Legendary Sights of London

Ah, Europe; a beautiful part of the world with sights like none other. The Pantheon, Big Ben, Colosseum of Rome, and the Spanish Steps are just some of the amazing European sights that I have seen. This all happened in just 18 days. Being my first overseas trip, I was frantically excited to see what was in store for me. I could only imagine images from books or magazines. I had no idea how truly amazing it would be to see these once in a lifetime bucket list destinations up-close and in person.

Getting off of the subway onto Westminster was like literally walking into a book or magazine. Almost all of the famous sights in England were right in front of me. Big Ben, the London Eye, and Westminster Abbey; they were all right there!

Big Ben

Looking at Big Ben was like looking at a house of gold. The majestic clock tower appeared to almost touch the sky. I guess the sky really is the limit…for Big Ben. I actually pinched myself just to be sure I wasn’t just dreaming! Each time Big Ben chimed, I felt it rush through my veins; it felt almost supernatural. The chimes just reminded me of how amazing travel and seeing the world really is.

The Houses of Parliament and Elizabeth Tower make up London’s most iconic tourist attraction; Big Ben. Big Ben, however, is not the name of the building; it is rather the name of the big bell inside of the tower, which weighs over 13 tons. Before being completed in 1859, the majestic bell went through two separate builds. The first attempt by John Warner and Sons failed miserably with the bell cracking irreparably in 1844. The metal was melted down and recast in 1858. In September of 1859, Big Ben cracked again. A lighter hammer was used and the undamaged side of the bell was rotated toward the hammer. The chimes of Big Ben have roared through Westminster ever since. Even when a bomb destroyed part of the building and the rest of the Commons during World War II, Big Ben continued it’s triumphant ticking of the hours.

The London Eye

The London Eye is a Ferris wheel on the River Thames on the south side of Westminster Abbey. This massive wheel measures 443 feet in height and a length of 394 feet. When opened in 2000, this was the world’s largest Ferris wheel. 3.75 million people visit this tourist attraction annually. If you are looking for the best view in London, I would 100% recommend the London eye, as it is the highest public view point in the city of London.

Westminster Abbey

As I walked through Westminster Abbey, I don’t think my mouth was ever closed. Around each corner I turned, there was something new, yet ancient. What really put me over was walking into the burial room. The tomb of St. John the Baptist was so ornate; gold, marble, granite, silver, and hundreds of flowers covered the body of this ancient priest. King Henry V, St. Peter, Queen Anne of Great Britain, and many others were also all around me.

Formally titled the Collegiate Church of St. Peter at Westminster, Westminster Abbey is a large, Gothic church and is one of the most iconic religious buildings in the United Kingdom. For over 1,000 years, Westminster Abbey has had daily worship that continues to this day. It has been a coronation church since 1066 and holds seventeen resting monarchs within its walls. An astonishing house of art, paintings, architecture, and stained glass, this church is also the burial sight of some of the most significant people in history; such as William Shakespeare, St. John the Baptist, Isaac Newton, and Charles Dickens.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When you think of London Bridge (London Bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down….no? Ok then), you probably think of something huge, iconic, just something almost unimaginable, right? Well, not exactly. The real London Bridge is literally a flat and narrow concrete bridge in the middle of the city. Thinking back to your youth, you have most likely heard the song “London Bridge is falling down, falling down, falling down.” This song has much deeper meaning than you might know. London Bridge actually fell down three times in its history. The first time the bridge came crashing down, the civilians burned it down during a riot; the second time, the bridge collapsed under the weight of the massive amount of cars driving across it; and the third time, the bridge had to be adjusted for the boats traveling under it. To hear more about London Bridge and it’s history, go to the catacombs beneath its eerie arches. Oh, and for the record, don’t go through the haunted house unless you are REALLY wanting to be scared out of your skin.

NOT London Bridge…Tower Bridge

The REAL London Bridge

I would say that London is definitely one for the books. Personally, I loved seeing Big Ben and hearing the history of London Bridge. Pictures are truly not enough to describe these legendary sights. To get the full effect, you have got to see to believe.

P.S. Afternoon tea is a real life thing in England