We just spent a wonderful week in London showing our granddaughter, Maya, the sights. It was her first time in London, so everything was amazing for her.
We started with a ride on the Tube from Russell Square in Bloomsbury to Covent Garden from where we walked into Trafalgar Square and The National Gallery.
We went on the London Eye, visited Buckingham Palace, walked in St. James’s Park, wandered down Whitehall and took a boat ride to Greenwich.
On the walk up the hill to the Royal Observatory, we noticed how dry and burnt the grass was, except for one little green patch, neatly roped off to preserve it like a treasured patch of ground.
We also noticed that even though the ground was scorched, people were still stretching out and sunbathing in the searing heat. How the English love the sun.
There is never a shortage of things to do, places to go, in London. It is true that if you’re “bored of London” you must be “bored of life” because there is literally so much to keep you stimulated and entertained.
Bloomsbury is our favourite part of London to stay. It gives you great access to the West End plus you are not far from the river.
We walked Piccadilly, Regent Street, the Carnaby Street area, Oxford Street, Regent’s Park and visited Madame Tussauds, shopped at Harrod’s in Knightsbridge, ambled along Bankside, went to the Museum of Natural History, took the Hop on Hop off Bus over Tower Bridge and out as far as Kensington Palace and Hyde Park.
Highlights at night included going to a couple of musicals in the West End, Matilda at the Cambridge and Lion King at the Lyceum.
I would have loved to have seen Ian McKellen in King Lear and the musical, Tina, but neither of these is really suitable for a 12-year-old.
The West End is still a good place to get good Italian food and it was fun having high tea in a Viennese-style cafe.
London is always a joy to visit. Will be back next spring for another look around.
swhysall@hotmail.com
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