A weekend in London: Day 3
Buckingham Palace in London
Two Digital Gypsies Rating – 3.5 Stars
To see the YouTube video of our Day 3 visit to London please click here.
On the third day of our visit to London we wanted to see the changing of the Royal Guard which takes place at Buckingham Palace at 11:30. From what we’ve read you need a strategy so that you don’t get lost in the crowd of the thousands of people who also have the same thing in mind.
Our strategy was to arrive two hours early and have Barbara take a position at the fence with a view of the palace grounds and I would take a position at the entrance gate to the palace grounds. Caution here: be prepared to stand in one position and not move for the time you are there. If you move your place for viewing will be lost. Remember there are thousands of people who want your spot!
Changing of the Guard timeline:
- 11:00 – New Guard gathers for inspection.
- 11:15 – Tired St. James’s Palace Horse Guard heads for the palace.
- 11:15 – Fresh troops from Wellington Barracks head to Buckingham Palace.
- 11:30 – All guards gradually converge.
- 11:45 – Changing of the Guard ceremony.
- 12:00 – Tired guard head for Wellington Barracks.
- 12:00 – Fresh guards head for St. James’s Palace.
For us seeing the Changing of the Guard was good to see once, but it’s not something we’re dying to do again. Too many people pushing and shoving for a view of the proceedings for it to be really enjoyable.
Leaving the Buckingham Square area we headed for Covent Garden which is a covered marketplace with many shops and street performers. There is also restroom available here but you will need 50 pence to use it.
After shopping, lunch, and watching some street performers at the square we decided we would take a leisurely walk along the Thames River towards our hotel room near the Tower of London. Along the way we walked across the Millennium Bridge to see the Shakespeare Globe Theatre. It is a replica of the original theatre build in Shakespeare’s time. We’d love to come and see a play here. From the Globe side of the river there is a good view of St. Paul’s Cathedral.
Leaving the Globe Theatre we walked back to our hotel room which ended our weekend in London. We look forward to going back again.
