Wading through the crowds in London, England

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Today we left Brighton and took the train back to London. We took the 10:55am Southern train and arrived at London Victoria at 12:06pm. The Underground ticket machine wouldn’t read the card we were trying to use (Travel tip: Use cash to buy tube tickets! It’s so much quicker!) so we waited in the long queue instead to buy our one-day travel cards. After taking care of that, we took the tube from Victoria Station to Pimlico, where our hotel is located (Blades Hotel, same one we stayed at when we started our trip).

We checked in, dropped off our bags, and then walked to Westminster Abbey to visit the gift shop because it was closed the last time we tried to go (we wanted post cards because you can’t take pictures of the inside of the church). On the way there I had to find a pay phone to confirm our day trip for tomorrow. This was my first experience with a UK pay phone. You have to dial the 020 code first and then it will tell you how much money to insert. I put in 30p and then it wouldn’t take my 5p coins so I had to put in a one pound coin even though I only needed 40p. Lesson learned…carry 20p coins!! (They’re useful for the train and coach station toilets as well). When we got to Westminster Abbey we noticed how many more people are in London this time around. They’re also doing construction in the area, which they weren’t doing a few weeks ago. Needless to say, it’s a bit crazy here (and the weather is nice, which contributes to the crowds I‘m sure!)..

After visiting the Westminster Abbey gift shop, we took the Jubilee Line tube from Westminster to Bond St., then the Central Line from Bond St. to St. Paul’s to go to St. Paul’s Cathedral (since it was closed the first time we were in London). The church is gorgeous inside and definitely worth a look (although you can’t take pictures inside here either). This is the church where Prince Charles and Lady Diana were married. There is also a crypt with the tomb of Duke of Wellington and Lord Nelson (the tomb of poet William Blake is on the main level).

After visiting the church, we took the Central Line from St. Paul’s to Oxford Circus and then the Bakerloo Line from Oxford Circus to Charing Cross to get to Trafalgar Square (the tube station drops you off right in the square). There were SO many people there! Trafalgar Square is the spot where Londoners (and tourists) gather on New Year’s Eve to ring in the New Year. It’s also the location of the National Gallery, considered to be one of the greatest art museums.

We wandered around the museum, though I was mainly interested in the Monet and Van Gogh paintings, as well as the Jan Van Eyck “Arnolfini Wedding Portrait”. There’s a part in the brochure that shows you were all the most popular paintings in the museum are located, which is useful because the place is HUGE!

After the museum we walked down the street to Covent Garden and ate at the West Cornwall Pasty Co. (Cove Bar). I had a cheese and vegetable pasty (kind of like a giant hot pocket but ten times better) and a pint of Ice Blonde (followed by a half-pint of Cornish Knocker…the Ice Blonde was better). After dinner we walked around Covent Garden Market and Jubilee Market and around the surrounding streets. This area reminds me the most of the other parts of Europe we’ve visited (especially Krakow, Poland), with street performers and outdoor seating for the restaurants and PEOPLE EVERYWHERE. It’s a fun place to browse around.

After we’d tired or walking around, we caught the Picadilly Line from Covent Garden to Green Park, then the Victoria Line from Green Park to Pimlico, and walked back to our hotel. It’s nice to be staying on a lower floor this time (last time we were on the 5th floor…lots of steps to lug suitcases and tired feet up and down!). Our room this is on the 1st floor (2nd floor for you U.S. readers) and even has a tiny little balcony overlooking the street.

Tomorrow we take a day trip to Leeds Castle, Canterbury Cathedral, and White Cliffs of Dover!

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