The City
When Londoners talk about "The City," they are referring to the oldest part of London, which extends from the Tower of London to the Blackfriars Bridge, about one square mile. Of this area, the Tower of London is the oldest part. The Tower of London is not just one tower, but huge fortified complex of structures built over centuries. The oldest part of the tower was built in 1066 by William the Conqueror. It is called the White Tower. It actually has four towers and sits at the center of the complex.
The view of The City from the Tower Bridge
The Bermonds Locke Hotel, where we were staying for the second part of our trip, is just a short walk from the Tower of London, so on our first day there we walked up Tower Bridge Road, over the River Thames on the Tower Bridge, and into "The City" for some exploring.
The Tower Bridge under cloudy skies
We walked all the way around the tower to see it from all sides.
Saint Paul's Cathedral
Like many cathedrals in Europe, St. Paul's Cathedral stands on the site of a much older structure. The original church was built in 604. The current structure, which was completed in 1710, is the result of restoration after a catastrophic fire in 1666. The design was created by Sir Christopher Wren, architect of many historic buildings.
The Cathedral largely escaped damage during the German bombing of London in World War II, although parts of it were hit by bombs on two occasions.
The dome of St. Paul's
Entering St. Paul's
I've seen a lot of churches and cathedrals in Europe, and St. Paul's is certainly one of the grandest. It is notable both for its scale and the grandeur of its architectural features in the English Baroque style. "Magnificent" does not even begin to describe it.
Entering St. Paul's
One of the most striking features of St. Paul's is the dome. The dome rises 365 feet above ground level. You can walk up into the dome and look down from three levels. The climb is strenuous, and after the first tier the stone staircase is so narrow and steep that it is not permitted to turn around and go back. I didn't want to exhaust myself to the rest of the evening's activities, so I went only up to the first tier.
Inside the dome
Past the dome and approaching the altar
A pulpit and some of the many organ pipes
The Altar
Below the ground floor is the Crypt. The Crypt contains graves of many historic British people, such as
Christopher Wren and Lord Nelson. There are also many memorial statues and plaques commemorating historic figures, including Florence Nightingale, Lawrence of Arabia, Samuel Johnson, and William Blake.
The Blake memorial is faded, but you can still make out the inscribed text:
To see a world in a grain of sand
And a heaven in a wild flower
Hold infinity in the palm of your hand
And eternity in an hour
