Day 6

Today was a very long day. We were on out feet most all day and only got to rest for just a couple short periods. We started the day the by touring the House of Parliament. Our tour guide informed us that the proper name of it is the Westminster Palace but it’s commonly known as the House of Parliament.  It’s where all the government meetings take place and where they laws are voted on for the UK. It is a huge palace that is amazing. We then got a quick bite to eat and went to Westminster Abbey. King Henry III started to build the palace in 1065 and it took about 500 years to complete the structure. Today it is used as a normally functioning church for the royal family. In my opinion, this was my favorite tour for today. The architecture of the palace was entirely unreal. I do not understand how they built such structures like this back then. It was a shame we could not take pictures inside of Westminster Abbey and Westminster Palace. It was amazing! We were only allowed to photograph the first room where we started the tours. All of the coronations have taken place in Westminster Abbey since it was built. This is when they crown the new king or queen. They have the exact chair that every king and queen has sat in during this process since 1300. That is incredible! There are also several tombs located here and a number of them buried here are very famous individuals.

The four most important people buried here is Charles Darwin, Isaac Newton, Charles Dickens, and the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Of course, most everyone should know who the first three are but no one knows who the Unknown Soldier is, hence the name of the tomb. He is an unidentified soldier that represents all the men that gave their lives for their country in World War I. He was the last person to get buried in Westminster Abbey in 1920. It is estimated that there are about 3,000 people buried in tombs under Westminster Abbey. Most all of the stone stairs in the Abbey are worn down several inches. It’s astonishing to think how many people have walked through the halls and up and down the stairs since 1065, just as we did today.

After our tour at the Abbey, Michaela, Jessica, Mary and I went to the London Tower. This is where the Crown Jewels were kept until they tower was destroyed along with all the Crown Jewels. Several beheadings had taken place here. It is believed that the Tower of London is haunted. Our tour guide for the Westminster Abbey told us that her father’s friend was a soldier there. One night he was guarding the front of the tower when a ghostly figure of a horse and carriage appeared and it was coming straight at him. Although it is a serious punishment for a guard to leave his post, the man ran away and abandoned his post. I’m afraid I would have done the same thing.

I can’t imagine how many miles we walked today but we are all beat. It is such a relief to sit down and rest but it’s all worth it. It is mind-blowing how much history London has with each tour we take. Tomorrow is going to be an even longer day for we are going to Stonehenge and the Roman Baths. I am very eager for tomorrow!  

Here is:

House of Parliament

Westminster Abbey 

London Tower