Going Around London

It turns out that doing a multi-day walk is great conditioning for exploring London on foot! On our first day around town we start out with a foggy prospect. 

We pass through this little garden situated next to some ancient parts of the old London wall. We love the combinations we see everywhere of old and new. 

We pass through the Barbican, almost a city within London. Built in an area decimated during the Blitz, it was meant to take advantage of an opportunity to create a comprehensively planned urban environment. More than 4,000 people live here and there are restaurants, performance spaces, etc.

We make our way across the river and visit the Tate Modern for a couple of hours. The scale! 

Here's just one piece we liked.

We walk along the Thames and appreciate the continual evolution of the city. 

Big Ben!

The Houses of Parliament. 

An average government building. 

Closer to home as we head out on another day of getting to know London. There is lots of street art in our neighborhood. Also tons of restaurant options when we return hungry at night. 

The Gherkin behind an old church and a darling cab.  

Urban canyon with the Shard behind.

We spend part of the day in Greenwich, including a visit to the Cutty Sark, a clipper ship launched in 1869, initially used to fulfill England's demand for tea from China. Visitors can climb up the rigging partway. Who do we know who might enjoy that? 

This is a view of the ship from below. It was suspended three meters to maintain the shape and integrity of the hill. 

We travel further into Greenwich to visit the Royal Observatory, which gives us a grand vista back to London.

At the observatory, we see many telescopes and clocks and learn about the race to solve the longitude riddle. 

Riddle solved! (It was more complicated than I make it sound.) Here we straddle the prime meridian. 

 

On our way home for the day, we pass by the Tower of London. More sights to come!