Fall10 - London Trip

LONDON ~ by Katelyn Spainhour

Students left the Manor at 6.30pm after dinner on Thursday night. Our coaches seem to have a talent for lulling all of their passengers to sleep, because most of the 127 or so students who went slept for most of the three hour journey. Upon our arrival to the Royal National Hotel in downtown London, we all checked into our rooms and were free for the rest of the night. Most took to exploring the surrounding square, and others jumped right into experiencing London’s night life.

On Friday a group of students met at the Tower of London to have a private tour with one of Dr. Green’s old friends. She told us interesting facts about the tower’s history and modern uses and pointed out different buildings and elements, explaining the significance of each. It was an interesting tour, and we got to see things like the crown jewels and Henry VIII’s armor. After the tour, students went their separate ways.

My group ended up at the British Museum. This was a great place to visit, because admission was free and many infamous items are displayed. Many of us took pictures by the Rosetta Stone and an Easter Island Head, two iconic artifacts. Other groups took the afternoon to explore other great attractions such as the Big Ben, the Eye of London, Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, and the National Gallery. All of these places are easy to get to via the Tube, or London Underground. Though the system takes a little getting used to, many students easily got the hang of it, and travel all over the city quickly and cheaply.

Two other aspects of London vastly enjoyed by students were shopping and theater. There are little shops and shopping squares sprinkled throughout the city, so shopping breaks were very easy to take. Theaters are also much more abundant than in American cities. Students enjoyed buying discounted tickets for any show of their choice and going to the theater at night. Some shows attended were Stomp, Chicago, and Billy Elliot. Each group had a different story to share about their theater experience, and the coach ride back Sunday afternoon was buzzing with stories of the weekend.

The group made a stop at the Hampton Court Palace before heading directly back to the manor. Students were free to explore the palace for a few hours. Some took advantage of the free audio guides, some were entertained by the actors portraying characters who initially inhabited the palace, and still others explored the beautiful gardens and surrounding grounds. Overall, it was a nice stop before heading back to the manor for another week of school.