Details of the day out

Hayley's record of all the things they got up to...

• Changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace.
• Picnic in St James Park (where the kids could run around a little) - whilst there some of the marching band from the changing of the guard came past the little spot where we were sitting.
• We went back to see Buckingham Palace on the way to our walk down the Mall. Whilst walking we spotted the London Eye and Big Ben - the children learnt that it is the bell that is called Big Ben not the actual clock. The children had a chance to cool off a little in the fountain at the police memorial.
• We walked just round the corner to Horseguards Parade. Mavis led the kids in marching like the guards around the courtyard and a sentry came marching in to take his position right next to the children.
• We came through the tunnel where another sentry was guarding just off the main path and the children put their rucksacks down, hats off and put their empty drinks containers down so they could go and have a photo with him. Adam then in turn took a photo of Yvonne (Mavis), Aimee and myself with the guard. We had told the children that the sentries were NOT allowed to talk or smile etc. But as we were having our photo taken the guard quietly said "what a wonderful group of kids you have". we said thank you and he then said- "I can’t believe they picked their rubbish up without being told to”
• We then walked down Westminster to Downing Street. The children talked to one of the police men who was guarding the gates and he pointed out where the prime minister lives.
• We then walked to the Houses of Paliament and saw "BIG BEN" up close and the children couldn’t believe how tall it was. When we were walking round to see Westminster Abbey one of the children asked if they could have a photo taken with some policemen, who were only too happy to oblige.
• We then walked to the Abbey, the children were especially excited about this bit- they talked about the Royal wedding etc.
• We got the underground to Tower Hill where we saw the Tower of London and we talked about the old houses in the corner which were the only houses in the area to have survived the great fire of London.
• We were walking round the perimeter when we saw a Beefeater in his little hut at the entrance and children liked talking to him. They were fascinated with Traitors Gate..
• We walked over Tower Bridge over to the other side of the Thames. Our day was slowly coming to an end. We walked along the embankment past HMS Belfast to London Bridge. Over London Bridge -whilst the kids were singing 'London Bridge is falling down'.
• Finally it was back on the underground to St Pancras- calling in the London 2012 shop to get some souvenirs before getting on the train home.