July 1
Since we were only in London for 2 1/2 days we decided before we left that we would try one of the full day London Tours. They visited many of the main sights around London. The only downfall to this was they were showing you so many places that you didn't have a lot of time at each one. It was a great way to see the main sights around London quickly though.
We started off early that morning and got on our tour bus to travel around. Our first stop was at Westminster Abbey. We got off the bus and took a few quick pictures before continuing on our way.
Westminster Abbey ~ the resting place of many famous people including Princess Diana


When we left Westminster Abbey we made our way across town to the Tower of London. We had an hour and a half to mess around Tower of London and see everything there. This was not near enough time to see everything there either. We could have easily spent half a day looking at everything.
Tower of London - The Tower has held many famous prisoners in its thousand-year history; some in astonishing comfort and others less so. One area of the Tower that you cannot take pictures in is the Vault that holds the Crown Jewels. The Vault has an astonishing collection of priceless Coronation Regalia and it has been on public display at the Tower since the 17th century, with only one attempt to steal them.
Tower Bridge
Traitors Gate ~ This notorious watergate is the grandest of all the Tower's river entrances. It was built by King Edward I (1272-1307) as a royal entrance. Later many prisoners accused of treason are thought to have entered the Tower here, including Queen Anne Boleyn and Sir Thomas More.
Bri and I with a Yeoman Warder or more popularly known as a Beefeater.
The ravens are one of the most famous sights at the Tower of London. Legend has it that Charles II was told that if the ravens left the Tower, the kingdom and the fortress would fall. Just in case, the Ravenmaster keeps a close eye on the collection.
Part of the White Tower ~ William the Conqueror's mighty White Tower, completed by 1100, marks the start of the Tower of London's history as both a palace and a fortress. Today it houses displays from the Royal Armouries' collection, which includes the armour of Henry VIII
Some of the Armour
Some of the riding gear
These are the main stairs in the building and rise from the basement to the roof. Originally they were the only means of reaching this, the principal, floor and as such are located in an imposing circular turret which for ceremonial and defensive reasons was positioned as far away from the main entrance as possible. Probably there was some form of partition in front of the doorway to restrict entry into the great chamber.
This suite of Armour is in the Guiness Book or World Records as the tallest suite of armour
Now I would take this gun. Jewelled Pistol ~ This gun was decorated to order with blue enamel panels, white gold and 1,517 diamonds. It was acquired by the Royal Armouries in October 2006 from the Metropolitan Police following the Government's pistol by in scheme of 1997
The Tiffany Revolver ~ North American gunmakers Smith and Wesson donated this revolver to the Royal Armouries in 1989 and the Trustees of the Armouries commissioned the New York Jewelers Tiffany and Co. to decorate it as part of their policy to commission and collect fine craftsmanship. The unique decoration features leaves representing five different woods used in gun-making.
Jewelled Revolver ~ This customized .357 Magnum with red gold, red enamel and diamond decoration was ordered from a North London Jeweler for a client. Uncollected, it was handed in to the Metropolitan Police under the buy-in scheme of 1997. It was transferred to the Royal Armouries in October 2006.

Cannon Balls
Cannons
Looking at another area of the Tower of London
One of the living spaces for a prisoner
Bri with one of the chairs
A view of Tower Bridge from the path between the Bloody Tower and Wakefield Tower.
One of the Entrances into Tower of London

We left Tower of London and headed on a short cruise down the River Thames. We saw a few places along the cruise and went under a couple different bridges. .
London Bridge
The Millennium Bridge
Another view of Westminster Abbey from the bus on the way to Buckingham Palace
After the cruise we got back on the bus and headed to Buckingham Palace to see Changing of the Guards. We weren't able to see the whole thing due to the timing of the tour. We did get to see the guards marching from the palace to the barracks. So we were able to hear them play their music and finish everything up.
A London Taxi
A statue in Honor of Queen Victoria ~ She was had has been the longest reigning Queen in the British Monarch. She reigned for 63 years.
Cop escort for the Guards
Changing of the Guards
A disc in honor of Princess Diana
Bri in front of Buckingham Palace
Mine and Johns Turn
Once we finished watching that we got back on the bus and headed to the Trafalgar Square area for lunch. We had an hour for lunch so it was just enough time to find a place to eat and enjoy the food. There was not enough time to sightsee so we were glad we saw Trafalgar Square the day before.
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