Walking London

Yesterday a friend had a long flight on her way to Asia, broken up with an 11 hour layover in London.  Val, Angelina and I met up with her in central London and took her on a whirlwind tour.  I got teased for my "well modulated" voice.  Kris said she felt like she would just need to push a button and the walking tour audio companion would begin.

It was really fun to revisit some favorite parts of London.

As I walked from Tottenham Court to meet the others, I stopped to take the above picture.  A young woman came over to me to ask for directions.  She wanted to go to the National Gallery, and since she seemed confused by my directions, I told her I was going in the same direction and we could talk together.  She is from Rome, and if I understood her explanation, she is a marriage counselor and this is her first holiday in England.

Once the four of us ladies met up, we found a Wetherspoons and had the requisite fish and chips along Charing Cross Road.  From there, we walked to the National Gallery and Trafalgar Square, popped into Starbucks for a much needed coffee, and then took the bus to St. Paul's.  From there, we crossed the Millennium Bridge and did a rapid tour of the Tate Modern.  (We aren't really modern art fans, but they have clean toilets!) 

We then carried on one of my favorite walks, past the Globe Theatre, pausing at the Golden Hinde (a replica of Sir Francis Drake's ship) through Bourough Market and past Southwark Church.  We wandered past the creepy London Dungeon and the Winston Churchill Britain at War Museum, which I've never gone into but perhaps I should.  

Beyond Tooley Street, we entered More London.  This is where I love the contrast of City Hall and Tower Bridge, with the Tower of London across the Thames.  

I love the contrast of old and new in this part of London.  This is walking through More London on the way to Tower Bridge.

By this point, our tired feet thought it would be good to hop on another bus.  We caught a bus down to the London Eye, unwittingly picking the perfect time of day for a pretty picture. 

Just a few feet further, we had another great photo opportunity for the Houses of Parliament before crossing Westminster Bridge.  

We walked across the bridge and over to Westminster Abbey.  Sadly, I had remembered the wrong time for Evensong at Westminster Abbey, but no one minded too much :)  We then walked down to Victoria Station for a quick dinner.  From there, Kris headed back to Heathrow on the tube and we three London ladies headed our various directions.  I actually went back to where I started my day, and met a friend for a farewell coffee.  She's moving to North Africa not too soon after I leave.  We had a good time talking, but after the walking around in the brisk wind, I struggled to keep my eyes open!  We didn't linger too long, and I soon found my way back to Tottenham Court to go home for much needed sleep.