The Ham Nomads

18 Apr 2014. <GB-ENG> London —

Couldn't resist giving you a glimpse of the view from our window. There's a private garden just outside, and the birds do a pretty creditable dawn chorus!

St Paul's dome

Good Friday — Bank Holiday. Shops open, but businesses and financial institutions closed. Started off the day at St Paul's. Didn't go inside this time as we didn't want to interfere with the services. Went into a Starbucks nearby where Warren uploaded Thursday's blog entry. Then we went for a long and lazy stroll through "the City", the business square mile of London. It was cold and windy and eerie, because none of its usual inhabitants were in sight.

Lloyds Building

Aldgate

Wandered down Cheapside, past St Mary-le-Bow church (the Bow Bells), the Bank of England and the Royal Exchange, St Michael's Church, Leadenhall Market (not operating today, but spectacular neverthless -- it was Diagon Alley in Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone), round past the Lloyds buildings, various other churches, a queer structure marking where the original Aldgate used to be.

The Gherkin

Wandered further, near the "Gherkin" — the Swiss Re building (2004) — and went into St Helen's Bishopgate, a delightful little church. Services had just ended, the lights were going out and the little place was being put to sleep, but we still had time to look around at the memorials peppering the rear wall, and the rather interesting tomb of Sir Thomas Gresham (died 1579).

The Globe Pub

Decided it was nearing lunchtime, so we went to Liverpool Street station. Decided the eateries there were not that appetising, so adjourned to the Globe pub on Moorgate, near London Wall, for lunch. Shared a delicious Cottage Pie and vegetables for two, Warren washing his down with a pale ale!

After lunch, realised the Museum of London was not far along London Wall, so went there for a historical fix. It's a well-appointed museum, with a plethora of exhibits from prehistory up to the present, but all associated with the City of London and its environs. One interesting display was a set of windows looking outside to where a remnant of the original London Wall still stands.

London Wall remnant

We had just about walked our feet off by now and, as it was already getting into the late afternoon, we decided to call it a day and return to our digs to put our feet up. Another very full day!

Because Sunday is supposed to be wet, we've decided to bring forward to tomorrow our wander through Hyde Park and Kensington Gardens, visiting on the way Aspley House and probably Harrods.