London Town

A Whirlwind Day in London: Tower Tales, Family Connections, and a Dash Through the City

Our London adventure kicked off with an early start, (quite literally), as we joined the Tower of London Early Access tour. It was an great to step inside before the crowds, guided by the ever charismatic Beefeaters. The highlight? Seeing the Crown Jewels up close, their brilliance more dazzling in person than any photo could capture and as it was no photography was allowed.

From ancient royalty to riverside views, we caught a ferry down the Thames to the London Eye. There, I caught up with my second cousin Andrea. We had never met in person before this and only knew each other by the photos we'd shared. While James explored the surrounding area, Andrea and I took a ride on the London Eye, soaking up sweeping views of the city. We managed to snap some truly fantastic photos of London’s most iconic landmarks from above, including Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and Buckingham Palace. It was an absolute highlight.

Afterwards, the three of us relaxed over cocktails at a charming outdoor eatery, the perfect spot for reconnecting. Before parting, Andrea and I made plans to meet again next year in Melbourne. Something lovely to look forward to.

Next stop: Westminster Abbey. Unfortunately, we’d missed the last admission for the day, so we pivoted and tried to use our Big Bus Tour, Hop On Hop Off pass. While it sounded promising, it turned out to be painfully slow, with rather uninspired commentary. Nowhere near as good as Edinburgh. Still, we managed to swing by Buckingham Palace for a few photos before continuing our journey.

Thinking we had time to spare, we stayed on the bus hoping to return in time for our Jack the Ripper Walking Tour. But after crawling through traffic for an hour and a half, we just made it back to the hotel. A quick recharge, then it was off again, (this time via Uber), to the bus night tour’s starting point.

Before the tour, we enjoyed a lovely Italian dinner at The Strings. The food was delicious, the wine flowed easily, and the atmosphere was warm and welcoming, enhanced by the sound of beautiful live guitar music.

To finish things off, we joined the London Evening Bus Tour. We sat up top on the double decker bus, bundled up against the cold. Unfortunately, the commentary was mostly a repeat of the day tour and didn’t offer much new insight. Still, as the city lights began to glow about an hour and a half in, London transformed. We were treated to twinkling skylines, bustling nightlife, and a beautifully lit cityscape.

The kind bus driver even dropped us off near our hotel, saving us a late night walk. Back at the bar, we wrapped up the evening with hot chocolate in hand, admiring the majestic Tower Bridge lit up against the night sky. A quiet, cozy moment to reflect on a jam packed day, before finally settling in for a well-earned rest.