Headquarters: Quality Hotel Westminster in Eccleston Square, virtually a stone's throw from Victoria Station and bus terminus, which made getting around London ridiculously easy. Nice breakfasts, too!
At long last, the Big Ben tower, and me directly beneath it pointing the camera! We first heard the world-famous chimes as we were unpacking in our room. That sound really carries far! And by the way, did you know that "Big Ben" is the name of the bell inside, and not the clock or the tower itself?
The lovely creation of the architects Barry and Pugin, the Neo-Gothic Parliament. The UK is one of the few countries in Europe whose parliaments sit in non-Classical buildings. There was ideology behind that, of course. Unfortunately, when we were in London, Parliament Bridge was undergoing repairs, so the incongruous bright screens in the foreground just couldn't be avoided!
Another view of the Palace of Westminster from the other bank of the Thames, or, rather, from Lambeth Bridge. The big tower is called the Victoria Tower, understandably due to Queen Victoria entering the building from that very side to open the sessions of the Parliament.
Westminster Abbey. The famous twin towers of the main facade are in fact later additions and were built in the seventeenth century. This side entrance is much older.
Details of the porch. You can't help but admire the wonderful mediaeval masonry and sculptures.
Belgravia, the posh embassy district - close to where we were staying. Very quiet and dignified. We passed it en route to the Buckingham Palace, where we were going to see...
...the Changing of the Guard, and we were by no means the only two people who had turned up to watch! The seat of the British monarchy was surrounded by toursits standing ten-deep all over the place.
Policemen were all around to keep the civil peace, on foot, like this one, and on horses too. They still wear helmets! And by the way, did you know that there are two police forces in London? The Metropolitan Police - "Working together for a safer London" - is responsible for the whole London except the City, which has its own City Police, whose officers wear red-checkered bands, not the blue check of the Met like this guy has on his luminous jacket. The Met gets around using everything that moves. We saw policemen on horses, bicycles, scooters, motorbikes, cars, buses and helicopters, all duly marked "Police".
And these are the actual Guards making their way to the palace along The Mall.
