Westminster and about - London day 1

Day 14, Friday 24 August

We became your regular, run-of-the–mill tourists today. Sturdy, practical shoes, back pack full of rations and emergency supplies we headed out early to catch all the important monuments and museums before they could disappear!

Westminister Abbey

We began our invasion of the wonders of London at Westminster Abbey, a far more inspiring Christian place of worship than Salisbury Cathedral and very much a who's who of British history. Every English monarch since William the Conqueror has been crowned there and a lot of them are buried there as well. It is a great building crammed to the hilt with tombs and memorials of all shapes and egos. Its tells great stories of British history and of the families that have run the place.

We were not able to take any photos inside so you will just need to believe us that it is an interesting interior to visit and much more interesting than most of the churches we have been to.

North entrance and side of Westminster Abbey.

Jewel Tower

Back in the days before banks King Edward III needed somewhere to keep his jewels and bullion so the Jewel Tower was built in 1365 as part of the original Palace of Westminster. Only the Jewel Tower and Westminster Hall survived a fire that destroyed the Palace in 1834.

It is an interesting building and no doubt secure in its day but would not be much of a challenge for most modern thieves.

The Jewel Tower

Big Ben

Big Ben would have to be one of London's most iconic landmarks. It looked as if it had been polished up for the Olympics but it is certainly an impressive clock and tower. The Elizabeth tower (Big Ben is the bell for the clock) is massive and is named after Queen Elizabeth II, because the tower at the other end of the parliament building is named after Queen Victoria.

Big Ben's timekeeping is strictly regulated by a stack of coins placed on the huge pendulum. Big Ben has rarely stopped. Even after a bomb destroyed the Commons chamber during the Second World War,  Big Ben continued to strike the hours.

The chimes of Big Ben were first broadcast by the BBC on 31 December 1923, a tradition that continues to this day.

Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament

Just to prove we were both there!

Horse Guards

Walking down Whitehall towards The Banqueting House, Cath could not resist going over to the Horse Guards and checking out the guards on duty. Two guards on horses and two on foot put up with tourists all day. They must just love this part of their job!

The Banqueting House

We had no queues to contend with at the Banqueting House and the people that were there were immersed in the atmosphere of the place. This an extraordinary building both in terms of history and architecture.

It was the first major classical building to be completed in England. The proportions of the main hall give it a feeling of symmetry and balance. The building was commissioned by Charles I, designed by Inigo Jones and completed in 1622. It features an amazing series of paintings on the ceiling painted by Peter Paul Rubens. They are the only Rubens paintings still in their original location.

The Banqueting House was the location of the execution of Charles I in 1649. Oliver Cromwell apparently decided that as The Banqueting Hall was Charles' favourite building he should be executed there. He walked through the hall to a scaffold outside and was beheaded as England descended into civil war.

The main Banqueting room.

The central panel of the Rubens ceiling paintings

Trafalgar Square

The square is always busy but is is now trying to cope with the extra visitors and preparations for the Paralympics. At least there is some space at Trafalgar Square to have the information tents and the count-down clock for the Games.

Trafalgar Square with the National Gallery above it.

In the evening we met up with Kate and Luke Wynne for dinner at a tapas bar in Soho. Kate and Luke told us that they are expecting their first baby in February next year. Very exciting and there was a lot of talk about babies. They are enjoying living and working in London but are planning to spend a month back in Melbourne after the baby is born. It was great to catch up with them and they had lots of recommendations on places to eat and shop near our apartment as Luke works in Covent Garden.

With Kate and Luke at Polpo tapas bar in Soho.