On April 1st we left our winter home at Marinoff and drove eight miles north to Alamo Rose RV Resort to stay for the month of April. This was a safe haven for our RV while we traveled to London for two weeks. The park was fairly empty because the Winter Texans had departed.
Site 416 was level and just long enough.
TRAVEL DAY
We departed from Mcallen Airport on April 8, connecting through Dallas and arrived in London on the morning of April 9.
Since this was a nine-hour overnight flight, we opted for business class seats.
The seats were comfortable and fully reclined for sleeping.
DAY 1
48 BISHOPSGATE
We rented a large second floor Air BnB flat in this former Embassy for two weeks. It was conveniently located in the heart of City Center, the financial district of London, just one-half mile north of London Bridge, crossing the Thames River.
The flat encompassed the entire 2nd floor. We had a full kitchen, living room, dining room, and bedroom with large, attached bath including double sinks and a bidet. The flat was complete with dishwasher, oven and clothes washer/dryer.
TOWER BRIDGE
Our first morning we walked 1/2 block to the bus stop and hopped on a city double decker bus to ride to Tower Bridge and the Tower of London. We had purchased Visitor Oyster Cards prior to our trip. These prepaid cards are necessary to pay for and board all public transportation in London. We used our Oyster Cards on the Elizabeth Line from/to the airport, city buses as well as the Underground ("the Tube").
We walked across the iconic Tower Bridge that spans the Thames River. The bridge took 9 years to build from 1886-1894.
View of the business district and the Tower of London from Tower Bridge. The taller building in the left front is the "Sky Garden" and the tallest building is Horizon 22, which is just a block from our flat.
TOWER OF LONDON
The Tower of London is located just over the Tower Bridge across from the ultra-modern building known as the Shard.
There is a wide public walkway between the Tower of London and the Thames River. We purchased tickets to enter the Tower wall and then spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the historic Tower of London. It has functioned as a fortress, a palace and a prison.
Entrance gate through the inner wall of the Fortress.
The White Tower, which gives the entire castle its name, was built by William the Conqueror in 1078.
The Courtyard within the Tower Walls and the remains of an even older Roman Wall.
Within the Bloody Tower is numerous torture devices. The "Rack" is just one of the tools with which prisoners were occasionally tortured.
A guard outside the Crown Jewels.
King Charles wore this crown for his coronation.
Inside the White Tower several floors displayed medieval armament and weapons.
View of the Bridge from inside the White Tower.
Cannons and rifles
The Moat, drained of water, is now a large lawn. The Tower of London is a 1,000-year-old Castle that protects the Crown Jewels and is now a world-renowned historical site.
DAY 2
BUCKINGHAM PALACE
We got an early start to board a bus and then transfer across town to Parliament Square, home of Buckingham Palace, Big Ben, and 10 Downing Street.
The Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace is a popular ceremony where the Old Guard is relieved by the New Guard. The Grenadier Guards often participate in this ceremony, providing musical support and marching with the new guard.
View of the London Eye, a giant Ferris wheel as seen from St. James Park at Buckingham Palace.
10 DOWNING STREET
10 Downing Street, home of the current Prime Minister, is heavily guarded.
These phone booths are everywhere and now provide Wi-Fi service.
The pipes were playing at Big Ben.
The Palace of Westminster is the meeting place of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It is commonly called the Houses of Parliament after the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the two legislative chambers which occupy the building.
We stopped for lunch at the historic Red Lion which stands at the site of the 1434 tavern know at the Hopping Hall. The Red Lion was frequented by Charles Dickens, Winston Churchill, and other notable members of parliament and now us.
WESTMINSTER ABBEY
Westminster Abbey is an Anglican church. Since 1066, it has been the location of the coronations of 40 English and British monarchs and a burial site for 18 English, Scottish, and British monarchs.
At 5:00 pm we attended an Evensong Service.
We were seated in the choir loft, which was an excellent way to hear the choir and organ and enjoy the acoustics.
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