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London 2024 - Day Two 9/16/24



After an enjoyable breakfast at the hotel, we boarded our tour bus and took a winding ride through the narrow streets of London for a visit to St Paul's Cathedral. Completed in 1711 by Sir Christopher Wren, it is the most recognizable feature of the London skyline. In recent years it has been used for the wedding of Prince Charles to Lady Diana, the state funerals of Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher, as well Jubilee celebrations.

The cathedral was destroyed and rebuilt after the Great Fire of London, and survived the Blitz of World War II. Known for its Whispering Gallery, the Cathedral also features a crypt which holds famous historical figures such as Admiral Lord Nelson, Florence Nightingale, and the Duke of Wellington and is home to the American Memorial Chapel.  At the heart of the chapel sits The Roll of Honour, a 473 page book containing a personal message from General Eisenhower and the name, rank and service details of the 28,000 American soldiers stationed in Great Britain who gave their lives throughout the War.


After leaving the Cathedral, we ventured to the Tower of London where we enjoyed a quick lunch before heading in to tour the Tower, a UNESCO World Heritage Site . Located on the banks of the Thames River, the Tower has almost 1000 years of history, including being used as a palace, barracks, military stronghold, a zoo, and of course a prison, where Anne Boleyn was one of many who met her untimely demise. The Tower also houses the Crown Jewels, which we were able to view up close, including the vestments and crown worn by King Charles for his recent Coronation. The Crown Jewels have and estimated value of over $25 billion dollars. Before we departed, we were lucky enough to get a group photo with a Yeoman Warder, commonly known as a Beefeater!


As we left the Tower, we stopped to admire and take a group photo at what is probably the most iconic bridge in London, the Tower Bridge.  Often misidentified as "London Bridge", the Tower Bridge was built over eight years from 1866-1894.

Following our visit to the Tower Bridge, we hopped on our tour bus for a ride back to Kensington, where the group enjoyed dinner at various local restaurants and pubs before retiring for the night to prepare for our "free" day exploring London on our own. 

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