There has been a Christian Church on this spot since around 600. We learned a lot of British history during the tour. There was a fire watch during the bombings in WWII to protect the cathedral from being destroyed. The stone carving and woodwork in the cathedral were mind-boggling, as well as the murals and mosaics. Oh how we wish we had been allowed to take pictures inside...
Since we had taken our time at the hotel that morning and gotten a late start, we just did the mini-tour (30 minutes instead of 90) so that we would also have time to climb to the top of the dome (500 some steps up a narrow spiral staircase). The climb was worth it to see the unbelievable views of the city.
From the 1st viewing level outside the dome of St. Paul's Cathedral
From the very top!
This is from the top of the stairs leading to the outside of the dome. You are looking straight down to the main floor of the cathedral where you can barely see rows of chairs. We are lunch on the steps outside St. Paul's with all the other tourists and pigeons.
Tube ride to Trafalgar Square with requisite photo in front of the lions, and visited the National Gallery (supposedly one of the best art museums in Europe). Finally something that was free! We spent about an hour at the museum, walking quickly through rooms where we didn't appreciate the art as much :) Exhausted after all our walking and climbing, we enjoyed a latte at a nearby coffee shop.
Trafalgar Square
the National Gallery
From there we walked to Big Ben and the Parliament buildings. The architecture is incredible, and we couldn't believe all the details. Talk about gothic architecture!
Big Ben. Notice all the tents outside. They were protesting the war in Afganistan.
Parliament Buildings
Westminster Abbey was directly across the street, so we walked around the outside of it as well. Beautiful. This was the one place that we said if we had more time, we would have taken a tour of it. We had chosen St. Paul's instead to do a tour of. This is where coronations take place as well as most royal weddings are held, including the lastest one of Prince William.
Westminster Abbey
From there we took our first London bus and went to Covent Garden and walked around the shops and cafes. We wandered into a gift shop and bought the kids a couple of toys. A little black taxi and a red double-decker bus. We found a pub that had Monday specials where all main meals were 1/2 off and the food was good. With all of our walking around London, we earn our meals here :) We then walked around Soho and took a tube to the Marble Arch (nothing special) and went back to the hotel around 10pm to pack for our morning flight to Dublin.
So we loved London. We were able to see all the main attractions that we had wanted to in the 2 1/2 days we had there. We had plenty of time for just wandering around and people watching. Now onto Dublin!
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