Tower of London

Tower of London 2018 Geoff Sutton

A visit to London is incomplete without a tour of this 1000 year-old castle by the Thames. I've been here several times over the decades of my life. I took the photo above from the viewing deck of the Shard building.

White Tower at Tower of London

The Tower was a castle built in the 1070s on orders from King William I, William the Conqueror.

Over the years, the Kings of England expanded the fortress with massive walls and smaller towers.

Yeoman Warders continue to guard the tower as they have for centuries.

Yeoman Warder Tower of London

Inside the complex is the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula. Three queens that were executed in the Tower during the 1500s are buried here: Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard, Jane Grey.




The Tower has long been a place of treasure. Once it was a mint. Over centuries, the royals locked their jewels in the Tower. Today, the Crown Jewels are also in the Tower vaults. My pictures are very old--you can probably find better ones online.

Imperial State Crown, Tower of London

Orb & Scepter, Tower of London

The Tower Ravens are legendary. The story has it that if the ravens leave, the kingdom will fall.

















I'll leave you with views from November 2018 when I was in London for the 100-year centenary of the end of World War I.

Tower of London, Candles, Nov 2018

I took this video of the Tower of London lit on November 5, 2018.

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Royal Army Museum London England

I stopped in the Royal Army Museum 7 November 2018 and got quite a surprise. I had been on a 100-year anniversary tour of the Western Front in Belgium and France. Both of my grandfathers fought in the Royal Army.

After learning quite a bit about the Army, I walked downstairs to the research room. I would need an appointment to view records, but I could do research on their computer. In a matter of minutes I found a substantial portion of one grandfather Frederick Charles Sutton's army records! I took screen photos and was able to obtain pdf copies when I got home.


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The Old Curiosity Shop London England

The Old Curiosity Shop dates from the 1500s and is certainly one of London's oldest shops. Amazingly, it survived the 1666 Great Fire of London as well as the WWII Blitz.

The Old Curiosity Shop is close to Charles Dickens house in nearby Bloomsbury. The history has it that the shop changed its name to match the title after the publication of Dickens novel in 1841.

When I walked by 4 May 2016, the shop was still in business selling shoes.

The Old Curiosity Shop is located on Portsmouth Road as you can see in the sign to the right of the shop.

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St James Park London England

Pelicans St James Park 2016 / Geoff Sutton

St James Park is one of the eight Royal Parks in London. It's a great place for a walk or picnic. And for visitors, it is close to such landmarks as Buckingham Palace and Whitehall.
















By the way, pelicans have been in the park for nearly 400 years, when the Russian Ambassador gave
pelicans as a gift to King Charles II.

The flowers are beautiful in the Spring.













You'll find a variety of waterfowl and some funny antics by furry residents.

I just sat back and enjoyed watching this squirrel.

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See the map to locate St James Park

Chinatown London England

Chinatown in London offers a taste of China. It's in London's West End. The main road in the centre of Chinatown is Gerrard Street.

Chinatown is close to Leicester Square, which is the name of one of the closest underground stations. It is also close to Piccadilly Circus.

You can read more at this visit london link.

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Trafalgar Square London England

Trafalgar Square Fountain 2016

Trafalgar Square is a large community space in London's City of Westminster. The name refers to the Battle of Trafalgar and the tall column (Nelson's Column) is a memorial to Lord Nelson who was killed in the battle.

For many of us, it's a good place to stop and rest or eat lunch.




Also bordering the square is the National Gallery of Art--A place I definitely recommend visiting if you like art.





Across the street to the right of the National Gallery of Art is St Martin-in-the-Fields Church. My dad used to pass through the area during the war years (WWII). Once when he stopped in for prayer he noticed and chased a purse-snatcher.

This short video provides an overview of Trafalgar Square better than I could capture in one photo.

I've been walking through Trafalgar Square for a long time. It's more colourful now.

Trafalgar Square c 1954 Geoff Sutton

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Oh, there's still a lot of pigeons in Trafalgar Square.

Trafalgar Square c 1953 Geoff Sutton

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Tower Bridge London England

Tower Bridge is one of those London icons we often see in films and pictures of the city. It is a working drawbridge. Visitors can take a tour to see above the bridge and some of the inner workings of the bridge mechanisms.

Inside Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge traffic from above

Some activities for children in the corridor above Tower Bridge.

Below is a video clip from the day I toured the Tower Bridge museum in March, 2017.

Below is a video from the Shard taken on 3 November 2018.

Lastly, here is a view of Tower Bridge at night, 6 November 2018.

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Note
Tower Bridge is not London Bridge

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MADAME TUSSAUDS of London England

It's been quite awhile since I visited Madame Tussauds of London. Perhaps I should return to this famous attraction. I see on the website they have so many new and interesting things to see.

The London attraction has been on Marylebone road since 1884. Madame Tussaud was born Marie Grosholtz in Strasbourg in 1761. She brought her exhibition to Britain in 1802.

Some scenes from yesteryear.

Jet lag- we arrived in London this morning

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Website for Madame Tussauds of London https://www.madametussauds.com/london/en/

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Madame Tussauds May 2023

Google Map showing Madame Tussauds near Baker Street Station and Regent's Park

National Gallery of Art London England

The National Gallery is located at Trafalgar Square in London, England. As of this post in 2019, admission is free. Check their website for details https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/

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Travel notes

The National Gallery is near Charing Cross and Leicester Square underground stations.

Eating and Drinking: There is a restaurant in the Gallery. It has been permissible to bring a packed lunch. Check the website for details https://www.nationalgallery.org.uk/visiting/families/families

Nearby

St Martins-in-the-fields church
National Portrait Gallery
Trafalgar Square
Lord Nelson's Column - a victory monument

SEE ALSO: VISIT LONDON

COVENT GARDEN LONDON ENGLAND

Covent Garden London England 2007

Covent Garden is a centre for shopping and entertainment in London's West End. There's a considerable variety of crafts, food, flowers, and souvenirs in the Market Building. The old market square  dates to the 1600s.

Nearby are fashionable shops and a wide variety of restaurants.

Street Entertainer's come and go.
















Check out the different levels in the open building

Nearby

Several theatres.
The Royal Opera House
St Paul's Church dating from 1631
St Martin-in-the-Fields church
London Transport Museum
Somerset House




Travel Notes

The Covent Garden tube station is on the Piccadilly Line

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