Off to see the Queen

Today we started off with a long term desire of Geoff to go for a row on the Serpentine.

We spent time wandering through Hyde Park. On one corner at the intersection of 2 main roads was the site of Tyburn Hill, one of the main places of execution in medieval london.

This is Marble Arch. It was originally built as a ceremonial entrance to the new Buckingham Palace when it was built but was moved later on.

The horse track in Hyde Park

We called into Appsley House, home of Duke of Wellington and had a tour through.

The ballroom

Then we went looking for the Bomber command memorial to take photos for Colin

By this time we were starving and miles from any food sources on Park Lane. Finally we wandered into a place we could get soup.

And then on to see the queen. Amazingly she didn't invite us in but we had a good look through the gate.

Pretty formidable armed police officer. Somehow her sweet smiling face didn't seem to go with the machine gun!

We saw him move!

Victoria Memorial outside Buckingham palace

St James Lake. Beautiful view through the trees.

St James Gardens

There were many squirrels in this park. They were really tame and would eat out people's hands.

Wellington Army barracks near Buckingham Palace

Our wander around ended up at Westminster Abbey. We didn't have time to actually look through the abbey itself but we looked through the Chapter House which is amazing and so old. It's the oldest part of the Abbey

Plaque about Cook's travels

Britain's oldest door

The Chapter House