London Royal Places with Jackie & Ayshea

 London Royal Palaces 

Our very royal holiday started at the iconic Buckingham Palace for our highly anticipated guided tour of the West Wing. Unfortunately, we missed the King, but we did spot his helicopter leaving for Scotland, which was a fun surprise! Our tour guide was knowledgeable and passionate, sharing fascinating stories about the palace's history and the royal family. One of the highlights was standing on the famous balcony, where some of us even tried out our royal waves, much to the amusement of the crowd below.

We joined a crowd gathered for the Changing of the Guard ceremony. As we waited, the atmosphere was vibrant, and the sun was shining down on us, adding to the excitement. We were treated to a lively performance by the band, which even played some ABBA tunes. Some of us couldn’t resist dancing as the guards marched past.

Kews Gardens was a must! Our first stop was on the little train that took us on a scenic tour around the park, where the guide shared interesting facts about the trees, including the tallest species and efforts to protect endangered varieties. The ride provided a perfect overview of the vast gardens.

We were all amazed by the sheer size of the gardens. Armed with maps, we set off to explore. The Hive, an interactive experience allowed us to learn about the fascinating world of bees. Next, we visited the Palm House, which housed exotic plants from tropical regions. It was incredibly hot inside, as the plants had to be kept at high temperatures to thrive. Some of the leaves were so large they seemed to dwarf us! 

Everyone was super excited  to catch our Uber ferry from Putney Embankment, which would take us down the Thames to the Tower of London. Some had never been on a ferry before, and Clifford was particularly excited, though a little nervous. The boat ride was exhilarating as we passed iconic sights like Big Ben, the London Eye, and Battersea Power Station. The views from the Thames were breathtaking.

We took a leisurely stroll to St. James’s Park. Along the way, we were treated to the sight of beautiful swans, ducks, and squirrels. 

Our next iconic landmark was the Tower of London. Once there, we met our guide, JJ, who shared intriguing and sometimes gruesome stories about the Tower’s history. Lisa recognized her from a TV show about life at the Tower, which made the experience even more exciting. 

We took plenty of photos, including some with the famous Beefeaters. We also had the opportunity to see where animals, including an elephant and monkeys, were once kept. One of the more sombre stops was the memorial plaque for the Queen’s execution.

We jumped in the ‘Jolly’ bus to Windsor Castle. Here we toured St. George’s Chapel, where Prince Harry and Meghan were married and where Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were laid to rest. The chapel was stunning, and we were all in awe of its beauty and historical significance.

Luckily we were fortunate to witness the Changing of the Guard and enjoy the band’s performance. Once again we were blown away by the musicality and slickness of the band. We can only imagine the hours they spend practising.