Day 1. Tourist day. With all of us awake at 4am, the day started early....
By 8.30 we had walked the Thames, crossed the Westminster bridge, ticked off the houses of parliament, big Ben and buckingham palace, seen a pushbike commuter accident (which had the kids talking longer than the first three) and had walked through st James park and Green park.
Our unashamed tourist day continued with us seated in the first 'hop on hop off' double decker of the day. These are great as you get a birds eye view of being stuck in London traffic.
Did you know that londons pigeon population is now under control thanks to birds of prey. It was only driving past trafalgar square at 8.55am that you get to see the pest controllers van parked, as he sends the ravens to cut a few loops of the square, enough to scare the pigeons off for the day apparently.
Next was the London eye, due to popular demand (read: constant nagging from the kids). Interesting fact, it was built laying down on pontoons on the Thames and then it was the biggest crane lift in history.
I must also admit I like the idea of a blog, as I would normally have forgotten these facts in a days time!
We then took a boat cruise up to the tower of London to see queens jewelry box, the carvings of jailed political prisoners from 600 years ago, and Henry viii's armor.
The kids aching legs and heavy eyelids then forced an early retreat back to the county hall hotel.