4^th October, 2013 – highlights of London on foot.

Another early start, to make the most of our time! We caught the train to Paddington and worked out from the maps how we would use the underground train network (the Tube) to get to Westminster, where we planned to start our walk around the sights of London with Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. Paddington has the above ground station for trains from further away as well as the city Tube network, so we made our way from the top platforms to the underground. When we got there, we found that the line we needed was having problems with signal failures and long delays were expected. We decided to make a change to our plans for the day and head back up to ground level.

We set off with the aim of reaching Hyde Park but not entirely sure if we were heading in the right direction – until we saw a small mews (lane with previous stables, now converted into homes) with an arch in the end, which we recognised from a Wombles book and which we knew should be just around the corner from the park – and indeed it was!

As emergency changes in plan go, being forced to stroll through Hyde Park is not the worst that could happen.

We found our way through Green Park and to Buckingham Palace, which was one of the sites we planned to see on our walk – so then we were able to get back on track.

We continued down St James’ Park, full of views and squirrels.

Across the road is the Horseguards. Not sure exactly what goes on here, but it’s all very impressive. We saw a man in a red coat that seemed several times too big and a very silly hat.

Some other men on horses came through a gate, with the one at the front calling “Stand clear for the Queen’s Horse Guard!” Which we did. You don’t mess with guys with swords and silly hats.

We continued past the Mall and the Admiralty Arch.

On to Trafalgar Square, where we couldn’t get right up to the lions because they were fenced off as part of the stage area for Malaysia Night, whatever that is!

We visited the National Gallery – we couldn’t stay long, because we had so many other things to do today, but in a quick peek we saw Van Gogh’s sunflowers, Monet’s waterlilies, some works by Renoir, Pissaro, Gainsborough, Turner... so hard to leave when there is always another room, another artwork to see.

Just across the road is St Martin in the Fields – no fields to be seen but it is a very fine looking church. We were a bit too early to see a lunchtime concert.

We headed down to the river and crossed the Jubilee Bridge, facing into some rather dramatic looking weather which somehow didn’t reach us. Amazing views of Big Ben, the London Eye and other familiar sights.

We strolled along the bank and stopped briefly at a park.

Then back across the river to the Houses of Parliament.

Across the road is the Jewel Tower, the only remainder of the royal palace of Westminster, built in 1384. It was in use for government offices right up until the mid 20^th Century, and it’s quite an interesting little place to explore.

                                                                                      

Back outside, where the clouds had passed and the Houses of Parliament looked more amazing than ever in the Autumn sunlight.

Around the corner to the Deans Yard, a lawn (and car park) with a gate through to Westminster School.

We continued on to Westminster Abbey. When this site was first used for worship, the city of London barely existed and the church was a monastery in a marshy area beside the Thames. The current building dates from 1272 although of course it has been modified and added to since then. By the way, the formal name is “The Collegiate Church of St Peter in Westminster” – and it has been since 1560, although it clearly hasn’t caught on yet. The monastery was dissolved at that time but the school remains.

The church is really quite a strange place, absolutely crammed full of memorials, tombs, chapels and visitors. You aren’t allowed to take photos, but we saw the burial places of Queen Elizabeth the 1^st and her half-sister, Mary; various Kings Edward and Henry; Mary, Queen of Scots, and many more. Also Poet’s Corner - Chaucer, Charles Dickens and Samuel Johnson are some of the famous names who have been buried here, and there are memorials to others such as Shakespeare and Lewis Carroll who are buried elsewhere. There is a stone right near the front of the church marking where Oliver Cromwell was buried, but his body was only there 3 years before it was removed and hanged for high treason in a bizarre public execution of a long-dead body.

The coronation chair in the Abbey has been used during every coronation since Henry IV in the 14^th Century. When William and Mary were crowned joint monarchs in ????????????, a second, smaller chair was constructed in the same style. The main chair was designed to hold the Stone of Scone, a large stone used in Scottish coronation ceremonies – this was kept with the coronation chair but has now been returned to Scotland.

We walked around the cloisters and the Pyx Chamber - a small room used previously as both a store room and a chapel, sometimes at the same time, and dating back to around 1070, making it one of the oldest rooms in London.

We spent quite a long time exploring the Abbey – we heard the hourly prayers twice while we were in the main part of the building. Visiting hours were almost finished by the time we left, so it was time to head back to the railway station and make our way back to Windsor. An exhausting day – just trying to remember everything we did is tiring!