Tuesday 16th July 2007

Westminster Abbey

Cabinet War Rooms

We returned to London today and started at a familiar landmark - the London Eye.  Here we were met by our blue badge guides who were to take us around Westminster and into the Abbey.  The walk began along the south side of the River Thames where we had superb views of Parliament and were told about the House of Commons and Lambeth Palace.  We walked over Lambeth Bridge and into the gardens next to Parliament and over into the Abbey.

Westminster Abbey, founded by Edward the Confessor in the 11th century is one of the most important religious buildings in the Anglican faith but is also a living museum.  It is like stepping into a time capsule as you see a catalogue of monarchs who are buried here.  The famous Henry VII chapel, the tomb of Elizabeth I and her sister Mary I, Poets' Corner, the Coronation chair and the famous Grave of the Unknown Warrior.  The Abbey has played such a pivotal role in British history it is difficult not to be bowled over by it all.

Out of the Abbey and our walk continued to St James' Park where we had a bite to eat.  Then we continued our adventure in Westminster by visiting the Cabinet War Rooms.  This was where Prime Minister Winston Churchill led the war cabinet during the !939 - 1945 world war.  This is a truly amazing place, originally these underground headquarters covered more than 3 acres and could accommodate 528 people.  The tour takes you through the exact rooms that Churchill and staff would have used and they are basically untouched.  The most inportant rooms are the Map Room where the British war strategy was formed and implemented - Churchill visited this room every day throughout the war, and the soundproof Cabinet Room where the decisions were made.  The War Rooms were kept secret during the war and they are a great way of seeing what it was like during those dark days.

There is also a museum all about Churchill within the Cabinet War Rooms that is superb and has one amazing interactive timeline that one could spend hours playing with.  All sorts of dates come to life at the touch of button.

Our walk then took us up to Trafalgar Square, through Leicester Square and into Piccadilly Circus.  Here we had some time to look around and spend some money.  Lillywhites the sports store and the Virgin Megastore were popular destinations!  Another great day.