We started the day by getting on the wrong underground train - well, the right train, but going in the wrong direction. Since the line is called the Circle line you'd think this wouldn't be a problem as you'd end up in the right place anyway - it being a circle and all! But that's not the case - turns out the Circle line consists of more than a circle!
So, we got off a couple of stations down the track and went around to the other platform to get the train going in the other direction. There was a somewhat bemusing incident on the train - they announced the next station was Farringdon, and the train stopped there but then the doors didn't open. This clearly came as a surprise to the people wanting to get off the train, and I was a bit worried that we were being kidnapped. It wasn't ever explained why the train didn't stop there.
Eventually we reached our target of Tower Hill station. First thing we looked at was some remains of the Roman Wall around London.
Then we walked to, and over, Tower Bridge. We thought about looking at their exhibition but decided against it. Here are three of the newer skyscrapers you can see from the Tower Bridge, followed by a few photos of the bridge itself.
Then we went to the Tower of London. We spent a bit more than 4 hours here and saw much of what's on display. As with the Churchill War Rooms the price was steep - £22 each - but in the end I think it was pretty good value.
A few more photos from around the outside:
They're still setting out the poppies
Paul and guns, of course
Traitors Gate - the way you entered the tour after your conviction as a traitor. If you sailed in through here you didn't have long to live
And some photos of the inside - of course we saw a lot more than these few places but there are only so many photos you can post.
Recreation of a room in the medieval castle
The White Tower - among other things this includes the Royal Armoury and Line of Kings displays
Paul and a hat
Which reminded me that I hadn't yet posted a picture of another new hat.
Paul standing in front of some French guns captured at Waterloo. Wellington insisted that all the captured guns must be kept.
Part of the Line of Kings display. This is a display of armour and weapons of Kings, and is the longest running visitor attraction in the world - it was set up in 1652.
The Tube trip back home was interesting. Our first indication of a problem was that the entry to the platform was really crowded. We eventually managed to get onto the platform but it was also packed shoulder to shoulder. The next train (which wasn't ours) was quite crowded, and I couldn't see how people would be able to get on and off it through the crowds on the platform, but somehow they did. Then, our train came, and it was packed to the eyeballs already. Quite a few people got off but even more got on and in the end we couldn't get onto it. There was actually a fight between a couple of guys a bit further down the platform about wanting to get onto the train; it was a bit concerning but it all broke up fairly quickly. We only had to wait about 10 minutes for the next train and this time the crowds on the platform and in the train were nowhere near as bad and the trip home went ok. And, this time Farringdon was officially closed - found out later that it was always intended for it to be closed today for renovations but that certainly wasn't obvious.
Back at the apartment now; we're going to have dinner and then start packing for the long flight home. We will have time in London tomorrow - we're going to drop our suitcases at the Left Luggage place at Paddington station in the morning and then pick them up there when we catch the Heathrow Express to the airport later in the day. This will cost us a fairly outrageous amount - £10 per suitcase since we're leaving them for more than 3 hours - but much better than trying to drag them around London for the day. The Heathrow Express is also quite expensive - £29 each - but it gives us much more flexibility than booking a shuttle or limo transfer.
No comments:
Post a Comment