London - Coverage of Day 3

Our third day in London started with a frantic rush to get out of the house in time for a walking tour of the changing of the guard with 'The Big Bus Company'. The tour departed at 10am from Trafalgar Square and after 2 tube changes we made it there at 10.02!

Luckily there was still time so we greeted our guide Richard and his Umbrella of Pointing and we were off. We walked down the Mall, seeing the changing of the cavalry, to St Jame's Palace to meet up with the retiring regiment, The Coldstream Guards. We were right in front of the palace when they came out with a full brass band and burst unexpectedly into 'Downtown' by Petula Clark. Despite knowing all the words I resisted the urge to sing along, (damn you singstar!). Then we were off in a foot race with the quick marching Guards, our eyes firmly fixed on the Umbrella so we didn't get lost in the crowds, to catch the new regiment, The Blues and Royals as they came out of their barracks on the other side of Green Park. Richard was excellent getting us prime positions and we saw so much more than we would have trying to cram up to the gates at Buckingham Palace with the 5000 other people who were there.

Ater the tour the went and had a traditional pub lunch at a The Albert on Victoria Street which was recommended by Richard. Amelia had good ole fish and chips and Jonathan had chicken kiev with a nice pint of Strongbow cider.

As well as 3 walking tours the Big Bus Company's ticket gives you access to a hop-on-hop-off bus service and a river cruise up the Thames. So after The Albert we jumped onto the "red line" big bus (which has live commentary) at Westminster. The bus tour takes about 2 and a half hours and wanders all around the central part of London.

Patsy our tour guide was excellent and it was very cool to see London from the top of the open double deaker bus. It's amazing how old parts of the city are (1000 to 2000 years) and how many old buildings still stand, often housing the same business for several hundred years.

Unfortuantely the weather closed in so we were forced to go to the lower level of the bus for the last 30 minutes of the tour.

Feeling pretty much wiped out and with the weather going to pot we decided not to do the river cruise and headed home.

When Simon came home we went out to West Hampstead and had dinner at GBK a gourmet burger joint.