London sights--Day Trip 2

Our second sightseeing day trip took us to the places that we saw from the top of the Wellington Arch on our first day trip--much more interesting up close.

First stop, Big Ben and Parliament. Big Ben is actually housed in a tower wing of the Parliament building and is the first thing you see when you come above ground from the tube. The clock face is enormous (approx. 13 feet across), and the minute hand sweeps the equivalent of the height of a grown man every five minutes. When the bell rings, the sound fills the streets with its rich tones, impressive enough to stop even the most guide-book-driven tourist in their tracks. (Interesting factoid: Big Ben is actually the bell in the tower and not the clock like most people think. This is also not the first bell. The first, cast in 1858, cracked while being tested, and they made the current bell in 1859. When it also cracked a few months after being put into use, they simply rotated the bell so that the hammer wouldn't strike the crack and left it. Couldn't they have done that the first time?) The Parliament building as a whole is definitely a must see! It's a breathtaking example of old-world architecture, rebuilt since the fire 0f 1834 in all its glory. The powers that be didn't invite us in, but we thoroughly enjoyed walking around the walls and taking in the view of the Thames, Eye, etc. Funny how they don't let you go in when they're in session...

Next stop, Westminster Abbey.
The abbey is across the street from the Parliament building and is even more impressive. A small Benedictine monastery built sometime around 920 and then enlarged by King Edward (the last Anglo-Saxon king) around 1040, Westminster Abbey is in use and has been the coronation church since 1066. The building is phenomenal, a stunning juxtaposition of aged stone, stained glass windows, and intricately-carved spires, gargoyles, faces, animals, etc. No tours were being given because they were holding a special service (world prayer day?), but we enjoyed walking the grounds and looking at the church's exterior. Definitely a must see. (Also, with the right incentives, Aubrey, Laurel, and Kyle could probably be convinced to share an interesting sensory experience related to the abbey with you...)

Final stop, the Jewel Tower. This was an unexpected treat. We went to it because it is another freebie with our English Heritage membership, but we actually quite liked it. The little tower is right next to Westminster Abbey, and you wouldn't even notice it if you weren't looking for it because you can get in free. Commissioned to be built in 1365 by Edward III, it was the "King's Privy Wardrobe" (which is a fancy way to say "closet and treasure house"). It's also one of the only two sections of the original Palace of Westminster to survive the fire. Inside is, you guessed it, another museum; the first floor is a display about Parliament, and the second floor is a display about the tower itself. The structure is in remarkable shape for its age, and I enjoyed looking at the tower much more than the displays. It is even still surrounded by the original moat (sans water), and it's a great picture spot.

(London sightseeing important tip: Make sure you take change with you when you go into central London, as this area only has pay restrooms. You may be lucky enough to find an attendant who takes pity on you as you dance outside the turnstyle because you weren't prepared and don't have 50 pence, but don't count on it!)