Monday 21st April, a Bank Holiday in London

Today dawned nice and clear and sunny, still I packed the umbrella, and other jacket, bit like Melbourne 4 seasons in one day.  We gave our travel cards a bit of a hammering today.  The 52 bus took us through some lovely areas, including Kensington then onto Victoria Station where we caught another bus back to Westminster Abbey so we could walk to the river cruise wharf.  There were again wall to wall Europeans mostly Italians and lots of high school tour groups.

The cruise took us to Greenwich,  a pleasant spot, and quite a walk until we came to the National Maritime Museum, to find the piece made by Thomas Mudge  3rd great grandfather.   The lady told us that we shouldn't have come today as being a bank holiday the library with the records was closed!  Right.  So she googled him for me as I couldn't get any reception in the building. It turns out his clock is in the British Museum, but often the pieces are stored in private collections and to get a piece might the 14 days.  We had a wander around anyway, and then found a sign that said in July there would be an exhibition of Chronological clocks.  But we did find Prince Ferdinand's boat, and Thomas did make clocks for the Prince.

Then it was a long walk up a steep slope to the Observatory.   I really didn't want to do the walk, as my foot injuries cause me problems,  but I made it with a few stops.

Great views over the city, we didn't realise that our London Pass didn't apply, and there were wall to wall people lined up, so we gave it a miss. I worked out if I went down side ways my foot wasn't being extended,  glad we didn't come when we were 70!  Passes some sights including a family who lit a fire in the lush grass to have their lunch.   

I walked up and down to the River, and some of the tourists at the Observatory.

 Good views over the City after some very heavy rain

We had a delicious burger in one of the little pubs in the town.  Back along the river, and the various beautiful buildings and then we went to the London Eye.  We bought an express entry ticket to save time.

Great views and it was sunny with clouds developing. I worked out how to do a "selfie", note no coat!

Another few bus rides and we ended up at Victoria Station, thought there would be places to get something to eat, wrong, so tonight we had a sit down snack at the station forecourt, very original!

But before we got there, we saw a bit of the Old Bill,who had pulled up some learner bike riders.  Apparently with P plates they don't need a registered driver.  Back through Kengsington and it poured rain.

My observations of some of these lovely areas of West London is that unless there is some sort of control over the development and maintenance of the old buildings, in a generation they will all be in the same state as the suburbs near us are.  The older residents of Queens Park and Willenden once took pride in their areas, now rubbish bins and overflowing garbage are the highlight of the street scape.  So many rentals in these areas now, that riding the bus through to the city is very depressing.  Some suburbs are a mini Turkey or Arabian country, not nice.

And talk about co-incidences, Rev James Sedgwick, our great grandfather lived 700 metres from this house, and in fact we are living in a house of similiar style as what he did.  A walk through the park and almost a continuation of this street.  We are taking a look on Thursday when we get our car.

That should be another experience, driving in London would not be recommended without a Karen!

Off to Camden Markets tomorrow.