Pimm’s, Portobello, pubs and PARENTS!

In short, London with the parents was super!!!  They were so excited to be there and I was so happy to see them!  They have super powers too - they managed to turn this fast-paced city into a place where I was able to slow down and appreciate some things that I have seen so many times before - but have not soaked it in...

Day 1 (July 23) - South of the Thames 

What a beautiful day for Mum and Dad to arrive!!  (And then in true London style, the sky went grey and overcast.)

Helen, my friend from school, kindly dropped me off at the airport to greet the parentals.  I felt a bit silly as I approached the gate with butterflies in my tummy but it was all very exciting to anticipate their arrival.  Sure enough, before too long, there they were and without a care in the world I jumped up and down like I was on a trampoline and ran up to meet them.  Yay - they were finally here!

London Heathrow airport
Dad, Mum and me

We made our way down to the ‘Tube’ and went on our way to my place to drop off the luggage. 

Before the ride on the underground
Dad and Mum

Dad loving the underground!

Then after a small break and meeting my flatmates, we were straight into the heart of the city, starting with a good coffee from Monmouth at Borough Markets…

Borough Markets 
Me, Dad and Mum

Monmouth coffee
Half strength cap, FW and FW

We walked east in the direction of London Bridge.  Mum and Dad were a little surprised at how plain London Bridge was.  I am wondering if they didn’t put much effort into rebuilding it just in case it falls down again?!

London Bridge
Dad, Mum and me

At the beginning of our journey along The Queen’s Walk (that follows aside the Thames river), Dad wanted to sit down and ‘soak up' the atmosphere… and this ended up being a running theme of the day!!  We spotted Monument, ‘The Gherkin’ and the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral.  When we turned around – Tower Bridge was in our sights!

We made it a little further along - almost across the bridge - and we stopped again.  This time, we accompanied the stop with some Pimm’s and continued soaking up the view around us.  Dad marvelled at the intricacies and detail on the bridge and hoped that we would see it go up!

Glass of Pimm's with a spectacular view
Mum and Dad

The parents trailed across the bridge (and we spied a bus on its way to Nunhead - teehee - funny name!) and once again we stopped when we got down towards the entrance to the Tower of London (I told you we moved slowly!).  However, all this pausing had its advantages as we actually saw the bridge rise!  In the six months I have been here, it is the first time I have seen it happen.

Tower Bridge allowing a tall ship to pass

A quick stop off at Westminster to introduce the parents to my mate Big Ben and then I took the tuckered out parents home.

Big Ben
Dad & Mum

That night we met up for dinner in Notting Hill with my London sisters.  The meeting was ever so sweet – and as the saying goes – a picture tells a thousand words.

Hugs all around on Pembridge Road
Dad & Jess and Mum & Hannah

The family in LONDON, baby!! 
(L-R) Hannah, Mum, Dad, Jess and me

The coloured fronts on Portobello Road
Hannah, Mum, me and Jess

Day 2 (24 July) - Hyde Park and North London

A picture perfect day in London started with a journey in to Hyde Park on a modern double decker bus.  Dad deemed this unworthy however when he spotted an old Routemaster!!!!  So we alighted and caught this one that had pulled in behind.

Routemaster

Top deck on the Routemaster
Me, Dad and Mum

Serpentine lake in Hyde Park

We had a gorgeous walk through Hyde Park and Mum was thrilled to visit the Princess Diana Memorial Fountain.  I can see why kids love it so much – I should have dipped my toes in!

Princess Diana Memorial Fountain

After visiting the statue that depicts the boy who never wanted to grow up (Peter Pan) we were off to Baker Street to meet Hanne, Ashley and Alice.  It was an epic walk around North London – in search of an elusive pub, during which we saw Lord’s Cricket Ground (making Dad a happy man!), we stopped for a late lunch in a different and yet awesome pub in Camden.  It was so lovely for Mum and Dad to meet the awesome family that I was able to start off my life in London with at the beginning of this year.

A pub in Camden

Dad, Ashley, Alice, Hanne and Mum

Before heading home, Mum, Dad and I stopped via St Paul’s Cathedral for a Eucharist service.  The incense, the command of the Vicar’s voice and the echo of congregation’s chants were incredible.

St. Paul's Cathedral

St. Paul's Cathedral

Day 3 (July 25) - Windsor Castle, Stonehenge and Bath

Deciding that cramming in as much as possible proved a very mean feat!  We packed in Windsor Castle, Stonehenge and Bath into one day – travelling approximately 400 miles!  Thus, Mum and I slept a bit between destinations while Dad listened to Hugh (our tour guide) ramble on about the histories of each place.  He was extremely humorous and Mum and Dad thought he had so much enthusiasm and bustle, that he reminded them of Manuela (who the heck is he????)  

Windsor Castle brought a towering abbey, changing of the guard ceremony and a fully functional doll’s house (Queen Mary’s) right down to hot running water into the bath!  I could hardly believe that she could be so lucky to have such an amazing doll’s house – then again – she was royalty.

Windsor Castle

The Moat

The Abbey inside Windsor Castle

Gothic influenced art

Queen Mary's Doll House

Changing of the guard

Previously, so many people have expressed either a great joy or great disappointment for Stonehenge.  Even Hugh (AKA Manuela) commented “it’s not that big”.  So then, after everyone talking it down… I was stoked that I had to look up to see it!  

Stonehenge

Stonehenge

Weird to think that this ‘thing’ has been around for thousands of years (even before the pyramids)… and it had been positioned with such accuracy to study the sun and moon cycles.  The stones were much bigger than I had anticipated and definitely worth the visit out there.  I love that there are so many different theories and speculations about this place but there is no certainty at all when it comes down to the very facts.  Very much my favourite place of the day!!

Finally was Bath and though we did not spend enough time here to do the place justice, it was great to spend a short time here to see how much Rome had influenced the city and how it still is very much the same as it has been.  

Small streets in Bath

Bath Abbey

We sat and had some much needed coffee with a view of the Baths.

King's and Queen's Baths

The springs

Day 4 (26 July) - Ye Olde London

Our final day in London before our departure on our epic Europe adventure brought a relatively lazy day sighting and visiting the older things of London.  First we were off to the Tower of London.  

Original wall from the tower

We only intended on spending the morning there but found it so interesting we spent most of the day.  With an initial entertaining tour around the grounds by Yeoman Guard Jones (otherwise known as a ‘Beefeater’.)  One fact he wouldn't let us forget is that there are 20 towers.  Yet another Beefeater explained that when Prince Charles becomes king, he will be known as King George VII (all the Charles' so far have not had much luck!!)

Yeoman Guard Jones

I loved seeing the crown jewels and learning that they are “The People’s Jewels” and belong to all those in the Commonwealth.  They are kept in a vault (that looks as if it could survive the rapture) to prevent the jewels departing with one person rather than staying with the people.

Royal Guard outside the Crown Jewel vault 

Looking out into the front garden

King Henry VIII suit of armour

Before cooking dinner, I took Mum and Dad out for a walk along the Thames near my flat.  We happened to stumble (no pun intended) to one of my favourite (and one of London’s oldest) pubs.

The Blue Anchor
Dad and Mum

But until next time... Cheers!