A Day Trip To London

Last week we were back in Oxford visiting family & friends.  A few months ago we decided to incorporate a trip to London during this week, when we originally planned the trip we had hoped we may get to see the Olympic Park, but hadn’t realised there would be a security “lock-down” so we had to revise our plans slightly.
We travelled from Bicester to Marylebone by train which takes a little under an hour, Wembley as we fly past

As we walk to Baker St station we spot this tiny car that can be parked face on to the pavement
We travel by underground to North Greenwich, here is a big screen, ready for the Olympics in Peninsula Square

This is home to the o2 arena, I guess o2 aren’t sponsoring the Olympics as it has been renamed The North Greenwich Arena & is hosting Basketball, Artistic Gymnastics & Trampoline


Then between two buildings we spot our next destination, the recently opened Emirates Airline, a cable car linking the north & south bank

It crosses the Thames at 90m (300ft) above the water




The cable car is approx 1.1km long & takes about 6 minutes to cross

Armed with our Boarding Passes we set off
It can carry 2,500 people per hour, but today it was very quiet





We had a car to ourselves

Unfortunately it had rained so the windows were a bit wet
Looking down on the Thames Barrier

The ExCeL centre which is hosting 7 olympic sports
We are at “cruising altitude”

In the distance the Olympic Stadium

Work is still happening on one of the pylons (should we be worried?)

Looking back at the o2 arena

Canary Wharf

Zooming in on the Olympic Stadium & the ArcelorMittal Orbit, which at £15 a go when the Olympics are on is an expensive viewing tower

Starting our descent to the north bank


The sun shinning on the o2 arena

Back on the ground looking back where we have travelled from



We then get on the docklands light railway & travel to Tower Hill


The Tower of London with The Shard in the distance
Wet pavements as we approach Tower Bridge




The Shard (309.6m 1016ft) is the tallest building in Europe & was only officially opened on 5th July this year.


Tower Bridge is now wearing its Olympic rings

The Tower of London

Traitors Gate


Zooming in on the Olympic Rings

30 St Mary Axe (or as it is more commonly referred to “The Gherkin”)


We then catch the underground to Westminster, Big Ben
One of many new signs that adorn London’s roads
Sir Winston Churchill

Zooming in on Big Ben


Yes that is Graham Le Saux (former England, Chelsea, Blackburn & Southampton footballer) entering Westminster
Oliver Cromwell

The Houses of Parliament






The London Eye


The former GLC Building (which is now a Premier Inn)
Westminster Bridge

The Battle of Britain Memorial which was unveiled in 2005.
It is an amazing monument


It lists all 2,936 airmen who lost their life
“Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few” Winston Churchill


“Eric Stanley Aldous, from Sanderstead, Surrey was born on 1st January 1918 and attended Dulwich College from 1931 to 1935. He then worked for Charrington's, the coal merchants. Aldous joined the RAFVR in September 1938 and was called up on 1st September 1939. He completed his training at 9 FTS, Hullavington and joined 610 Squadron at Biggin Hill on 27th July 1940.” (from http://www.bbm.org.uk)


“Edward Mortlock Donaldson, the son of a judge, was born in Negri Sembilan, Federated Malay States on 22nd February 1912. He went to England at the age of six and was educated at King's School, Rochester, Christ's Hospital and McGill University, Canada.
He joined the RAF in March 1931 and did his flying training at 2 ITS, Digby. On 20th June 1932 Donaldson was posted to 3 Squadron at Upavon. He won the Brooke-Popham Air Firing Trophy in 1933 and 1934 and led the aerobatic displays at Hendon in 1935 and 1937 and at the International Rally at Zurich in 1937. Donaldson went to No. 1 Squadron at Tangmere on 2nd July 1936 as a Flight Commander. In August 1938 he joined the staff at 7 FTS, Peterborough and on 14th November he took command of 151 Squadron at North Weald.
In May 1940 151 took part in the fighting in France, using Vitry as an advanced landing ground. On the 17th Donaldson destroyed two Ju87's, the next day a Me110 and on the 22nd another two Ju87's. Over Dunkirk he shared a probable Me109 on 29th May, damaged a Ju88 on 1st June and destroyed a Me110 on 2nd June. He was awarded the DSO (gazetted 31st May 1940). On 14th July Donaldson claimed a Me109 destroyed.” (from http://www.bbm.org.uk)




The London Eye with The Shard in the distance
Andy tries out one of the “Boris Bikes”
Time for lunch, we head for the nearest Wetherspoon
Nelson’s column

A mini big ben at Trafalgar Square
Many of the Underground Stations have been decorated according to where they are, this all about Nelson
The next stop is The British Museum

Where they are displaying the gold medals for the Olympics
The front of the gold medal

And the back

The Paralympic Gold front

And back

The dies they were cast from



Medals from the 1908 London Olympics (the 4th Modern Games)

And from the 1948 London Olympics

The first Paralympic Games open to non war veterans, held in Rome in 1960, it was open to participants in wheelchairs.

And from the 1984 Paralympic Games held at Stoke Mandeville

The poster from the last London Games
Inside the Queen Elizabeth II Great Court is spectacular, it opened in 2000





An Easter Island stone

We then set off on the underground again, this time to White City where we had a tour of the BBC booked


Andy beside The Tardis


The statue of Helios Sun God



After a tour of the News department (which we couldn’t take any photos of) we headed to the Weather centre

The Wood Lane studios will close next March and slowly all the departments are being moved out (most of them to Manchester).  This is the actual MOTD (match of the day) set which has been left in London for a newer one in their new studio.

Andy took part in a mock quiz (and won a BBC pen!)


We had been warned at the beginning of the tour should we see anyone famous not to approach them, well as we were walking back to reception who should be sat chatting on a bench outside - David Walliams, well the 18 16 year old girls on the trip screamed & got a smile from him!!!

After the very enjoyable tour we headed to Hyde Park Corner, this memorial to the heroes of the manchine gun corps who died in the great war

The New Zealand war memorial


This arch has been decorated for the Golden Jubilee, there is a crown near the top that looks like it is lit after dark
We then walk along the Princess of Wales Memorial walk
And soon reach Buckingham Palace







The gold really stands out against the ever darkening skies
Lastly wandering from Leicester Square to Piccadilly Circus before getting the train back from Marylebone
We had a brilliant day & will definitely do a day trip to London again.
Unfortunately the weather wasn’t great so we didn’t get out that much.  This is some graffiti reflecting under a bridge
Port Meadow should be dry at this time of year, but with all the rain it is far from it

You mucky pup!!!! there is a Crag somewhere under all that mud