London - Day 7 through10

 DAY 7

SKY GARDEN

The Sky Garden, also known as "The Walkie Talkie" building due to its unique shape, features a top-floor restaurant and garden. The building in the back is nicknamed "The Gerkin".

We obtained free timed tickets in advance.

Sky Garden is a three-story glass dome that offers incredible views of the city from the 35th floor.

Building names were conveniently etched on the windows.

Looking to the west and St. Paul's Cathedral.

Looking to the east overlooking Tower Bridge and the Tower of London.

LONDON MITHRAEUM

The Temple of Mithras, originally constructed around 240 A.D., in the ancient Roman city of Londinium was discovered in 1952 during the excavation of a WWII bomb site.

Once we entered the temple, we experienced the sounds of what a Mithraic ritual would have been like. Very weird and eerie. Like a trip to the "Outer Limits".

DAY 8

NATIONAL GALLERY AND TRAFALGAR SQUARE

Today we got off the red double decker bus at Trafalgar Square to visit the National Gallery, the National Portrait Gallery and St. Martin in the Fields Church.

The National Gallery with Trafalgar Square fountain in the foreground.

The National Gallery is an art museum in Trafalgar Square, founded in 1824. It houses a collection of more than 2,300 paintings dating from the mid-13th century to 1900. 

Rembrandt Self Portrait

The Red Boy 1825

ST. MARTIN-IN-THE-FIELDS CHURCH

St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church was completed in 1824.

Since it was Maundy Thursday, we decided to attend the 1:00 pm choir concert of Sacred Music.

NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY

We really enjoy learning about the monarch linage, so it was especially fun to put faces with the names.

Portrait of the House of Commons 1833.

DAY 9

THE BRITISH LIBRARY

The British Library is the national library of the United Kingdom and one of the largest libraries in the world. As a legal deposit library, it receives copies of all books produced in the United Kingdom and Ireland.

We decided to visit the library because of its Treasure Room containing original documents and books.

Original manuscript for the Beatles Song "In My Life."

Original Magna Carta 1225

King George III's complete book collection is stored in the central column of the library.

THE BRITISH MUSEUM

The British Museum is a public museum dedicated to human history, art and culture containing over 8,000,000 historical objects.

The most unique object in the British Museum is the Rosetta Stone. Discovered in 1799, it features hieroglyphic, demotic, and Greek scripts, providing a key to deciphering hieroglyphs. 

Nereid Monument from Turkey, 390-380 B.C.

We discovered an entire room filled with ancient clocks, many in running condition. This 1760 Organ Clock contains 32 wooden pipes that actually play music.

One of the statues from Easter Island.

Royal Crown Reliquary is said to contain a thorn from the Crown of Thorns that was placed on Jesus' head prior to his crucifixion.

DAY 10

IMPERIAL WAR MUSEUM

The War Museum has recreations of WWI trenches and the Blitz, many tanks and planes and revolving military exhibitions from both World Wars.

Sherman Tank

Main Lobby