London Adventures

I apologize for being completely MIA from the blogging world, but I've decided to try and update as much as possible and cover all the travels I wasn't able to blog in real time!

 From high tea and Harrod's to Harry Potter...I can't get enough of this city. Here are some highlights from my too-short trip to London:

High Tea

Classic London - Westminster + South Bank

My cousin from Leicester came up to visit me in London for the weekend and we walked around the city, did some sightseeing, biking, and major eating. 

View of King's Cross.

Buckingham Palace.

Beautiful day to visit Big Ben! 

London Eye!

Parliament Buildings. 

The cuz and I biking around London's financial district!

He had me try Pimm's for the first time! Also "chips"...aka FRIES.

Walking Tour of London City

After my cousin went back to Leicester, I did a walking tour of the city with Rick Steve's Audio Europe Guide playing on my headphones. Visited historic London sights, learning more about London's history and architecture, the big London fire, and major monuments. 

Pictures of the Royal Courts of Justice, where some of the nation's most popular cases and famous people are tried. Sometimes swarmed with media if a major case is going on. 

Inside Gringott's Wizarding Bank! This is actually the Australian embassy in London, where scenes of Harry Potter were shot as Gringott's! 

Next stop...Twining's English Tea! Did a mini tea-tasting here and some souvenir shopping for all my tea-loving friends.

 

Temple Church and Inns of Court:

From about 1100 to 1300, European Christians fought Middle Eastern Muslims for control of Jerusalem, a war more commonly known as the Crusades. The Temple Church was a Crusader Church built in 1185, so-named because it was the headquarters of the Knights Templar. The Knights Templar were an army of highly trained and armed monks, who swore to protect pilgrims on their way to the Muslim-held Holy Land. Scenes of the Da Vinci Code were shot inside this church!

Surrounding the Temple Church are the Inns of Court. A peaceful maze of buildings, courtyards, gas lamps, and gardens, this complex is a self-contained city of lawyers. Law students must live here to complete their legal internship and the Inns of Court are completely equipped with law offices, residences, courtrooms, chapels, and dining halls. 

St. Paul's Cathedral!

In many ways, this building symbolizes London and all that it stands for. It's where the nation gathers for its most historic events and is the final resting place of England's most important people. It stands for London's rise from the ashes of the Great Fire and survival of the Nazi air raids during World War II. 

 

Last stop on my walking tour: London Bridge!

London was born as a river-trading town and the bridge crosses the Thames River, connecting the interior of England to open sea. This helped make London an urban center, allowing goods and materials from every corner of the world to pour into the city. I walked across the bridge, taking in the beautiful view from direction. 

 

 Hope you enjoyed this post on my walk through London city.
Stay tuned for more adventures in Oxford, the Harry Potter Studio Tour, and more!
Xoxo