Our last day in London

As with all visits to London, no matter how long you stay it never feels like long enough as there are always so many more things to see and do.


For our last day, our main goal was to see Westminster Abbey so we did that first thing in the morning.  Many of the English tourist spots have kids' trails highlighting things to search for and find that kids might be interested in.  In addition to seeing the beautiful abbey and the resting places of many famous Brits, this trail led us to through the cloisters and to the wonderful abbey gardens.  This was a real treat for Mommy and Daddy who had never been to the gardens before.  In fact, they didn't even know the gardens existed.

At home we drive everywhere (with the exception of ballet class, the park, and Yogurtland, which we can walk to), but in London we've done a mix of walking, Tube, and bus.  While waiting for the bus upon leaving Westminster we saw one of the famous red telephone boxes. 

Our next stop was the Royal Mews - home to the Royal Family's coaches, cars, and horses.   

Walking from the Mews, we went through St. James's Park where we took some time to play at the playground, look at the ducks and other animals, and enjoy views of Buckingham Palace.  

After lunch we headed to the Museum of London to learn about the history of London - from pre-settlement days to the present. 

A short bus ride brought us to Tower Bridge where we were able to go to the top of the bridge to enjoy great (albeit slightly scary) views of London, and then down below the street to see the engine room. 

In preparation for the Olympics, the Bridge had a kids' trail that included a ring toss, Olympic history, and trivia.  Ava competed and crossed the finish line with a bronze medal.

Ava made a quick stop to post a letter before walking along the river.

As a reward for all the walking she'd been doing (and because it was a rare bright afternoon) Ava got an ice cream cone.

Eating ice cream takes precedence over smiling nicely for a family photo. 

At City Hall we got to view an enormous map of London and saw Wenlock, one of the mascots for the Olympics. 

Ava then headed back to Coram's Fields one last time to play and to say goodbye to her bunny Dimple.