London

London - 20th to 23rd June

After two very long flights via Shanghai 11hrs and 14 hrs we finally arrived in London late afternoon and Ubered to our Air b&b accommodation in Hampton court with Vicki and her twin five year old girls. Great accommodation and easy to get the train from Hampton Court to Waterloo Station in London.

Our next day to combat jet-lag we did a big walk around a few of the London sights after getting the train to Waterloo then the underground to Kings Cross where we were getting the train to Edinburgh in a few days. Needed a dry run as we needed to negotiate with luggage. 

We visited The Tower of London in the afternoon as this was a place we didn't get to on our last visit to London in 2014. Thoroughly enjoyed the Yeoman's tour especially his stories and was surprised at the amount of interesting things to see there, including of course the crown jewels. Many stories of horror, death and scandal. A very hot day and we were exhausted by the time be got back to Hampton Court - had a nice pub meal for dinner then wandered home.

Next day we went to Tate Modern then meet up with Erin. She was a great tour guide around the city and also showing us where she used to work in the city and some of her favourite places.  We enjoyed lunch together on the South Bank.

London of course has many sights and just strolling around the city is enjoyable lots of remember that moments alongside new discoveries. It was great to be able to tap and go on the train and tube with your debit card and not worry about an oyster card, capped to a max each day as well as not getting lost as we were a bit rusty.  Rounded the day off with another pub meal and a pint.

Tower Bridge

Flight route to London

Thames - tides out showing the old historic wharf piles

The Shard

Historic battleship Belfast moored in the Thames

The moat planted in wildflowers - Tower of London

Watch out!

Yeoman of the Guard was our guide - excellent yarns

Raven at the Tower - permanent residents with their own keeper.
He is sitting on the old Roman ruins

Guarding the Crown Jewels

 no cameras allowed...

Tower bridge from inside the tower court yard with old roman ruins in the foreground.

One of the displays in the White Tower another below.

Some big guns - the flintlocks on the wall at the back were massive.

White Tower to the right the Crown Jewels were to the left.

On walkabout with Erin a cleaned up Big Ben and Parliament Buildings

Downing Street all locked up and guarded

Fire of London monument.

St Pauls Cathedral (who's that in the background)

Erin & Maree

Another iconic London landmark Westminster Abbey

We also liked this old classic.

Our air b&b accomodation at Hampton Court