UK: London Calling

After we were in Paris for 2 months we figured we'd make a quick stop in London, since we were already in the "neighbourhood" (from a North American perspective.)

London always has a pull for us.

In part because we lived there for 2 years, and, in part because it is such a fantastic city. 

Not to mention, the weather is always so appealing.

I do have my favourite spots, and one of the top spots I always like start with is Trafalgar Square. 

NOTE: The fantastic weather part is said tongue in cheek.

Trafalgar Square is overseen by Lord Nelson, who stands atop the column in the centre of the square. Nelson led Britain to victory over Napoleon at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Unfortunately, Nelson died in the battle. 

The four lions at his feet were cast from melted-down cannons the British captured from the French after their victorious battle.

The National Gallery, on Trafalgar Square, opened in 1838 and houses "one of the world’s greatest collections of European paintings". 

There are around 2,300 works, from the 13th to early 20th century. 

The best part is - its FREE!

Canada House, the Canadian Embassy in London, is located in a prime location on Trafalgar Square. 

It is always a favourite spot of mine to walk around.

An iconic symbol of London is Big Ben, which is actually the bell inside the Elizabeth Tower. The size of the clock in the tower is deceptive. Each of the four faces is 7 meters (23 feet) in diameter, with hands about 4.2 meters (14 feet) long.

Cocktail Party Trivia: During WWII, the clock faces were dimmed at night to avoid guiding German bombers, but the bell kept striking the hours. 

BONUS Cocktail Party Trivia: Cleaning and maintaining the clock takes four workers about a week for each face, using specially made scaffolding inside the tower.

To get to Big Ben and Westminster Palace is The Westminster tube station which opened in 1868. The Jubilee Line platforms were added 130 years later in 1999 and are about 26 meters (85 feet) underground! That is 8 stories underground! Westminster tube station is often used in films and TV.

Speaking of TV, movies and special occasions, you've probably seen The Mall, which is the ceremonial route from Buckingham Palace to Trafalgar Square and Admiralty Arch. The day this picture was taken the city was preparing for a visit from France's President Macron.

Queen Victoria sits in front of Buckingham Palace and looks down The Mall.

They generally open Buckingham Palace for tours in July and August, but, no photos are allowed inside. Photos are allowed in the garden behind the palace so, sorry, that's it for photos.

St James’s Park is the oldest of London’s Royal Parks and is between Buckingham Palace and Horse Guard Parade.

Regent St is always fun to walk along and window shop high end stores.

There are a plethora of phenomenal art collections, museums and galleries. FREE!

This was a special exhibit on Cartier at the Victoria and Albert Museum. Who doesn't covet a tiara?

The Brits know how to do pomp and ceremony. A few of the carriages in the Royal Mews.

And at the other end of the spectrum, there are pop-ups in Brixton for casual dining, and/or, a pint and/or two.

Or food trucks in Paddington before the onslaught of customers.

Walking along the Thames there is always something to see, like: The Tait Britain, one of my favourite galleries, that houses the national collection of British art from 1500 to the present,

or Battersea Station, of Pink Floyd fame, an iconic decommissioned coal-fired plant on the south bank of the Thames, and now a huge urban mixed-use complex,

or, the London Eye, which has 32 glass capsules, each representing a London borough, and takes about 30 minutes to complete a full rotation, giving a birds eye view of the city,

or the National COVID Memorial, created in 2021 with hundreds of thousands of hand-painted red hearts stretching out over half a kilometer, each symbolizing a life lost to COVID-19 in the UK.

The Millennium Bridge opened in, when else, 2000. It was opened by Queen Elizabeth and crossed by about 90,000 people. Three days later the bridge was closed due to swaying. It was then dubbed the "wobbly bridge". I would think that would be just a little embarrassing, especially for the engineers. It reopened in 2002.

Ok, let me ask, where else do you get to see commuters dressed like this?

This doesn't even scratch the surface of all the fabulous things in London, but are just a couple of the reason's we always feel.....

.... London Calling.