London – Day 8

Today was the first day that I didn’t really need to anywhere specific in the morning so I had a good sleep in and a late start. I had some people to catch up with later in the day so I thought that I’d first go and see Temple Church.

Unlike yesterday, the weather was sunny and just a little cool. Prefect weather for site seeing. As I was walking up from Temple tube station I found a nice sandwich shop to have breakfast. The interesting thing here I have found is that the ‘hop on – hop off’ buses have become very expensive compared to my last trip but things like food at cafes still remain pretty cheap. I suppose it is like everything else – you can always find a bargain if you are prepared to look.

After yesterday searching and searching for Temple Church I finally located it and was able to go inside. The trick I found is to locate the ‘dragon’ on Fleet Street and then basically take the next alley down toward the river.

 

The Temple Church was home to the Knights Templar who feature prominently in the Da Vinci Code as well as many other conspiracy theories. I was stoked that I had the change to go inside as I had never had that opportunity previously.

I now had about an hour to kill before I had my lunch appointment so I decided to head down to somewhere I had never been before in London – Monument.

As I walked back along the Thames river towards Temple tube station I came across another London dragon that marks the boundary between the cities of London and Westminster.

At Temple tube station I hopped upon the Tube and headed to Monument station, which as soon as I emerged I found the London Monument right in front of me.

Monument was built by Christopher Wren to commemorate the exact location at which the great fire of London started. You can climb to the top of the Monument to see the views of London. What you might not know is there 311 steps in a very tight winding passage that leaves you totally exhausted and gasping for breath at the top. I suppose that makes it all the more worthwhile. That and the fact that they give you a certificate when you go down to prove you have climbed it.

Entry to the Monument is cheap but it is still covered by my London Pass, which is turning out to be really good value!

After doing all that work to get up there I took my time to appreciate the views (really to catch my breath) before heading back down to make my lunch appointment.