Butler London Weekend

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Hello All!
This weekend we were able to escape from Leeds and homework for a few days and go to London - all expenses paid! The Butler program that we came on set up a weekend for all of their students not studying in the city to come hang out in London. There were 10 of us from Leeds and about 150 of us total.

We left on Friday around noon and took a 4 ½ hour coach ride. We chose to take the bus because it’s cheap (only about 10 pounds round-trip) and since Butler gave us 50 pounds for travel expenses we made money on the deal! Once we got to Victoria Station in London we took the tube to our hotel right next to the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. It was my first time on the tube and since we got on the right line and off at the right station I viewed it as a success. On Friday night we had dinner with all of the Butler people at a restaurant on Ivory Pier, saw the Tower Bridge at night and went to a pub nearby.

Saturday we woke up around 9 to go to brunch at the hotel and tour Tower Bridge before trying to get inexpensive tickets for a show that afternoon in Leicester Square (an unsuccessful venture). It was really neat going up into the bridge to get a bird’s-eye-view of the city. The afternoon was spent walking around Piccadilly Circus, the Convent Garden Market and Chinatown. Included in our Tower Bridge ticket was a ticket to climb up Tower Monument which we did before heading back to the hotel later in the afternoon. Saturday evening the entire Butler group went on a dinner and dance boat cruise down the River Thames. The view of many buildings lit up from the river was beautiful!

Sunday we packed our bags and headed to a full brunch at the Hilton. After a busy weekend we were tired and half looking forward to sitting for a little bit on the bus. The whole weekend was filled with food, laughs and fun . . . just the way I like it 😊

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Photos

Tower Bridge
It was truly beautiful lit up

Hotel Room
This was mine and Nicole's hotel room, not bad huh!?

Butlers Wharf
hangin' out after dinner on Friday

Tower of London and Skyline
this is the view of the Tower of London from on top of the Tower Bridge

Andrew & Toilet
Andrew actually paid 20 pence to go to the bathroom in the middle of the city

The Monument
The Monument was constructed to commemorate the Great Fire of London in 1666 and is located just 61 meter from where the fire started

The Monument Stairs
We climbed 311 steps to the top of the monument where you can look at the city from a platform

View from The Monument
You can see the London Eye off in the distance from the top of the monument

Nicole and Kristen
hangin' out with Cleopatra's sphinx

London Bridge
The London Bridge at night as seen from the boat

Greenwich Mean Time
this line indicates the Greenwich Mean Time line in the sky

Nicole and Kristen on the boat
the night was "nautical theme" hence the pirate bandana. I'm in black because our group went as an "oil spill" aka we're cheap and didn't want to buy costumes :)

Comments

[Mom]

MIND THE GAP
OMG. At Gabberts today a man came in and was talking about London. Bel said "Linda is going to London in March" and he responded "MIND THE GAP." He had to explain. Then I came home and looked at the Blog "MIND THE GAP." Classic. ;-) Love you. Mom