London England is fantastic – Day 1
Today is a day we have been waiting for – in fact we have waited a long time. Explorason wants to see Big Ben.
So it was interesting that as we took the Underground from Victoria on the Circle Line that we hopped off at Westminster. As soon as we emerged from the underground like moles from the earth there it was. “That is Big Ben” he declares. None of us realized it was. “I thought it would be bigger,” he says.
Exploramum and Explorason – London, Big Ben
Behind us is the London Eye and the River Cruises on the Thames River. Before us is the Parliament House and around the corner, we see Westminster Abbey.
Exploramum and Explorason – London, Westminster Abbey
Armed with a map, we try to get our bearings. So we try to find #10 Downing Street – The British Prime Minister might just be there? Oh wait – it is a red double-decker bus. Stop. Another photo we declare!
Exploramum and Explorason – London, Double Decker Bus
And what else do we spy ???? A red telephone booth. Time for another photo. By now we are really enjoying ourselves.
Exploramum and Explorason – London, Telephone booth!
We do finally make it to Number Ten Downing Street and it is a gated area.
Exploramum and Explorason – London, Downing Street
Next stop – and I mean a few meters down Whitehall there are the horse guards.
Exploramum and Explorason – London, Horse Guards #1
And inside the arch by a few meters more, yes it is another guard!
Exploramum and Explorason – London, Horse Guards #2
Through the arch walking towed Green Park, we stumble across the start of the Changing Of The Guard.
Exploramum and Explorason – London, Horse Guards #3
By now our feet are aching, so after a toilet break, in the restaurant at Green Park, we sit and break open our snacks and have a rest on the deck chairs.
Exploramum and Explorason – London, Green Park
Next, we head to Buckingham Palace.
Exploramum and Explorason – London, Buckingham Palace #1
Here the Guards are finishing the process of Changing of Guard and so we get the best of both.
Exploramum and Explorason – London, Buckingham Palace #2
There is a mass of people and we stay and watch to the end as the Guards march off.
Exploramum and Explorason – London, Buckingham Palace #3
Around the back, we have some fun at the Palace Gift Store.
Exploramum and Explorason – London, Buckingham Palace Gift Shop #1
With Corgi’s and a tea cozy, we have a laugh.
Exploramum and Explorason – London, Buckingham Palace Gift Shop #2
We then walked a bit and caught a double-decker red bus to Harrods in Knightsbridge.
Exploramum and Explorason – London, Harrods
Inside we visited the gorgeous food court and of course, we also went to the art area. This amazing staff member talked to Explorason all about the art of Andy Warhol and also the sculptor Lorenzo Quinn. He encouraged us to feel and explained the thought behind the pieces.
Exploramum and Explorason – London, Lorenzo Quinn
We left Harrods and walked down the street for a beautiful afternoon tea and a good strong cup of coffee (or a cuppa to an Aussie).
Exploramum and Explorason – London, Caffe Concerto
We had about 1 hour to spare, and tired as we were, we then decided it was a couple of tube rides to Covent Garden. Exhausted, we just made the tube and train back to the area we were staying.
Exploramum and Explorason – London, Covent Garden
There we met a great friend from Australia – Davo. He has just been declared in remission from cancer, so it was a celebration at the White Rabbit Pub in Kent, and a great end to our first day in London.
Exploramum and Explorason – White Rabbit
Questions and Comments
- Are you a family that travels permanently?
- Have you been to London?
- What experiences do you have?
- What fascinates you about London?
- do share your opinions with us below.
Thank you for your post! 🙂
I hope you enjoy London – we did several other blogs on London if you want to read them. The highlight was the London Eye and going up the Chard for afternoon drinks
Wow, you had a really busy day in London! Any hidden gems, restaurants, bars you can recommend?
As a family blogger, I don’t go to bars. We did love dining on the boat on the River Thames as looking out to the London Eye was incredible!