The Sights of London

There are those of you out there who have accused me of displaying a hint of negativity in some of my posts and emails. Personally I would call it "wryness" but we'll leave that debate for another day. I do admit sometimes I have to remind myself that I am in living in London, the famed home of art, culture and warm beer.

To this end I took my camera with me today when I went on my daily walk, a habit I am trying to develop to deceive myself into believing I am in some way leading a healthy lifestyle. I would like to note from the outset that this is not a walk I took for the benefit of the camera - it is roughly the same route as one of my regular walking routes, and today you can come with me.


Out the front door, turn left and we are soon on Oxford Street, and the camera is out already. You see them in the movies and on the television, and when you first arrive in London it is a bit of a buzz to seem them all over the place (at least until the first one tries to run you down) - I give you London's famous black cabs.

Of course black cabs aren't the only famous means of transport in London. Despite the recent demise of the Routemaster bus there are still plenty of the iconic red double-decker buses kicking around the streets of London, evidenced by this jam stretching down Regent Street.

Moving on, we come to a sight every one is sure to recognise. London's own salute to unabashed commercialism, love it or hate it, it is Piccadilly Circus. The footpaths in this area are usually full of people at all times of the day, but today, for whatever reason, it was strangely quiet. I suppose that is one advantage to working at night - it means that you can walk down the street without too much hassle. Of course the quietness could also be explained away by the fact that it is winter, but I think finding a positive for night-shifts is better.

From the flashy we move onto the more solemn. A stroll through Green Park leads us to Buckingham Palace, the London home of our very own Head of State, the Queen (don't look at me, I voted "Yes"). Though there is almost always crowds gathered out the front, at this time of the morning it is particularly busy as the Changing of the Guard is taking place. I know, I know, they aren't wearing red uniforms. That was exactly what the American girl standing next to me said. I don't know if it is a seasonal thing. Perhaps they thought the guards would be better camouflaged in London at this time of year if they wore grey. They're right of course.

From here we return once again to some inner-London parkland, more specifically St. James Park, home to an army of tourist-pleasing squirrels. It is looking a bit barren today, both of tourists and leaves. Digging our hands into our pockets and picking up the pace (those tourists aren't hanging around for a reason) we pass the old Cabinet War Rooms and soon Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament are revealed in all their glory. As it is 12.00 pm we also get to hear it strike noon, another tourist bonus.

A turn to our right leads us past a large statue of Abraham Lincoln (don't ask me why - and George Washington is in Trafalgar Square) and to another famous London landmark, Westminster Abbey. I have only ever been in their briefly, but I certainly hope to pay a longer visit before I leave London.

Walking back past Parliament Square, we are now back on a heading for home. As we head up Whitehall we pass a formidable black gate and a group of armed bobbies. It is hard to believe until the early nineties you could actually stroll up Downing Street, but then one day they decided that keeping the IRA away from Margaret Thatcher was more important than pleasing the tourists and now you can only peer around the bars.

This is all very well and good I hear you say, but where are the sword-wielding horsemen? To which I say, here they are, outside the Horse Guards Parade. If terrorists ever attack Buckingham Palace I am sure the Queen will be glad to know that she has a fully armed cavalry unit at her disposal. Seriously though, when not sitting motionless on top of bored horses, these troops are driving Armoured Personnel Carriers around Iraq and such places.

Now on the home-straight, we are in Trafalgar Square - home to Nelson's Column and more pigeons than you can turn your nose up at. On the northern edge, and a short stroll from home is the National Gallery, just in case I want to pop in and admire some of Monet's work, amongst many others.

Just one more quick stop before home. This is the scene of countless movie premieres and drunken bucks' parties, Leicester Square.

So there you go, a bit of a virtual tour for you and proof that I still appreciate where I am (well, most of the time). Even if you have never been to London, doubtless you still recognised the subjects of most of these photos. May it provide inspiration for you to do some travelling yourself.

Incidentally, for you Monopoly fans out there my walk took me along, across or past the following: Pall Mall, Whitehall, Northumberland Avenue, Marlborough Street (actually named Great Marlborough Street), Vine Street, the Strand, Trafalgar Square, Leicester Square, Coventry Street, Piccadilly, Regent Street, Oxford Street, Bond Street (actually made up of Old Bond Street and New Bond Street) and along the edges of Mayfair (not actually a street but an area of London). Not the whole set, but not far off.