A little later start in the morning to take two buses to Buckingham Palace for the changing of the guard. It seemed we did not get off the second bus at the right place, because it took us to Victoria station, and we needed to walk back towards the palace. Aysha was keen to find the Guide shop, so we managed that, and did a little shopping there.
The crowds were already gathering outside the palace fence, and we very quickly realized we should have been setting up our place at least an hour earlier. Now, silly us, we thought all then action happened in the foreground of the palace, but after speaking to a nice police lady..can you call them that? ....we discovered that the guards march down one street, into the palace, another group march down another street into the palace, they do the changing and then they march out again, up their respective streets, and into their barracks.
Whilst in the guide shop, we also discovered that you can get special permission to go INSIDE the palace gates. This of course, must be applied for, and members of the Girl Guide movement usually get permission, as the Queen is the Patron.
We decided rather than stand 8 deep at the fence, we would simply watch the marching guards, attendant police on horseback,and the marching band that accompanied them.
Lots of pomp and ceremony, it always amazes me how we all love it.
The grey coats are their winter gear, in the warmer months they are wearing red.
We had decided to tour the Chelsea Football Club Stadium, so negotiated our way there, had a quick bite to eat, and booked ourselves in for the tour and museum.
I'm not a fan of any code of football, but the tour was good, we saw the players rooms, which were very luxurious, the opposition rooms, which were basic to say the least, the press room, the race, and sat in the stands. They have a very comprehensive museum as well, tracing the history of the club from its inception.
A bus brought us back to marble Arch, where we enjoyed the sunset...
We quickly had some dinner, and headed off to Barbican Tube Station to meet our guide for the "Blood and Tears" walking tour. We were the only three on the tour, so it was quite personalized. Declan McHugh, our guide, is fascinated with all things bloody to do with London, you know..Jack the Ripper, and any other murderer, so walked us around into dark places pointing out a slaughter house, monuments, prisons, hanging places etc etc., all the while telling us grisly tales from the past. Declan has published a book called "Bloody London" which of course we purchased. The walking tour was quite good really, and when finished we found a Dutch restaurant for supper and a hot drink to thaw our freezing bones out.
Declan directed us to the right bus back to Marble Arch and another day was done and dusted, concluded by short walk home.
Location:Seymour Street,London,United Kingdom
I think you made a good choice regarding the view of the marching guards. As macabre as the Bloody London tour sounds I'd like to do it.
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