The City of London, its ancient core and financial centre, was founded by the Romans as Londinium and retains its medieval boundaries and covers an area of approximately 1 sq mile.The City of Westminster, to the west of the City of London, has for centuries hosted the national government and parliament. Since the 19th century the name "London" has also referred to the metropolis around this core, historically split between the counties of Middlesex, Essex, Surrey, Kent, and Hertfordshire, which largely comprises Greater London governed by the Greater London Authority. As one of the world's major global cities, London exerts a strong influence on its arts, entertainment, fashion, commerce and finance, education, health care, media, science and technology, tourism, and transport and communications. Its GDP (€801.66 billion in 2017) makes it the largest urban economy in Europe, and it is one of the major financial centres in the world.
London has a temperate oceanic climate. Summers are generally warm, sometimes hot, with an average temperture of 23.4°C/74.1°F. Winters are generally cool with little temperature variation and an average temporature of 8.8 °C/47.8°F. Heavy snow is rare but snow usually falls at least once each winter. Spring and autumn can be pleasant. As a large city, London has a considerable urban heat island effect, making the centre of London at times 5 °C/(9 °F warmer than the suburbs and outskirts.
We spent our time touring on the hop-on hop-off bus, getting off occassionaly to wander around at our leisure before heading home.
A view of the Pyrenees Mountains from the airplane window on the flight from Barcelona to London.
The South Bank Lion
The South Bank Lion is an 1837 sculpture in Central London. Since 1966 it has stood next to County Hall, on the South Bank of the River Thames. The statue is about 13 ft/4 m long and 12 ft/3.7 m high, and weighs about 14 tons. It was cast in 1837, the year of Queen Victoria's accession, of Coade stone, one of the earliest types of artificial stone making it resistant to weathering, thereby retaining the fine details of the lion's modelling.
Across the Thames at Westminster bridge stands the Clock Tower of Big Ben and Westminster Hall.
Rush hour traffic on Westminster bridge.
Westminster Abbey
The Abbey is a World Heritage Site and one of London's oldest and most important buildings. and, later, in 1066, all coronations of English and British monarchs have occurred in Westminster Abbey. It is one of the United Kingdom's most notable religious buildings and, since Edward the Confessor, a burial site for EnglishBritish monarchs. Since the coronation of William the ConquerorSixteen royal weddings have occurred at the abbey since 1100.
The Sanctuary Building
The Sanctuary was built in 1854 by Sir George Gilbert Scott, a well known Victorian architect. It is now an office building with a traditional exterior and a modern interior.
Waiting to cross the street.
The Rifle Brigade War Memorial
The Memorial commemorates the service of the Rifle Brigade in the First and Second World Wars. An inscription on the memorial commemorates the 11,575 men from the Rifle Brigade who fell in the First World War; a later inscription mentions the 1,329 men who fell in the Second World War. All are listed on a Roll of Honour held at Winchester Cathedral.
A couple of maintenance men checking out their work.
Another well maintained building in London.
Church of St Peter, Eaton Square on the left -
the back of Izak's head on the right.
Home of the "Bodydoctor" Health & Fitness.
Upscale London townhouses
Walking in the Park
The Bomber Command
Memorial
The memorial was opened by the Queen in 2012 and is very close to Hyde Park Corner located in Green Park.
The memorial was opened by the Queen in 2012 and is very close to Hyde Park Corner located in Green Park.
Entrance to Hyde Park.
Queen Elizabeth Gate, Hyde Park
The Wellington Monument
The Monument is a statue representing Achilles, erected as a memorial to Arthur Wellesley, the first duke of Wellington, and his victories in the Peninsular War and the latter stages of the Napoleonic Wars.
Bickenhall Mansions
Bickenhall Mansions is a prestigious Victorian mansion block consisting of two hundred and twenty three unique and spacious apartments. A 3bedroom, 2 bathroom 2143 sq ft flat sells for over £3,500,000.
Another beautiful building that I can't find any information on.
. . . and another.
Well maintained townhouses
Rosemary and Izak riding the bus.
Madame Tussauds Wax Museum
The Horse and Guardsman pub
County Hall London
County Hall is a building in the district of Lambeth, London that was the headquarters of London County Council (LCC) and later the Greater London Council (GLC). Construction started in 1911 and the building was opened by King George V in 1922. Construction of numerous additions was completed in 1974. The building originally served as the headquarters of local government for London, but is now the site of businesses and attractions.
The Tower of London
While we did go in the Tower we didn't take any pictures, as we already did that on a previous trip.
Another view of the Tower. Instead of taking the Hop-on Hop-off bus back to the hotel, we decided to take a river transport to the Westminster Bridge.
HMS Belfast and the Shard
The HMS Belfast is a 20th century warship that had a illustrious career which included helping to sink the massive German warship Scharnhorst and fired some of the first shots of Operation Overlord, the Normandy landings, in June 1944. Following the end of the Second World War she was sent off to fight in the Korean War from 1950-52. Between 1956 and 1959 she underwent another full refit and modernisation, only to be retired in 1963, and is now moored up as an exhibit in the Thames.
Hay's Galleria
Hay's Galleria is a mixed use building in the London Borough of Southwark situated on the south bank of the River Thames featuring offices, restaurants, shops, and flats. Originally a warehouse and associated wharf (Hay's Wharf) for the port of London, it was redeveloped in the 1980s.