Walking The Tourist Route Through London

After lunch at Harvey Nichols on Brompton Road in Knightsbridge (down the street from Harrods), we walk toward Buckingham Palace, about a mile away.  First, we pass through the Wellington Arch and enter Green Park.  The Wellington Arch was originally designed as an entrance to Buckingham Palace and was later moved to the current site to be a victory arch celebrating Wellington's defeat of Napoleon.

 Wellington Arch

 Green Park

Green Park is still lush and green, with paths leading straight to Buckingham Palace, where we emerge at the Victoria Memorial, a monument to Queen Victoria located at one end of the Mall, the grand boulevard stretching between the palace and Trafalgar Square.

 Victoria Memorial, Buckingham Palace

Views from the Victoria Memorial:  The Mall, London Eye ferris wheel in the distance

From the palace, we stroll through St. James Park to Parliament and Big Ben, which is now silent for a well-needed refurbishment.

 St. James Park 

 Friendly folk in St. James Park

Reaching Big Ben, at the Westminster Bridge, we have great views of Parliament, the Thames flowing through the city, and the London Eye, a 135 meter (443 foot) ferris wheel on the south bank of the Thames.

Big Ben, Parliament, Thames, London Eye, Music

From here, it's a short walk to 10 Downing Street, the residence of the British Prime Minister and, from there, down Parliament Street to Trafalgar Square, stopping to admire the commemorative military statues along the street.

 10 Downing Street

Statues:  Women of World War II, The Glorious Dead

 Trafalgar Square

Our destination is a fabulous wine bar, the Cork & Bottle, just off Leicester Square, a few blocks behind Trafalgar Square, a great place for wine and dinner.  We enter and enjoy a bottle of Cotes de Provence, duck liver pate, and baked camembert with bread and onion chutney.

 Cork & Bottle

Duck liver pate, baked camembert

Cotes de Provence, bread/baked camembert/onion chutney all together (yummm)

We've done tourist London in one day and it's time to sleep and get on our flight home in the morning.  We've had a great trip to Bolzano, Cinque Terre, Corsica, Nice, and London and are looking forward to the next one!

 The Tube back to Heathrow