First stop: Westminster Pier!
The SEA LIFE Aquarium. This building is humongous :O It is no wonder then that it houses more than 5,000 sea creatures.
The gloomy sky (typical English weather) and the murky waters of the River Thames make this photo look so dull heh.
I don't know why but this photo makes me feel like I'm in Amsterdam (and I haven't even been there).
So majestic. Words can't describe the feeling of awe I felt when I finally saw this huge iconic building with my own eyes :')
Walking along The Queen's Walk on the South Bank of the River Thames.
Was curious as to what this building is, so I went in to take a look. I think it's a hotel..
The contrast between traditional and modern.
BIG BEN!
Look closely and you can see those fine details. A really impressive piece of architecture.
I love how London as a city of modern international status still preserves traditional architecture from the Victorian/Edwardian era. It's one of the reasons why I love London!
Walking towards Westminster Abbey with the Palace of Westminster on my left.
The Union Jack waving in all its glory. Do you know that the design is a combination of the flags of England, Northern Ireland and Scotland (which altogether make up the United Kingdom)? How interesting!
Parliament Square.
A failed panorama of the Square lol.
At Westminster Abbey, the church where Prince William and Kate Middleton famously got married in 2011! Can't believe I'm actually here.
Look at the queue to go in :O
Really wanted to go in but the massive queue deterred me from doing so, so I went to St Margaret's church instead lol. It is just located next to the abbey.
The church is the Anglican parish church of the House of Commons.
Stopped at Cannon Street after that. I stupidly thought it's a touristy place but as you can see from the pictures, it is far from that -___-
Even the tube station is so empty.
At the Tower of London. This place is so packed with tourists!
In remembrance of World War I, there was an art installation named "Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red" at the Tower of London.
888,246 ceramic poppies filled the tower's moat between 17 July and 11 November, marking 100 years since the first day of Britain's involvement in the war. Each poppy represents a British military fatality during the war.
After the installation came to an end, all of the poppies were sold and millions of pounds were raised and were shared among six charities.
A random glass building.
Tower Bridge!
Looking across the River Thames to The Shard.
The Gherkin in the distance.
The place where the bridge lifts ;)
Tower Bridge Piazza. A number of cafés, shops and restaurants fill this hidden gem of a place, which takes me back in time with its brick buildings and cobblestone streets. I think this is a nice spot to chill and have afternoon tea, or go for a relaxing stroll along the River Thames with the Tower Bridge in the distance!
Went into this random shop and got a sandwich for lunch. Mmhm just look at all those yummy fillings.
Sitting by the river and enjoying the cool air.
Somehow I find this cookie with a broken Oreo hilariously cute.
A bazaar of some sorts, with stalls selling a variety of goods ranging from clothes to handmade jewellery to decorative items.
From a different angle hahaha.
Hay's Galleria, an area of shops, restaurants and offices.
HMS Belfast, a Royal Navy light cruiser, but it has now been converted into a museum. It is permanently moored on the River Thames and operated by the Imperial War Museum. Admission ticket is priced at £14.50 for adults, £7.25 for children (5-15 years), and £11.60 for seniors/students/the disabled.
Stumbled upon Borough Market accidentally. It is only a short walk from HMS Belfast.
It is one of the largest and oldest food markets in London and also the most popular one. I can see why is it so, as the market covers a wide area, with a large amount of stalls selling fresh produce such as fruits, vegetables, meats, cheese, bread, and the list goes on and on.
The market is situated under the railway lines, therefore the occasional rumble of trains passing by can be heard.
Strawberry season is in! I love strawberries but they are so expensive in Malaysia, and they are not even particularly sweet. So I was more than happy to see this stall selling these babies at only £3 for two punnets! Ermagerd I just want to buy all of them!
Love love love the flowers.
So close to The Shard.
Underground once again.
At St Paul's Cathedral! This building is MASSIVE.
The dome is the second largest in the world at 366 feet high. It is possible to climb to the top, if you are willing to climb up 259 steps!
In front of the cathedral.
The Anglican cathedral was built between 1675 and 1710, with an impressive renaissance/baroque architecture. Fun fact: It is located on Ludgate Hill, London's highest point. The tickets cost £18 for adults, £8 for children (6-17 years) and £16 for seniors/students but there is a discount if you purchase online.
St Bartholomew's Hospital. It is the oldest standing hospital in England, as it survived the Great Fire of London in 1666 and the Blitz in World War II.
The reason why I came here is because it is one of the significant locations in Sherlock :P [SPOILER ALERT] I'm sure any fan would remember that Sherlock jumped down from this building at the far end when he faked his death in the last episode of Series 2.
My home, Chinatown.
Lol what in the world.
So vibrant with all the lanterns!
Piccadilly Circus! It feels like the heart of London as this place always seem to be buzzing with activity. And it is super packed with people too, as you can see.
I didn't know there is a Ripley's Believe it or Not museum and that it is located here! I remember watching the show when I was really young.
The National Gallery, an art museum in Trafalgar Square.
How this guy managed to hang mid-air is a mystery...
St Martin-in-the-Fields, an Anglican church.
The famous square.
Green Park.
Walked through the park and came out in front of Buckingham Palace. Evening was fast approaching at that time.
Feels so surreal to stand in front of this palace!!
The famous balcony.
If you want to know whether the Queen is in a royal residence, look at the flag flying from it. The Union Jack flies when she is not in residence, and the Royal Standard flies when she is in. In this case, the Queen is unfortunately not in at that time, so I had to abandon all hopes of meeting her.
Last stop was Baker Street (hi Sherlock!) before heading back.
The journeys that I made today was so worth it ;)
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