We were extremely fortunate to experience London on a summer-like holiday break, 8-11 May. The weather was warm, dry, and mainly sunny. Our hotel was within a 10-minute walk of Big Ben, Parliament, number 10 Downing Street (the Prime Minister's residence and workplace), Westminster Abbey, and Buckingham Palace.
During our stay, Parliament reconvened with great pomp and ceremony. Military bands paraded down the main avenue. Prince Charles' entourage sped by to speak on behalf of Queen Elizabeth to a crowd of onlookers. Our main reason for staying in London was to experience the Broadway play Hamilton. Due to our travel logistics, we will visit London two more times during our 2022 adventure.
We had a fantastic time in London, even without any formal planning. We discovered the beauty and prominence of Trafalgar Square. We ate at the "Cafe in the Crypt" in St Martin's Church close by the square. Tombstones line the floor in the crypt, including the dining area.
We had a full English breakfast on a different day in the Westminster Abbey's Cellarium. This hidden cafe is in the newest addition of Westminster Abbey, built in the 14th century by monks to store their food and drink. A full English breakfast includes eggs, beans, toast, streaky bacon, roasted tomatoes, sauteed mushrooms, and black pudding (oats baked with beef blood and fat).
Sarah was thrilled to be a mere 33-minute walk from a TK Maxx (known in the States as TJ Maxx). The TK Maxx we visited had three glorious floors! Visiting the store was a little taste of home. We were able to pick up some minor items that we had forgotten to pack. We also selected a new suitcase for Sarah since baggage handlers had damaged her old luggage in the port of Southampton.
We also enjoyed visiting the "House of MinaLima," an art gallery owned and curated by the primary illustrators for Harry Potter. The original art was on display, and prints were available for purchase. There are many fingerprints of Harry Potter in London, and we randomly found a Harry Potter sculpture at a city park nearby.
Lastly, we attended the play, Hamilton. Hamilton! The cast truly exceeded our expectations. It was a stirring rendition of the venerable Broadway play. The sold-out crowd immediately rose in applause as soon as Hamilton concluded. A truly memorable night and a fabulous ending to our first London visit.
Bonus pic for your enjoyment; the bicycle riding dog we saw at St James Park!
Thanks for adding the photo explanations of your home page photos. I was close on the locations of most of them. 🤗❤️
It sounds like a perfect location for a stop in London with awesome results! Great pics!