Westminster Abbey
Our 10am wake up call was followed with a hot Tube ride to Westminster Abbey for a self-guided tour. The abbey still is actively used for Mass on Sundays but it is primarily for tours. We were able to get audio guides that provided more information as we made our way around the church. Many famous monarchs and individuals such as Mary Queen of Scots, Queen Elizabeth the first, Charles Darwin, C.S. Lewis and my favorite, Jane Austen.
We had the afternoon free after the tour so some of decided to fulfill the English tradition of having afternoon tea. We were able to see Buckingham Palace on our way to the tea shop which was really exciting to get so close to it after it being closed off from the Jubilee deconstruction. After a thousand pictures we arrived at the English Rose, a cute little tea shop in Westminster. The typical afternoon tea comes with finger sandwiches, mini desserts, macaroons and scones and of course your favorite pot of tea! Not being a huge tea drinker I was very pleasantly surprised by how much I liked the experience!
I separated from my friends after tea to walk across Tower Bridge. It opens only a few times a year and I was lucky enough to see it one one of those times! Following the bridge I met back up with them at this cool pub called The Shakespeare where we grabbed dinner, and few pints before heading back on the Tube to where we were staying.