17.10: Last day in London

This was my last proper day away and Richard and Sharon offered to show me around London. After a fairly leisurely start to the morning we caught the train into Waterloo Station, picked up a pasty and set off to explore! We headed down to the Southbank of the Thames. Richard was keen to point out the Hungerford/Charing Cross Bridge, as Philip has a painting of it, by Andre Derain, in Adelaide. The river has certainly changed a lot since it was first constructed in the mid 1800’s and it was really interesting to consider how much this area has changed over time. 

Sharon and Richard with the Hungerford Bridge in background

The southbank is full of buskers. Generally to busk in London requires an extensive application process, including auditions, to ensure only the best buskers perform on the streets. The section of the Southbank between Hungerford and Westminster bridges does not have such restrictions. This means the area is full of many and varied street performers… and pickpockets. Richard’s theatre group performed here for a week and he recalled seeing some very shady characters lurking amongst the crowds. We continued over Westminster Bridge towards Big Ben. The bridge was full of Romanians enticing tourists into (probably) illegal betting games, it was interesting to watch and try to figure out their methods.

Romanians

We continued on past the Parliament, Westminster Cathedral and Westminster School. Then through the horse guard and into St James’ Park and down to Buckingham Palace – queen not in residence today. We continued down The Mall, which was lined with Chinese flags, to Trafalgar Square. We had a coffee at ‘Café in the Crypt’ below St Martin-in-the-Fields Cathedral.

Big Ben tower 

Front of Westminster Cathedral

St James’ Park

Other end of The Mall 

Happenings on Trafalgar Square

Café in the Crypt

We carried on towards the City of London, going down Adelaide Street, ending up at the very grand Australia House. 

Adelaide Street

Light pole 

Australia House

We ducked into St Clement Danes church opposite, where one of Richard’s friends had overseen the recent rewiring. After being bombed in WWII, the Royal Air Force led an appeal for funds to restore the church. Consequently, in the 1950’s, the church was fully restored and became the official church of the Royal Air Force. While the church was being restored, various RAF related features were installed. These included inscriptions of the over 800 RAF command badges placed in the slate floor and various other statues. We sat for a while to watch the choir practice.

Chior practice in St Clement Danes

We continued on through the City of London, passing sites such as The Royal Courts of Justice. 

Royal Courts of Justice

We then wandered past St Paul’s again and crossed the river on the Millennium Bridge. Walking on the southern side of the river, we passed the reconstructed Shakespeare’s Globe Theater. 

View from Millennium Bridge 

Shakespeare's Globe Theatre 

View along Thames from London Bridge

We crossed back over the river on London Bridge to Soho. It was now the early evening and we were in need of a drink. Richard and Sharon navigated through China Town to a favourite pub of theirs. The streets were absolutely heaving with people and the atmosphere was great. 

Soho

After having a pint and a good chat in the very busy pub we made our way back home where we knocked together a fish dinner.