London

Wednesday London

An early start, and we were first down to breakfast. Left shortly after and took a couple of metro connections to get to Gare D'Nor for the Eurostar under the channel to London. Went through both immigration departure and UK arrival within the French station before we left. Departed on time but they closed the tunnel shortly before we got there so we ended up sitting and waiting for an hour. Eventually arrived to huge queues around the Metro ticket machines so we found an ATM in the street and had subway for lunch while they shrunk. Eventually arrived at the hotel in Bayswater. Ashley was happy as we had five TV channels in English. Mandy was happy as we had a double bed and a kettle. Shops and metro station just around the corner, Hyde Park at the end of the street, so the location is great. Ashley went off to Madame Tussaud's nearby, while we had an afternoon off after a hectic few days in Paris. Went down the street for a few items, then took a double-decker bus to Piccadilly Circus where we had tea in Chinatown and then walked down Oxford Street window shopping in all the stores having new year sales.

Thursday London

Bought tickets on the hop on hop off the bus, and spent about four hours doing all the tour legs and listening to the commentary. Saw all the sites like Buckingham Palace, St Paul's, Big Ben and so on, but didn't get off. When we finished the circuits it was about 2:30pm. We got off in the West End and bought Ashley a ticket to Le Mis for the evening performance. Then off to the Sherlock Holmes Pub for a fish and chip lunch. It was about 2° so after four hours in an open top bus we were definitely in need of warmth and sustenance. Then had a frustrating time trying to find the yellow bus stop to take us to St Paul's. Unfortunately by the time we got there at 4:15 p.m. they had closed, and took us another hour to complete the circuit to get the bus back to the hotel. It got dark at 4pm, rained most of the afternoon and hovered just over the freezing mark, so I've had more comfortable days. Arrived back at 5:45pm when we organised the washing load. Ashley headed off to Le Mis while Mandy and I did the washing in the local launderette, had Thai noodles for tea, then found an internet cafe to check our mail.

Friday London

Caught the bus to the London Eye for the first flight of the day. Unfortunately when I booked it last March I didn't check what the weather would be today. Not really cold, but cloudy and grey so the view from the top wasn't great. Could make out some buildings nearby, but distance wasn't good. Then walked to the House of Commons and Westminster Cathedral, which Mandy toured while Ashley and I had a coffee. Up to Downing Street and the household cavalry to pat the horses. Back on the bus and around to tower bridge which we walked across, on our way to the Tower of London which Ashley and Mandy visited. Quick lunch at KFC, then Ashley came back to the hotel for a sleep while Mandy and I took a river cruise down to Greenwich. We walked through the Naval Academy, up the hill to the Greenwich Observatory where we straddled the meridian and looked at Harrison’s four timepieces that calculated longitude. They have now added a laser light at 0°, which looked fantastic as it got dark, pointing into the distance. Got the last ferry back to Westminster, and the bus back to the hotel. Spent the evening finding a Monopoly streets on the London map.

Saturday London

Went straight to St Paul's to see if we could get in. Only bought a bus ticket since it was much cheaper than a combined bus/train ticket. Toured the cathedral, and walked up the 400 stairs to the whispering gallery, then another hundred stairs to the stone gallery. The very top level wasn't open. Then back on the tube, across London, and out to St John's Wood where we visited Abbey Road Studios and walked across the crossing. Down the road to Lord's for the midday tour, and through the Grace gates. Tour was very laid-back. Saw the Ashes, the Long room, both change rooms and balconies, finishing at the other end of the ground in the media centre. About 1:30pm we walked back to the train and across London again. This time south to Southfields where we walked a kilometre down to Wimbledon. Mandy and Ashley toured the museum and looked at all the exhibits. Unfortunately the centre court was having its roof installed so they couldn't visit that. About 5pm we walked back to Southfields and around the corner to Sara's for tea. Lovely evening. Met Mike, Emma and Natasha, and had a home-cooked meal for a change. Very small, narrow terrace house. Mandy had a lovely time, and rather late-ish after lots of photos we walked back to the train and returned to the hotel.

Sunday London

A day for doing all the remaining odds and ends. Started by walking in the Kensington Gardens in the lovely sunshine, walking past Kensington Palace, the Albert Memorial, the Royal Albert Hall and the Diana Fountain. Through Hyde Park to Buckingham Palace, dodging the Boot Camp exercise group and the horse riders, in time for the 11:30am changing of the guard. Took 45 minutes, then we walked up all past Clarence House to Admiralty Arch in Trafalgar Square for lunch. Walked down Regent Street and Oxford Street, and tried to buy Ashley a cable to connect his iPod and TV at the Apple store. Walked the 2 miles back to the hotel where we found that the cable didn't work. The third nonworking cable I've purchased. Mandy and Ashley took a load of washing to the laundromat while I bought a bus ticket and fought with the shopping crush all the way back into town to exchange it. At least this one worked. Ashley had an all you can eat pizza meal, while Mandy and I walked to the Royal Albert Hall to see Cirque du Soleil -- Verekai, which was my very belated birthday present. Sat at the side of the stage to the first half, then in a box of the second half as we could only get to single tickets. Great night -- good show.