Last Christmas we were surprised to receive a voucher for an "Experience" from my elder sister and her family. We normally enjoy a hamper of smoked fish and meats which they have sent us for many years. So this "Experience" came out of the blue.
We checked the weather forecast anxiously: we were booked to enjoy lunch on a Thames cruise followed by the View from the Shard. High winds, or worse, fog, would have spoiled the day.
We travelled in to Tower Bridge, where we met my younger sister and her husband who had been given the same voucher. It was overcast, but not worse than you might expect in March.
We embarked on the lunch cruise, down the river past all the redeveloped warehouses and wharves, then back up through Tower Bridge and up-river as far as Westminster.
All the while we were being served a really delicious lunch of chicken breast, dauphinoise potatoes and plenty of fresh vegetables.
Once off the boat, we had to decide whether to cross by Tower Bridge, or by the plainer London Bridge, which is the one we chose. Then we were whisked up to floor 68 of the Shard and climbed the stair to the viewing platform on floor 69.
It is a strangely moving experience to see the city laid out before you like this, its railway routes exposed. Those curious pockets of historic buildings marooned among all the spanking new developments of the last twenty years.
We climbed three more flights to floor 72 which is open to the elements. It was quite a windy day and up here it felt like being in a forest, a sensation enhanced by the astroturf underfoot and the fake evergreens along the inner walls.
It was a memorable day out, and a great Christmas present.
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| The Shard |
We checked the weather forecast anxiously: we were booked to enjoy lunch on a Thames cruise followed by the View from the Shard. High winds, or worse, fog, would have spoiled the day.
 |
| Tower of London |
We travelled in to Tower Bridge, where we met my younger sister and her husband who had been given the same voucher. It was overcast, but not worse than you might expect in March.
 |
| London Eye |
We embarked on the lunch cruise, down the river past all the redeveloped warehouses and wharves, then back up through Tower Bridge and up-river as far as Westminster.
All the while we were being served a really delicious lunch of chicken breast, dauphinoise potatoes and plenty of fresh vegetables.
Once off the boat, we had to decide whether to cross by Tower Bridge, or by the plainer London Bridge, which is the one we chose. Then we were whisked up to floor 68 of the Shard and climbed the stair to the viewing platform on floor 69.
It is a strangely moving experience to see the city laid out before you like this, its railway routes exposed. Those curious pockets of historic buildings marooned among all the spanking new developments of the last twenty years.
We climbed three more flights to floor 72 which is open to the elements. It was quite a windy day and up here it felt like being in a forest, a sensation enhanced by the astroturf underfoot and the fake evergreens along the inner walls.
 |
| Tower of London from the Shard |
It was a memorable day out, and a great Christmas present.
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3 comments:
Thinking of you tonight. I hope your travels in London didn't take you near Parliament today and that you all are well.
Such a lovely day together!.... and getting the Drops scarf too as my birthday present made it even better!
The magnitude of the population is just beyond me! It looks like you had a wonderful trip!
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