Day 17 – London - Sunday, January 19th 2014

Today we split into different groups as there are so many things to do it is impossible to do everything, unless you have a month to spare.

My group decided to use the “Hop on Hop off” Bus around London to see all of the main sights. There are a couple of bus companies that do this and either of them is very good, and they cover the same territory. We “Hopped” on and went down to Piccadilly Circus. Then “Hopped off” to have a look at the statue of Eros.

The statue of Eros dominates the Square. The 1^st Pic shows the neon signs behind and the over exposed one shows the detail of Eros. (It was still rather dim at 9:30am and bitterly cold)

It is said that if you wait long enough in the Circus you will eventually meet someone you know. This started in WW2 when the area was a central point for Allied Servicemen.

On to another bus and the grand tour began. The places we went to were….

1/ Trafalgar Square

Note the big Blue chook (Rooster) You may well ask why this is in this famous place…the answer is “I don’t know”.

Often they temporarily put new art work in the square. I am assuming this falls under that category.

 Christian, Julius and Carey “contemplate” the significance of…the blue chook! (I know it shook them deeply)

As we crossed the square the bells of St Martins in the Field began tolling calling the parishioners to gather. We briefly went inside to see the church. It is a plain but warm place and it was interesting to see that there was quite a number of people gathered already.

The National Gallery on the left and St Martins in the Field facing the camera with Linda in the foreground, and Nelson on his Colum

We walked through the square and down to The Strand and re-caught the bus. We drove past the Courts of Justice till we saw St Pauls come into view with its great dome appearing.

The dome of St Pauls appearing at the end of The Strand.

A side view of St Pauls

It was only minutes till another landmark came into view, Tower Bridge. The cameras clicked excitedly.

Tower Bridge from New London Bridge (The previous one is in America)

Julius taking a pic of the Bridge

Soon we were driving over the bridge itself

This is the only remnant left of the original wall that surrounded Roman Londinium. 2000yrs ago

Horse Guards (the changing of the Guard)

Number 10 Downing St

Westminster Abby (note the CCTV camera.) They are literally everywhere.

Big Ben

The London Eye (and Jacks head)

The Palace of Westminster (and Julius head this time)

After 1 complete circuit we decided to get off at St Pauls. We found a toilet (did I tell you it was cold?) It was so cold Carey believed his hands no longer belonged to him. So a we searched for this toilet up and down outside St Pauls. The signs said it was there but we could not find it. But we did find a very tame squirrel.

So here we again have a squirrel picture.

Eventually we found the way down to the Crypt of the cathedral, where there is a very nice coffee shop. (sounds kind of creepy doesn’t it) We all had hot chocolates and felt immediately better.

Then we walked. Down to the river Thames and along the water front till we saw Tower bridge and the Tower of London.

The group with Tower Bridge in the background

At the Tower we discovered a quick food place that the boys decided was perfect for a late lunch. While I waited for them, this magnificent piece of motoring excellence drove up.

Aston Martin DB9. Drooooool!

We walked around the front of the Tower and saw Traitors Gate, where, when the river was higher, people entered the Tower by boat, often never to leave.

The daylight was getting slim and we decided to head back to the Hotel before it got any colder so we took the bus to the Embankment and the boys decided they would like to walk from there so we walked to Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Oxford Street and back to the Hotel. 

The Muggles tour

Some of the students decided that while in the land of Harry Potter they would take an opportunity to see London from a wizards perspective. However they also were able to see other things as well. The group walked through Trafalgar Square and went to the London eye.

Matthew Brandon (with that hat) and Liam (also with hat)

Georgina and Jack with that blue chook (Trafalgar Square)

Liam with his Hat in the London Eye

Robert and Matthew also in the London Eye

Georgina and Jack in the London eye also

The Muggles tour Group

Sebastian at platform 93/4

Georgina at platform 93/4

Everyone had a great time and the reports are that the man who ran the tour really knew his “stuff”, but so did our group, with Theo being able to answer even the most curly of the questions thrown at them.