London
- bhatnagarcharu
- 1 day ago
- 8 min read
Writing about London feels like déjà vu. Years back, I used to jot down thoughts about Britain with pen and paper, capturing the historic events. I've always wanted to visit and soak in the rich culture and history of this country, country that amassed wealth over centuries of rule.
We were all thrilled to begin our Europe trip with United Kingdom as the first in the list. It marked my milestone birthday and also served as a layover between continents. It was a hop that couldn't have been better.
Our flight from Dallas to Heathrow was delayed by over 5 hours, giving us some extra time to spend in London. We moved our next day's morning flight from London to Vienna in the evening.
I guess we could have done Dallas to Zurich too, but that would have left one aspect of manifestation into nothing. Just diluted in maze and dreams forever. I has always wanted to immerse myself in the British experience, now was the time and for a day, with the accent so captivating and charming. Suhana, our Mrs. Riley ("Would you like to have some T''ee?" from the popular K3G Bollowood movie), was incredibly dramatic and fun with her British accent throughout. This was the time I felt that she connects to my likes/dislikes
London Eye
Reached London Heathrow Airport by 3:00 pm, checked into Moxy hotel, a bit far from the airport yet closer to the main attractions of London. Rested in, took a nap and headed out in the evening to London Eye that was approximately 10 min walk from our Hotel. You see, the excitement won’t let you rest until you head out again on the streets. Isn’t it?
The London Eye is a giant Ferris wheel on the South Bank of the River Thames in London, near Westminster Bridge. Little did I know about it, this was opened in March 2000, originally to mark the millennium. Fun facts: Stands about 135 meters (443 ft) tall — one of the UK’s tallest structures and one of the world’s largest cantilevered observation wheels.
The place had typical downtown vibes, when you reach London Eye, you pass through street hawkers, symbolic London Red Telephone booths and restaurants with outdoor seating, all in a quick evening stroll.
The Waterloo Station
Walking and talking down the streets of Waterloo Station, I realized how much we needed it this summer. First my new job, then Suhana's junior year coming up and then our machine routine all pushed for this like a tug of war. We were now watching London’s major railway terminals, located on the south bank of the River Thames in the borough of Lambeth. Did you know that it has ~24 platforms, making it one of the largest stations in Europe!
This was a well-known London landmark for us to plan, esp, if you’re navigating the city, it’s a good reference point on the South Bank, near attractions like the London Eye and the Southbank Centre.
We didn’t really take a route there but roamed around this busy place and enjoyed the popular London fish and chips! Beaware Texans! Chips are not really chips if you are a Texan, they are thick potato wedges 😀😂.
Next day was booked till evening, up till when we needed to board the flight to Vienna. Hence followed a comfortable itinerary to absorb as much of it as we could.
Buckingham Palace.
Grabbed a croissant with nearby grocery store and ubered to the Buckingham Palace.
Buckingham Palace is the official London residence and administrative headquarters of the British monarch, located in the City of Westminster. Originally built as a townhouse in 1703, it became the official royal residence in 1837 when Queen Victoria took the throne. To my surprise it has 775 rooms, including 19 State Rooms, 52 royal and guest bedrooms, and 78 bathrooms. Interesting huh!
St. James’s Park
Strolling further along the Buckingham Palace comes St. James Park. St. James park is one o the London's Royal Parks, sitting right next tothe palace. It is actually the oldest of the eight Royal Parks, dating cack to Henry VIII in the 1530s. The home to the pelicans (a tradition goind back to Russian ambassador's gift in 1664) plus swans ducks and geese.
Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey is a large, mainly Gothic church in Westminster, London, and one of Britain’s most significant religious and historic sites. It’s the traditional coronation site for English and British monarchs since 1066, including King Charles III in 2023. We captured some great views and angles from all sides. Wish we could go in for a tour, howeevr our timings dint match. Would highly recommend to you.
Here is the west end of the Abbey below, showing the twin towers (added in the 1700s by Nicholas Hawksmoor, in a Gothic style that blends with the medieval original).
And now the north entrance/transept, with its large rose window and richly carved arched portals this is the more ornate side facing Parliament Square
Big Ben
Big Ben is technically the nickname for the Great Bell inside the clock tower at the north end of the Houses of Parliament — though it’s commonly used to refer to the whole tower and clock. Fun Facts: The tower itself is officially called the Elizabeth Tower, renamed in 2012 for Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee (it was previously just “the Clock Tower”). It completed in 1859, standing about 96 meters (315 ft) tall and the Great Bell weighs around 13.7 tonnes and chimes on the hour, with four smaller quarter bells chiming every 15 minutes
The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square
The National Gallery is a major art museum located on the north side of Trafalgar Square in central London. My last visit to a known National Gallery was back in India. Visiting a plae that connects your inner self to someone's inner self. Isnt it interesting? You read someone's mind, emotions and views seeing these classics. I did not deter to buy a sample magnet of National Gallery for my home in Dallas. Anyone would who loves art, architecture and culture.
Founded in 1824, the National Gallery holds one of the world’s great collections of Western European painting, spanning roughly the mid-13th to early 20th century. Home to works by Van Gogh, Turner, Constable, Vermeer, Leonardo da Vinci, Botticelli, Monet, and many others. They say around 2,300 paintings in total!
It’s within easy walking distance of other central London landmarks like Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and Buckingham Palace, so it fits neatly into a day of sightseeing if you’re already covering that area. Want opening hours, must-see paintings, or nearby food/coffee spots around Trafalgar Square?
Now a tiny story about this click below. I love to know about the historic painters, what motivated them to paint and how they painted, what urged them to paint. So here in the pic below, Luca Giordano, a Neapolitan painter was so famously fast that Italians nicknamed him “Luca fa presto” , meaning "Luca paints quickly”. He could turn out large-scale, theatrical Baroque canvases at a pace that scandalized his slower rivals, yet still packed his work with drama, movement, and wit. The painting below showcases the same energy in "Perseus Turning Phineus and his Followers to Stone (c. 1660)", capturing the chaotic climax of Perseus and Andromeda’s wedding feast:, her jilted former fiancé Phineus storms in for revenge, only for Perseus to whip out Medusa’s severed head and freeze the whole mob mid-attack. Luca models mythology, his warriors on famous antique sculptures like the Laocoön and paints them caught in the act of transformation, half living flesh, half cold grey stone. It’s violence as spectacle, painted at the speed only “fast Luca” could manage. Gripping huh?
Another gem from the gallery...
Surprisingly, Suhana found a connection to the Tudor Monarchy, figures and architectural highlight in the National Gallery of London. Now that's the cream of the pie, when you can connect with your high school world science lesson in reality, in person! I found her more engrossed than anyone else. Besides me!
Gallery visi was just perfect for hot summer afternoon in London. Indoor, cool and colorful!
What you will see below is "The Execution of Lady Jane Grey” by Paul Delaroche, on display in its gilded frame, one of the National Gallery’s most striking Romantic-era history paintings.
The artist is Paul Delaroche, he was a French history painter. He completed this painting, The Execution of Lady Jane Grey, in 1833.
And here is my loot in material, the same picture magnet, fruit jellies and the painting picture book of ' The Saints' . What always will be my loot are the hidden experiences in my heart that will always be mine. Lots of them from this National Gallery!
Tower Bridge
We cruised along River Thames from Westminster to Tower Bridge, had planned the tour to have an expereince of the River Thames cruise providing 360 view of some great attractions and landmarks.
The Tower Bridge is a combined bascule (type of a bridge with pivoting section that is raised and lowered using counterweights) and suspension bridge crossing the River Thames, near the Tower of London , one of London’s most recognizable landmarks. Fun Facts: Completed in 1894, built in a Victorian Gothic style to match the nearby Tower of London. The two central “bascule” sections can still be raised to let tall ships pass. Two towers connect via high-level glass-floored walkways, part of the Tower Bridge Exhibition where visitors can look straight down at traffic and pedestrians below
This is often mistaken with the London Bridge, and precisely that was my question to Suhana and Nishant. Apparently, London bridge is a plainer bridge slightly upstream. Worried where is the falling London bridge humming along the rhyme London bridge is falling down, but this was not it.
London Bridge is actually much plainer than people expect, it’s a simple, functional crossing over the Thames, not the dramatic Victorian towers people usually picture. the rhyme refers to this crossing's long history of collapses fires and rebuilds over the centuries.
And now ready for some grabs? Check out the souvenier street shops that are much cheaper than the usual, pick the tower bridge and telephone booth magnet. Stop....you already got some form gallery..didn't you?
Here is our day itinerary and trip tips for you...
🇬🇧 Day 1 – May 25: London Layover
Arrival: ~ 3:00 PM at Heathrow Airport, London
Stay: MOXY London Heathrow Airport
Plan:
• 4:00 PM Reach hotel, drop bags, lay down for about an hour and jolt back for the evening.
• 6:00 PM – Head to London Eye, stroll and sink in the feeling of being in London.
🇬🇧 Day 2 : Head out for Central London Cover
• Uber to Buckingham Palace, if you get a chance for tour, its a must!
• Walk around St. James’s Park
• Westminster Abbey and Stroll around
• Big Ben
• River Cruise (Westminster → Tower Bridge)
• The National Gallery, Trafalgar Square, London
Tips for family trip:
When you have a layover country, and you want to explore it, always make sure to cover the basic main attractions without much tours or heavy doze of historical commentary. Only reason being that it becomes difficult to pace up the guide with family, rather, have your plan of ease and comfort, keeping in mind that you have along way to go…. this is just the start of the Europe!
Happy Reading & Stay tuned...
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