Our final day in London was spent at the Tower of London, riding the London Eye, taking the Tube to dinner, riding a double-decker bus, and exploring the West End.
At the Tower of London we saw The Crown Jewels. Even though the display of jewels and information has changed significantly since the death of Queen Elizabeth and Coronation of King Charles, the exhibit wowed and dazzled with sparkling jewels, the scepter and orb, and other items of regalia. Others chose to visit the armory in the White Tower, the medieval palace, and other features that revealed the darker history of the fortress that has been occupied since 1070.
We then headed to the Thames and rode the London Eye for a breathtaking panoramic view of London. Continuing on the same side of the river, we strolled down the South Bank to the Globe Theater and Tate Modern Museum of Art. After some time to explore on our own, we walked over the Millennium Bridge to St. Paul’s Cathedral and had the chance to go inside for a few minutes before the evening service began. (Did you know the train of Princess Diana’s dress was designed to cascade down the entirety of the steps?) From there we took the Tube to dinner using the District and Circle lines to St. James’s Park. We enjoyed fish and chips and brownies; several people discovered that the fish was more delicious than they expected. With one student traveler turning 18 today, our tour director Remi picked up iconic cakes for the students to share—Colin the Caterpillar and Victoria Sponge. Everyone should turn 18 in London :)
As the day wound to a close, we jumped on an iconic red double-decker bus and headed to the West End of London to spend an hour exploring Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Leicester Square, and Chinatown. The Lego store seemed to be a fan favorite!
Tomorrow we have an early start to head to Paris via the Eurostar! So long London…