Looking to give my son some international travel experience, I planned a trip during our college spring break. He was fascinated with Big Ben, so we flew to London first to see the iconic landmark. After finding a great deal on United Airlines’ website, we booked a multiple-destination ticket and flew out of Vilnius, Lithuania. To maximize our trip, we also opted for a 22-hour layover in Warsaw before heading to Budapest on LOT Polish Airlines. In this blog post, I’ll share how we made the most of our 50-hour stay in London, exploring the city’s must-see attractions and hidden gems.
We took the 7:50 PM United Airlines flight to London and arrived on time around 2:00 PM on March 30th. Immigration was a quick process, and we were out by 2:30 PM. From there, we took the National Express bus from the airport to the Victoria bus terminus and walked to the Z Hotel Victoria. We have already covered the process of taking the bus from the airport to Victoria terminus and our stay at Z Hotel Victoria in a previous blog post.
Although the Z hotel room was small, we chose it for its convenient location near many famous tourist attractions, such as Big Ben, the London Eye, Westminster Abbey, and Buckingham Palace. After completing the check-in process, we dropped off our luggage and headed out to explore the city. Our first destination was Big Ben, which was only a 15 to 20-minute walk from our hotel.
We strolled down a bustling street lined with towering buildings, taking in the sights of the city. It was a treat to see the iconic red double-decker buses passing by. Our first stop was Westminster Abbey, followed by a short walk to see the Big Ben and Houses of Parliament building. Unfortunately, due to ongoing renovations, the front entrance was closed off. We decided to walk around the Parliament building to explore the park and river Thames. Although we caught a glimpse of the London Eye, we didn’t have time to visit.
After our visit to Big Ben and the Parliament building, we returned to the Victoria railway station to find a place for dinner. I was pleasantly surprised to find that the station had numerous dining options. We went up to the second floor and settled on KFC for some chicken and California rolls from a sushi place located on the first floor. We took our food back to our hotel room to enjoy our meal
Day 2:
I woke up in the morning and started walking towards Big Ben, taking pictures along the way. Unfortunately, the weather was not on our side as it was drizzling, making it difficult to take good pictures. Since I didn’t have an umbrella, I couldn’t use my SLR camera. Instead, I started using my small camera and cellphone. I walked to Big Ben and took pictures from under a store roof. Then, I walked along the Thames River and enjoyed the view of the London Eye. If it hadn’t been raining, it would have been a great opportunity to take some beautiful pictures. I also saw the famous Scotland Yard police station, just opposite to the London Eye. After taking pictures, I walked back to the hotel to get ready to watch the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace.
The Changing of the Guard takes place at 11:00 am and on alternate days in March. We were very excited that March 31st was the day we could witness the ceremony. We both left the hotel early to find a suitable spot to view the ceremony. When we reached, there were lots of people, and it was hard to find a good spot. Although we finally found a spot to view and take videos using our cell phones, the weather was not cooperating with us. It started pouring, and luckily we had an umbrella to save our cameras from getting wet. Since it was raining, the Changing of the Guard was very short, and we were left feeling disappointed. We and everyone left with a heavy heart.
Pizza.On the way back to the hotel, we decided to grab some pizza for lunch from a local pizzeria. We ordered a whole pizza for take-out, and the person who took our order was very friendly and even recommended a pizza with toppings we liked. We were glad we chose this friendly restaurant, which had a simple and nice ambiance. While waiting for our order, we watched as the pizza was made in front of us. We sat near the window, watching the activities on the street. To our surprise, the person gave us an additional whole pizza with a different topping as a gift. We took the pizzas back to our room and enjoyed our lunch..
Visiting Tower Bridge in the rain
Upon searching on Google and ChatGPT, we discovered that Tower Bridge was located just a few miles away from our hotel. Tower Bridge is one of the most iconic landmarks of London, renowned for its stunning architecture and intricate design. It was officially opened to the public in 1894 and was built with the aim of connecting the north and south banks of the River Thames, to alleviate the issue of congested traffic. Since then, Tower Bridge has become not only an important transportation link but also a highly sought-after tourist attraction in London.
During our London tourism, we couldn’t miss visiting the iconic Tower Bridge. To secure our Tower Bridge visit, we booked a slot on their website for 3:30 PM. Opting for convenience, we hailed an Uber ride for around 23 sterling with a friendly Ethiopian driver, with whom we had an interesting conversation about Indian and Ethiopian cultures and cuisines. Despite the rain, we walked quickly to the North Tower entrance of Tower Bridge after being dropped off a few blocks away. After a quick security check of our bags, we commenced our exhibit tour as per the instructions.
To reach the top of Tower Bridge, we had to climb several steps. Along the way, we saw various exhibits detailing the history and construction of the bridge. Upon reaching the top, we were rewarded with a breathtaking panoramic view of the city. The highlight of the visit was undoubtedly walking on the glass floor, allowing us to see the bridge traffic below. Though it was an exciting experience, looking down through the glass floor gave us a slight feeling of vertigo. Nonetheless, the setup was very impressive.
After visiting the Tower Bridge’s top level, we descended to the engine room located on the south side of the bridge. To access it, we passed through the gift shop and exited through a separate door after the tour. The engine room showcased the original steam engines used to power the bridge’s hydraulic systems. Our Tower Bridge tour was a fulfilling experience, and we spent some time walking around both sides of the bridge, taking some photos in the rainy weather. After exploring the Tower Bridge and its exhibits, we hailed a taxi from a hotel conveniently situated across the bridge. The scenic ride back to our hotel was an unforgettable experience.
To capture some good shots, I woke up early and headed straight to Buckingham Palace. Despite the previous day’s rain, I managed to take some amazing photos this time around, and left feeling satisfied. Our reservation to visit Westminster Abbey and the Jewelry Gallery was scheduled for 11:00 am, but we arrived early. Upon entering, we grabbed an audio guide in English and explored the area while learning more about its history. Although photography was allowed, video recording was prohibited. After spending nearly two hours exploring, we made our way to the second floor’s jewelry gallery, where photography was not allowed. Overall, Westminster Abbey is a must-visit destination that boasts incredible architecture.
0 Comments