Yesterday we had to be at the theatre at 3.00. We had booked seats to watch Mama Mia.
We left the apartment and the day was warm and balmy .We mapped out a route and headed off.We headed to Charing Cross Road to the London Portrait Gallery.
This was founded in 1856 and has a permanent collection of around 10,000 works.
There are displays of famous people from the 15th century through to the present day,starting with the early Tudors on the top floor and descending to contemporary figures on the ground floor.
From here we went to Piccadilly,Regent Street and found Carnaby Street.
Carnaby Street and the handful of streets fanning off it is a haven for brands and designer boutiques.
I found an outrageous shoe shop of course!
From here we had a quick bite and then headed to the theatre.Our show was at the Novello Theatre in Aldwych.
A beautiful old theatre and the show was wonderful!
It commenced at 3.00 and we started to leave at 5.30.Absolutely great!
We headed off and decided to cross Waterloo Bridge. This is a road and foot bridge,crossing the River Thames between Blackfriars Bridge and Hunger ford Bridge.
The name of the bridge is in memory of the Anglo -Dutch and Prussian victory at the Battle of Waterloo in 1815 .
Its location at a strategic bend in the river enables us to view Westminster,the South Bank and London Eye along with the city of London and Canary Wharf.
The south end of the bridge is in the area known as South Bank and includes the Royal Festival Hall,Waterloo Station,Queen Elizabeth Hall ,the Royal Theatre and the National Film Theatre.
The north end passes above the Victoria Embankment where the road joins the Strand and Aldwych alongside Somerset House.
We took heaps of photos as the sky was clear and the sun was shining.
We continued walking and headed for the political heart of London.
Westminster Abbey and Westminster.Westminster Abbey is considered the finest example of Early English Gothic 1180-1280.
The House of Commons and House of Lords are housed in the Palace of Westminster.
The most famous feature of the Houses of Parliament is Elizabeth Tower,commonly known as Big Ben.Ben is the bell hanging inside and is named after Benjamin Hall,the commissioner of works when the tower was completed in 1858 .The bell weighs thirteen tonne and has rung in the New Year since 1924.
We continued on walking up through Whitehall past the Churchill War Rooms,The Cenotaph ,The Foreign and Commonwealth Office,Downing Street,The Ministry of Defence,The Cabinet Office,The Horse Guards Parade area and the Cavalry Museum ,Old Admiralty,crossing over near St James's Park and headed to Pall Mall.We then crossed into Regent Street ,up to Piccadilly Circus and over to Shaftsbury Avenue which took us back to Oxford Street and we headed back to the apartment.
What a huge day!
Yesterday we headed to Hyde Park with the intention of keeping away from the crowds as it was Sunday.
We walked straight down Oxford Street,with a couple of small digressions,a coffee and to purchase a picnic package from Pret a Manger a wonderful store that prepares food ,packaged ,and you place what you want in a paper bag,collect your condiments and cutlery,pay and head off .This suited us perfectly!We headed for Hyde Park.It was busy but we found a spot and had a quiet lunch along with thousands of other people.It was calm and sedate and very pleasant.
After lunch we walked through Hyde Park to Buckingham Palace then through the Mall to Regent Street,Piccadilly Circus ,Shaftsbury Avenue to Charing Cross then headed home via the corner pub for a well earned beverage.
We have walked miles and seen as much of London as we can squeeze in.
Buckingham Palace was not as busy as expected and we were able to spend some time there and take some pictures.
The activities around the area are very entertaining,skate boarders,roller blades bikes ,horses,spruikers et al provided entertainment on our journey back.The weather has been wonderful.
Bernie has loved the Primark Store,five shirts later !
I will have a look when it is not so busy.
Today we are heading to the Liberty Shop and Harrods.