Day 21: Sep. 24, 2018 - Historical London Walk

Today we are joining a History Walk in Westminster. Our Guide's stated goal: To show some of the factors that have influenced British Culture in London. The three great institutions are The Crown, Parliament and the Church. We start at Westminster School which is a very elite private school for the upper, upper crust of British society.

Westminster School

The school is very close to the Abbey. The students include the future PMs, Industry Captains and other over-achievers of the Country. Alumni of this school include the architect Christopher Wren, philosopher John Locke, scientist Robert Hooke, composer Henry Purcell, historian Edward Gibbon, prime minister John Russell (19^th century), John Gielgud, Peter Ustinov, theatre director Peter Brook, and, more recently, Helena Bonham Carter and Rowan Atkinson (Mr. Bean).

Just beyond the school is a very quiet section of town. To call this area exclusive is to make an understatement. Homes here are hugely expensive but require more from the buyer than just money; the buyer must be the right kind of person to be allowed into this area. The upper crust live here, including MPs and other government officials. T. E. Lawrence (of Arabia) lived in this area, as did John Gielgud and a man named Reith, who started the BBC.

Amy and Wayne in Westminster

We continue on towards the river and hear the story of Millbank Prison. The name derives from the Monks of Winchester Abbey making bread here (near the river). Millbank was also the name of the prison built here from which inmates were loaded onto ships to be sent to Australia. It was closed in 1903. The area was renovated using bricks from the prison to build low-income housing. This is an example of how London continually reinvents itself.

We continue on the tour for 2 hours. Really interesting presentation. We end up crossing the Vauxhall Bridge, on the southeast side of which is the Headquarters of MI-6. The building and Vauxhall Bridge were used in a recent Bond film.

MI-6 Building from Vauxhall Bridge

Across the foot of the bridge from MI-6 is where a Chinese corporation has built crazy luxury apartments. These are owned by Mega-Wealthy Chinese who only live there for 3 or 4 weeks a year, and are too rich to bother with renting out the apartments for the rest of the year. The surrounding restaurants and other businesses do not look like they are doing very well. The area, for all its designed opulence, has no energy, none of the street excitement you see in the rest of the city.

It’s noon, time for lunch. We head back to Westminster to try to patronize the Red Lion Whitehall. No space is available, so we continue looking. It’s a chore, but we end up at The Clarence, just up the street. We have a nice lunch and a nicer rest. We are now done with our planned outing and have all afternoon free. Amy suggests that we stop at the Apple Store on Regent Street to buy a battery booster for her iPhone, so that is our new goal. We walk through Trafalgar Square and take a look at …

... Nelson's Column.

We continue on to Picadilly Circus and up Regent’s Street. We make it to the Apple Store and it is packed, as usual. It’s a couple of minutes before we are helped, but the purchase is smooth and easy.

Now it is my turn to suggest something. We are next to Mayfair, where Grosvenor Square is located. This is where the US Embassy used to be. I would like to see the Square to take in several sites: the 911 Memorial, which honors Brits who were killed in the attack.

911 Memorial

and Statues of Famous WWII Americans:

FDR Statue

Eisenhower Statue

I am a little disappointed: there is a plaque somewhere around here with a transcript of Eisenhower’s great D-Day Speech to the Troops (“You are about to embark upon the Great Crusade…”). But with all the construction, and the statue only partially accessible, the plaque is hidden from view.

It’s back to Amy to decide on something to do. I suggest that we are only a couple of blocks from the famous Selfridge’s Department Store. She likes the idea of seeing it, so we head to Oxford street to see what has become of the store since the TV series ended.

Selfridge's

It is very nice inside, indeed. The Book Shop is particularly stylish and well presented. We also stop in at the Food Court, but can't really decide to buy anything. Next, we cross the street and stop at the Marks & Spencer to buy dinner and head home.

It has been an exhausting, but very full and fun day.