After Hampton Court we went to explore the area around Westminster. We walked by the London Eye on our way there.
Walking over the Westminster Bridge.
Westminster Palace. Once a Royal residence, it’s now home of the English Parliament.
And the other side of Westminster. It’s hard to get a good picture of it because the building is so long and massive. Lots of action that day with some Brexit protests (both for and against), so there was a major police presence. 
Big Ben is under reconstruction (2017-2021.) Its name was officially changed in 2012 to the Elizabeth Tower, honoring Queen Elizabeth’s 60 year reign. It was built in 1859.
Beside the main Palace of Westminster is the Jewel Tower, what is left from the 14th century version of the Palace. A fire destroyed most of the old Westminster Palace in 1834, but the Jewel Tower survived.
The gothic Westminster Abbey. It has been the site of all coronations since William the Conqueror in 1066. It’s also the final resting place for royalty and the crème de la crème of British society. Also, site of William and Kate’s wedding in 2011, one of 16 royal weddings since 1100. Timing didn’t work out for us to visit. I will just have to add it to my list for next time.
The facade of Whitehall’s Banqueting Hall, all that’s left of the once grand palace, a royal residence from 1530 to 1698. King Charles I was executed outside the Hall in 1649.
The Banqueting Hall was used to host royal receptions, ceremonies, and masques. Before a series of fires in 1698, Whitehall Palace had 1,500 rooms.
It was a really cool set-up. You lay on the bean bags, listen to the audio tour, and comfortably admire the beautiful Ruben ceiling.
I wasn’t gonna do it, but before we left I couldn’t help myself. Andy passed on playing dress up.
We visited the Queen at Buckingham Palace (flag was up, she was in.) BP has been the official London home of the monarch since 1837, but was originally bought by King George III in 1761 for use as a small family home close to neighboring St. James Palace.
775 rooms, 52 Royal and guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 78 bathrooms. Wow.
Quick attempt at a picture of Clarence House. Official residence of the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, Charles and Camilla. It was built in 1827 and has previously been home to Princess Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh (Princess Anne was born here) and the Queen Mother (Queen Elizabeth’s mother.)
One last Royal Residence stop – St. James Palace. It was built in the 1530s by King Henry VIII. It was one of the main residences used by the monarch until Queen Victoria moved shop to Buckingham Palace. Members of the Royal Family that currently live there are Princess Anne, Princess Beatrice, and Princess Alexandra. The guards I chatted with while trying to get a good picture seemed very fond of their residents.
St. James is also hard to photograph. It is an oddly shaped building and not what I expected. It’s meandering and so low. It’s also super close to Buckingham Palace and Clarence House.
Dinner and day well done.
xoxo-sk
xoxo-sk 