Day 3 - Boxing Day
Trafalgar Square
That was quite a day! We left the hotel soon after breakfast and came back late at night. We started our day with a stroll at Trafalgar Square. This square commemorates the victory of the British navy at the Battle of Trafalgar against the French and Spanish navies in 1805 during the Napoleonic Wars. Standing in the Centre of the square since 1843, the 52 metre-high Nelson's Column honours Admiral Lord Nelson , who surveys his fleet, and leads the fleet's victory over Napoleon. The column is flanked by four enormous bronze statues of lions, which were sculpted by Sir Edwin Landseer.
Westminster - Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament
After a brief coffee break at Costa Cafe, we walked to Westminster. The House of Commons and the House of Lords stand on Saint Margaret Street and are housed in the sumptuous Palace of Westminster. The most famous feature of the Houses of Parliament is, undoubtedly, the Clock Tower commonly known as Big Ben. Ben is the bell hanging inside and it is named after Benjamin Hall - the commissioner of works when the tower was completed in 1858. Since 1924, thirteen-tonne Ben has rung to announce the coming of the New Year. At Westminster, we caught the bus for Baker Street where we met some friends who live in London and had lunch at a Chinese restaurant. I think it is called Royal China and it is the best Chinese restaurant I've ever been to. After lunch and coffee at a nearby cafe, we did some shopping in Oxford
Street which was beautifully decorated for Christmas. I got a pair of
leather boots and a matching handbag for only £140.
.
Covent Garden
Then we went back to our hotel in Holborn and left our shopping in the room before walking to Covent Garden - possibly the most attractive and picturesque area in London. I was very impressed with the amazing Christmas decorations there. This exciting day ended with dinner at one of the many pubs in the area. We went to sleep late at night looking forward to the following day and our visit to the Tower of London.
Historical information collected from: Discover London - Lonely Planet