Hello from London! This is my fifth time visiting the city and I have become pretty familiar with this vibrant metropolis. I came again because London has so much to offer and I enjoy the general vibe of the place. I may also be traveling to London for business trips so it’s good to get to know the city better.
I arrived around noon on June 9th, having slept only 2 hours on the overnight flight. Although I have visited London several times before, I was a little confused with using the Underground (London’s subway, aka the Tube) because my previous visits were with my family and we rented a car instead. Fortunately, a very nice Australian girl who had been living in London for some time helped me get to my hotel, and I soon figured out how to use the Oyster Card to navigate my way around the city.
The first part of the city I had a chance to walk around was Westminster, where I saw Big Ben (the clock tower for those who don’t know), the Palace of Westminster, the Houses of Parliament, and Westminster Abbey. Unfortunately, many of these places were under renovation.
Above: Big Ben under renovation
I spent most of the next day in the City of London area, touring the Tower of London and the Tower Bridge. The Tower of London is a historic castle that served as the home of most of England’s Kings and Queens. It was also used as a prison, armory, and treasury at the same time. Today, the tower houses the British Crown Jewels, including the crown of Queen Elizabeth II. I had the opportunity to see the Crown Jewels for myself, but unfortunately photos were not allowed.
Above: Me at the Tower of London
There is a lot to see at the Tower of London. In addition to the Crown Jewels, there are the headquarters of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers, the regiment that served the British Army for hundreds of years. In fact, it was one of the British regiments that fought in America during the American Revolution, where it lost its regimental colors at the Battle of Cowpens in South Carolina in 1781. The regimental colors are now displayed at the West Point museum in New York, which I have seen before.
The center of the Tower of London is the White Tower, housing the armor that former Kings of England wore to battle.
Above: The armor of King Henry VIII
Above: The armor of King James I or II (I forgot which one)
It is surprising that the Kings’ armors were pretty simple. Often in movies and TV shows, kings wear elaborate armors made of gold and studded with diamonds, but in reality that wasn’t the case.
The White Tower also displayed interesting pieces of art, such as a metallic dragon.
Above: A metallic dragon
There was a lot to see at the White Tower, and afterwards I visited the other exhibits at the Tower of London, such as the medieval area, the royal beasts, the battlements, etc. I spent hours at the Tower of London, and it was worth it because this place is very rich in history.
Afterwards I visited Tower Bridge nearby, going all the way up the towers and walking though the walkways that connected them together. I also visited the Engine Room that controlled the opening and closing of the bridge.
Above: Tower Bridge from the outside
Above: Tower Bridge from the inside
On my final day in London, I started off my day at Westminster Abbey, where the Kings and Queens of England are crowned. The abbey also contained the tombs of many English monarchs, including Elizabeth I, Edward the Confessor, Edward III, and my personal favorite, Henry V. Photos were not allowed, a rule I may or may not have ignored.
Above: Westminster Abbey
I also got to enter the Houses of Parliament at the Palace of Westminster and watch the debate on Brexit at the House of Commons. Photography was strictly prohibited, and I was compliant. I watched MP Stephen Barclay, the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union discuss the details of Brexit, while other MPs argued their points. I also got to watch the debate at the House of Lords, discussing foreign policy on China, specifically in regards to the recent protests in Hong Kong.
The House of Lords met in a much fancier room with a throne where the Queen gives her speeches. Their benches were decorated with luxurious red cushions, and there were coats of arms hanging around the room. Although the House of Commons had a much simpler meeting place, with green cushioned benches and no coats of arms, it had a lot more power than the House of Lords.
After watching the debates at Parliament, I arrived just in time for the Evensong service at St. Paul’s Cathedral, the most famous cathedral in England and one of the most prominent landmarks of London. The congregation were mostly tourists, some of whom simply followed what others were doing. The service was very refreshing and I had a chance to meet new people and talk to some of the staff about the history of the place.
Above: St. Paul’s Cathedral
Above: St. Paul’s Cathedral after Evensong service
Above: Baptism font at St. Paul’s Cathedral
I ended the day at Covent Garden, having dinner at Punch & Judy, an 18th century pub. The food was delicious and the beer was great!