November 22 - 30.
London wasn't too terribly cold in late November. Sure, there wasn't much sun except for two days out of the nine that I was there, but the cold and dreary weather was bearable.
This is technically my second visit to London. The first trip, however, I didn't see much, I was only meeting my Contiki travel group there and didn't do any sightseeing.
This trip, I basically saw everthing:
- went into Westminster Abby and saw the tombs of famous people like Handel, Charles Darwin, Sir Isaac Newton, and more.
- visited the Tower of London to see the crown jewels. The place is more like a fort with several buildings within. At one point, it served as a prison.
- saw the Tate Modern Museum and really enjoyed the Weather Project that you see as you first enter the building. Now, that's art!
- walked through the British Museum and saw the Reading Room which holds many old books that used to be read by famous/important people. The museum also has the rosetta stone on display.
- viewed the many famous paintings in the National Gallery. Too many good ones to mention.
- listened to great arias sung at St. Martin-in-the-Fields Church during their 1PM concerts, which are free!
- road the London Eye to get a great few of this charming city.
- shopped Portabello Road and found some vintage rhinestone jewelry and Indian textiles.
- ran through Harrod's. It was too busy on Saturday, but we did eat at their famous salt meat deli.
All in all, it was great... but I do have some gripes:
- it's dirty there. Not sure if it's pollution or just too many people smoking everywhere. Sometimes, I waver between not breathing and breathing the nasty air.
- everything is so expensive! To see the Tower of London was about $24 USD per person. Average meal for two people (2 main course, 2 still waters) is about $50 USD... and these were restaurants recommended by the Timeout Cheap Eats book. I'm used to eating for $10 and getting a great meal.
- it's cold and lacking sun. However, the British people, at least the ones I've met, are wonderfully warm.