I was taking my first trip in three years after all the restrictions from 2020. This was also my first time back to the UK in fifteen years since 2007. My dad had passed in 2008 so it was too difficult to see all my childhood and from 2010-13 I was living in Korea so travelling back to the UK was not a priority. After the 2012 Olympics and an absence of 15 years it was time to see all the changes. 

I last flew British Airways in 1990. This was a new plane but there were no overhead vents. Also there were no audio CDs to select, just "Live at the BBC" for certain performers. 

Dinner was served late and I slept for 3 hours. It was a sunrise landing and luckily the sun had come up but it was too cloudy to see anything. 

On arrival I went to the Border Agent rather than the electronic gates to avoid fingerprinting as though I am a criminal and to help protect jobs as most Border Agents have been eliminated. 

Next I added 20 pounds to my Oyster Card and took the Elizabeth line which now runs direct to Stratford. 

See entry on Metro Blog -> http://v2.travelark.org/travel-blog-entry/londone7/46/1683138071

Youtube video Elizabeth Line > https://youtu.be/m_5c_bw4dUI

As it was only 9am and I couldnt check in to hotel yet I took the detour line to Canary Wharf and Woolwich but it was mostly underground to cross the river so not much to see.