London - Day3 - I

I was at the Hotel lobby by 6. The Hotel staff finished the check-out procedure in the next 8 minutes. Deposited the luggage in store and was at the Westminster Cathedral at quarter-past-six.

Westminster Cathedral - Westminster Cathedral is the mother church of the Roman Catholic in England.

Walked down the Victoria Street towards Westminster Abbey. The road was clear. I hadn’t witnessed such empty road in London then (Mayfair being an exception).

Westminster Abbey – The admission was free for two reasons. It was Sunday Morning and I was the second visitor that morning. This Gothic church is the traditional place of coronation and burial site.

The Methodist Central Hall – I loved the exuberance and bulkiness in the architectural design of this hall.

The House of Parliament, Jewel Tower –

Bits as old as 1066, bits which survived the fire of 1834. Architecture by Barry, decorative bits by Pugin - the greatest of the Victorian ornamentalist - who even designed the inkwells on the politicians' desks.

Detailed visitor information here.

More here .

The road was narrow and could not find a nice position to get a good coverage. I walked down the North Bank (Millbank).

The South Bank images are popularly common. But, I loved this from the Millbank.

I had enough plans to last in London for another 6 days, but, I just had one day in hand, and it had to be the ‘Bridges of London walk’. Thus I would be taking home a satisfied soul.

All three days while at London the distance was calculated relative to the River Thames. Thames which flows through the heart of London has over a dozen bridges over it. And non to mention London is famous for Bridges.

My Bridge count starts here.

1] Lambeth Bridge -

The water level was low and I was eager to spot the Tate Britain.

Tate Britain -

This is a new space carved out of the old Tate Gallery (once the site of a model prison) at Millbank, on the north, overlooking the HQ of Britain's Intelligence Services next to Vauxhall Bridge. It said not to have been impressive when it was first inaugurated, but, then its been retrenched, re-ordered and re-hung and is now second to the National Gallery.

It’s a beautiful building with a classical portico.

2] Vauxhall Bridge – A Steel arched bridge for road and foot traffic.

I walked back along the Millbank; stop by at the Millennium Pier.

I crossed the Lambeth Bridge, to reach the South Bank.

Unlike the North Bank the South Bank is continuous with a well laid walking track. I spotted the first sign to be cautious with belongings when walking alone. And this made me uncomfortable for a few seconds, but nonetheless the spirits soared soon.

The Café here was a popular spot with young and old joggers. But, I did not have plans to stop.

South Bank walk - I just loved this.

Lambeth Palace – This was home to the Archbishop of Canterbury.

The Jewel tower and Big Ben from the South Bank. The Abbey’s spire is visible at the far end.

3] Westminster Bridge -

County Hall – The site of great London council, before its abolition. It now houses an amusement arcade and London Aquarium. Out this a series of Dali sculptures advertising the Dali Gallery.

London Eye – World’s third largest observation wheel on the South Bank. After Big Ben this is been very popular with tourist. Its always flocked with tourists. Long queues, people making Telephone and online bookings are a common sight here. For me it was just another Giant-wheel in the fair.

4] Hungerford Bridge/Golden Jubilee Bridge – This is a steel truss Railway Bridge.

Walked down towards Waterloo.

Maintaining the South Bank's reputation for entertainment, it comprises a cluster of buildings that's home to the National Theater (Oliver, Cottesloe and Lyttleton theaters), National Film Theater, Museum of the Moving Image (closed for refurbishment), Imax cinema, the Royal Festival Hall (Queen Elizabeth Hall, Purcell Room) and the Hayward Gallery.

Queen Elizabeth Hall Purcell Room -

Graffiti on walls

National Film Theatre -

Hayward Gallery -

Imax Cinema -

5] Waterloo Bridge – This was built in memory of the British Victory in the Battle of Waterloo.

6] Blackfriars Bridge – It is a pair of Bridge here and some spare pillars.

Millennium Bridge and St Paul’s were already visible.

Continued in part II and part III.....

Day 1: continued....

Continued from Day 1

Accompanied by the sweet evening drizzle, I walked down towards Piccadilly Circus. When English Showers wouldn’t require an Umbrella, a Drizzle definitely would not. My Nikki too was accustomed by now.

Piccadilly Circus

Theatre Royal HayMarket

Kneehigh Theatre

Her Majesty’s Theatre

The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square – The Gallery was closed. Spent a few hours at the Trafalgar Square, as I had fallen in luv with the evening glory and the sweet sprinkle here.

Trafalgar Square - Atop the column sits (stands to be precise) Lord Nelson. Nelson has been coated with a special paint to protect him from the Pigeons droppings. This was in my wishlist from DDLJ days. But, now since the pigeon-food vendors are banned, it looked so unlike.

To the Northeast corner of the square is St Martins-in-the-Fields. It used to out in the country. It’s the official exact centre of London, and is marked by a plaque too.

Admiralty Arch – Candidates for Secret Service were interviewed here. Although its closed for public, one can see Buckhingham Palace through the arch.

Walk down towards Whitehall.

Trafalgar Studios

In the middle of the road is the Cenotaph, where the dead of the wars are remembered. This one in particular is for, The Women of World War II. The red lines are from a moving bus.

The end of the road is the Westminster Station.

St Steven’s Tower, The Big Ben - Big Ben is the nickname for the great bell of the clock in the clock tower of the Palace of Westminister. The clock is the world's largest four-faced, chiming clock. The tower was raised as a part of Charles Barry’s design for a new palace, after the old Palace of Westminster was destroyed by fire on the night of 22 Oct 1834.

Something I learnt from my Colleagues : The idiom of putting a penny on - slowing down, sprang from the method of fine-tuning the clock's pendulum. On top of the pendulum is a small stack of old pennies, to adjust the time of the clock. Adding or removing a penny would change the clock's speed by 0.4 second per day.

At the base of each clock face in gilt letters is the Latin inscription DOMINE SALVAM FAC REGINAM NOSTRAM VICTORIAM PRIMAM, which means 'O Lord, keep safe our Queen Victoria the First'.

WestMinster Abbey - The Abbey was founded by Edward the Confessor in 1065. Every king and queen of England since William the Conqueror has been crowned here and many are buried here too. The abbey holds the Coronation throne, monuments and plaques.

Victoria Palace

A little contented now, and I observe around. I see roads dotted with Police. And I look at my watch, it said 9:30PM! I had promised folks that I’ll get home by 10, and not roam around for long. Well English Summers are misleading.

In the next 5mins, I were at the Victoria Station. This time I plan to opt a shorter route back to Hotel, passing through the Station. The air smelt different. Full of Smoke and activity. Hundreds of Black and Brown skinned, hardly any natives. It was nearing 10 and I were nervous for once. I had taken a wrong lane which led me to a Pub lane - Hooligans, light, smoke and booze. After walking for more than 10mins, I decided to trace route back. And for once was on my feet running all the way till Victoria, and a brisk walk back to Hotel. It was 10:15!

Polished a packet of MTR and retire, planning my next day.