London – Tower of London, Westminster and St. Paul’s

July 20, 2026

We were picked up at our hotel by our private guide Sandra Jack and departed via a chauffeur driven Mercedes for a drive along the river Thames Embankment to the City of London, London Bridge and ending at the Tower of London to visit the Beefeaters and Crown Jewels. The private guide and car was a surprise for my sister to celebrate her 75th birthday.

The Tower of London, officially His Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London is a historic citadel and castle on the north bank of the River Thames that at one point was a prison for Traitors. It was founded toward the end of 1066 as part of the Norman Conquest. It was a grand palace early in its history, and served as a royal residence. The Tower is a complex of several buildings set within two concentric rings of defensive walls and a moat.

The Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom, originally the Crown Jewels of England, are a collection of royal ceremonial objects kept in the Jewel House at the Tower of London, which include the coronation regalia and vestments worn by British monarch. Yes, my sister was plotting to take one of the crowns home but it would not fit in her bag…drat!!!

Legend dictates that at least six ravens must remain at the fortress, or the kingdom and the Tower will fall. Care for the birds is overseen by the dedicated raven master.

The Tower of London Beefeaters (Yeomen Warders) originally a royal bodyguard unit established in 1485, these iconic figures are famous for their distinctive Tudor uniforms and for guarding the Tower of London. They serve as ceremonial guards, tour guides, and caretakers of the famous Tower ravens. All Beefeaters are retired, distinguished members of the British Armed Forces with at least 22 years of service. The nickname allegedly stems from their generous daily beef rations from the King’s table. 35 of the Beefeater live in homes in the tower.

After we completed our exploration of the Tower of London we headed to Westminster Abby for lunch followed by a tour of the Abby.

Westminster Abbey is the spiritual heart of the United Kingdom, recognized globally as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For over 1,000 years, it has served as the ceremonial epicenter of the British monarchy, an architectural masterpiece, and the final resting place for the nation’s most revered icons. Since 1066, the Abbey has hosted every royal coronation. It is also home to the ancient Coronation Chair, the oldest piece of furniture in the UK still in active use. Beyond coronations, it is the favored venue for royal weddings, most notably hosting the 2011 wedding of Prince William and Catherine Middleton.

We ended the day’s adventures at St Paul’s Cathedral for Evensong service. This was one of the events I was most looking forward to and I was not disappointed. The acoustics in the cathedral were beyond all expectations.

During World War II, St. Paul’s miraculously survived heavy bombing during the London Blitz. Iconic photographs of the cathedral rising defiant and glowing through the smoke came to symbolize British resilience and hope.

As the principal church of the Diocese of London, it serves as the backdrop for major state events. It hosted the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer, as well as Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee services. As we sat under the dome for evensong I envisioned Diana walking down the isle with that incredible train that was need for the length of the isle she had to walk.

Inside, the famous Whispering Gallery—running around the base of the dome—is celebrated for its unique acoustics, where a whisper against the wall can be heard clearly on the exact opposite side. Pictures of the dome do not come close to how incredible the dome is!!!

After a day of exploring we were exhausted and headed back to the hotel!!! Tomorrow will be another long day of exploring if my sister survives today!!!