Wednesday 8 Sept
Today we woke early and were all set to explore London so we left Sarah and Stephen's flat early and dropped off backpacks at Tudor Lodge. We were keeping the young people awake with us adjusting to different times and they had to get up early for work but went back to stay with them on the Friday. We were on a very early tube into Baker Street Station where we did a bit of looking around the area, having a bite to eat at a commonly seen cafe EAT before buying tickets on the 'Big Bus' 24 hour pass, tour of London. We started about 12.00p.m so that we could do it in two half days, which worked out to be a great way to go. It was a good start to see the main points of interest, in London, before we started exploring on our own.
We had an amazing tour, doing the entire main routes without getting off as we intended to explore further by foot. My camera didn't stop clicking as we passed the many historic and beautiful parts of London.
Highlights included Piccadilly Circus, Oxford Street, Trafalgar Square, London Eye, No 10 Downing Street, Parliament Square, Houses of Parliament,Florence Nightingale Museum, South Bank Centre (Fleet Street), St Paul's Cathedral, passing by Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and Westminster Abby.
We even saw New Zealand House, for what it was worth! We crossed London, Westminster and Tower Bridges, passed by Hyde & Green Parks etc. What a great way to get a feel for London before doing it on our own.
We then left the tour at the top of Oxford Street and managed to find our way back to Baker Street Station, through an absolute 'sea' of people finishing work. Made it back to Eastcote and found a traditional English pub 'Manor' ( to be our local while staying here as it was very close to Sarah & Stephen's place as well as the Tudor Lodge. Had a couple of drinks but very tired so went to the Lodge and had snacks and beer / wine.
London is a very busy, polluted city with so much character and excitement but I would never want to live there.
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