London Day 2

Day 2 started off early, as this was supposed to be the only nice day we get in London, according to the weather forecast I checked out before we left. Some of the day turned out nice, so it wasn't a complete lie...

First stop was Trinity Square which is some sort of memorial, opposite the Tower of London. It has quite a lovely building on one side of it:

 

Then we headed off in the general direction of St Paul's Cathedral, going down Eastcheap street, past the local Citibank building, St Magnus the Martyr church, and the Five Kings House just to mention a few:

 

and 

to finally arrive at the beautiful St Paul's Cathedral:

Even though the admission fee was a hefty 10.50 GBP, we decided to go in and look around. I can see why Queen Victoria said it was too plain and needed a bit of spiffying up! I remembered it to be fancier and more ornate on the inside. Obviously getting it mixed up with the 1000 other churches and cathedrals I've seen. I had read online somewhere that climbing to the golden gallery is a must in good weather. I went up on my own, since it's 527 steps of winding staircase - some being metal-grate vertigo-inducing steps. It was a little scary at times, but I managed to get to the top and see the gorgeous views from up there. Definitely worth the effort!!!

 

My poor mother-in-law didn't realise I was going right to the top (nor had I before I started) and so was waiting for me for quite some time, while I climbed and climbed and climbed.... But yeah: definitely worth it!

After leaving St Paul's, we wandered through the gate to Paternoster Square. This square looks a little like an italian piazza, but not very interesting. The view back towards St Paul's is nice though:

 

Our next destination was Westminster. This took us down Ludgate Hill with lots of pretty buildings along the way:

 

Until we decided to stop at The George for a beer, since it was too late for lunch and my feet were killing me after all those stairs in the cathedral:

Couldn't tarry too long though. We still had to do Westminster while the weather held! This took us past lots more beautiful churches and buildings, as well as the Savoy hotel (being renovated) and Australia House (yay!!) down Fleet Street and The Strand:

 

We continued onward until we got to Trafalgar Square with St Martin in the Fields, which is also undergoing renovation:

We only had a quick look inside, since we were on a dead-line, and as can be seen from the photo, the weather was not living up to its promise.

So we hurried down Whitehall, past the Old Admiralty Offices, the War Office and stopped off for a quick photo session with the Horse Guard and the Treasury Building (which is being used as 10 Downing Street, since that's gotten too small, apparently):

We continued ever onward til we finally got to Westminster Abbey to pay our pound of flesh, I mean 12.50 GBP entrance fee - just in time, too!:

Of course, like most other places, you're not permitted to take photos inside. Now, now, I heard that sigh of relief! No one is forcing you to look at all my pretty pictures! ;-)

After we left the Abbey, we walked past Westminster Palace and Big Ben to take some photos. Fortunately, the weather had cleared while we were inside, so the sky looks nice and blue again:

Since this is being written about a month after the event, I can't actually remember where we went for dinner. I think we went back to the place we went to the previous night....or maybe we went without. Can't remember. But we did have to have an early night because the next day was the main event (to me, at least!): a trip to Oxford!! (and a few other places, but who cares about them!).

And my feet were soooooooooo sore!