It was all happening so fast, there wasn't a lot of time to think and so a lot of it didn't sink in for days. I began my first day in London with a walk down the South Bank, from the London Eye to Waterloo bridge. Now I love walking around a new place, it is really the best way I can think of to explore the sights, so I had looked up some websites that featured interesting walks and walking tours of London. I got myself a map and well, I just walked and walked!
South Bank is a very lively, colourful side of London. You walk along the Thames, getting views of the iconic Big Ben among other things, and alongside on the promenade you can see street performers, art exhibits, tourists like you...it's a fun way to pass some time.
I crossed the river and took a bus to Hyde Park, because I wanted to join this free walking tour that starts from there every day at 1pm. I reached just in time, found the red-shirted guide and signed up. This walking tour lasted for about 2 hours, and it was a large group so sometimes one missed out on hearing what the guide had said, but it was an interesting way to get an introduction to the city. We covered quite a lot of ground - Green Park, Buckingham Palace, St James's Palace, Pall Mall, Trafalgar Square, Horseguards, Westminster Abbey and the Houses of Parliament.
After this tour I found I had some time so took the tube over to Tower Hill. The Tube Map is a wonder, it is so beautifully designed and makes the whole complex network so easy to understand, great job done.
Entrance fee to the Tower of London is frighfully expensive. I shelled out 17 Pounds for my ticket, and then found that I couldn't see the Crown Jewels since there was a mile-long queue and they were about close in an hour - early closing due to Bank Holiday. But walking around the Tower was interesting. I liked the Medieval Palace, saw the ravens (it is said that if the ravens leave the Tower, the English monarchy will fall, so one can imagine how well cared for these birds must be), got my picture taken with a Yeoman Warder (maybe a very touristy thing to do, but good fun anyway). Saw the place where Anne Boleyn was executed. Interestingly Tower Green where a number of executions have been held was on this day hosting a wedding reception party!
After this visit it was time to get back to Waterloo and take the train to PC's place. I'd seen so much in this first day, my head was just full and I had two weeks of my holiday to look forward to. Next stop - Edinburgh!!