Up in the Stratosphere

Wednesday was spent checking off things on Kathleen's list of places she wanted to see in London.  She went to Handel's House (not far from the corner of Oxford Street and New Bond Street) while I visited Vodafone (yet again!) and also tried to find somewhere to get a watch battery replaced - no luck on that one.  Then, we took the Tube to Lambeth North on the south side of the Thames to visit the Imperial War Museum.  This museum has been updated a lot since the last time I was there - with lots of touch screens and other kinds of technology added to make the visitor experience more interesting and engaging.  We spent over an hour just in the WWI exhibit.  As we were beginning to run out of time, we opted next to visit the Holocaust exhibition on the upper floors.  I am not sure I learned anything new there - I've been to many museums and memorials about the Holocaust - but, again, I was shocked and dismayed about those events which took place from 1933 - 1945.  And, unfortunately that isn't to say, there isn't still lots of discrimination and hatred that exist today.  Next, we started to go through the WWII exhibit but ran out of time.  The great thing about London is that the public museums here are free so I can always come back another time and spend more time here. 

The entrance to the Imperial War Museum

I thought this information about England and WWI was very interesting.

A stall at the Borough market

 

One thing I had wanted to do while I was in London was to go to the top of the Shard - now the tallest building in Europe.  So, after the museum, we took a bus to Borough Market which is close to the Shard.  I had checked the Shard website before I left home and I knew it would not be cheap.  Regardless, Kathleen was game to go so I was thrilled.  Okay, it did cost 30 pounds per person but given that our very mediocre bus tour cost the same, this was a bargain!  The View, as it has been branded, is probably going to be London's top attraction - if it isn't already.  We were whisked to the 68th floor and stepped out onto a viewing platform that gives a 360' view of London.  On a clear day, you can actually see Windsor Castle to the west.  The weather was perfect and we were treated to an amazing experience - which included a glass of Lanson rose champagne (for 10 pounds and some very delicious flavoured popcorn for another 5!).  Then, we went up four more floors to the open air viewing area where there was a gentle breeze blowing and the views were even better.  Just going to the women's toilet was worth the price of admission!  I cannot imagine what the two penthouses above the 72nd floor cost!  I probably can't comprehend that many zeroes!

View north toward the "Walkie-Talkie" and the "Gherkin"

View east of the Tower Bridge and Canary Wharf in the distance

Champagne with an amazing view!

Yes, this is one of the woman's toilets - each an individual room
with a million dollar (oops, that is pound!) view

72nd floor open air viewing platform

Looking down on the 68th floor and the Thames even further down

Looking up at the Shard and the nearby Cathedral

Later, we made our way to Victoria station and the Victoria Palace theatre where we met John and Pedro for the evening performance of Billy Elliott.  We finished our day by having Chinese food with them in Queensway.  It was all terrific but came nowhere near the thrill of being high in the sky over London.  We walked back to Maida Vale - giving me over 23,000 steps for the day!