London Calling: Part III

The next day, I wanted to finish up the sights I missed the day before. Had an early start so I could maximize my time the next day. 

First, finally got to visit the Tower of London. I've always wanted to visit there since I was younger after reading about it's turbulent, eccentric, and eerie history. Built in 1078 by William the Conqueror, it has fascinated, frightened, and intrigued visitors for centuries. 

Tower of London Pictures:

Middle Tower Entrance

Middle Tower Entrance

 

Traitor's Gate

Yeoman Warder 

King Henry VII's Armor

Famous "White Tower"

Famous "White Tower

                             

Waterloo Barracks

Travel Tip: If you visit the Tower, you can get a free tour by one of the Yeoman warders (aka "Beefeaters"). They give tours and tell gory and funny tales of the Tower throughout the day. You can see the times when you enter the main gate. The tour was about 40 minutes or so and you are free to leave when you want, but it is fun and entertaining especially the ward we had. These Yeoman wards are actually retired former soldiers who served in the British army for 22+ years. They live within the Tower walls and maintain the security and tourism. 

After a half day touring the Tower, took the tube to visit the world-renowned British Museum. It has been my dream to visit this archaeological and cultural paradise. The museum has one of the greatest collection of well-known and unique antiquities ever amassed. It was impressive and equals the Kunsthistorisches Museum in Vienna that I visited last year. 

British Museum Entrance

Rosetta Stone

Moai Statue from Easter Island

Crystal Skull     

          

          

Sutton Hoo Viking Burial Mask

Part of the Blue wall from Babylon

Famous Lord Elgin's Marbles

Acropolis Statue

Travel Tip: The British Museum is free and it is usually crowded so you should come early to avoid the droves. It is an also massive and confusing complex. There are a lot of famous artifacts (that you've probably seen in textbooks) so it's best to identify which specific ones you want to see beforehand because it can be overwhelming. Unless, you plan on spending a whole day there, I suggest you make a list so you can quickly see what you came for and can enjoy other sights throughout London. 

London Meals:

Sunday Roast: Roast Beef, mashed potatoes, veggies, & Yorkshire Pudding

Bangers & Mash

 

  

                                   Fried Rice, Sweet & Sour Pork, Roasted Pork/Duck, Mooncake
                                                   @Four Seasons, Soho (Chinatown)

Colossal Burger (two thick patties, onion ring, swiss cheese, tomato, lettuce, bacon)

Overall, my second trip to London was a success. I was able to see all the famous sights that I wanted to (except St. Paul's Cathedral). This time, I had more time to explore and fully immerse myself in British culture which was exciting. I became more comfortable in using the Tube (London Underground) which made it easier to navigate and plan each daily route. London is a mix of ancient and modern which makes it a great city to explore and get lost. I hope someday to return to London and find new dive pubs and restaurants during my travels. 

London Calling: Part II

The next day, I wanted to see as much as I didn't get to see much during my last trip. I started early in the day and took the hop on/hop off bus so I could maximize my time by cutting transportation time.

First stop, I headed to Buckingham Palace for a second time. It was just as I remembered it-- grand, flooded with tourists, and massive. It seemed more exciting the first time I saw it, but nonetheless I enjoyed taking better pictures this time. Last time, I only had one of those wind-up cameras so I couldn't tell if it turned out well..oh how times have changed since then...do they even make those kind of cameras anymore? Haha. I wish I was able to tour inside, but time was limited and I had a mission to see more sights that day.

Buckingham Palace pictures:

Second stop, went to Parliament Square (Big Ben and Parliament Buildings). It was more impressive than the first time I saw it. I think it was because last time there was some construction and the weather was gloomy. This time, I was able to fully appreciate it and marveled at its Gothic style facade, tall columns, and pointed spires. 

The suns rays bounced off the buildings to give a radiant glow.

Houses of Parliament pictures:

Big Ben picture:

Third stop, finally got to visit the ancient and sacred Westminster Abbey. Built in 1066, it is the most venerated site due to it's importance to British Royalty. Since King Harold and William the Conqueror, it has been the site of the Royal Coronation of English Monarchs. When I first arrived, I thought it would take me an hour or so, but the church complex was massive with it's many chapels, famous tombs, chambers, and cloisters.

Wesminster Abbey pictures:

Ancient fresco

Britain's Oldest Door circa 1050 AD

After Westminster Abbey, I was hungry so I strolled nearby Parliament Square and spotted this nice old pub named "St. Stephen's Tavern Pub." It was busy and looked like it was frequented by MPs and businessmen. 

St. Stephen's Tavern Pub interior.

Fish & Chips for lunch.

To end the day, took a ferry (which was included in the hop-on/hop-off bus tour) on the Thames River and past famous London landmarks. 

View from the ferry cruise:




London Eye:

Tower Bridge:                              

Waterloo Bridge:

St. Paul's Cathedral:

The Shard:

Tower of London:

Well, the ferry cruise was the final highlight of the day's sightseeing. 

The next entry will be the final in the London trilogy. 

London Calling: Part I

After a whirlwind trip on the Iberian peninsula, I embarked on a second visit across the English Channel to the UK. Previously, I only saw London for a couple of days due to a tight schedule. This time, I had more time to fully explore and experience London and it's vicinity.

There are two major international airports in London: Heathrow and Gatwick. Heathrow can be accessed by the Tube (London Subway), Gatwick is a little further out and is serviced by slower trains. If you fly into London, I suggest you fly into Heathrow as Central London is more accessible from there. Due to a cheaper ticket price, I flew into Gatwick. Upon arrival from Gatwick, I took the train to King's Cross train station.  

I purchased a day-pass so I could use the public transportation for an unlimited amount that day. You can also purchase an "Oyster Card" which is a pay-as-you-go public transportation card that you scan and load money to use. I didn't find out about the card until the next day so I just used the one day pass that day.

Train journey to Central London:

I was starving by the time I arrived at King's Cross St. Pancreas Station so I bought some staple English snacks.

Sausage roll (pastry dough stuffed with sausage):

Scotch egg (battered and fried meat wrapped boiled egg):

After checking in at my hostel, I took the Tube  to Piccadilly Circus (Soho area) to try a pub called "The Lyric." My friend had suggested this place for it's quality beer and great pub classic food fare. 

                                               

                                     

They are known for great brews so I tried one called "Polar Star" by Buntingford Brewery:

To complement my beer, I ordered a steak and ale pie. The pie and pint was a perfect combination. The flaky pie crust was filled with steak pieces, onions, and spices. The whole dish was drizzled with a hearty and savory gravy sauce. It was accompanied by mashed potatoes and peas. The meal satisfied a hungry travelers appetite. 

After the pub, I wandered around Soho to walk off the meal. Soho was very alive and vibrant at night as many musicals were playing, souvenir shops were bustling, and the pubs were buzzing. 

Due to a long day of traveling, I was exhausted and went to get some rest so I could be energized for the next day. There was a long list of monuments, museums, and national treasures I had to see so I couldn't wait to check them off my list. 

Travel tip: If you ever visit London, I suggest you spend around 3-5 days to fully maximize your time in seeing the major sights and areas like Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, Tower Bridge, Parliament Square, Thames River, etc... The public transportation is excellent and efficient so you won't have trouble getting around. If it's your first time, I suggest you pay for one of those hop-on hop-off bus tours which visit all the major sites for $20-30/day because it gives you the freedom to pick and choose what you want to see and do without having to worry about how to get there and how much it will cost. It is very economical and time efficient. It's a worthy investment and it's valid for 24 hours from the time of purchase. Most major Tube stations and tourist areas have stops for these buses and you can buy your ticket at any one of them. If you have more time, I suggest you take the Tube and buses to get the full local experience. As mentioned earlier, it's wise to buy an Oyster Card for using these methods of transportation as it makes it easier to get around without having to buy or lose single or one-day tickets.