This post is a continuation of Family Vacation in London, Part 1.
Tower Bridge
We started our day at the iconic Tower Bridge, with its two Neo-gothic towers and pretty bright blue paint. We walked along the bank from the London Bridge tube stop to the Tower Bridge, passing the HMS Belfast along the way, and then crossed over to the Tower of London.
HMS Belfast
Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge
Tower of London
The Tower of London is a 900 year old castle and fortress in central London. It has been many different things through the years including a royal residence, barracks, armory, prison, and museum, notably housing the Crown Jewels. There’s a lot to see in the Tower of London, so it’s good to prioritize if you’re not staying for several hours. Raleigh is fascinated with knights, battles, and dungeons (thanks, Lego Nexo Knights), so we really enjoyed the Royal Armories at the White Tower and the dungeons. The line to see the Crown Jewels was extremely long, so we skipped it this time.
Tower of London and The Shard, Photo by Tony Bradley
Chapel of St. John in the Tower of London
Beefeaters at the Tower of London
I had somewhat forgotten about the surrounding houses inside the gates of the tower and enjoyed seeing their beautiful architecture.
Blue Door at Gaoler’s House in the Tower of London
Queen’s House in the Tower of London
St. Paul’s Cathedral
Next we strolled to St. Paul’s Cathedral, one of the most beautiful churches and famous sites in London. Its massive dome is one of the tallest in the world and holds a prominent place in the London skyline.
Strolling Through London, Courage Pub
Strolling Through London, The Sugarloaf Pub
St. Paul’s Cathedral
The Dome at St. Paul’s Cathedral
St. Paul’s Cathedral, Image via Tom Bell
We had a quick lunch at YO! Sushi nearby, then hopped on a bus to the London Eye.
The London Eye
Although it’s one of the most touristy things you can do, I’m not above going on the London Eye. It’s fun to go on as a family and gives you some of the best views of the city. You can buy tickets ahead of time and get a Fast Track ticket for a shorter wait time. The Fast Track wait time is about 15 minutes, and then the ride itself is 30 minutes. There are some nice green spaces nearby, if you’re waiting for your boarding time.
The London Eye
On the London Eye
View of Hungerford Bridge from the London Eye
View of Westminster from the London Eye
Westminster
Across the River Thames is Westminster, the area in central London that is home to many historic landmarks, including the Palace of Westminster (Houses of Parliament and Big Ben), Westminster Abbey, and Westminster Cathedral. They are grand and worth seeing at least the exterior, if you don’t have time to tour inside. Unfortunately, work was being done on Big Ben, so there was lots of scaffolding up around it.
Palace of Westminster, Image via BDP
Westminster Abbey
Carnaby
We headed to Carnaby in Soho for the evening. Located near the intersection of Oxford and Regent Streets, Carnaby is a one of the cutest areas to shop and dine in London.
Kingly Court in Carnaby
Carnaby Street
Pretty Flowers in Carnaby
Liberty of London
When in London, one must eat Indian food, and we decided we were overdue. After all, chicken tikka masala is the national dish of England. We attempted to go to Tony’s favorite place, Dishoom, but the wait was really long so we went to nearby, highly rated Masala Zone. They offer authentic Indian food in a festive and family friendly setting. The food was delicious, and I definitely recommend it!
Paddington Station
Our flight home was 9:00 in the morning, so we stayed at an airport hotel on the last night so we wouldn’t have to worry about an early morning commute. The Heathrow Express train to the airport leaves from Paddington Station, so we made sure to stop and say hi to Paddington Bear.
Paddington Station
Paddington Station
Paddington Station
Map: Day 4
Thank you for following along on our family vacation to Paris and London! Next up is Italy and Santorini for our 10 year anniversary!
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xx,
