Entry door to Westminster Abbey with statue of Madonna and child. London, Dec. 2016.
Carving detail of saints and apostles above the entry door of Westminster Abbey. London, Dec. 2016.
St. Margaret's Church adjacent to Westminster Abbey and across the street from the Parliament Building. London, Dec. 2016.
The Elizabeth Tower and the Eye of London. Dec. 2016.
Santa supervising Parliament. London, Dec. 2016.
Another side of the Parliament building with statue of Oliver Cromwell. London, Dec. 2016.
Oliver Cromwell. London, Dec. 2016.
Detail of part of Parliament. London, Dec. 2016.
Architectural detail on Westminster Abbey. Note the crests: the waffle looking bit is really a portcullis, which represents Lady Margaret Beaufort - Henry VIII's paternal grandmother; the flower on the right is the Tudor rose. London, Dec. 2016.
Rear of Westminster Abbey. London, Dec. 2016.
Rear of Westminster Abbey. London, Dec. 2016.
Beautiful shot of Westminster Abbey with George V monument. London, Dec. 2016.
The Palace of Westminster (Parliament) was originally built in 1016 then rebuilt in 1834 as fire destroyed the structure. Note the later Victorian lamps. London, Dec. 2016.
Victoria Tower of the Palace of Westminster from the Victoria Tower Garden. London, Dec. 2016.
Detail of arches and carving on the Buxton Memorial Fountain Monument in Victoria Tower Garden. London, Dec. 2016.
Detail of mosaics and carving on the Buxton Memorial Fountain Monument in Victoria Tower Garden. London, Dec. 2016.
The Buxton Memorial Fountain Monument in Victoria Tower Garden. London, Dec. 2016.
Beautiful buildings lining Milbank across from the Victoria Tower Garden. London, Dec. 2016.
Victoria Tower Garden with the Buxton Memorial Fountain. Thames and the Palace of Westminster in the background. London, Dec. 2016.
Tate Britain Museum. London, Dec. 2016.
The not-so-secret Secret Intelligence Service (MI6) building. London, Dec. 2016.
View of London from the Vauxhall Bridge. Dec. 2016.
Tudor gatehouse of Lambeth Palace (left) and chapel, historical home of the Archbishop of Canterbury when in London. Dec. 2016.
Tudor gatehouse of Lambeth Palace. London, Dec. 2016.
The Great Hall at Lambeth Palace. London, Dec. 2016.
Lollard's Tower of Lambeth Palace, London, Dec. 2016.
The Queen's Walk on the south side of the Thames. London, Dec. 2016.
The Royal Horseguard Hotel from the south side of the Thames. London, Dec. 2016.
View of London from the Waterloo Bridge. Dec. 2016.
Entrance to The Royal Horseguards in Whitehall. London, Dec. 2016.
A military memorial with wreaths of poppies, a traditional remembrance in Britain. London, Dec. 2016.
Beautiful buildings in Whitehall - originally governmental. Not sure what occupies them now. London, Dec. 2016.
The current Royal Horseguards in Whitehall, just down the street from our hotel. London, Dec. 2016.
An actual Horseguard!! London, Dec. 2016.
The Royal Horseguard. London, Dec. 2016.
Westminster Abbey. London, Dec. 2016.
Westminster Abbey. London, Dec. 2016.
Westminster Abbey. London, Dec. 2016.
Tea time at The Cellarium at Westminster Abbey. London, Dec. 2016.
The interior courtyard of Westminster Abbey. London, Dec. 2016.
The interior courtyard of Westminster Abbey. London, Dec. 2016.
The interior courtyard of Westminster Abbey. London, Dec. 2016.
Westminster Abbey. London, Dec. 2016.
The Supreme Court. Parliament Square, London, Dec. 2016.
Westminster Abbey. London, Dec. 2016.
Entrance to the Supreme Court. London, Dec. 2016.
Entrance to the Supreme Court. London, Dec. 2016.
Abraham Lincoln Memorial. Parliament Square, London, Dec. 2016.
Parliament, the Elizabeth Tower with Big Ben (which is actually the bell, not the clock). London, Dec. 2016.
The Elizabeth Tower clock, which is beautifully gilt and enameled. London, Dec. 2016.
An Underground station was constructed several years ago under the Elizabeth Tower. Now the Tower leans, so a restoration effort for the entire Parliament complex is underway in 2017, which will also straighten and shore up the Tower. London, Dec. 2016.
The Cabinet War Rooms. London, Dec. 2016.
Just your basic government building entrance.....London, Dec. 2016.
Various beautiful architectural styles around Parliament Square. London, Dec. 2016.
The view towards #10 Downing Street. London, Dec. 2016.
Whitehall, London, Dec. 2016.
Trafalgar Square with its famous lions. London, Dec. 2016.
Trafalgar Square with its famous lions. London, Dec. 2016.
St. Martin of the Fields Church. London, Dec. 2016.
Portico ceiling on St. Martin of the Fields Church. London, Dec. 2016.
Gallery of monuments from St. Martin of the Fields Church. London, Dec. 2016.
Gallery of monuments from St. Martin of the Fields Church. London, Dec. 2016.
Gallery of monuments from St. Martin of the Fields Church. London, Dec. 2016.
Gallery of monuments from St. Martin of the Fields Church. London, Dec. 2016.
Gallery of monuments from St. Martin of the Fields Church. London, Dec. 2016.
Gallery of monuments from St. Martin of the Fields Church. London, Dec. 2016.
Gallery of monuments from St. Martin of the Fields Church. London, Dec. 2016.
Gallery of monuments from St. Martin of the Fields Church. London, Dec. 2016.
The Crypt at St. Martin of the Fields, London, Dec. 2016.
The Crypt at St. Martin of the Fields, London, Dec. 2016.
Actual original whipping post for The Crypt at St. Martin of the Fields, London, Dec. 2016.
Marker memorializing the remains removed from the crypts below St. Martin of the Fields when it was converted to a bomb shelter. London, Dec. 2016.
Memorials and tombstones now part of the floor in the cafe in the crypt at St Martin of the Fields. London, Dec. 2016.
Memorials and tombstones now part of the floor in the cafe in the crypt at St Martin of the Fields. London, Dec. 2016.
The Crypt at St. Martin of Fields. London, Dec. 2016.
The Crypt at St. Martin of Fields. London, Dec. 2016.
Phone boxes - of course! London, Dec. 2016.
The Plough Pub near the British Museum. London, Dec. 2016
Chicken and Mushroom Pie with mash and veg at The Plough Pub. London, Dec. 2016
Fish and chips with peas at The Plough Pub. London, Dec. 2016
Leaded glass window in the Temple Church. London, Dec. 2016.
Residences in the Temple Churchyard. London, Dec. 2016.
Plaque on the Temple Church dedicated to John Gurney who preserved part of the structure circa 1827. London, Dec. 2016.
Temple Church. London, Dec. 2016.
Entry to the Temple Church. London, Dec. 2016.
Beautiful gothic arches in entryway to the Temple Church. London, Dec. 2016.
Path to Temple Church from Fleet Street through residential building to the Temple Church (on the right.) London, Dec. 2016
Temple Church. London, Dec. 2016.
Temple Church. London, Dec. 2016.
Christmas Tree at Somerset House. London, Dec. 2016.
Interior courtyard at Somerset House with ice skating rink. London, Dec. 2016.
The Bridge at Courbevoie, Georges Seurat. Courtauld Gallery, London, Dec. 2016.
Vase of Flowers, Claude Monet. Courtauld Gallery, London, Dec. 2016.
Ceiling in one of the rooms at the Courtald Gallery. London, Dec. 2016.
Peach Trees in Blossom, Vincent Van Gogh. Courtauld Gallery, London, Dec. 2016.
Ceiling in one of the rooms at the Courtauld Gallery. London, Dec. 2016.
Ceiling detail in one of the rooms at the Courtauld Gallery. London, Dec. 2016.
Autumn Effect At Argenteuil, Claude Monet. Courtauld Gallery, London, Dec. 2016.
Ceiling in one of the rooms at the Courtauld Gallery. London, Dec. 2016.
Ceiling in one of the rooms at the Courtauld Gallery. London, Dec. 2016.
Ceiling in one of the rooms at the Courtalud Gallery. London, Dec. 2016.
Gilded Italian marriage chest from the 1400s. Courtauld Gallery, London, Dec. 2016.
Ceiling in one of the rooms at the Courtauld Gallery. London, Dec. 2016.
Grand staircase at the Courtald Gallery. London, Dec. 2016.
The Strickland Brooch, Anglo-Saxon, 800s AD. British Museum, London, Dec. 2016.
Detail of gold torc buried in Ipswich around 75 BC in cache with several other torcs. British Museum, London, Dec. 2016.
Ipswich cache of torcs. British Museum, London, Dec. 2016.
Canopic jars. British Museum, London, Dec. 2016.
Gilded sarcophagi. British Museum, London, Dec. 2016.
Parthenon pediments. British Museum, London, Dec. 2016.
Parthenon pediments. British Museum, London, Dec. 2016.
Parthenon pediments. British Museum, London, Dec. 2016.
Parthenon pediments. British Museum, London, Dec. 2016.
Parthenon metopes. British Museum, London, Dec. 2016.
Parthenon metopes. British Museum, London, Dec. 2016.
Parthenon metopes. British Museum, London, Dec. 2016.
Parthenon friezes. British Museum, London, Dec. 2016.
Parthenon metopes. British Museum, London, Dec. 2016.
Parthenon metopes. British Museum, London, Dec. 2016.
Parthenon friezes. British Museum, London, Dec. 2016.
Parthenon friezes. British Museum, London, Dec. 2016.
Parthenon friezes. British Museum, London, Dec. 2016.
Parthenon Gallery. British Museum, London, Dec. 2016.
Parthenon Gallery. British Museum, London, Dec. 2016.
Detail of ancient Lykian Temple from Turkey. British Museum, London, Dec. 2016.
Detail of ancient Lykian Temple from Turkey. British Museum, London, Dec. 2016.
Detail of ancient Lykian Temple from Turkey. British Museum, London, Dec. 2016.
Ancient Lykian Temple from Turkey. Built as a monument to the Nereids. British Museum, London, Dec. 2016.
Ancient Lykian Temple from Turkey. Built as a monument to the Nereids.
Persian/Assyrian Gallery. British Museum. London, Dec. 2016..
Persian/Assyrian Gallery. British Museum. London, Dec. 2016.
Persian/Assyrian Gallery. British Museum. London, Dec. 2016.
Persian/Assyrian Gallery. British Museum. London, Dec. 2016.
Egyptian goddess Sekhmet. British Museum. London, Dec. 2016.
Egyptian gallery. British Museum. London, Dec. 2016.
Persian/Assyrian Gallery. Note the ancient wood gates in the background. British Museum. London, Dec. 2016.
Persian/Assyrian Gallery. British Museum. London, Dec. 2016.
Persian/Assyrian Gallery. British Museum. London, Dec. 2016.
Persian/Assyrian Gallery. Many of the carvings in this gallery were covered in cuneiform like this one. British Museum. London, Dec. 2016.
Persian/Assyrian Gallery. British Museum. London, Dec. 2016.
False door in an Egyptian tomb. These were believed to allow the spirit a door to the afterlife. British Museum, London, Dec. 2016.
Egyptian Gallery. British Museum, London, Dec. 2016.
Rosetta Stone with text in hieroglyphs, demotic (Egyptian written language) and Greek. British Museum, London, Dec. 2016.
Detail of text on the Rosetta Stone. British Museum, London, Dec. 2016.
Roman era mosaics. British Museum, London, Dec. 2016.
Roman era mosaics. British Museum, London, Dec. 2016.
Easter Island sculpture. British Museum, London, Dec. 2016.
Detail of Neoclassical exterior of the British Museum. London, Dec. 2016.
One of London's Court Buildings. Dec. 2016
St. Dunstan in the West Church, London, Dec. 2016
St. Brides, London, Dec. 2016
St. Martin at Ludgate Church, just down the street from St. Paul's Cathedral and close enough to throw a rock at St. Bride's Church, all designed by Christopher Wren. London, Dec. 2016
The Queen Anne Statute at the front of St. Paul's Cathedral. London, Dec. 2016.
The front of St. Paul's Cathedral. London, Dec. 2016
The south side of St. Paul's Cathedral and St. Paul's Churchyard (the name of the street). London, Dec. 2016.
St. Paul's Cathedral - South Transept. London, Dec. 2016.
Christmas Tree on Peter's Hill outside St. Paul's Cathedral. London, Dec. 2016.
Walking up Peter's Hill from the Millennium Bridge to St. Paul's Cathedral. London, Dec. 2016
View from the Millennium Bridge looking east toward the Southwark Bridge, The Shard and Tower Bridge. London, Dec. 2016.
St. Paul's Cathedral from the Millennium Bridge. London, Dec. 2016.
The stage at The Globe Theater. London, Dec. 2016.
The galleries at The Globe Theater. London, Dec. 2016.
The of the stage at The Globe Theater with balconies, faux marble columns made from a single solid English Green Oak tree. London, Dec. 2016.
The ceiling of the stage painted to represent "The Heavens" at The Globe Theater. London, Dec. 2016.
Detail of woodwork on the stage. The Globe Theater, London, Dec. 2016.
Detail of the stage with "Gentlemen's Gallery" to the right. The Globe Theater, London, Dec. 2016.
The stage with door above to area with storage and where stagehands would perform effects, such as thunder. The Globe Theater, London, Dec. 2016
Stage painstakingly reproduced in Elizabethan style, including 24 karat gilding and hand carved details. The Globe Theater, London, Dec. 2016.
Detail of "Gentleman's Galleries"-the seats cost more and had poor views of the stage, but allowed the visitors to be seen by the audience, which was the whole point of the going to the theater at the time. The Globe Theater, London, Dec. 2016.
Galleries with view of the thatched roof. The Globe Theater, London, Dec. 2016.
Galleries with view of the thatched roof, oak columns and detail work. The Globe Theater, London, Dec. 2016.
Exterior of The Globe Theater with traditional Tudor construction which includes goat's hair in the plaster. London, Dec. 2016.
St. Paul's and The Millennium Bridge from the south side of the Thames near The Globe Theater. London, Dec. 2016.
The Swan Pub, attached to The Globe Theater complex. London, Dec. 2016
Exterior of The Globe Theater, London, Dec. 2016.
On the right is The Swan and on the left is the new indoor theater and museum that is part of The Globe Theater complex. London, Dec. 2016.
The new indoor theater and museum that is part of The Globe Theater complex. London, Dec. 2016.
The Blackfriar Pub in Blackfriars. London, Dec. 2016.
The Blackfriar Pub in Blackfriars. London, Dec. 2016.
St. Bride's Church, London, Dec. 2016.
Beautiful lobby at The Royal Horseguards Hotel. London, Dec. 2016.
Beautiful architecture near Whitehall. London, Dec. 2016.
Guard at Buckingham Palace. London, Dec. 2016.
The Winter Wonderland Carnival and Holiday Market in Hyde Park. London, 2016.
Heathrow Airport. London, Dec. 2016.
The Gates of Buckingham Palace. London, Dec. 2016.
The Gates of Buckingham Palace. London, Dec. 2016.
Detail of royal crest with rose (England), shamrock (Northern Ireland) and thistle (Scotland). London, Dec. 2016.
The Duke of York Column on The Mall. London, Dec. 2016.
The Admiralty Arch. London, Dec. 2016.
High tea at The Royal Horseguards Hotel. London, Dec. 2016.
High tea at The Royal Horseguards Hotel. London, Dec. 2016.
London City Hall. Dec. 2016.
Tower Hill medieval postern gate which gave access to the City of London from the east. Dec. 2016.
The Coliseum Theater. London, Dec. 2016.
The beautiful Royal Arcade shopping area (photo taken from a fast moving mini cooper.) London, Dec. 2016.
Christmas light displays in a shopping district. London, Dec. 2016.
A beautiful shopping arcade (photo taken from a fast moving mini cooper.) London, Dec. 2016.
Christmas light displays in a shopping district. London, Dec. 2016.
Christmas light displays in a shopping district. London, Dec. 2016.
Trafalgar Square at night with Christmas Tree and St. Martin of the Fields Church.
Westminster Abbey illuminated at night. London, Dec. 2016.
Standing with Lulu, the mini from Small Car Big City Tours. London, Dec. 2016.
Golden Jubilee Bridge at night. London, Dec. 2016.
The Eye of London with the Palace at Westminster, Elizabeth Tower and Big Ben to the right. London, Dec. 2016.
Christmas Market at the foot of the Golden Jubilee Bridge. London, Dec. 2016.
Somerset House illuminated at night. London, Dec. 2016.
Somerset House illuminated at night. London, Dec. 2016.
More incredible architecture. London, Dec. 2016.
Tower Bridge at night from the Tower of London. Dec. 2016.
Tower Bridge at dusk from the Tower of London. Dec. 2016.
The Shard at dusk from the upper wall of the Tower of London. Dec. 2016.
The Port of London Authority building and London skyline at dusk. Dec. 2016.
Even the lamps had a martial feel within the Tower of London. Dec. 2016.
Holiday decorations at the homes of Yeoman Warders within the Tower of London. Dec. 2016.
Former barracks and offices now a cafe within the Tower of London. Dec. 2016.
Wire elephant sculpture within the Tower of London. Dec. 2016.
The Tower Yard with the Tower Bridge in the background and the White Tower to the right. London, Dec. 2016.
The most fancy cannon we have ever seen. Tower of London, Dec. 2016.
Wire monkey sculptures within the Tower of London. Dec. 2016.
Guard within the Tower of London. Dec. 2016.
The Tudor buildings are the Queen's Apartments, where Anne Boleyn and other awaited their fates. Now home to the head of the military for the UK. London, Dec. 2016.
The Tower Green. The glass and metal circle on the lawn marks the spot of the famous executions within the Tower grounds, including Henry VIII's wives. London, Dec. 2016.
The White Tower at the Tower of London. Dec. 2016.
View of the Tower Bridge from the Tower of London. Dec. 2016.
Tudor building within the Tower of London. Dec. 2016.
Interior tower with typical defensive slits for archers. Tower of London, Dec. 2016.
Tudor style architecture within the Tower grounds. London, Dec. 2016.
Tudor style architecture within the Tower grounds. London, Dec. 2016.
Looking north across the Thames from the Tower of London. The round building on the left is City Hall, with the Shard on the far right. Dec. 2016.
Guard post in the entry gate of the Tower of London. Dec. 2016.
The Gate House at the Tower of London. Dec. 2016.
Royal crest on the Tower of London. Dec. 2016.
Traditional trebuchet at the Tower of London. Dec. 2016.
Wire lion sculptures at the Tower of London. Dec. 2016.
There are wire sculptures all over the Tower grounds of the animals that were once in the Menagerie. Note the trebuchet in the background. London, Dec. 2016.
Outer and inner gatehouses for the Tower of London. Dec. 2016.
Tower of London in the background, cover of ice skating rink the foreground (the rink is in the tower moat!) London, Dec. 2016.
Poseidon on the Port of London Authority Building. Dec. 2016.
All Hallows By the Tower Church, London, Dec. 2016.
Port of London Authority Building. Dec. 2016.
Port of London Authority Building. Dec. 2016.
The Tower of London from Trinity Square Gardens. London, Dec. 2016.
Trinity Square Gardens on Tower Hill. London, Dec. 2016.
Embankment Place. London, Dec. 2016.
The Playhouse Theater at Embankment near our hotel. London, Dec. 2016.