It was raining very hard when we reached London. As we got off our tour bus, my high school drama group of 30 members, entered into a grand hotel to drop off our luggage. Multi-colored lights streamed in through the lavish fountain, which stood in the middle of the lobby. We raced up the elevators into our luxurious rooms, freshened up, and headed out for a tour of the city.
London seems to always be gloomy and drizzling, but a sophisticated charm exists in the city. Well-dressed and attractive teens strolled through hand in hand. We passed by windows displaying shimmering necklaces and bracelets, in small boutiques. We clambered back up on the tour bus to check out some of the major attractions. First pit stop was the London Eye. Looming over the Thames River, the London Eye is one of the largest Ferris wheels of the world. A spectacular view greets you through the glass walls of each compartment, which is shaped like an oval bubble. About ten of us comfortably stepped into the glass cell, and eagerly peeked out to see a panoramic view of the Big Ben, Waterloo railway station, and an endless spread of the city.
We kept moving onwards to our next stop. The grand iron gates loomed over me as I peered through the bars, up at the Buckingham Palace. A lone soldier dressed in his slick red uniform and a tall black hat, stood near the palace doors. Before getting declared as the official residence of the British monarch, the palace used to be an old British townhouse. It was hard to imagine with the magnificence of the palace today, and the sparkling, golden statue Victoria Memorial in front of it.
The next stop was the Globe Theatre, also known as Shakespeare’s Globe, built in the 16th century! Walking in, I looked up to see the blue skies peering down through the open wooden structure. The seats were simple benches facing a round stage in the middle of the theatre. The audience erupted in laughter and claps, as the actors took to the stage, improvising with minimal props and costumes, entertaining the crowd.
We came out of there snapping pictures of us posing by the riverbank. Coming back to the hotel, I recharged my camera, and gathered up my belongings for our next adventure a little out of London. Stratford upon Avon is the home of renowned playwright, Shakespeare. One of the major tourist attractions is the home of Anne Hathaway, Shakespeare’s wife, and her family. It was a cute little cottage surrounded by beautiful lush, green gardens. There are about twelve modestly sized rooms, with very low ceilings. The tour guide told us this was because most people were quite short back then!
We next checked out the Stonehenge. Known to be one of the wonders of the world, this structure is essentially a ring of naturally standing rocks, present since 3000 BC. Walking quietly around the ringed off site, I took in the eerie environment. The rocks stand in the middle of an open ground, which is said to have been a burial ground.
The last thing on our English trip was the city of Bath, holding the Roman Baths. Encasing aqua green waters in a rectangular pool, the Sacred Springs is one the four features of the Roman Baths, which were built underneath street level. Massive pillars etched with Roman figures, loom over the structure. The light drizzle created a mystifying aura, as we traversed into a dimly lit area known as the Grand Pump Room. Silver coins glistened through the rippling waters of the pool, which is now a wishing well for visitors. Slightly muffling the excited buzz around me, I closed my eyes, turned towards the well, and watched my coin camouflage in with the others into the clear waters.
These are some of the attractions one must check out in England! During the time we went (mid-August), it was fairly cold, and almost always drizzling, so it’s best to pack and plan accordingly. When going in a group, transport and accommodations should be well arranged. Besides our tour bus, we traveled in taxis for nearby locations. I felt a bit drab at times in my sweats and jeans, while most others managed to dress their best almost always. Advisable to pack a few of your better outfits then! Just strap up, and do it the English way then!
NOTE: A few images are taken by my friend, Claire Mosteller. It has been abbreviated as 'PC: CM.'
London Eye brings you to the top of the world...literally! This ferris wheel is more than just a ferris wheel. You're in a glass encased compartment holding up up to about 15 people! A slow and soothing ride gives you a full panoramic view of the dazzling city of London, especially at night!
Buckingham Palace is the residence of the Queen of England. No matter what time of the day you show up at the palace gates, it will be packed. Although the iron gates always stay bolted shut, a glimpse at the Queen's residence is enough to have you gaping. Plus, the change of guard is something worth checking out, though I'm not too sure of the exact time of day it happens.
This cute little town lies a bit outside of London. This is where we checked out Shakespeare's cottage as a kid. There are lots of cute boutiques and restaurants to check out at Stratford as well.
The town of Bath also lies a bit outside of London. We went here to check out the Roman Baths, the coolest part of this trip, in my opinion. Preserved for public baths through four main features, this historic site transports you to the Roman times. Water gushing in from various pools, and bubbling up to the surface of the sacred spring makes it so real...
The Stonehenge is a must see if you get some time around England. This prehistoric site is essentially just a ring of naturally standing rocks, which has been indicated to have been a burial ground from as early as 3000 BC.
