Out and about in London

Posted on by Lowes Travels

Oct 2-5

When we hopped off Viking Saturn on Oct. 2nd we were excited and couldn’t wait to dive into all that London had to offer. From the iconic sights such as the Parliament Building, Tower Bridge, Buckingham Palace, Big Ben and historic neighborhoods to the bustling atmosphere of markets and shops, we were ready to explore.

A serene sunset over the River Thames, showcasing vibrant orange and pink hues in the sky, with the city skyline visible along the riverbank.
London arrival at 6:30am

London doesn’t need a lot of introduction. The city existed long before the USA became a country. It was the capital of the British Empire, making it the center of political, military and economic decisions that fueled the American Revolution. But I must mention this because we recently watched the documentary American Revolution by Ken Burns on PBS. It detailed many historic battles that we hadn’t known about. Even if you aren’t a history buff you might want to check it out. We were totally hooked on it!

View of the London Eye and the Houses of Parliament across the River Thames under a blue sky.
Iconic London landmarks: Golden Jubilee Bridge in front, the London Eye ferris wheel and the Palace of Westminster with the flag and Big Ben in the background

Anyhow, in three days we experienced everything we could while exploring the city. The hotel we chose to stay in was a good central location. London is a walkable city, so on the first two days we walked and walked and walked. Finally, on our last day we hopped on a “Big Bus Hop On Hop Off” so we could venture further outside of the main downtown area.

The pictures below are pared down from the hundreds I always take. More pictures and less talk this time…

Day 1

A person walking on a street with a painted sign that says 'LOOK RIGHT' on the ground, indicating traffic direction.
First we had to learn how to cross a street
without getting run over…
A man standing at a pedestrian crossing in London, looking down at the street marked 'LOOK LEFT,' with a group of people waiting to cross in the background.
Look left, then right, then go!
A wide view of an open square in London, with historic buildings on either side and the London Eye visible in the distance under a cloudy sky.
Horse Guard buildings
A view of Buckingham Palace in London, featuring the iconic golden statue in front and people gathered around the area.
Buckingham Palace
Busy street scene in London featuring iconic red double-decker buses and pedestrians crossing at a traffic signal.
Ubiquitous double-decker red buses
A man stands in front of two classic red telephone boxes in London, examining the interior while surrounded by historic architecture.
Still exist but unused, very cool!
Facade of a historic church in London featuring intricate architectural details and a tall tower under a cloudy sky.
Westminster Cathedral is the largest and most important Roman Catholic church in
England and Wales
Interior view of a church featuring a large hanging cross, stained glass windows, and ornate chandeliers.
Inside Westminster Cathedral
The front view of Westminster Abbey, showcasing its iconic Gothic architecture, with visitors gathering at the entrance and cloudy skies above.
Westminster Abbey the site of every English and British coronation since 1066
A close-up view of Big Ben, the iconic clock tower in London, showcasing its intricate architecture and clock face, with the London Eye visible in the background under a cloudy sky.
Big Ben, global symbol of UK
A person sitting by a window in a London café, looking at their phone, with two glasses of red wine on the table and a view of the bustling streets below.
Happy hour at the Royal Opera House roof terrace
A busy Covent Garden Market in London at dusk, with crowds of people sitting and walking around, illuminated by warm street lights and featuring a historic building with signs for 'Punch & Judy' above.
Covent Garden a cultural hub and theaters

Day 2

From our hotel we walked about 9 miles, strolling along the River Thames while enduring the crisp air and intermittent rain showers. We criss-crossed the river several times, learning that it has 35 bridges with each offering a unique perspective of the bustling city and its iconic landmarks. Despite the intermittent showers, we took in sights that added a certain charm to the overcast, wet and gloomy scenery:

A person in a red jacket holding a yellow umbrella is smiling while walking along a wet pedestrian bridge in London, with skyscrapers in the background.
Crossing London Bridge
A person holding an umbrella stands on a rainy day near Tower Bridge in London, with wet pavement and other pedestrians in the background.
On we go to the iconic Tower Bridge

On a side note, did you know that the original London Bridge is now in Arizona? Well, in 1968 Lake Havasu City purchased London Bridge, which was dismantled and numbered piece by piece. Those pieces were then shipped and reconstructed by the numbers and now stand at Lake Havasu. Click here to read my post in 2012 about when we visited the relocated London Bridge. After seeing both I’d say the original one now in Arizona has much more character than the one in London 😉 To top it all we can say we have walked and crossed both London Bridges!

A person walking along the River Thames in London, with modern skyscrapers in the background and a bridge crossing the river.
Southbank
View of a green and gold bridge over the River Thames in London, with modern skyscrapers in the background on a cloudy day.
Southwark Bridge
View of a bridge over the River Thames in London, showcasing its arch design and architectural details, surrounded by city buildings and a cloudy sky.
Blackfriar’s Bridge
View of Tower Bridge in London with cloudy skies, showcasing its iconic towers and blue suspension cables.
Tower Bridge
A person walking along a tree-lined path by the River Thames in London, with city skyscrapers and decorative lampposts in the background.
Queens Walk
Sculpture of two seated figures in front of the National Theatre in London.
A person in a red jacket holding an umbrella stands in a spacious indoor market area featuring floral decorations and large windows.
Hays Market
A person standing on a railing next to the River Thames with the London Bridge visible in the background, under a concrete arch.
Under London Bridge

We were excited when we discovered a self-guided tour at Tower Bridge. After watching documentaries about it on Modern Marvels on the History Channel, we were eager to explore and see the inside of it up close. Play the clip below to see how silly I was when walking over the upgraded glass floor:

Informational display showing historical facts about St. Clement Danes Church in Aldwych, including specifications like length, height, and construction materials.
Bridge stats
Information display about glass panels on a bridge floor, detailing weight specifications and structural features.
Glass floor info
A person in a red jacket crouches on a glass walkway, looking down at the road below while visiting Tower Bridge in London.
Looking down through the floor

Next, to avoid long lines we had a reservation for an afternoon tea on the iconic London Eye:

A person sitting at a window in a cafe, gazing at the London Eye outside, with two drinks on the table.
Waiting for our capsule
Two staff members in pink uniforms at the entrance to the London Eye, next to a transparent capsule overlooking the River Thames on a cloudy day.
London Eye capsule
A woman enjoying afternoon tea while seated in a pod of the London Eye, with a view of the River Thames and cityscape in the background.
This was fun!

Click the video below to see a panoramic view of London from up high:

Of course, London is home to a wide variety of pubs, including historic coaching inns with colorful facades that are very inviting. But getting in was a challenge, for they were always packed with happy people mingling with drinks in hand:

A person walking past a pub called 'The Anchor', featuring red accents and vibrant flower decorations in London.
Exterior of the Bag of Nails pub in London, adorned with colorful flowers and greenery.
A brightly decorated pub named 'The Shipwrights Arms' featuring vibrant flower displays in hanging baskets and on the facade, set against a blue exterior.
A man sitting in a pub, smiling while resting his head on his hand. He has a glass of Guinness beer in front of him, alongside a glass of Amstel beer, with warm lighting and decorative elements in the background.
See? Here’s one of those happy people with a drink in hand!

Day 3

On our last day the clouds gave way to sun, no rain but the winds were fierce. Our legs were already tired from walking the past two days, so we decided to experience the rest of London on a Hop-on Hop-off London Big Bus Tour. The plus was the narration via earbuds:

A person sitting on the upper deck of a double-decker bus, with the Parliament Building and Big Ben in the background, on a clear day in London.
Bundled up, it was chilly!
St. Paul's Cathedral in London, featuring its iconic dome and clock tower, against a blue sky with scattered clouds.
St. Paul’s Cathedral
View of historic London architecture with intricate details under a blue sky with clouds.
King’s College
A view of London's skyline featuring the distinctive shape of the Gherkin building among modern skyscrapers, with traditional rooftops in the foreground and a partly cloudy sky.
The Gerkin
The Shard, a modern glass skyscraper in London, towers against a blue sky with scattered clouds, surrounded by other buildings under construction.
The Shard
A busy London street scene with pedestrians, a red double-decker bus, and decorative lights hanging overhead.
We were overwhelmed with so many people on the streets. It was worse than we’d experienced on Bourbon Street in Louisiana and at Times Square in New York City. It confirmed how happy we are to live in a quiet and small desert town 🙂
Exterior view of the Palace Theatre in London, featuring the 'Harry Potter and the Cursed Child' sign and pedestrians in front.
The Harry Potter museum
A street view of Knightsbridge in London, showcasing the iconic Harrods department store with its distinctive architecture, surrounded by urban streets and shops.
Enormous Harrods luxury department store
Street view showcasing a historic building with a distinctive tower in London, featuring a mix of classic architecture, modern shops, and a blue car parked in the foreground.
Theater district
View from the upper deck of a red double-decker bus in London, showing passengers seated and busy city streets with traffic.
Fleet Street
A historic archway with columns, leading to a green gate, surrounded by pedestrians crossing the street on a cloudy day in London.
Hyde Park

Our ticket included a short but delightful river cruise on the Thames, offering a unique view of the landmarks that line the riverbanks. As we glided on the water we were able to take in the beauty of the city from a different vantage point, witnessing the iconic sights of London while enjoying the gentle lapping of the cold waves:

A person wearing a red jacket stands by the River Thames with the Shard visible in the background, showcasing the skyline of London.
It was BRRR and windy while waiting for our boat ride. There’s The Shard building in the background
View of the Tower of London from across the River Thames, showcasing its historic architecture and surrounding greenery under a cloudy sky.
Tower of London
A view of London's modern skyline featuring iconic skyscrapers and buildings along the River Thames under a partly cloudy sky.
London’s more modern skyline, featuring the “Walkie-Talkie” building. Can you tell which one it is?
Tower Bridge in London with one of its drawbridges raised, allowing a boat to pass underneath, surrounded by a cloudy sky.
Our tour boat happened to be nearby when the Tower Bridge lifted to let a large sailboat pass through.
This only happens once or twice a day. Awesome!
A panoramic view of the London Eye, a large observation wheel, with a backdrop of dramatic clouds and buildings along the River Thames.
We sailed past the London Eye that we had experienced the day before. It stands at 443′ tall, making it Europe’s tallest cantilevered observation wheel
View of the iconic Parliament Building and Big Ben in London, taken from across the River Thames under a cloudy sky.
The Palace of Westminster with Big Ben on the right is the meeting place for the UK Parliament.
This is where our river cruise ended

We were exhausted at the end of the day, with a bus tour and river cruise while dealing with thousands of other tourists and high winds. But before going back to our hotel we had to eat and wanted to taste the fish and chips that London is known for. The hotel concierge recommended The Rock And Sole Place, which has been in business for 152 years and is the real deal:

A plate of fish and chips served with a lemon wedge and tartar sauce, accompanied by two glasses of beer, on a wooden table.
Fantastic!
A man stands in front of The Rock & Sole Plaice, a traditional fish and chips shop in London, showcasing its iconic sign and historical details.

This was a fast-paced visit. While it might appear we covered a lot of ground, there’s still much to experience in this big metropolitan city. We are not big-city people, but it was a good visit and we were able to tick it off of our bucket list 🙂

Day 4 – London to Paris

Our next Viking cruise began in Lisbon, Portugal. We could have flown there directly, but my honeybunch who loves trains wanted to experience crossing the English Channel from London to Paris (the Chunnel). Riding the train was really easy. The station was clean and the trains were on-time and very organized:

Interior of St Pancras International train station in London, featuring a high glass roof and multiple train platforms.
A man standing on a train platform beside a Eurostar train, holding two suitcases, with a clock visible in the background.
A person sitting on a train, smiling while holding a tray with a meal that includes pasta, a small bottle of wine, and a few snacks, with a blurred background of the train window.
High-speed life is good!

Here’s some tunnel and bullet train trivia about our crossing under the English Channel:

  • The tunnel is 31 miles long, with the underwater part spanning 23.5 miles, the longest in the world.
  • It is 246′ under the surface of the channel at its deepest point.
  • The train goes through the channel tunnel at approximately 100mph, and at up to 186mph on the land sections.

Here’s a short video of what 180mph in Paris looks like:

Day 5 – Paris

We were in Paris in 2022, so we didn’t have to re-discover the city. However, with the re-opening of areas in the Notre Dame Cathedral I had a grand idea of visiting. Well, due to my lack of foresight I failed to book a tour ahead of time. So instead we walked there just in case we could get in since it was already past 5pm. Wrong again, the line was still outrageously long and it started to rain so we gave up. Perhaps when the reconstruction is complete we’ll give it another try someday 🙁

A woman in a pink jacket stands in front of a crowd outside the Notre-Dame Cathedral, showcasing its Gothic architecture with tall towers and intricate details.
Notre Dame facade
A view of the Notre Dame Cathedral under renovation, with scaffolding and a crane against a sunset sky.
Still a huge ongoing re-construction project since the devastating fire in 2019

So instead we enjoyed a peaceful sunset on the Seine River:

A scenic view of the River Seine in Paris during sunset, showcasing a bridge with a boat passing underneath and buildings lined along the riverbank.

And with that we were off to Lisbon to catch a Viking river cruise on the Douro River and meet up with friends. More on that coming up!

Next up: Cruising the Douro River in Portugal

5 thoughts on “Out and about in London”

    1. Thank you for reading the captions, but you meant Westminster Abbey is Angelican not Catholic. The Westminster Cathedral is Catholic, and the Westminster Abbey is Angelican.

      Reply

  2. The weather during our visit was definitely more tourist friendly but our experiences were much the same. We enjoyed the hop on hop off bus/river tour as a respite from all the walking and crowds!

    Reply

  3. Boy, no matter how appealing the architecture is or how intriguing the businesses are, all the people (the very definition of a city) make it impossible for me to really like any of them. But if anyone could change my mind, it would be you and your wonderful explorations, always finding the best stuff!

    Reply

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