenwich Meridian because we just would not have had enough time to get out there and back since we had to be at the airport by 5 p.m.  It takes an hour from the city to get to the airport.  You can take an express train for 24 pounds, but you still have to calculate getting to Paddington Station.  I think we would have been extremely stressed had we gone out there.  In the end, our day turned out to be just as fantastic.  After going on the eye we walked over to Trafalgar Square where we had a very healthy yummy lunch at Pret A Manger.  England has come a long way since my last visit 20 years ago.  Yes, you can still get fish and chips or kidney pies, but it seems like the Brits have a love affair with France even though they might call them frogs.  I think we can also thank Jamie, Nigella, and Gordon for bringing the Brits out of the bad food category.  Just a five minute walk from Trafalgar we were at the Queen's gate.  We turned out to be pretty lucky because just as we arrived the changing of the guards ceremony began.  The Queen was home, but I guess too busy to come out and say hello to us.  She is probably getting ready for the big celebration on the 5th of June (Queen's Jubilee 60 years).  The city is totally decked out for the celebration with flags, swags, cakes, and china to commemorate the occasion which really was fun to see.  I bought a cupcake which turned out to be more pretty than tasty.  Of course we had to make a visit to Harrods because the food hall is simply amazing and who wouldn't want to see the ring that may or may not have gone on Princess Diana's finger had she lived (located at the bottom of the Egyptian staircase).  Couldn't miss the photo opportunity either at King's Cross station at Platform 9 and 3/4 (actually not located any more between 9 and 10 platforms, but just inside the station on a side wall). The boys got a kick out of the thought of us going to Hogwarts.  Sadly, it was time to go home.  I could have used another day to go out to the Royal Observatory, Abbey Road, Portobello Road, Tate Britain Museum (home of John Sargent Singer collection) and Notting Hill.  Actually, that sounds more like 2 more days. Have you been to London?  What was your favorite attraction or sight? 

Comments

Shauna said…
My husband loves London, he would move there in a heartbeat. Although someone from there we were just talking to said they are having a real crisis with their public school system, similar to California maybe?


It's so funny to see all of these pictures, I'm telling you we have the same ones!

You look great by the way and when we went to Europe in 2006, they were having an odd heat spell. It was in the upper nineties the whole time!!! So, I would have loved a little rain. We were there in July though, so may make a difference...still, miserable.

Take care,

Shauna
Sounds like you packed a lot in to a short time...I love London one of my favorite European cities. Safe travels home.
Arctic Mum said…
Love London, and have been quite a few times. I really want to do one of their walks next time, like the Jack the Ripper walk.
We were just at 9 3/4 platform last week! We might have just missed each other. I would love to ride The Eye again, as I've heard they have great new touch screens. I have not seen the tribute yet - that is in Harrods? Great photos!
Joyce said…
Gosh I haven't been to London in ages. I like shopping there. Bummer on the cupcake it looked so good. Happy travels. By the way great images of the sky- creative my friend. Xo
ArtyZen said…
Just catching up on what looks to be a fantastic European tour - what wonderful photos you've captured. It is the ones of England that move me most as I no longer live there - absence really does make the heart grow fonder and you've been to two of my favourite places - Bath and Stonehenge (and London of course).
Glad you're enjoying yourselves - some great memories being captured to think about in later times.
Axxx
Unknown said…
Love those skies...I was in london so many years ago...I miss visiting it...always I go back I discover something new!
swig said…
oh! lucky you! (the blue cupcake – it makes me shivering…) have a nice trip!
;) said…
You're really having a wonderful trip!!! Enjoy :)
Anonymous said…
I think it is difficult to image that blue food can taste nice :)
Incredible how much you have seen in such short time ... wow. the pics are lovely.
l i s e said…
for sure you don't have vertigo! Nice views. Have a great time
Kari said…
I love London. It looks like a busy year for them with the Queens Jubilee celebrations and the up coming olympics.
The sky shots are great and is that dog suppose to be in the pic, marching?
safe travels.
nadine paduart said…
look at your smiling face in the london eye. you've had a good clear day to do this ride!
i must thank you for these london snaps. i miss her so dearly.

ha! and bath! miss her as well...
n♥
Don said…
Ah yes, London... history. As Bette Midler said,“When it's three o'clock in New York, it's still 1938 in London.”
Kristin said…
Wow, what a wonderful journey! I hope, you like Germany. :)
Theresa said…
How fun!
You look so happy. Yay!
Kasia said…
Today is exactly one year since we moved from London to Edinburgh. And although I don't miss it (as a place of life), I must say it will always have a special place in my heart. Your photos brought so many memories of the places that used to be my everyday surroundings. Thank you!
tinajo said…
Awesome pics! I once bought a trip to London to my hubby but I have never been myself, I´ll have to make up for that once day..! :-)
Menthe Blanche said…
Very nice pics of London! I went twice in London and it's always a pleasure to go there. There are so many things to see...
My home town. Lovely to see this great photos. And how lucky you were to get such a clear day for the London Eye.

http://hibiscusbloem.blogspot.com/2012/05/corner-view-up-in-sky.html
gis said…
great day, wonderful skies
Redeker said…
I must NOT show this post to my daughter...;-))
She would love to go to London one day!! Seeing those photo's, she would want to go now!!

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