Sightseeing Day Friday 10th August 2012

 London Eye View I decided to have a day of sightseeing in central London. I was only supposed to use my Gamesmaker Oyster card whilst in uniform, but decided noone was likely to challenge me, so went fot it. I managed to park up at Epping, despite not being there very early. POETS day or a long weekend vibes obviously. Tube to Stratford on the usual Central line, then a swap to the Jubilee Libe to Canning Town then a very quck trip on the DLR to Royal Victoria. That left a quick walk to the Royal Victoria Dock to the Royal Docks Terminal of the Emirates Air Line.

Thank goodness the weather was good. No wind to cancel the trip and sunshine to show up the views, of which there were a lot. The 02, or as we have to call it at the moment, the North Greenwich Arena, ExCel London, the Thames Barrier, and the Olympic Stadium in the distance. The journey took 10 minutes, during which I managed to get a photo taken of me.

A quick walk to the North Greenwich tube station, and a 10 minute ride on the Jubilee Line, saw me arrive at Waterloo, to go for a trip on the London Eye. There was quite a long queue for tickets, but I decided this was my only chance to go up and see the view during the Olympics, which included a view of the beach volleyball court across the river in Horseguards, so I happily queued in the sunshine. It was well worth the wait. The wheel is 135 metres high and the one revolution trip takes 30 minutes. There were great views of The Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey,with Battersea Pwer Station in the distance, Charing Cross station and the Hungerford Railway Bridge and the Golden Jubilee Pedestrian Bridges, the City including the Gherkin and the Eye, The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office plus The Treasury with St. James' Park and Buckingham Palace in the background. Also County Hall, and Jubilee Park & Gardens.

Once my trip was over, I took a walk along the South Bank. There were loads of human statues, in the area around the Jubilee Gardens, plus an old fashioned merry go-round. I then meandered over the Golden Jubilee Bridge to catch the Tube back to Epping and my Hotel.