This England: From West End to Westminster and a Dinner to Die For!

I left off last time as we were in London's West End, just having wrapped up a lovely concert at St. Martin's in the Field. We had decided to go to Evensong at Westminster Abbey that afternoon and there is always a queue, so we thought we'd amble that way down Whitehall.

Charing Cross Road turns into Whitehall just after Trafalgar Square and as one approaches the government buildings. You'll find the Churchill War Rooms and museum in his area (highly recommended -- you can see an older post here) and 10 Downing Street. You'll also pass a number of war memorials, which I wrote about back around Veteran's Day HERE.

London: A Westminster Walk and a Southbank Symphony

Another of Rick's requests for our London trip was to see the London Philharmonic. Fortunately, they were scheduled to perform a piece I love, Carmina Burana, so we booked tickets for Saturday. After our Portobello Road visit, we took a break and then geared up for a trip to London's Southbank. We decided to take the bus!

I love the bus -- you actually get to see things and if you are in no hurry, the stops don't bother you. But when the bus stops and doesn't go anywhere, then you start to wonder. When ours let us out (across from Westminster Abbey) they explained there was a demonstration and roads were blocked off.

Well, I was in college in the '70s. I appreciate a good demonstration so we went in search of it. But first, a look at the exterior of the Abbey. (We had attended Evensong here in 2012 so just wandered around the exterior a bit.)

Then we crossed into the park, looking for the demonstration. All we saw was this.

Oh well. But there were some lovely statues.

I particularly liked this one. I think about it every time I turn on the news. (Commenter Maryanne in SC just weighed in on the statue. It's of Dame Millicent Fawcett, a suffragist, not a suffragette. The words are not synonyms. An online source from the UK explains "The suffragists believed in peaceful campaigning, whereas the suffragettes believed in direct action (violence and militancy). The suffragists was a national organisation, the suffragettes was a smaller organisation with 2000 members at its peak in 1914. The suffragists allowed men to join, the suffragettes did not." Thanks, Maryanne!)

So, we walked to the Southbank, and it was quite lovely. Unfortunately, the Houses of Parliament are under restoration (at least I think that's what that is -- I couldn't tell because of the scaffolding!)...

....and so was Big Ben.

But at least we could tell the time!

And there were marvelous views of the Thames and the side of Parliament that wasn't covered...

...along with the London Eye.

(The adventurous part of me would like to go on this. The part that gets vertigo when I stand on a two-step stool in my own house was happy to give it a pass.)

Still, looks fun. And dramatic!

We headed over to Royal Festival Hall to get tickets, then off to have a bite to eat.

A good burger, a couple of beers.  It was delicious! (We became very fond of Frontier beer while we were in England!)

To the hall! A wonderful exhibit in the lobby on the Festival of Britain of 1951.

The displays helped us pass the time till we were able to be seated.

And what a splendid and unobstructed view.

Well, till this in front of me.

And in front of Rick.

So, at intermission we took a walk on the bridge to enjoy the view...

...and it was quite a view!

When we returned, we moved up a few seats! Much better!

I leave you with another look at London's skyline...

...and through the zoom, St. Paul's -- where we will head in the morning (and next time!)

And if Mike or Jenny or any other of my London friends can tell me what this building is...(you can see it from Southbank and Festival Hall but on the other side of the river.) This just in: Commenter Julie from Liverpool says the below is Charing Cross Railroad Station! Thanks, Julie!

I will be most grateful!