We started the next day with a nice breakfast at The Wolseley. The slick café-restaurant operates in a magnificently restored building which started out as a car showroom for Wolseley Motors Limited. With its impressive interior, the grand cafe is one of the most popular breakfast places in London. The menu here offers options from home-made pastries to full English breakfast. Great food aside, the well-dressed staffs here are attentive and professional. Their superb service is worthy of a deserving praise.

From Wolseley, we took a nice stroll along St. James’s Street towards Buckingham Palace. St. James’s Palace is just right at the end of the street.

Buckingham Palace

The crowd was massive and hard to get a good spot by the time we reached Buckingham Palace. And the Change of Guard is only happening an hour later, my gosh. After a long wait, the show is finally about to begin as the policemen on horseback stationed in front of the gates. The military band music starts to get louder as the contingent approaches. Being at a spot that is less than ideal for photo or video, I kept my camera to watch the infamous Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. The ceremony schedule is available here.

It is also possible to have a glimpse of the interior of Buckingham Palace during the summer months. This is, after all, one of the few remaining working Royal Palaces in the world and has been the official home of British monarchs since 1837.

Westminster Abbey and Big Ben

Thereafter taking a walk from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey through St. James’s Park which offers plenty of green spaces in between.

The beautiful gothic Westminster Abbey has seen important events of British monarchs taking place within its walls. From Royal coronation, Royal burial to Royal weddings where the most recent one of Prince William and Kate walking down the aisle here. Ticket price is on the higher side which may induce certain exclamations not welcome inside the place of worship…opps…thank goodness for our London Pass.

The grandeur interior is amazing with its vaulted ceiling, stained glass windows, and important artefacts.

Then it’s time to say hi to Ben. I am of course talking about the world-famous clock tower from Palace of Westminster or the Houses of Parliament, which is indeed striking and beautiful. Big Ben is perhaps the country’s most iconic landmark which is rather evidently seen in all London related advertisement. Although technically speaking, the name Big Ben is actually referring to the giant bell inside and not the clock tower.

There is also the tourist-popular red phone booth nearby which attracts plenty of photo-taking crowds too.

Arsenal Emirates Stadium

So this will disclose the London side which I support in the Premier League. But sadly, I did not manage to get in for the Arsenal Emirates Stadium tour as it was a match day – no ticket for that either. Oh man. Hopefully, I will be able to do both when I come back to Arsenal home ground in future.

I am drawn to Premier League ever since ‘The Iceman’ Dennis Bergkamp’s transfer from Inter Milan to Arsenal.

That was one of the greatest and proudest moments for all Arsenal supporters.

And there’s of course, the superb goal machine Thierry Henry.

London Eye and Big Ben at night

London’s giant Ferris wheel or London Eye offers a panoramic view of the city and we took a ride after night falls. It’s not crowded in the evening hence we did not have to wait long for our turn to board the capsule. The London Eye is located just across River Thames from the Palace of Westminster, offering a fantastic view from the top. The London Eye Experience lasted for around 30 minutes and we head straight to Westminster Bridge.

Meeting Big Ben at night brings on a different mood. The goldish lights which illuminate the whole Palace of Westminster really enhance its attractiveness to beyond stunning. Looking great Ben!