June 5, 2023
Dear Adventure Avenue,
We woke up and had our buffet breakfast in the hotel. It’s free because of my mom’s Hilton status.
After breakfast, we took the Underground to Westminster and saw Big Ben (not as big as expected).
Then we walked by Westminster Abbey which was 27 pounds to enter, so we contented ourselves with a walk by as the line to wait and then pay 27 pounds didn’t seem worth it.
Then we walked by Buckingham Palace and saw a couple guards change. Apparently the big changing of the guards spectacle is at 11 and we were there a few minutes before 10.
We had tickets for 10:30 at the Churchill War Rooms, so we walked through St. James’s Park to get there.
We spent at least 1.5 hours there. It was really cool because it was the actual location of the war rooms used during World War II. Some of The Darkest Hour (great film) were also shot there apparently too. The tickets came with an audio guide so you knew what you were looking at.
St. James’s Cafe
My mom and I needed a little snack and my dad and brother needed lunch so we went to St. James’s Cafe, conveniently located in st. James’s Park.
My mom and I split some kids fish and chips. My brother had a burger and my dad had a salmon sandwich I believe.
It was absolutely beautiful there.
We then bid adieu to my dad and brother as they went off on their own adventure to the Imperial War museum which sounded very cool from their description of it – and it was free!
Fortnum & Mason Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon
My mom and I headed to Fortnum & Mason Diamond Jubilee Tea Salon which was not too far from Buckingham Palace and where we were to meet my aunt who lives in London for tea.
My mom and I had the Afternoon Tea and my aunt ordered the Vegetarian Afternoon tea. We all got a different tea to try. I had the Coronation tea which was best on the second pour (it really needed to steep), my mom had the Royal Blend, and my aunt had the Wedding Tea (created after Prince William and Kate Middleton’s wedding). My aunt and I ranked the teas as follows:
- Wedding tea
- Coronation tea but only after the second steep
- Royal blend
I ended up getting a handy tea strainer for loose leaf tea and a box of the Wedding Tea as my souvenir. I LOVE tea!
After tea we headed back to our hotel with my aunt via the underground. We almost got separated from my aunt at one point because she jumped on the train and the doors closed suddenly and without the normal beeping warning. Luckily they opened back up and we were able to get on and made it to our final destination with no problems.
After a brief rest in the room, we went to Da Mario for dinner again. Tonight I had a mozzarella salad as I wasn’t that hungry. There was garlic bread for everyone, my dad had a pasta dish, my brother his margarita pizza, and my mom the Regina pizza.
We debated going to a pub but decided to call it a night because we were worried we wouldn’t be able to get back to our hotel through the park since it closes at dark.
We said goodbye to my aunt and headed back to our hotel.
Until tomorrow,
A
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