Last day London

Still can't upload from the Ace Café Rally yesterday or the British Museum today.  Ill have to catch up when I get home.  Until then  Mind the Gap...and don't forget to return your Oyster card for your unused fair and deposit...we got back 36 pounds and that's even more in  dollars.

More from the Royal Botanical Gardens

Poor Little Mo, as affectionately is known our little tablet, just cant seem to take no mo!...hahaha
yup I think its little memory is tapped out.  So here are a few more images from Kew Gardens. 



 

 



London Day 8 Royal Botanical Kew Gardens

 

It was raining, it was pouring, there was no man snoring....

Before leaving for London I was advised to do many things.  No one mentioned

Kew Gardens

Even with the rain it was a great place to visit and explore.  I can only imagine what it must be like on a warm spring day.  I was surprised to see so much in bloom and the integration of edibles and ornamentals.  This is a place to come back to again and again.  Hmmmmm sure would be nice if I could.

 

 

 

 

London Day 7 Simon and the Shard

We met Simon at the London Station which sits underneath the Shard and went up together for the most fantastic views.  It is fascinating to be in this modern glass building and from within take in the views of the old.  You can see the Tower of London, St. Pauls Cathedral and many of the new buildings too.  The trains reminded me of worms coming up from the earth after a heavy rain.

 

 

Furman and Simon

It was making me a bit dizzy up there.

 

 

After circling the viewing level and chatting it up with Simon, we descended and walked down to the river.  At the Borough Market we drooled at the delicacies and could not resist some fresh bread and a selection of cheeses which we stashed away for later.

 

 

 

The street performers were in full force as we walked and talked along the river.

 

This guy was the most bizarre as he sat in the air and on occasion moved and squeaked at the visitors who doubted that he was a real man.

 

These two were just two funny to ignore.

 

Couldn't think of a better way to end our visit and walk..ahhhh cappuccino.

 

 

London Day 6 Film and Theatre

The County Hall is huge and not only houses the Premier Inn in which we are staying but 16 other establishments including the London Film Museum.  A very enjoyable museum to spend time in on a cool rainy London day.  The Charles Chaplin Exhibit was very well done and worth the visit by itself.

We met some other rather unsavory characters.

 

 

There is nothing quite like the Beatles but the fab four who starred in Let it Be at the Savoy gave it a good go and got the crowd up on their feet, clapping and swaying, and singing along to some old familiar tunes.

London Day 5 The Tube and Museums

Tired of walking to our destinations and being too tired of walking to enjoy them upon arrival we finally went to Waterloo and picked up some Oyster Cards.  Down to the Tube and just a couple of stops over to Covent Garden.  It was very easy and I highly recommend to anyone arriving in London to GET ONE.  It does have its limits and I'm still not exactly sure how it will effect us as it seems to limit us to the Central London area.  Although it was not on the day's agenda, we found ourselves right in front of the National Gallery so we went in.  IT WAS HUGE and overwhelming so after visiting a few of the galleries we left.  Perhaps if it rains we will go  back and get the head sets.

 

 

We passed through China Town on our way to the London Transport Museum which was reasonably sized and rather enjoyable and informative. 

Telling us about London's population growth and  transportation needs from the 1800's.  First with boats across the river Thames to bridges and Horse Drawn Carriages straight through to the building of the underground tunnels to accommodate the tube. 

 

There was also a full 2 level Gallery of POSTER ART and if you are in the area don't miss it. 

 

We finished this day by eating in the Lamb and Flag.  I finally had the traditionally Fish and Chips.

Still cant say I like fried food any better than I did before.

 

Looks good though.

 

 

London Day 4 Tower of London

Still had some time left on the Hop on Hop Off so after breakfast we took it to the Tower of London.  Spent a rainy day there inside and out.  Just about the time we were ready to leave it stopped which was fine since we were walking.  Over to one of the many Fullers Pie and Ale Houses we have seen.  While there, we got ourselves tickets to Billy Elliot which was one of the better shows I have seen in a while.  And what fun to see it in London...The dancing was AMAZING, the cast and acting just WONDERFUL.

 

Room of Kings with a nice view of the Tower Bridge

 

Lots of spiral staircases and long narrow halls.

 

This giant Castle had an armory and a mint but neither money nor war could stop the rain.

a Full Staff of Beefeaters and their families live in the castle and consider it a village and home.

 

Yummy Meat Pies at Fullers