London Calling! Part Two

After our tour of the south of England, we decided to explore London. First thing Monday morning we headed out to Buckingham Palace to see the changing of the guard. On our way, however, we got a little sidetracked--first by musical tickets and then by some silly hats. When we passed by the little theatre district near Victoria Station we decided to see if we could get cheap tickets to any of the shows that were playing. As luck would have it, we only spent 20 quid to see Billy Elliot. We even met a student from Switzerland (Anna) who also got tickets to go to the show. Eventually we made our way to the Palace and had plenty of time to spare. 5 minutes later we got split up, but used our hats to locate each other.

Silly hat in front of the Buckingham Palace gates.

Angela, Maddie, and I with our silly hats after the changing of the guard.

Buckingham Palace-like a boss.

After Buckingham Palace, we got a quick bite to eat at a small café then headed over toward Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, and Parliament for some photo ops! I wanted to go into Westminster, but Maddie and Angela thought it would be boring. On my list for next time, though!

Red phone booth + bobby hat + Big Ben = It doesn't get more London than this.

I am terrified of heights, so climbing onto whatever you would call that tall death trap was pretty scary.

More Big Ben with the silly hat!

Westminster Abbey and Parliament--so beautiful.

After Big Ben, we went over to the British Museum to see the Rosetta Stone, then went to King's Cross Station. Three guesses why! If your first guess was "Because Katie finally got her Hogwarts letter and the study abroad in France is actually a cover for her leaving the USA to study magic with Harry Potter" you are correct! If that wasn't your first guess, you are most definitely a muggle.

Look, Ma! Platform 9 and 3/4!!

Look at me, all cute pushing my cart through a wall.

BRB GOING TO HOGWARTS

After Platform 9 and 3/4 we headed back to the hostel to freshen up a bit before heading over to Billy Elliot. Seeing Billy Elliot was actually pretty special for me because I used to watch the movie with my grandma. It seems like everywhere I go, I find a little piece of her to remind me that she must be watching me from somewhere.

The next day we headed over to the Tower of London (NOT an actual tower, guys!). We walked around and took some photos while Maddie and Angela mulled over whether they wanted to take the tour or not. Eventually they decided against it and we headed over toward Millenium Bridge and The Globe Theater.

In front of the Tower of London

Millennium Bridge--wrecked by Death Eaters in Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

Inside the one and only (or maybe 3rd...) Shakespeare's Globe Theater.

When we got to the Globe and bought our tickets for the tour/exposition, we also got free tickets to see a performance of A Midsummer Night's Dream that afternoon. That was pretty awesome, actually. We had to stand the entire time, and the audience was all middle and high school aged children (who were a bit loud and obnoxious, actually), but the performance was amazing. And it's not a performance that they do publicly--they put it on specifically for school children, so it's something not many tourists get to see.

Later that night, we headed over to The Rocket bar/pub for a drink in honor of Diya--one of my best friends who studied abroad in London last year. The Rocket was her and her friends' favorite haunt while they were there. So holla! It was pretty chill--no one there since it was about 7pm on a Tuesday.

In front of The Rocket, giving props to my best friend that I've known since I was 6 years old.

Maddie was pretty beat, so we headed back to the hostel pretty early and just chilled. The next morning, we went to Camden Market and Abbey Road before heading off to the airport for our flight to Edinburgh. 

I don't even like the Beatles...