Visiting London was a great way to spend the 4th of July weekend! We were experiencing the hottest and driest European summer in years so my memories of London will be one of hot and dry rather then the stereotypical cold, foggy and wet.
We crammed in as much sightseeing as we could in 3 days and with a 5 year old in tow. The highlights for me were:
* The Tower of London ~ the Beefeater tour guide, a former British Army soldier, was cheeky as could be and well worth the price of the tour.
* Boat Ride on the River Thames ~ again, a hilarious narration of the city’s history. I love British humor.
* The London Eye ~ it took the first half of the ride for me to stop hyperventilating, but then I enjoyed the fabulous views of London and wanted to go again.
* Trip to Greenwich ~ as in Greenwich Mean Time.
* “Chitty, Chitty, Bang, Bang” ~ a play in the West End, fun for young and old alike.
* Hyde Park ~ FG was fascinated with water fountains at this time and loved the ones all over the city. This photo of FG is in Hyde Park:
We took the Tube everywhere we traveled and the only time I felt unsafe was our attempt to find a Lonely Planet recommended vegetarian restaurant in Notting Hill. As we left the Tube station, and ventured toward the address, the neighborhood got more than a little sketchy. Once we finally got to the door, we found it boarded up. Good thing we are early eaters and it was still light out. Lesson learned: we ALWAYS call a restaurant when going by a travel guide book, regardless of how new the book is.
Hope everyone has a happy and safe 4th of July weekend!
Displaced Beachbums 
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