Saturday in London

Justin didn't have to work on Saturday so we got to go out as a family.  We ate a quick breakfast at the hotel and then headed out to the train station.  The train station was just a few blocks away.  We bought an all day transportation pass.  So, we could hop on and off of the trains, tube, etc.

We rode the train into Waterloo (I just love saying Waterloo).  Then connected to the tube and came up at Victoria Station. 

A traditional English taxi cab.  Even the newest cabs are still made in this style.

Victoria Station

We were trying to see the changing of the guard.  They only do it once every other day.  Unfortunately every tourist in all of the United Kingdom was there, too.  This is out in front of Buckingham Palace.  The Bobbies had stopped traffic so that the guards could march through.  There was a band, guards, and mounted guards.

The guards marching towards the palace.

The mounted guards

Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace with the Victoria memorial statue in front

The guards marching back to wherever they came from after the ceremony.

St. James Park park with the London Eye and Big Ben Clocktower in the distance

Westminster Abbey

They had a really neat activity for kids, so we got to really explore and they weren't too bored.  They had their own clipboards with a special leaflet of things to find, count, etc.  It was a bit like a scavenger hunt.

One of the clergymen (I don't know exactly what they are called in the Church of England) spotted us and showed us around a bit.  He even opened up the special spot where the Queen sits when she comes to the Abbey.  He let me go up the stairs and stand in her spot, but not sit on her cushion.

There was no photography in the Abbey so all I have are outside shots.  The whole thing was just gorgeous!!  Since the kids were having so much fun on their scavenger hunt we really had time to explore.

The clocktower that houses Big Ben.  Big Ben is not the tower it is the bells.

Parliament 

Sort of a spooky view of Big Ben

Across the Thames from parliament

Noah, Callie, and Lucy in front of Parliament

While Justin waited in line to get tickets for the London Eye we ate a quick lunch.

There was a McDonald's really close but I refused to allow us to eat there!  Hot dogs from a street vendor seemed like the better choice. HA!

The Millenium Bridge from the London Eye

Noah and Callie were a nervous wreck on the London Eye.  Callie cowered most of the time, and Noah hollered at anyone who went near the sides. 

Finally they loosened up a bit and started to walk around and look out.

From the Eye we took the tube towards Piccadilly Circus.  

We were walking towards Trafalgar Square when we heard drumming.  So we went over to see what was going on.

We ended up in China Town and they were celebrating Chinese New Year.  It was really fun and festive.  I have always wanted to see these big dragons.  The street was lined with Chinese restaurants.  Each one put out an offering for the dragons.  The dragons would go up to each restaurant and "eat" the offering.  

Beautiful buildings the we saw while walking towards Trafalgar Square.  By this point we had practically walked our legs off, so the pictures and descriptions are sparse.  Sorry!