London Gallery

The first stop on the UK, France, and Ireland trip. I spent four days seeing the sights in London - including Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, St Paul's Cathedral, etc.

Arrived in London Heathrow at 6:30 AM on May 1, 2005. Dropped my bags at the hostel near Waterloo station and made my way here to cross the Thames.

Parliament Building

Big Geoff is ready to go lay down the law on Big Ben. Poser.

Geoff and Big Ben

The Lord Protector's statue stands in the courtyard of the Parliament Building.  Big Ben is in the distance.

Oliver Cromwell

Here's the royal residence surrounded by the throngs of commoners getting pumped for the changing of the guard.

Buckingham Palace

Here I am in front of Buckingham Palace. Hopefully Prince William will see me, and I will talk to him, and then we'll probably get married. Someday I'll be queen. That's why I'm smiling so happily in this picture.

Changing of the Guard

This is Rotten Row, the first street to be lit in the world, back in the 16th century or somesuch (this per my English tour guide... I have no evidence for such claims)

Hyde Park

The royal parks in London featured some beautiful gardens.

English Garden

In Hyde Park

Tulips

Nelson's Column towers over the people living strong on a sunny afternoon in the center of London. Pete Doherty of the Libertines was playing a benefit concert.

Trafalgar Square

The sun sets on London over the Thames River and the Houses of Parliament.

Thames Sunset

Day 2 - I go to the British Museum and British Library. Awesome exhibits include the rosetta stone, an original magna carta, and a gutenburg bible.

The Rosetta Stone

The famous circus in downtown London.

Picadilly Circus

With the famous signs behind me.

Geoff in Picadilly Circus

I toured the abbey and saw the tombs of Mary Queen of Scots, King James, Henry VIII, and so forth. Neat-o.

Westminster Abbey

Here is the façade of the abbey near the main entrance. The intricacy of its design was really incredible.

Westminster Abbey Façade

5/2/2005 at 4:22 PM. That's 2/5/2005 at 16:22, locals.

Big Ben

Also serves as the County Hall and the Dali Museum.

London Aquarium

Ok, at this point I am on a Thames River cruise. This picture was taken from the boat. The original globe theater burned down centuries ago, but this was built as an authentic re-creation on the spot of the original.

Shakespeare's Globe Theater

Lit up all nice at sundown. Along with Hyde Park and St. James Park, this is one of the royal/public parks around Buckingham Palace.

Green Park

This is the White Tower inside the Tower of London. I also saw the Bloody Tower and the Crown Jewels... no pictures allowed please.

Tower of London

Here's the famous Tower Bridge from the North bank of the Thames. I walked across it momentarily.

Tower Bridge

With St. Paul's Cathedral on the other side of the Thames.

Millenium Bridge

Amazing building with a fascinating history. It's also immense, dominating the London skyline for 300 years until the Blitz destroyed the area around it, and skyscrapers were built in the aftermath.

St. Paul's Cathedral

Here is the 1-square mile, technical

The City of London

This monument marks the site where the fire broke out in the 17th century, allowing the area to be rebuilt by Christopher Wren. This picture is from the top of St Paul's Cathedral (I climbed stairs for half an hour), which is Wren's masterpiece.

Great Fire of London

Here's a good panorama of London and its river. The London Eye ferris wheel can be seen in the distance. Big Ben is hidden behind it.

London and the Thames

Really cool modern art gallery. The BBC was filming a show inside while I was there.

Tate Modern

Her Majesty's Theatre, near Trafalgar Square and the National Gallery. I saw Phantom of the Opera here on May 3.

Phantom of the Opera

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