Last night I ventured down to Picadilly Circus and Oxford Circus for lunch. The number of people down there are amazing. I picked up the Cast Recording of We Will Rock You. The advertising in the first screen is not actually static. It is a video screen, and the colours are really amazing. So pure.

As you can see the place is somewhat busy.

This morning I wandered down to the Palace. Since I wanted to be there early to get tickets I left the hotel about 8:15am. Not bad for a sunday morning. I walked to the palace rather than taking the tube – probably a bad move since I now have a bruise on the heel of my left foot for some reason. On the way there I saw the memorial to animals in war.

I arrived at Buckingham Palace at about 8:45, and waited for tickets. The ticket booth opened at about 9:15 and I got into see the first tour session for ‘walk ins’ of the day at 10:00.

The tour was amazing – self guided with a free headset giving commentry. You actually wore the headset, and it worked really well. I was amazed at the palace. Unfortunately there were no photos inside – but the guide book contains most things. They had clear perspex over important things to protect them from damage. In addition there were guides everywhere. What I had not realised that most of the work on the palace was done by a theatre designer, and as such the building contains much in the way of theatrics.

So, why have I included this photo in the collection? Has someone been playing Cricket out the back of Buckingham Palace? No. This was from the TimeTeam dig of the back garden about a couple of weeks back. Once I get home I am going to watch the TV show that goes with this. Basically they did an archealogical dig in the grounds, and they have now covered up the pit.

This is a view in the gardens behind, looking towards the main building. What I did not know was that the palace is actually a square with an empty centre.

A photo inside the grounds.

And another. I did not even notice the reflection until later.

Walking back to the Tube Station I came across this monument. It is for Police Officers who have died in the line of service. The monument is made out of slats of glass on top of each other.

This house is in the area behind downing street.

Big Ben of course.

The Tower of London.