Big Ben
Doubledecker Bus on the Kingsway
London was incredibly crowded. You had to stand in line everywhere or shuffle in a crowd. We had three nights and two days planned. On our first day we went to the British Museum, within walking distance from our hotel. We had both been there before, but you can spend a week there and never see the same thing twice. The place is enormous and always interesting, and still free, although they ask for a 5-pound donation. We walked primarily through exhibitions relating to British history.
British Museum Rotunda
Sutton Hoo Burial Helmet
Our second day, the weather was beautiful. There was a big bicycle event that day. A long course had been cordoned off throughout the city center.
Houses of Parliament, Winchester Palace
Family-Friendly FreeCycle Event in the 2014 RideLondon Festival
When we surfaced from the tube at Westminster, we found the bridge closed to traffic and difficult to reach because the bicycle course was in the way. You could only cross at limited places. Just shuffling was possible, and if we ever lost each other, we might never meet again!
The London Eye on the Thames
World War I Memorial at the Tower of London
We decided to try for the Tower of London. There is a project underway to put 888,246 blood-red ceramic poppies on the lawn, one for each World War I victim of the British Commonwealth. That war started 100 years ago on July 28. That puts today’s troubles into perspective.
Alas, at the Tower of London, it was equally impossibly crowded, so on to Hyde Park where they were demonstrating against Israel. Then we walked to Buckingham Palace, where we ran into the bicycle course again. Never again will I visit London in the peak season!
Queen Victoria Memorial at Buckingham Palace
The food in London was excellent, no bad experience yet— also later outside London. Quite a change from thirty years ago!
Gourmet Vegetarian Breakfast at Bill’s Restaurant in Holborn
Photos © 2014 P.J. Gardner. All rights reserved.