First stop today: the Monument to the Great Fire of London. A total of 311 steps to the top, but at four quid per person, it's the cheapest view around. So up we went!
Sherlock started out counting to see if the spiral staircase was actually comprised of 311 steps, but he got bored after 26 and started deducing the people we met on their way down. When we got to the top, we tried to pose for a photo straightaway, but the strong wind had other ideas (don't worry, it was completely enclosed by fencing and there was literally no where we could fit through to fall to the ground!)
Once we regained our balance, the view really was spectacular. That's the Tower Bridge off in the distance between us.
Proof that we did it! Me with my certificate.
Next we hopped in the tube to Westminster to tour the Abbey. There was no photography allowed, but what an AMAZING experience to tour it! The graves of countless kings, queens, and revered names throughout history, not to mention the architecture and history of the building itself. Well worth the cost of admission.
Ate lunch on the lawn there and then went on to the Natural History Museum. Quite a crowd and we didn't spend a great deal of time there as we're both more interested in the human aspect of history rather than animal and fossil remains. Nothing wrong with it, just not our thing.
Sherlock saw this advert for a future exhibit on our way out and was quite annoyed that it isn't happening until well after we're gone.
We decided to check out the nearby Victoria and Albert Museum next.
And we're so glad we did! We were there for a couple of hours and still only saw a fraction of what's there. We were feeling giggly towards the end of our time there and walked past this area where people (presumably children) are encouraged to dress up in the garb of different eras. We both fitted into this thing and still had room to spare. Couldn't even stop giggling long enough to take the picture, as you can tell by our faces!
There was also an exhibit (ostensibly on shoes throughout the ages, but really more about clothing in general) that was quite intriguing. And then I received this text on my mobile:
Thanks, Sherlock. Oi.
Headed back to the hotel (or "home," as we've started calling it), ordered a takeaway pizza from the bar and headed back to the room. Tomorrow is another early start because we have train tickets to Cardiff! Thanks for checking out our blog again!
-JW