Sunday 9th June, 2024 - London

 This morning we spent a lot of time talking about the best way to get into the city 

none of the options are fantastic!!

We ended up deciding to catch the bus (Bus 31)from across the road, for about 3 stops, to the Swiss Cottage Corner, then another bus (bus 113) to Marble Arch, then we thought a bus to Trafalgar Square, but it actually changed route and stopped at Piccadilly Circus, and then another bus (Bus 12) to Trafalgar Square !!!! By this stage it was after 2pm, so at stop at Nero's for coffee and cake was in order.

John was wanting to see Westminster Abbey, again, 

so we walked to catch another bus to there, only to find that being Sunday, the Abbey was closed all day, due to prayer services - didn't even give that a thought !!!

We walked past the Privy Council building

and lots of statues near The Abbey,

Nelson Mandella

Mahatma Ghandi

Abraham Lincoln

George Canning

Millicent Fawcett

 before walking down Whitehall towards the Churchill War Rooms, which we had visited before and had there not been a lengthy queue, probably would have again. !! We were now almost at the back of Horse Guards Parade at St James's Park. 

We walked across the parade ground, past the stands that were being erected for the Trooping of the Colour, next Saturday and out onto Whitehall and visit with the Guards 

( and a sneaky photo of the security)

 and then to a Pub - The Clarence, 

where we met a young man who was working as barman, from the Central Coast of NSW, who just happened to be a Sydney Swans supporter.

After a few drinks, we walked out of the pub and hailed a Black Cab, back to our apartment.