Walking Tour of London

Free walking tours are run by uni students all around London.  Highlights included:

-          Buckingham Palace: the Queen wasn’t home when we visited, however we were lucky enough to see her personal body guards ride by on their horses.  Apparently the palace has been broken into several times.  One time a group of German tourists decided the palace garden was Hyde Park and camped there over night.  It wasn’t until the next morning when they went up to a palace guard and asked where they could buy some ice cream that they were discovered.  Another time, a drunk Irish man got into the palace and set off so many alarms that the guards decided it was a fault.  The man ended up in the Queen’s bedroom where she was sleeping alone.  Apparently because the guards were meant to be guarding the palace, the only charge which could be brought against the man was stealing half a bottle of the Queen’s best wine. 

-          St James’ Palace: this is where royal visitors are received and the Queen’s official address, so this is where you should expect your letter from on your 100^th birthday. J Guards only guard the palace when the queen is home so we were able stand in the guard boxes.  Apparently it’s possible to fit 9 people in there. 

-          Big Ben: contrary to popular belief, ‘Big Ben’ is actually the name of the bell inside the bell tower, rather than the tower itself. 

-          Trafalgar Square: Trafalgar Square is named after the battle of Trafalgar.  Nelson’s Column is situated in its centre in commemoration of Admiral Nelson who was killed during the battle.  Most dead sailors would have been thrown overboard at that time, but due to his status Nelson was brought back to land, preserved in barrel of rum.  However, there was much celebration after the sailors’ victory and when Nelson’s barrel was opened back on land, it was half empty. 

-          Houses of Parliament: the story of Guy Fawks is retold in England every year on Bonfire Night.  Guy Fawks was hired to blow up the Houses of Parliament with the King, Queen and heir to the throne inside.  He was discovered with 64 barrels of gun powder which he had somehow managed to smuggle into the cellar.  Needless to say they no longer rent our rooms in the Houses of Parliament. 

-          Westminster Abby: Westminster Abby is resting place of the likes of Charles Dickens, Charles Darwin and Sir Isaac Newton.  If you’re seeing London on a budget, the best way to see the Abby is by attending a church service first.