Looking a whole lot older than it is, Tower Bridge has only stood over the Thames since 1894.  It was built in a style to compliment the Tower of London, which stands at one side of the bridge.  Doesn't looking at it just say "London" to you?  I suspect that (apart from the Houses of Parliament), of all places in London this is the one people think of first of all.  The Bridge which launched a million tourist t-shirts!



This is a photo of the Tower of London, taken from the viewing platform at Tower Hill tube station.  I should be more specific and mention that it's actually the White Tower, which was the original tower, built by William the Conqueror.  Building of this magnificent edifice commenced in 1078...yes, 1078!  It's nearly one thousand years old!  I don't know about you, but being Australian, it's quite difficult to accept that there are buildings that old still standing, particularly when you consider our white history is only just over 200 years old, and there's not a lot remaining from as recently as then.  1000 years is mind-boggling - that's halfway back to when Jesus walked on Earth...

This is a photo of our tour guide, a Yeoman Warder to be exact, more commonly known by the nickname "Beefeater".  They were originally established in 1485 as King Henry VIII's bodyguard. They are perhaps best known for their gorgeous scarlet and gold dress uniforms which date to 1552 and are worn on state occasions. They are usually seen at the Tower in the blue undress uniform granted to them by Queen Victoria in 1858.

The Yeomen Warders, also known as the beefeaters, are armed with a haberd or pike known as a partisan. The Chief Warder carries a staff surmounted by a silver model of the White Tower, while his second-in-command, the Yeoman Gaoler, possesses a ceremonial axe.

According to The London Encyclopedia, the popular name beefeaters may have been derived from their fondness for roast beef; however, it has also been suggested that it comes from the French buffetier. Moreover, the term may originally have been derogatory, used by the lower classes in sneering at the "pampered guards" who regularly ate beef, while they rarely had any.

Eilis and I did a tour of the Tower and were completely overwhelmed!  It's definitely a must-see place when visiting London, and we fully intend re-visiting, as we barely scratched the surface of what the place contains.

It is not known when the ravens first came to the Tower of London, but their presence there is surrounded by myth and legend. Unusually for birds of ill omen, the future of both Country and Kingdom relies upon their continued residence, for according to legend, at least six ravens must remain lest both Tower and Monarchy fall. The first Royal Observatory was housed in the north eastern turret of the White Tower.  Legend has it that John Flamsteed (1646 - 1719), the 'astronomical observator' complained to King Charles II that the birds were interfering with his observations. The King therefore ordered their destruction only to be told that if the ravens left the Tower, the White Tower would fall and a great disaster befall the Kingdom.  Sensibly the King changed his mind and decreed that at least six ravens should be kept at the Tower at all times to prevent disaster.


One of our outings took us to the London Zoo in Regents Park.  We caught the Tube to Baker Street, and couldn't resist having a photo with this fine gentleman.  It is, of course, Sherlock Holmes, who with Dr Watson, had his rooms not far from this spot, in Baker Street.  There's a Sherlock Holmes museum of sorts, but I couldn't convince the kids to visit it, as we were off to London Zoo.  Had I known that it was going to be about a 20 minute walk from the station to the Zoo through Regents Park, I may well have been a bit more forceful in my conviction...















Still, we had a good time at the Zoo, a location I had always wanted to see after having first read Winnie the Pooh as a child:

Winnie was an American black bear who was deposited at the Zoo in 1914 by a Canadian lieutenant at the start of the First World War. She was visited by A.A. Milne and his son Christopher and lives on in the stories of Winnie the Pooh and Christopher Robin. 







The writing's a bit small, but trust me, it's the story of how Winnie came to be at London Zoo, and it talks about how AA Milne used to bring his son Christopher Robin to see her.  Basically the same thing as what the former paragraph says, really!