Tower of London & Seeing the Sights

Today was another wonderful day here in London and the first day that it hasn't rained at all since we've arrived. Other days its been misty or slightly drizzley for a bit, but it hasn't just flat out poured. Today was sunny and warm and just all together lovely.

Outside the Tower of London. Weather was so beautiful.

We began our morning by taking the tube from Paddington Station to the Tower Hill stop, located right next to the Tower of London. We'd pre-purchased tickets so we just had to pick them up from the will call window. We arrived early enough that there was no line to get in. We only realized what great planning we'd done when we walked past the entrance later and there were hundreds of people waiting to get in.

Yeoman Warder who gave us a tour around the Tower of London.
I'd absolutely recommend a tour from one of these guys if you're headed to the Tower. 

We got a tour from a Yeoman Warder, who was hilarious!  At the beginning of the tour he asked where everyone was from. When half of the group raised their hand when he asked if there were any Americans, he joked about how Americans think America is the best country in the world. Then went on to say that the tower standing behind us was centuries older than our country, that the entrance through the mote was called "Water Gate" and they had that first (hah!) And that if we'd just paid our taxes, "all of this could be yours too." He was a riot!

Small memorial to the six people that were beheaded on Tower Green inside of the Tower of London.
Typically, prisoners were beheaded outside of the walls, but executing women and well-liked people would have caused a riot, so their lives were ended here, away from the public eye.
Those beheaded here include three queens of England: Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard, & Jane Grey. 

We saw the location in Tower Green where Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard, and 4 others lost their heads. Nearby was the Royal Chapel of St. Peter ad Vincula where 3 queens are buried: Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard, and Lady Jane Grey (the never-coronated, 9-day queen).

Waterloo Block where the Crown Jewels are housed.

Next door to the chapel is Waterloo Block where the Crown Jewels are housed. The jewels, behind lots of glass and constant security surveillance, were absolutely beautiful and drenched in diamonds and jewels.

White Tower.

We also visited the White Tower, which was the home of the monarchy for over 500 years. Now the castle houses the armouries and includes a display of King Henry VIII's armour and a matching set for his horse.

Inside Beauchamp Tower, one of the many towers inside the Tower of London.

We absolutely loved visiting the Tower of London. The history was amazing, the towers beautiful, and we even got to see the famous ravens that make their home in the tower.

After finishing at the Tower, we took pictures at Tower Bridge (often mistaken for London Bridge). When we walked up to the bridge, we realized we'd caught it opening to allow large boats to go underneath. What luck!! Afterwards, we enjoyed lunch at the nearby Wagamama, a Japanese noodle house. It was delicious!

The Monument.
Marks the spot of the beginning of the Fire of London in 1666. 

St. Paul's Cathedral.

We then took the tube to see both The Monument that commemorates the location where the 1666 Great Fire of London began near Pudding Lane and St. Paul's Cathedral. After photographing the cathedral, we walked across the nearby Millennium Bridge, which was destroyed in Harry Potter, and saw the Globe Theatre. Unfortunately,  we couldn't tour the theatre because there was a performance happening at the time.

View of the Globe Theatre from the Millennium Bridge.

It'd been a long day and our feet were tired, so we took the tube back to Paddington Station (barely staying awake on the way) and walked back to the hotel for a quick afternoon nap (it was about 5:30). At 7, we woke up and reviewed our plans for tomorrow and I walked to a nearby small grocery store to buy snacks for dinner (were still pretty full from lunch). We sat in bed reading and eating cheese, crackers, grapes, and Diet Coke. A heart healthy dinner, hah!

We're excited about our shopping adventures tomorrow. We're going to visit Old Spitalfields Market, Covent Garden Market, and Harrods. Now just to rest our feet for more walking!

Until tomorrow!

Millennium Bridge with St. Paul's Cathedral in the background. Bridge may look familiar to Harry Potter fans. ;)