London 2025 - Day Three

 

We booked a tour of the Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey but received an e-mail that the Abbey portion had been cancelled so they promptly refunded that part of the tour.  I went online and booked our own tickets for the Abbey and here we are, waiting for our tour guide for the Parliament tour.  Yes, it was sunny this morning!

Elizabeth Tower (aka Big Ben), renamed in 2012 to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II.  The sun didn't last, unfortunately.

The Palace of Westminster, commonly called the Houses of Parliament after the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the two legislative chambers which occupy the building.  This is the view looking to the right.  On the very far right is St. Margaret's Church.

This is the view looking to the left.

This was the only photo allowed on the tour, Westminster Hall, the oldest surviving building within the Palace of Westminster.  Here is our guide, Tony, who was fabulous.  When he could see that I was struggling a bit (I had my cane and there were quite a few steps to start the tour), he called me to the front and said that he and I would set the pace.  So considerate.  They also provided Vic with a folding seat for me so that I could sit when we stopped in various rooms.

We headed over to Westminster Abbey where our tickets include a self-guided audio tour.  So much to see, SO crowded.

The pulpit at the High Altar in Westminster Abbey.

The Grave of the Unknown Soldier, the only grave you cannot walk upon in the Abbey.

The High Altar.

Dividing the Nave from the Quire, this fabulously decorated choir screen is a masterpiece of English church architecture, and features a series of pointed arches, quatrefoil cutouts, and spires studded with sculptures.  The rood screen was a common feature in medieval architecture, and served to provide a barrier between the nave, where the congregation would gather, and the chancel, where the sacred rites and offices would be carried out - a metaphorical division between the sacred and profane worlds.

Entering the Quire.

Passing through the Nave into the Quire.

The performance of sacred music is a central aspect of life in Westminster Abbey, and the church's iconic quire is where the musical magic happens.  Members of the choir occupy a series of beautifully decorated choir stalls running along both sides of the abbey's central aisle.

The soaring nave of Westminster Abbey is the tallest Gothic nave in England, rising 101 feet from the church's floor.

Looking back at the Nave from the Quire.

Another view of the High Altar which dates from 1867, designed by renowned neo-Gothic architect George Gilbert Scott.  The Cosmati pavement leading up to the altar is the finest example of this intricate medieval technique in Britain, installed by Italian craftsmen in 1268 on the orders of King Henry II.

King James I erected the large white marble monument to Queen Elizabeth I in the north aisle of Henry VII's chapel.  In 1606, the Queen's coffin was transferred to a vault below the new monument and placed on top of the coffin of her half-sister, Mary I.

The 16th-century historian, John Leland, called Henry VII's Lady Chapel "the wonder of the world" and it continues to inspire wonder amongst those who visit it today.  It's a glorious example of late medieval architecture with a spectacular fan-vaulted ceiling.

The heraldic banners of the Knights of the Order of the Bath hang above the stalls.

The altar, given to the Abbey in 1935 by members of the Order of the Bath.

The colorful stained-glass Battle of Britain Memorial Window from the gothic interior of the Royal Air Force Chapel,

When Mary, Queen of Scots died on 8th February 1587, she was first buried in Peterborough Cathedral with great solemnity by Elizabeth I's orders.  In 1612, James I ordered that her remains be brought to Westminster Abbey.  The King had erected a magnificent tomb for her in the south aisle of the Lady Chapel on which there is a fine white marble effigy under an elaborate canopy.

The Tomb of King Edward III

Statue of William Shakespeare in Poets' Corner

Christmas Tree in Poets' Corner

I haven't visited all of the countries involved in the two World Wars and conflicts after, but I have to say that the British remember and commemorate those who served and died, military and civilian, men and women, human and animal, monarchy, nobility, and the common soldier in a multitude of ways.   

We were starving by this point and stopped in the cafe

Vic admiring the ceiling

Ah, nectar of the gods.  A good cup of tea can cure anything!

Westminster Abbey

Two very tired history buffs!

As if we weren't already in a semi-zombie state, we hopped an Uber and headed to Harrods.  OMG, big mistake, wall to wall people, SO crowded (that seems to be the catch phrase for London in December).  I couldn't even get close to the ornaments to take a look.

There were a couple of cute photo op spots where we weren't in anyone's way.  Wouldn't want to be considered an influencer!  Trust me, they were ALL over.

Another cute spot for a photo

We headed down to the Food Hall because I really wanted Vic to see it.  His favorite, the fishmonger.

A dozen different types of caviar.

Amazing fruit and veg but really, who pays Harrods prices?

So cute festive sweet treats - those are cherry and mixed spice trees on the left

We settled on two Scotch eggs and headed to the checkout

We survived December at Harrods!

Food to order for all your festive entertaining needs, I wish!

Lovely doorman happily posed for a photo, must figure out a way to edit out the extra folks on the left and right!

And that was Day Three, taxi back to the hotel and we crashed.  Off to Birmingham tomorrow to see my cousin, we haven't seen each other since 2003.