London, England

November 2016

A 9-day adventure by Destination Unknown Read more

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England
Canada
United States

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Around the world, City trip, Couple, Digital nomad, Family, Photography, Sightseeing, Vacation

3.5kmiles traveled

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Footprints
Photos

Destination Unknown London, England
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- Day 4
- Wednesday, November 9, 2016 at 11:36 AM
- 🌧 45 °F
- Altitude: 98 ft
- England Covent Garden Market 51.511673, -0.12292751°30’42” N 0°7’23” W
The Corridor
November 9, 2016 in England ⋅ 🌧 45 °F
These dark and enclosed corridors and alleyways seem very common in London but, being from New York City, it's something that we're not used to at all. This is what we passed through to get from Covent Garden Market to the street. I'm thinking that going through these dark passages at night would be a bit scary.Read more
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Destination Unknown London, England
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- Day 4
- Wednesday, November 9, 2016 at 11:42 AM
- 🌧 45 °F
- Altitude: 85 ft
- England Royal Opera House 51.512243, -0.12208351°30’44” N 0°7’19” W
I Emerged in London Rain
November 9, 2016 in England ⋅ 🌧 45 °F
We hadn't been inside Covent Garden Market for more than several minutes but when we came out it was raining. Rain and dampness is something to be expected in London and I don't really mind it. If anything, different kinds of weather can give a city an entire new look.Read more
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Destination Unknown London, England
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- Day 4
- Wednesday, November 9, 2016 at 11:46 AM
- 🌧 45 °F
- Altitude: 79 ft
- England Covent Garden Market 51.51224, -0.12222951°30’44” N 0°7’20” W
Empty Chairs and Empty Tables
November 9, 2016 in England ⋅ 🌧 45 °F
On a nice sunny day these tables would be nice to sit down, relax, and enjoy lunch or perhaps some snacks as you shop in Covent Garden Market. Today, the rain seems to be keeping everyone away. Perhaps we're just here too early. Most of the shops and food stands aren't open yet and the the whole area seems very quiet. I'm guessing that Covent Garden really gets busy with the lunch and dinner crowd. I'd like to come back some evening and see that.Read more
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Destination Unknown London, England
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- Day 4
- Wednesday, November 9, 2016 at 12:10 PM
- 🌧 45 °F
- Altitude: 89 ft
- England Monet Painted Here (historical)51.51054, -0.12169851°30’38” N 0°7’18” W
In Search of Lunch
November 9, 2016 in England ⋅ 🌧 45 °F
By this time, we had given up looking for the restaurant we had set out to find and, at this point, would have settled for anywhere. Not only were we so hungry, having not had breakfast, but we had to get back to Westminster Station by 2:00 for our Harry Potter's London tour, run by Tours by Foot. If we didn't find somewhere to eat soon, we'd be skipping lunch too!Read more
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Destination Unknown London, England
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- Day 4
- Wednesday, November 9, 2016 at 12:46 PM
- 🌧 45 °F
- Altitude: 92 ft
- England Gilbert Collection 51.511475, -0.11879751°30’41” N 0°7’8” W
Bangers and Mash
November 9, 2016 in England ⋅ 🌧 45 °F
We ended up eating at one of those traditional English pubs, something that I had wanted to do anyway, just for the experience. The place was called the Wellington and the food and service was very good. It was British food, so Kathy had the meat pie which looked like, and made me think of, Mrs. Lovett's meat pies from Sweeny Todd. I was going to get fish and chips again but, instead, went with a dish I've been wanting to try for years, bangers and mash. Those things on top are onion rings. I'm not sure how well they would fit in with the meal but, surprisingly, they were great! Everything was very good! I'm so happy I took a chance and ordered this!BangersRead more
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Destination Unknown London, England
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- Day 4
- Wednesday, November 9, 2016 at 12:48 PM
- 🌧 45 °F
- Altitude: 92 ft
- England Gilbert Collection 51.511475, -0.11879751°30’41” N 0°7’8” W
Mrs. Lovett’s Meat Pies
November 9, 2016 in England ⋅ 🌧 45 °F
Since these meat pies reminded me so much of the ones that I saw Mrs. Lovett making in Sweeney Todd, here's some of the lyrics about them...
Ladies and gentlemen,
May I have your attention, please?
Are your nostrils aquiver and tingling as well
At that delicate, luscious ambrosial smell?
Yes they are, I can tell.
Well, ladies and gentlemen,
That aroma enriching the breeze
Is like nothing compared to its succulent source,
As the gourmets among you will tell you, of course.
Ladies and gentlemen,
You can't imagine the rapture in store
Just inside of this door!
There you'll sample
Mrs. Lovett's meat pies,
Savory and sweet pies,
As you'll see.
You who eat pies,
Mrs. Lovett's meat pies
Conjure up the treat pies
Used to be!Read more
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Destination Unknown London, England
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- Day 4
- Wednesday, November 9, 2016 at 1:44 PM
- ⛅ 45 °F
- Altitude: 56 ft
- England Aldwych Underground Station 51.510994, -0.11417651°30’40” N 0°6’51” W
Temple Station
November 9, 2016 in England ⋅ ⛅ 45 °F
After lunch, we were back on the tube and headed to Westminster Station to meet our Tours by Foot guide for the Harry Potter's London tour. I'm really hoping for a better tour than what we had yesterday. All the rushing around was just too much. If today's tour turns out to be more of the same, we might end up leaving early. I'm just hoping that the tour isn't being run by Sinead, the same woman from our tour last night.Read more
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Destination Unknown London, England
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- Day 4
- Wednesday, November 9, 2016 at 1:54 PM
- ⛅ 46 °F
- Altitude: 49 ft
- England Big Ben 51.501064, -0.12471851°30’4” N 0°7’29” W
Big Ben
November 9, 2016 in England ⋅ ⛅ 46 °F
When we got out from Westminster Station, this was right in front of us! Big Ben is so much bigger and more impressive than I ever expected it to be. I would have liked to stay here for a while to explore Westminster some more but before long it was time for the Tours by Foot Harry Potter's London tour to begin.Read more
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Destination Unknown London, England
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- Day 4
- Wednesday, November 9, 2016 at 1:55 PM
- ⛅ 46 °F
- Altitude: 49 ft
- England Big Ben 51.501057, -0.12466751°30’4” N 0°7’29” W
Elizabeth Tower
November 9, 2016 in England ⋅ ⛅ 46 °F
Officially, the Elizabeth Tower's bell is called the Great Bell though it is better known by the name 'Big Ben'.
There are two theories for this name's origin. These are that the Great Bell was:
First, named after Sir Benjamin Hall, First Commissioner for Works 1855-185
Second, named after Ben Caunt, a champion heavyweight boxer of the 1850's
The first theory is thought to be the most likely.
The name 'Big Ben' is often associated with the Elizabeth Tower and the Great Clock as well as the Great Bell. It was to the Great Bell that the name originally was given.Read more
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Destination Unknown London, England
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- Day 4
- Wednesday, November 9, 2016 at 1:57 PM
- ⛅ 46 °F
- Altitude: 49 ft
- England Big Ben 51.501052, -0.12467951°30’4” N 0°7’29” W
Big Ben
November 9, 2016 in England ⋅ ⛅ 46 °F
Warners of Norton near Stockton-on-Tees cast the new bell in August 1856. It was transported by rail and sea to London. On arrival at the Port of London, it was placed on a carriage and pulled across Westminster Bridge by 16 white horses.
The bell was hung in New Palace Yard. It was tested each day until 17 October 1857 when a 1.2m crack appeared. No-one would accept the blame. Theories included the composition of the bell's metal or its dimensions. Warners blamed Denison for insisting on increasing the hammer's weight from 355kg to 660kg.
Warners asked too high a price to break up and recast the bell so George Mears at the Whitechapel Foundry was appointed. The second bell was cast on 10 April 1858.
This bell was 2.5 tonnes lighter than the first. Its dimensions meant it was too large to fit up the Elizabeth Tower's shaft vertically so Big Ben was turned on its side and winched up. It took 30 hours to winch the bell to the belfry in October 1858. The four quarter bells, which chime on the quarter hour, were already in place.
Big Ben rang out on 11 July 1859 but its success was short-lived. In September 1859, the new bell also cracked and Big Ben was silent for four years. During this time, the hour was struck on the fourth quarter bell.Read more
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