Day 27 - 33,966 Steps & 48 Flights of Stairs
Sketch, View from St. Paul’s Cathedral, Tower Bridge and Sky Garden
July 18, 2023: It was a very active day today! We ended up walking and climbing much more than we anticipated. The day started with breakfast at a restaurant called “sketch”. We had reservations in “The Glade”, a woodland themed bar and dining room, courtesy of Carolyn Quartermaine and Didier Mahieu - the artists behind the design. They serve breakfasts, lunches, afternoon teas, dinner and drinks in the evening. Their breakfasts are popular, with pastries, porridge, granola and fresh juices alongside omelettes, waffles and much more. I had a proper breakfast tea with my Waffle and Jimm opted for the Acai Bowl. It was a fun experience in a beautiful setting.
After breakfast we headed out to use our London Pass which gave us entrance to a number of attractions throughout the city. Our first stop was going to be the Tower of London, but we ended up walking near St. Paul’s Cathedral, so we decided to add that to our itinerary. This is where the flights of stairs were achieved! We decided to climb to the top of the dome. It is 528 steps to reach the “Golden Gallery” which has a magnificent view of London (see Photos and Videos page). It was quite the workout! St. Paul’s Cathedral was designed by Sir Christopher Wren in the late 17th century, it has been the Cathedral Church of the Diocese of London for over 1,400 years. In 1964, Martin Luther King was invited to speak by Canon John Collins. The congregation totalled over three thousand, all packed into the Cathedral. Aside from being an activist, Martin Luther King was also a Baptist minister and he spoke about three different approaches to life in a sermon now known as The Three Dimensions to a Complete Life. Additionally, in 1981, Charles & Diana wed there instead of the usual venue of Westminster Abbey due to the huge guest list.
Our next stop was the Tower of London. In the 1070s, William the Conqueror, fresh from his victory but nervous of rebellion, began to build a massive stone fortress in London to defend and proclaim his royal power. Nothing like it had ever been seen in England before. He wanted his mighty castle to not only to dominate the skyline, but also the hearts and minds of the defeated Londoners. As the most secure castle in the land, the Tower guarded royal possessions and even the royal family in times of war and rebellion. Kings and queens imprisoned their rivals and enemies within its walls and it was to sight of several famous executions including three queens of England: Anne Boleyn, second wife of Henry VIII; Catherine Howard, Henry's fifth wife and Lady Jane Grey. The Tower is an impressive site rich with history. It was even the first zoo of London. From the 1200s to 1835, the Tower housed a menagerie of exotic wild animals, never before seen in London, including lions and a polar bear given as royal gifts.
Next up was heading back to Trafalgar Square for our Murder Mystery Game. It was quite a hike back so on the way we stopped at Daly’s Wine Bar in the Temple Area of London across from the Royal Courts of Justice. A quaint little bar where we met some Aussies. We then finished our trek to a little shop where we picked up our envelope and started our investigation. The clues took us around Trafalgar Square, then to Chinatown, and finally Leicester Square where we were able to solve the crime. It was an actual case from 1899 about a debt collector that has gone missing in strange circumstances, leaving behind only a bloody briefcase. It was a fun way to get to know the area and learn about these famous London spots.
Now it was time to head back to the hotel and get ready for dinner and drinks at Sky Garden. Sky Garden is London’s highest public garden – a vibrant social space with 360-degree views of the city’s iconic skyline. They have lush greenery, landscaped gardens, observation decks, and an open-air terrace. It was stunning. We were able to watch the sunset while enjoying a cocktail and some small bites. Definitely worth it and a perfect ending to the day.
JImm’s rating for the day: *****