London really is a lovely city.  I had visited once before with Bruce, my mom, and sister, before embarking on a cruise, and we had a wonderful time.  This would be a different experience, exploring with our small group and on our own during our free time.  We were excited!

The Thistle Marble Arch Hotel, at the West End, was our base for our final four nights of the tour.  Marc and a local guide led us on a walking tour the morning of our first full day, taking us by the iconic highlights of the city: Buckingham Palace, St. James Park, Westminster Abbey, Big Ben, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower of London, and Tower Bridge.  The local guide left us there, and we continued with Marc to see his alma mater, the University of London.

Rather than return to tour the interior of any of the places we saw during our walking tour, we opted to just walk the city and continue enjoying the sights, sounds, and skyline of London.

(For all photos, click on the image for a full screen view.)

Next up: UNITED KINGDOM #21: CHARMING CAMBRIDGE