Journey to the West: A Tale of Britain (Part 2)
Ticking off famous sights is a physical labor. London has so many famous attractions that if you don't pace yourself, you'll easily run out of energy.
After a night of snowstorms and strong winds, London gave us a surprise: a clear blue sky and bright sunshine. London's roads are flat but not smooth, and the sidewalks on both sides of the streets are mostly paved with small stone blocks. So, when walking around London to check off sights, you need a pair of comfortable, good shoes. Our first stop was the Tower of London and Tower Bridge. The Tower of London is actually an ancient castle, originally built in 1066. After its completion, it was used as a fortress, arsenal, treasury, mint, palace, observatory, refuge, and prison. Its last use as a prison was during World War II. Tower Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the River Thames, located next to the Tower of London. Construction began in 1886, and it was the first bridge over the Thames. The main span of the bridge can be raised to allow large ships to pass. During World War II, Tower Bridge was damaged by war and was later restored. Tower Bridge is magnificent and is one of London's iconic landmarks. There are two glass walkways on Tower Bridge where visitors can enjoy beautiful views of the River Thames, look down at the Tower of London, and learn about the history of Tower Bridge.
There are some street food stalls under Tower Bridge worth trying, and of course, we didn't miss the chance for good food. After sampling, we decided to take a cruise to our next stop, the London Eye. A reminder: 50-pound notes, magnetic stripe credit cards, and China UnionPay cards are not very convenient in London. However, the Oyster card works very well. As I mentioned earlier, you can buy an Oyster card at the airport, so I suggest you get one.
The London Eye, Big Ben, the Palace of Westminster, and Westminster Abbey are not far apart. Unfortunately, Big Ben is undergoing extensive renovation, so we didn't get to see its true face. The London Eye is actually a giant Ferris wheel. It was once the largest in the world, but now it doesn't seem to rank in the top eight globally. The London Eye was completed in 1999, originally intended as a temporary structure to welcome the 21st century. However, it became so popular with Londoners and people from around the world that it was made permanent and is now one of London's iconic buildings. The Palace of Westminster is the Houses of Parliament. It is the most magnificent, enormous Gothic building I have ever seen. Compared to it, the Milan Cathedral and Notre-Dame de Paris seem less impressive. The exquisite beauty of the Palace of Westminster must be experienced in person, because no matter from which angle you take a photo, you can only capture a fraction of it. Westminster Abbey is highly similar in appearance to Notre-Dame de Paris. It is one of the symbols of Britain, the venue for royal coronations, burials, and major ceremonies. Many famous writers, scientists, and others have been granted burial here. The famous scientist Stephen Hawking, who passed away in 2018, rests here.
Buckingham Palace is also located in the City of Westminster. It is the official residence of the British royal family, where Queen Elizabeth II lived. Every morning, the British Royal Guard holds a changing of the guard ceremony, which is open to the public. Naturally, Buckingham Palace has become a famous attraction.
84 Charing Cross Road is world-famous, considered a pilgrimage site for book lovers worldwide. I also love reading, so I decided to visit it before coming to London. However, unfortunately, due to urban changes, the original bookstore no longer exists, and even the address 84 Charing Cross Road is no longer at its original location. To accommodate pilgrims from around the world, the London government has placed a plaque on the wall of the original site to mark its former sacredness.
Platform 9¾ at King's Cross Station is definitely a rising star among London's famous landmarks. Its fame comes from the Harry Potter novels and films, which have swept the globe. Consequently, countless Harry Potter fans come here to take photos with the half-hidden shopping cart. That evening, when I was there, there were nearly a hundred people lining up to take photos. The nearby Harry Potter shop also requires queuing to enter.
On our first day in London, we traveled around with just one Oyster card. After finishing our sightseeing and returning to the apartment, I found that we had overdone it a bit—our legs and feet started to ache.>>>>>
