London (3)

Thursday 9 Sept
After a hearty English breakfast, which was included in our Tudor Lodge  accommodation, we set off early to catch the tube into London and use the second half of our 'hop on-off' tour.  The train was quite empty when we boarded but by the time we got past a few stations it was full, with people standing and squashed in.

We got off at Knights Bridge in hopes to visit Harrods before the rush but as it was only 9 o'clock, we had an hour to wait so looked around the Chelsea district.  Before opening time the tourists were waiting around the doors of Harrods, which opened shortly before the 10a.m.  We wandered around a number of the many floors admiring everything from fine produce to highly expensive garments & fine china etc. Clients can book a personalised room for items to be bought to the them and bubbles provided for the rich and famous while they are waiting.  We were lucky to sight the Memorial for Princess Diana and the Egyptian area, which is very tastefully done.  Although we didn't spent very much money in Harrods, not many people will have my 'pink glitzy' teeshirt like mine!!

We then boarded the tour bus again and went around the route we did not see the day before, again passing another part of Hyde Park and viewing the Marble Arch.  We completed the hop on - off tour on the South Bank then walked back over the Westminster Bridge.  We then went to St Margaret Cathedral (which we were able to enter) and Westminster Abby.  The queue was long and as we had a booking to tour Buckingham Palace we didn't have time to do a tour.  We continued our walk to the Palace, arriving too early and then it started to pour!  Luckily there was a nice English pub close by so we sheltered in there until the rain settled.

It was amazing touring through Buckingham Palace thinking 'I am royalty for an hour and a half.  This is where the Kings, Queens, Princes and Princesses all live and celebrate their great fortune.'  We went into the rooms where Prince William and Kate Middleton will celebrate parts of their wedding in April 2011. After wandering through the gardens of Buckingham Palace we got terribly lost trying to make our way back to Piccadilly Circus.

We eventually got our bearings and walked along the Royal Mile, seeing many great things, including the 'changing of horse guards' at the Royal Stables.  We eventually found our destination, very tired after our long and full-on day.  Our feet were starting to need a rest so we found yet another English  pub where we had the traditional 'pea,pie and mash' for dinner.

After a bit of 'R&R'  we wandered though the West End and arrived at Dominion Theatre where we went to the stage show "We Will Rock You" from the our era 'Queen'.  Even though we were very tired it was a magic event and we thoroughly enjoyed the music, glamour and atmosphere.

We left the theatre and walked through the Soho entertainment part of London.  Great to see what goes on in the London nightlife!  Chris had worked out a route to get us on the tube from Leister Square back to Eastcote as easy as possible and we were back at our hotel before midnight.

A fantastic day, very busy and saw so much of the true London but there is so much more to see yet.