Day 6 - London

After breakfast, we walked to Gloucester tube station and took the tube to Covent Garden. The market was established in 1845, and there are shops, restaurants and vendor stalls that sell anything and everything.  It's a fun place to visit.  My daughter and I made a quick stop there during our 2015 visit, but I wanted to return when we had more time.

The day was originally set aside for a day trip to Woodstock [a town eight miles from Oxford] to tour Blenheim Palace, Winston Churchill's childhood home, but I didn't purchase advance tickets before we left home and the tour coach was sold out.  If we ever return to England it will be on the itinerary.

The steps of our hotel before we launched out for the day.  It was beautiful weatherwise.

One of Covent Garden Market's entrances.

The flower cart reminded me of 'My Fair Lady'.  The musical begins with Eliza Doolittle, a Cockney flower woman in Covent Garden.

Another market entrance and courtyard.  Both times I visited it was very busy.

We didn't make it to any London department store or hotel teas this visit, but we did enjoy a Cream Tea at Laudree's in Covent Garden and it was lovely.  Laudree was established in France in 1862 as a manufacturer and retailer of high-end pastries and candy.  15,000 of their macarons are sold daily. 

The Cream Tea comes with two scones [plain and raisin] with preserves and clotted cream and two macarons of your choosing.  We got pistachio and our tea was Earl Grey.

There are several street performers at Covent Garden.  One fellow that I photographed in 2015 was there again on this visit.  I took his picture and sent it to my daughter and asked if she remembered him, and she did.

He looks as though he's suspended in air.

From Covent Garden we took the tube to St. Paul's Cathedral.  We toured the Cathedral in 2001, and visited it again in 2015 but we wanted to attend the 5:00 p.m. Evensong service on this visit.  There is no charge for Evensong, but there was a fee to take the audio guided tour. We didn't go downstairs on this visit, but on the lower level is a chapel, crypt [which contains over 200 memorials and numerous burials] exhibition area, and cafe.     

It's such a beautiful Anglican Cathedral, built over a span of 35 years 1675-1710 in Baroque architectural style.  It sits on Ludgate Hill, at the highest point of the City of London.  Many noteworthy funerals [Winston Churchill & Margaret Thatcher], weddings [Prince Charles and Princess Diana], and Jubilee services have been held there.

~ Queen Anne's Statue ~

~ Engraved in stone outside the Cathedral ~

~ The Duke of Wellington's Monument ~

I took many photos of the interior because it was so beautiful, but due to space I'm only posting a few.

 ~ The Dome and Whispering Gallery ~

~ One of eight mosaics ~

We arrived before 5:00 p.m. so got to hear the choir rehearsing for Evensong.  They weren't wearing their white surplice [overlay] for rehearsal.

~ Exiting the cathedral until time for Evensong ~

Shortly before Evensong started they asked if anyone wanted to sit in the Quire [choir stalls/gallery].  Jerry and I volunteered among several other people.  It was a beautiful and well attended service and one of the highlights of our London visit.  We were so glad we went.

Only one day of London left before we departed for Paris.  Next post...