Londinium & Lord's (Again)

With the win in four days at the cricket we found ourselves with time for an impromptu trip around London. The sky was overcast and threatening yet we opted for the 'open top' guided bus tour. It rained...heavily. However,we did see the changing of the guard at 'Horseguards' in Whitehall and afterwards continued on foot to the magnificent House of Commons and the Lords at Parliament Square. We really did not expect the beauty of Big Ben and its gilt highlights set atop an extremely decorative building housing the Parliament. No less a surprise was the sight of heavily armed police patrolling the entrances and surrounds of the building. The Westminster Abbey is adjacent and most imposing in its style. We adjourned to the 'Red Lion' for fish and chips and a pint of bitter for lunch before rejoining the bus and continuing over the Thames and back across Tower Bridge to The Tower and then home to the hotel.
In the evening we had a function at The Oval. A really great night with Merv Hughes chairing a talkfest between Geoff Lawson, Colin Miller, Terry Alderman and, Graham Gooch. We had the mandatory photos taken with them individually. As I said a great night topped off with a couple of bottles of a particularly fine South African red.
This morning we had a splendid tour of Lord's with all the trimmings. The Pavilion is magnificent. A Melbourne Cricket Club team played an MCC team today and Merv organized us a visit to the 'Dressing Rooms'...rather a treat. To stand on the balcony where our teams have stood for over a hundred years is a cricket followers heaven. We were also treated to a visit into the very modernistic media centre.
This afternoon we again toured London with a professional guide. Her knowledge and elocution was a pleasure to hear. For us the highlights were the Albert Memorial, St Paul's Cathedral and, Buckhingham Palace.
Have just arrived back at the hotel after dinner at a local pub, the 'Prince of Wales Feathers'.Settled for a vegetarian pizza and four pints of 'London Pride' bitter.
Tomorrow we hit the road to visit Bath and then onto Bristol to overnight before Swansea and the ferry to Cork.