11 July London

So today has been a very long day - we were out and about for about 12 hours today - so this one might be more of a photo essay as I'm having trouble keeping my eyes open!

After a pretty reasonable breakfast (the boys put away 4 pieces of toast each plus bacon, cereal, eggs etc) we walked down the street in search of Ilford train station, without a map. Found a large shopping centre, but being only 9 nothing was open (they open at 10) - followed by Sainsbury's - and eventually the train station. From there we managed to get to Liverpool Street station and then attempted to navigate the Tube, eventually getting to where we planned - Westminster - so Ethan could see Big Ben - it was as good a place to start as any!

From here we picked up a city open top bus sightseeing tour - so that we could get a feel for the city and its layout, without having to re-navigate the Tube. It took us from the Westminster area over towards Victoria Station, Hyde Park, Marble Arch and continued up Gloucester Road to Madame Toussard's and on to the shopping areas of Oxford and Regent Streets. We then got stuck in a traffic snarl that was happening whilst we were on Regent Street - it would have been faster to walk. By this stage it was midday and so I did manage to get burnt on my arms!

Library across the road from the registry office where most of the Beatles got married.

Madame Toussards - the line was incredible - this one will have to wait for a trip that is not in the peak tourist season!

Oxford Street (part of it)

Regent Street

Useless Fact #1: The little crowns on top of the lamp posts in Regent St indicate that the Road is the 'property' of the Sovereign. All rents from the businesses on the road are paid to the Civil List and thus the Queen.

Jubilee Banner that were along the whole of Regent Street

 The trip continued down past Oxford Circus into Piccadilly and then to Trafalgar Square. We returned this same route later in the day, but on foot.

Crimea memorial

Trafalgar Square

The National Gallery (in Trafalgar Square)

Charing Cross Station (?)

 From Trafalgar we continued along the Strand, through the Fleet St Area and onto St Paul's Cathedral.

The Royal Courts of Justice (High Court) on the Strand/Fleet Street

St Paul's - too big to get all of it in one photo from the ground.

Front of St Paul's

 At this stage the bleatings from the children about being hungry and needing food were coming thick and fast, so we continued over London Bridge (its the 5th one) - prompting Jacob to sing to us all - and down and over Tower Bridge, where we left the bus at the Tower of London.

Tower Bridge and HMS Belfast from London Bridge

Looking back toward Fleet St and the Strand, you should be able to make out the "Gherkin"

Going across Tower Bridge

One side of the Tower

Opposite side of the Tower from above

Centre part of the Tower - from the Thames

Visible only from the River.

 The bus ticket also included a cruise on the Thames from Tower Pier to Westminster - so after lunch we cruised up the River for a bit.

City Hall

Customs House

The Shard

The "pirate" ship

Thames real estate

Cleopatra's Needle

The London Eye

 From Westminster Pier we walked over towards the London Eye on South Bank, had ice cream enjoying the 'entertainment' and then over the Jubilee Bridge and back up towardsTrafalgar, Piccadilly and Oxford Circus.

Bubble blowing/catching at Southbank

Breakdance 'show'

On Jubilee Bridge

A black telephone box......

and a red one!!

For those who aren't so familiar with London geography, this area is also known to many as the 'West End' and is the location of numerous theatres.

Our eventual destination was Hamley's - one of the largest, certainly the most famous toy shop in the world - the boys were in heaven - no purchases made - I will buy once I am back from Paris - don't want to have to lug heavy cases to and from. Anyway - Floors 4, 5 and the Basement were the most popular - the others had 'girl' and 'baby' toys!

Iron Man Lego statue - he stood about 90cm tall

The Queen was there as well, complete with her corgi....

And some fo the others were there as well - don't know where the Duke of Edinburgh and Camilla were though!

Glad Barry wasn't around - would never have got him away from the Scalextrix stuff

Matchbox car anyone?

 So from Oxford Circus we navigated to St Pancras and bought tickets to Paris and then back to Ilford for a stop at the supermarket, Pizza Hut takeaway and a picnic on the floor of the hotel room.

I'll leave you with some other shots from around town - what I found interesting was the mix of building styles.