Architecture

I’ll admit that I wouldn’t know a flying buttress from a flying squirrel, and the only reason I have any clue what an apse is can be contributed to my affinity for crossword puzzles. That being said, I can’t get over how amazingly striking the buildings in London are…

Case in point.

Thus far, my favorite building has to be the Houses of Parliament/Big Ben…

Big Ben was smaller than I expected but I was blown away by the overall aesthetics.

On the flip side, I was fairly disappointed with Buckingham Palace…

Not particularly palace-y if you ask me.

If I were the Queen, I’d have moved into the Norman Tower within the walls of the Tower of London long ago…

It blows me away to think that not only the medieval style castles, but pretty much any building, especially the churches, are likely to be 1000 years older than my country(!)…

Take Westminster Abbey for instance, dedicated in the 11th century.

Speaking of the 11th century…

When was the last time someone used a phone booth for making a call? #urinescentedbooth

Not since I was in Seattle has a city made me want to pull out my camera every time I turn around quite this much…

St. Paul's Cathedral

One of my challenges was to pose as a statue…

So I chose the death of Sir Thomas à Becket

Speaking of falling down…I made it over to London Bridge. Honestly not much to look at on its own but it does have a pretty cool guardian…

…and a nice view of nearby Tower Bridge…

I wish I had time to wait around and watch this spectacular bridge raise up.

Another view, this time with a little light.

Seeing as I have a few days remaining in my UK trip, I’m sure these won’t be the last photos of this sort. I’ve already been on the lookout for a full length view of “The Gherkin”…

But could someone please explain to me this tiny escalator barely taller than me?

That's 2 meters if you find yourself dealing with heights in this part of the world.

Here are a couple videos of my favorite area of London, the view from Westminster Bridge:

First…on foot near sundown…

Second…London By Night’s Double Decker Bus Tour…

Did I miss an epic building? Let me know so I can make a trip to check it out before I leave town on Wed.

Email - [email protected]

Thanks!

- The Groupawn

5 Comments

Anne Somerfeld says:

April 11, 2023 at 11:45 pm

Must go to Paddington Station, King’s Cross Rail Station, Tate Gallery, Camden Town, and Regent’s college, Regent’s Park and the London Zoo. Have a pint for me at the Globe Pub (Baker Street Tube Station) near Regent’s College, it’s where I went to school 25 years ago. LOVE LONDON!!

Stephanie says:

April 11, 2023 at 11:52 pm

Is that an escalator …or is it a people mover? lol

Rachel Powell Streck says:

April 12, 2023 at 12:28 am

The best thing we did in the UK, was a visit to Wales! If you can manage it, it is worth it. We took a bus from Heathrow to Cardiff and Megabus back to London. I know travel is difficult for you.

In London, how about a visit to:

Priory Church of St Bartholomew the Great, West Smithfield, London

The little church yard is so quaint, like going back in time. Some must see architecture here.