composer, singer and all other things...Noel Coward.
Continuing our travels around London, Krys and I boarded
the 12 bus from Dulwich. En route to the bus stop, we
passed this lovely mural:
Today, we were heading to a special place, well- known to all tourists!
And if you don't know what this place is...... tough!
We passed over Westminster Bridge - the bridge is painted
predominantly green, the same colour as the leather seats in the
House of Commons.
We passed by this sign :
and really didn't think anything of it until we got home later that day.
Look what they were filming on Westminster Bridge:
A new movie with Jackie Chan AND more importantly, Piers Brosnan!!!
And, if you look at Big Ben, we missed the whole event by 1 HR!!
Oh well.....next time.
Across the bridge, the London Eye and County Hall......
And St. Margaret's Church with Westminster Abbey in the background
We didn't go into the church or Westminster Abbey as it was Sunday
and services were taking place.
We wandered around the central green of Parliament Square....
I wanted to get a close-up of one of Britain's most famous statesmen:
Apparently this is the spot referred to in the 1950's by Churchill as
"where my statue will go."
Look where he's facing:
His statue is one of eight famous statesmen in Parliament Square:
Nelson Mandela....
Gandhi......
Jan Christian Smuts, a prominent South African and British
Commonwealth statesman.....
Lloyd George....
As Chancellor of the Exchequer, Lloyd George was a key figure in
the introduction of many reforms which laid the foundations of the
modern welfare state. His most important role was as Prime Minister
of the Wartime Coalition Government during and after the First World
War.
We walked down Whitehall.....
and past the Cabinet War Rooms......
Walked by the Cenotaph.....
Built in 1920, the Cenotaph is the centre of the nation on
Remembrance Sunday, the nearest Sunday to November 11th.
Royalty, politicians and war vets meet and the Queen lays a wreath
in memory of the war dead.
We passed Downing Street, home to the Prime Minister at Number 10
and the Chancellor of the Exchequer next door at Number 11
Security was tight so we weren't invited in!
Until 1989 you could walk right up to the front doors.
We passed by this monument......
erected in 2005 to honour the work that women undertook
during the Second World War.
We passed by the Horse Guards.....
The Horse Guards are the Queens's personal Life Guards.....
Through the iron gates, the official entrance to
St.James and Buckingham Palace.....
Look what we found on the other side........
buildings known collectively as Horse Guards....
The archway in the centre is where we walked through from Whitehall.
I think my photography skills are improving!
At the far end of the parade.......
A memorial to commemorate the war dead from the
Guards Divison and the Household Divison killed in conflicts
since 1918.
We took a brief stroll around St.James's Park......
The crocuses and daffodils were in full and early bloom......
We crossed the Mall..... if you look in the distance you can
see Buckingham Palace and no, we weren't invited to tea!!!
Years ago you could drive all the way up to Buck House!
We headed out through the Admiralty Arch......
and into Trafalagar Square......
Guess what we found to our left?
The Canadian Embassy and High Commission......
With parking reserved just for me:
There were lots of street performers in Trafalgar Square....
We worked out how they did this, but I'm not telling!!
Street artists everywhere....
That's supposed to be David Bowie!
We walked up Waterloo Place and saw this famous nurse:
And yes, she was holding her lamp!
A memorial to commemorate the Crimean War
We swung by this place - do you recognise it?
Here's a close- up.......
Piccadilly Circus with the famous statue of Eros which is
MUCH smaller than you think!
Piccadilly Circus links to the theatre districts of Shaftesbury
Avenue, the Haymarket and Leicester Square. It's also close
to major shopping and entertainment areas in the West End.
We were two women on a mission....
This is where we were headed......
Regent Street - one of the major shopping streets in the
West End of London - and home to world famous designer
stores....
And were we impressed?? Nah - we diidn't even stop to look!
We had far more important matters to attend to.....
This is where we were headed.....
Hamleys of Regent Street - the oldest toy shop in the world and
one of the world's best-known retailers of toys. It was founded
in 1760 by William Hamley and now has over seven floors of toys!
My kids always looked forward to a visit to Hamleys on their
visits to London. Hamleys was my last hope when I was desperately
searching for a Pizza Hut Barbie!!
Today I was looking for Paw Patrol characters for a favourite grandson!
We searched high and low...
We found Thomas the Tank Engine...
Ninja Turtles....
And even met some of the Royal Family, made entirely out of Lego...
But..... no Paw Patrol!
Phew - between the crowds, the noise and tired kids, we were
glad to get out.
We headed past this well-known icon of British theatre...
Sunday Night at the London Palladium was a much- beloved
weekly TV show.....
We headed past the famous Carnaby Street - home to hippie and mod
boutiques in the 60's, headquarters of Mary Quant and one of the coolest
destinations of Swinging London in the 60's......
We passed through Chinatown......ready for Chinese New Year:
Past the theatre where we'd seen this outstanding musical a
few weeks ago.... well worth seeing:
And, disturbingly, this peaceful demonstration in Chinatown....
I'd never heard of Falun Gong, I googled it when I got home
and was horrified.
These atrocities are really happening in China today and
perpetrated by the Chinese Government.
I guess the story of Les Miserables still continues in parts
of the world.
Another busy but well-spent day!
Talk soon
Zoe
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