 Now, I have to admit I have mixed feelings about London, England. Some of my experiences of that capital city have been so stressful. My first time there I was a nervous 23 year old travelling over on my own going for a job interview. Ryanair was a tiny fledgling loss-making airline back then flying out of Waterford. A better job offer from Dublin meant I never did emigrate….but London for me then became associated with training courses and business trips….lots of running through Heathrow on a Friday night to catch the last flight home….or trying to make connecting flights with minutes to spare. Of course, I subsequently had much happier trips over there; shopping trips with my mam, Peggy…..and girlie weekends away with friends. But this blog post is about a more recent enjoyable trip I had to London with Charlie in 2015 and what we got to see. Day 1 – Thursday 9 April 2015 We took a one hour 15 minute morning flight with British Airways (from Dublin’s Terminal One) right into the heart of the city to London’s City Airport. We had bought an Oyster Card for use on public transport, so hopped on the Docklands Light Railway (DLR), London’s excellent driverless light rail system. Twenty five short minutes later we hopped off at Tower Gateway and a short walk down the hill we were at our hotel for the weekend, The Tower Hotel. The plan was to stay for 4 days (3 nights). We were blessed with great weather. From the moment we walked down St. Katherine's Way from the station and came around the corner onto the pop-up hotel bar called “The Lawn” we were on holiday. The check in lady was efficient and friendly and offered us a complementary bottle of wine for Charlie’s birthday. The room #461 had an amazing view of Tower Bridge which was even better at night when lit up. Although a little dated, everything was spotlessly clean and in working order. The room had an ironing station in the wardrobe and a good sized safe.  View of the Thames & Tower Bridge from our hotel room - 9-12 April 2015 We ate and had refreshments outside at the Brasserie on returning each day from our sightseeing. Prices were good but service was a little haphazard but good-humoured. We ate breakfast around the corner in a gem of a café called Côte at St Katharine Docks (excellent friendly service and full English breakfast for STG 7.75). Mostly what sold this hotel for us was the amazing location....we used it as a base to sightsee all over the city and you can walk to The Shard and to The Tower of London (next door). I would return next time we visit London.  On Tower Bridge - 9 April 2015 1. The Shard Aqua Shard So the first place we visited that evening was the Aqua Shard for dinner…..just a short walk across Tower Bridge beside our hotel. We had a wonderful experience from the moment we arrived to the moment we left. On entering at level 32 of The Shard we were greeted warmly and brought down the stairs to check in and then to our table at level 31. It was Charlie’s birthday so we were very happy to get a window table with a stunning view of Tower Bridge and towards Canary Wharf. The evening was beautifully clear and bright so we could see for miles. All wait staff were friendly and efficient and more than one wished my partner a happy birthday.  Enjoying the view from Aqua Shard - 9 April 2015 The food was really tasty and well presented. I had a smoke tuna starter and Charlie had veal fillet. For main, I had sea trout and he had lamb saddle. We shared a yummy cheesecake dessert and then Charlie was given a surprise complimentary birthday plate. We would definitely recommend for a special celebratory meal and would return next time we visit London.  Birthday Plate at Aqua Shard - 9 April 2015 The View from The Shard After dinner, we had booked the View from the Shard….this is an amazing experience with 360-degree views over London. At more than 1,000ft (300 metres) tall, The Shard is almost twice as high as any other building in the city. The View from The Shard allows you to go further up inside The Shard building and look out over London from the viewing platforms on levels 68 and 69. We also headed up to the Skydeck on level 72 - an open-air platform offering spectacular views over London. The top things we saw were the lit-up Tower Bridge, the twists and turns of the river Thames, the Shakespeare's Globe Theatre and St Paul's Cathedral. We couldn’t resist buying a souvenir photo of our visit.  Our View from The Shard - 9 April 2015 Day 2 – Friday 10 April 2015 We had booked a Best of London Tour with Viator. As we had such a short time here we thought this 9 hour tour would pretty much cover everything we wanted to see….and it didn’t disappoint. This is a short YouTube promo video of the tour we did: 2. St Paul’s Cathedral We settled into our air-conditioned coach and headed for St. Paul's Cathedral, where we spent over an hour exploring. St Paul's Cathedral is an Anglican cathedral in London and is a Grade I listed building. Its dedication to Paul the Apostle dates back to the original church on this site, founded in AD 604. The present structure, dating from the late 17th century, was designed in the English Baroque style by Sir Christopher Wren. Its construction, completed in Wren's lifetime, was part of a major rebuilding programme in the City after the Great Fire of London.  Above: St. Paul's Cathedral, London . Below: Us outside St. Paul's - 10 April 2015 The cathedral is one of the most famous and most recognisable sights of London. Its dome, framed by the spires of Wren's City churches, has dominated the skyline for over 300 years. At 365 feet (111 m) high, it was the tallest building in London from 1710 to 1963. The dome remains among the highest in the world. Services held at St Paul's have included the funerals of Admiral Nelson, the Duke of Wellington, Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher; jubilee celebrations for Queen Victoria; peace services marking the end of the First and Second World Wars; the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer; the launch of the Festival of Britain; and the thanksgiving services for the Silver, Golden and Diamond Jubilees and the 80th and 90th birthdays of Queen Elizabeth II. The cathedral is a working church with hourly prayer and daily services. 3. Westminster Abbey We then made a twenty minute photo stop to see Westminster Abbey, where we admired the outside of this 13th-century Gothic church, the site of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge’s (William and Kate) marriage in 2011. It is one of the United Kingdom's most notable religious buildings and the traditional place of coronation and a burial site for English and, later, British monarchs. The building itself was originally a Catholic Benedictine monastic church until the monastery was dissolved in 1539. Between 1540 and 1556, the abbey had the status of a cathedral and seat of the catholic bishop. After 1560 the building was no longer an abbey or a cathedral, after the Catholics had been driven out by King Henry VIII, having instead was granted the status of a Church of England "Royal Peculiar"—a church responsible directly to the sovereign—by Queen Elizabeth I.  Our View of Westminster Abbey - 10 April 2015 Since the coronation of William the Conqueror in 1066, all coronations of English and British monarchs have occurred in Westminster Abbey. Sixteen royal weddings have occurred at the Abbey since 1100. The Abbey is also the burial site of more than 3,300 persons, usually of prominence in British history: at least 16 monarchs, 8 Prime Ministers, poets laureate, actors, scientists, military leaders, and the Unknown Warrior. As such, Westminster Abbey is sometimes described as "Britain's Valhalla", after the iconic hall of the chosen heroes in Norse mythology.  Charlie outside the Tower of London - 10 April 2015 4. Tower of London We got to spend two hours here and the admission ticket was included. The Tower of London is the 11th-century fortress that looms over the Thames River. We first had some free time here to have lunch, then met back up with our group for a tour of the forbidding UNESCO World Heritage Site.  Tower of London Torture Exhibition - 10 April 2015 We strolled around the history-steeped sites such as Traitor’s Gate, inspected the gruesome torture exhibits at the Wakefield Tower, and checked out the Crown Jewels – the magnificent symbols of royal power that are still used by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. I was particularly awed to see where Anne Boleyn (mother of Queen Elizabeth I of England) was beheaded….as it was rumoured that she was born in Carrick Castle in my home town…..although this is disputed.  Where poor Anne Boleyn lost her head in 1536 - Tower of London 10 April 2015 5. Buckingham Palace – Changing of the Guards We had a photo stop for about 40 minutes outside Buckingham Palace to witness the Changing of the Guard. Buckingham Palace is the Queen’s official London residence. We watched this centuries-old ceremony as the soldiers of The Queen’s Guard, dressed in red tunics and bearskin hats, exchanged places with the new guard to military music. This is what we saw: 6. Leisure Cruise on the Thames We then had three quarters of an hour cruising on the River Thames. We passed by many beautiful and historic buildings including Shakespeare's Globe Theatre, the Houses of Parliament, the Gherkin and the Shard (which we had seen from the inside the previous night). We also cruised under several famous bridges; including London Bridge and Tower Bridge (built in 1894) which crosses the River Thames close to the Tower of London and has become an iconic symbol of London. Above: Some of what we saw from the Thames - 10 April 2015We finished our tour at the London Eye. However, at that stage we were hungry and tired, took one look at the queue of waiting tourists and decided we would leave it for another time. We headed back to the hotel’s Brasserie, tired but happy. Day 3 – Saturday 11 April 2015 7. Shopping Shopping in London is hard to beat – from areas full of flagship stores, to cobbled courtyards showcasing local designers. So after a wander around St Katherine’s Dock after breakfast we decided to head into three main areas well known for shopping in London – Oxford Street, Regent Street and Knightsbridge/Belgravia. So we put on some comfy shoes and prepared to discover some of the best shops in London. 1. Oxford Street We wandered along Oxford Street – one of the most famous London shopping streets – which is home to more than 300 shops, designer outlets, high-street chains and landmark stores. We went on an exploration of legendary department store Selfridges. We had a quick look in House of Fraser. We checked the latest trends at Zara on Oxford Circus. We found all manner of toys and accessories based on our favourite Disney characters at The Disney Store. Nearest Tube: Oxford Circus, Bond Street or Tottenham Court Road 2. Regent Street We strolled through one of the most elegant shopping streets in London, Regent Street, which offers a good range of mid-priced fashion stores alongside some of the city's oldest and most famous shops. We got lost on the many floors full of toys and games in kids' haven Hamleys. Nearest Tube: Piccadilly Circus or Oxford Circus 3. Knightsbridge and Belgravia We finished in Knightsbridge and Belgravia to check out high-end shops and department stores. This is a good place to go if you’re looking for prestigious brands and up-to-the-minute trends from the world’s fashion elite. We spent some time exploring the upscale boutiques within neighbouring shopping icons Harrods and Harvey Nichols. Nearest Tube: Knightsbridge, Sloane Square and Victoria  Harvey Nichols Ladies' Deoartment 8. Medieval Banquet & Merriment by Torchlight That evening we had booked this medieval banquet as a bit of fun on Viator. It was a short walk just behind the hotel in St. Katherine’s Dock. We didn’t quite know what to expect. It was described as “medieval merriment with your host Henry VIII during a boisterous 4-hour banquet in London. Absorb the vibrant atmosphere of vaulted cellars beside Tower Bridge as you enjoy entertainment from minstrels and strolling players; feast upon a four-course English meal bursting with fulfilling flavour; and sip refreshing ale and delicious wine during your truly unforgettable epicurean experience.” And I have to say it really was unforgettable and a lot of fun. Of course the unlimited wine, beer and soft drinks during our meal might have had something to do with that too! This YouTube video gives a flavour of the night: This regal banquet took place by flickering torchlight in vaulted cellars just a stone's throw from the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. We sat back and enjoyed the show as Henry VIII's court entertainers provided a magical display for our amusement. Dinner was served by comely wenches, knights in armour provided entertainment, and bards sang medieval ballads! We showed our appreciation by banging our tankards on the long tables. After the meal and show there was music, dancing and merrymaking galore!  Us with "King Henry VIII" - 11 April 2015  Charlie with "Anne Boleyn" - 11 April 2015 Day 4 – Sunday 12 April 20159. Madame Tussauds So, on the Sunday morning we again had a delicious full English Breakfast in Côte of two free range eggs, bacon, Cumberland sausage, tomato, mushrooms and toast. Full to the brim we waddled back to check out of the hotel…leaving our luggage to be picked up later. We headed to Madame Tussauds, the famous wax museum in London. It was founded by wax sculptor Marie Tussaud in 1835. (It used to be spelled as "Madame Tussaud's"; the apostrophe is no longer used.) Madame Tussauds is a major tourist attraction in London, displaying the waxworks of famous and historical figures, as well as popular film and television characters played by famous actors. The nearest station to the museum is Baker Street which is at the walking distance of 120 metres (390 ft). Some sculptures still exist that were made by Marie Tussaud herself. The gallery originally contained some 400 different figures, but fire damage in 1925, coupled with German bombs in 1941, severely damaged most of such older models. The casts themselves have survived, allowing the historical waxworks to be remade, and these can be seen in the museum's history exhibit. The oldest figure on display is that of Madame du Barry, the work of Curtius from 1765. Other faces from the time of Tussaud include Robespierre and George III. In 1842, she made a self-portrait, which is now on display at the entrance of her museum. She died in her sleep in London on 16 April 1850. So Charlie got to sing with Freddie Mercury, get between Angelina and Brad, play rugby with Jonah Lomu, talk F1 with Lewis Hamilton and swap soccer tales with Ronaldo…. while I took a rest beside the one and only Pele. Just as we were leaving, who did we run into only my cousin, Sam….sure you’d meet someone from Carrick everywhere!  Running into my beautiful cousin, Sam, in Madame Tussauds - 12 April 2015 10. Visit to a London Park – Regent’s Park London has some great parks’ green lungs in a busy city. So no trip to London is complete without seeing at least one park. When we came out of Madame Tussauds, the afternoon was beautiful so we took a stroll to nearby Regent’s Park where we sat on the grass and had tea in the tearooms, the Broad Walk Café. It was a lovely ending to a lovely weekend. Above: Enjoying Regent's Park - 12 April 2015We headed back to the hotel to pick up our bags and then hopped on the DLR to London City Airport where our BA4468 7:30 pm flight back to Dublin landing shortly after quarter to nine. We had enjoyed our short trip very much. We really had some great “Thames” in London! Bucket List Items Ticked Off in the above Blog 66 Number 34 - Food & Drink - Eat a Full English Breakfast in London England Number 38 - Food & Drink - Memorable Restaurants - Aqua Shard, London, England Number 57 - Travel - 7 Continents
Number 76 - Experiences - 80 UNESCO World Heritage Site
Other Blog Posts Blog 11 - Sydney, Australia Blog 12 - Hong Kong, China Blog 17 - Beijing, Xi'an & Shanghai, China Blog 19 - California, USA Blog 27 - Scotland Blog 28 - Barbados Blog 29 - Canada Blog 30 - Alaska Blog 31 - Everglades, Florida Have you ever visited London? Tell me about your experience in the comments section below. If you liked this post, please share. Sharing is caring 😊
3 Comments
Minoru Ohba
30/11/2021 11:19:19
Hi, Mary,
MaryP
1/12/2021 18:27:56
Lovely to hear from you, Ohba-san. Yes...I too hope that we can get to meet again in the not too distant future. I'm still hoping to make it to Tokyo. Wishing you all the very best. Mary x Leave a Reply. |
AuthorMy name is Mary and this is my bucket list blog ...having survived a near-death experience. I hope it encourages you to "live your best life". See how I'm completing my own bucket list items. And let me know how you're getting on with yours! Archives
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