After leaving the Tower of London, and the Bridge, we took a ride on the Thames.   The captain, an entertaining young man, kept us in stitches narrating the route.

The tides on the Thames change between 16 and 26 feet daily (depending on the phase of the moon) - a height difference that is quite visible.

At 450 feet tall, it’s the world’s tallest observation wheel.

Parliament and Big Ben

The boat stops in front of the Houses of Parliament, home to the famous clock tower and the Big Ben bell.   We were there at 4:00, just in time to hear it chime.  Not only does it sound the famous “Westminster” chime tune (duh), the chiming of the hour is unbelievably deep and loud.

Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey has been the place of worship for the Royals since 960AD.    The present abbey, begun in the middle of the 13^th century, wasn’t completed until the 16^th century.  Occupying the site of the 11^th century Benedictine Abbey, this church became known as the “west minster” to distinguish it from St Paul’s Cathedral (the east minster) in the City of London. It is also the location for Coronations, and weddings.   If you were expecting an ordinary church, you would be surprised!  Dark and very Gothic inside, it’s more like the inside of a giant mausoleum than anything else.  Everyone important in British history is buried here – in various chapels, crypts, walls, and beneath the floors. 

Interior photos were taken from the official Westminster Abbey website

When Henry III died in 1272 the building of the Gothic Abbey was not complete and part of the Norman nave remained attached to the new work. The present nave was nearly 150 years in building. Flying buttresses on the exterior took the thrust of the walls and enabled the roof to be raised to a height of 101 feet (31 meters). Richard II and Henry V later provided finance to continue the building but it was not finished until 1517, when the west window was glazed.