FRIDAY 18th MAY 2012

MORE SIGHTSEEING!

Friday morning and still the weather is holding up for us, with promised rain not eventuating thank goodness, and we headed off for breakfast at a little cafe (I had sensational pancakes - correction - one pancake, as Sue swapped me for a piece of toast!) and then caught the train to Leicester Square and the theatre district.
We had skyped with Katie earlier (rapt to hear her latest, very positive doctors report but pissed that she is expected to have the bub on the due date) and she had emailed me the discount ticket selling places, so we found one of those and got reasonably good seats for "Jersey Boys" on Sunday arvo for just over half the list price!
Had a bit of a wander around Soho and it's pubs, clubs and restaurants. Soho Square was was pretty, with a couple of statues that caught the eye! Naked figures reclining on the grass - the Sue's took a particular interest in one male figure who was pretty well proportioned! So much history around here with lots of very old buildings and narrow cobbled streets and we thoroughly enjoyed the visit!
We then headed for London Bridge! For anyone heading to London for a holiday, make sure you get the seven day Oyster Travel Card, with it's unlimited travel on trains and buses inside the city zones, it is just the best way to get around! We have used it extensively and saved a fortune - the trains run frequently and as long as you take note of the different lines and destinations using the Underground is a breeze!
From London Bridge station we wandered along Queens Walk on the banks of the Thames through the newly redeveloped buildings etc to Tower Bridge and then crossed the Thames on this magnificent, ancient split bridge! It is an amazing engineering feat and we would have loved to see it raise up, but it was due to open again much later in the day!
We then joined the huge queues to get tickets to the Tower of London (another tip - buy fastrack vouchers online at visitbritainshop.com/au and save time and money!) and got into the hundred metre long line of tourists to enter the attraction!
It is a place so old and steeped in history that you need plenty of time to explore and it is well worth it - we did not get to see it all. The queue to get in to see the Crown Jewels was very lengthy and overall it took us over an hour to see this historic exhibition but the wait was well worthwhile as the jewels were breathtaking!
We had a spot of lunch and then caught a ferry back up the Thames passed all the famous sights to Westminster, walking through the lovely gardens in front of the government buildings to Westminster Abbey where Sue wanted to have a look inside. Unfortunately the crowds were enormous and we were b*****ed, so we decided not to wait around to get the tickets to get in and headed home for a well earnt break!
Later we had a wonderful meal at an Italian restaurant close by - raining a bit as we walked down - and when Taz came in as we finished sweets we walked over to Brompton to have a look at the Ibis hotel we are staying at when we get back with the car! Had a nightcap at a corner pub ( one of dozens) before bed!