Ealing Broadway - July 28th

Checking out neighborhoods... I liked Ealing. You can take a "fast" commuter rail type of train, and get to Paddington in eleven minutes. Or take the Central or District tube for a slower more local ride.

I got a late start today, so I started with a bangers and mash lunch at at The Broadway pub. I really like Aspall cider, and it's widely available on tap. I always ask at pubs in Boston if they have cider, and the answer is almost uniformly that they have nothing on tap, just one cider in a bottle. And never anything as good as Aspall or the other ciders I've enjoyed in both England and France.

Here's the front of the pub called The Broadway, where I had lunch.

And a couple of Ealing street views... I love the trees.

Kew Gardens - The model for the Whomping Willow (Harry Potter reference)

There is a tree at Kew that was the model for the Whomping Willow. This tree looks like it could be the one...

From Victoria to Bank via the number 11 bus

Sightseeing in London on a rainy day. The number 11 bus goes through historic neighborhoods and past interesting sites...

Elizabeth Tower, where the famous bell know as Big Ben hangs, and the Houses of Parliament

Approaching Trafalgar Square

Nelson's Column

Horace Jones' Temple Bar marker topped by Charles Bell Birch's heraldic dragon marks the point in London where Fleet Street, City of London, becomes The Strand, Westminster. The City of London traditionally erected a barrier at this spot to regulate trade. It is the most important entrance to London from Westminster.

The Gherkin (30 St. Mary Axe) and St. Paul's Cathedral separated by a new skyscraper still under construction.

The Pinnacle was supposed to be another remarkable addition to London's skyline, however construction has been halted, and the future of this project is unclear. The project, also known as the Bishopsgate tower, was put on hold with just 7 storeys of its concrete core in place, and  this has led to the project garnering its own, somewhat disparaging, nickname: “The Stump.”

More touring at Kew

The Queen's Garden at Kew Palace. It contains only plants grown in Britain before and during the 17th century.

This is the Palm House. It would be nice walking around the Palm House and climbing up to the walk at the top of the greenhouse on a winter day, with a nice cup of tea afterwards. It's warm and humid inside the Palm House, and it's full of gorgeous tropical plants from all over the world.

The plantings in front of the Palm House are part of the IncrEdibles display. All of the plants are edible, including purple kohlrabi and tomatoes.

Tea time at Kew

A real cup of tea! Heaven! (And a bit of cake...)

The Scenery at Kew

Lots of trees, LOTS of airplanes overhead (Kew is directly under Heathrow's flight path).

Kew Gardens The Treetop Walkway - July 29th

Kew Gardens was fun. I could imagine becoming a member of Kew if I lived nearby. It would be fun to come back a few times, and really see everything. Here is The Treetop Walkway with some nice views...

It was not a good hair day...