Day 5: London

The alarm clock rings at 7 o'clock, but we are already up earlier. We hurry with the morning routine and leave right after 8 o'clock. The metro is crowded with commuters and we arrive at the Tower of London around 9 o'clock. We enter without long waiting times. The 11th century fortress is the most visited paid attraction in Great Britain. We take another audio guide, this time not included in the price. We decide to visit the Crown Jewels first, as they attract the most visitors. It is very impressive to see the crowns and scepters with their diamonds. Photography is not allowed. We are guided through the exhibition and can admire the exhibits in peace. Afterwards, we visit the White Tower in the middle of the complex. It displays a collection of various weapons and armor from some kings. Among them are two armors of Henry VIII, and it is clear to see how he has gained weight over the years. The weapons chamber is detailed and also includes some interactive stands for children. After the tour, the Tower is noticeably crowded. The queues for the Crown Jewels are very long, and we are glad that we started so early. Now we listen to a story about the prison, especially the story of Anne Boleyn, who initially came to the Tower for her coronation and was then beheaded here 3 years later. She was accused of treason and incest.
At the end, we visit the medieval chambers of Edward II and the castle wall. After 4 hours, we leave the complex exhausted. The crowds continue to flock in. After a snack by the Thames, we head to the nearby Tower Bridge. Our tour starts there at 1:50 pm. In the North Tower, we climb many steps up to 32.5 meters above the road to the connecting passageway to the South Tower. From there, you can see the city, Thames, and road through a glass floor. The bridge was opened in 1894 and has been repainted 3 times so far. The most recent paint job used 22,000 liters of paint. We take plenty of photos and then walk down the stairs in the South Tower and visit the engine room. There, the hydraulics of the bridge are explained vividly, how the bridge was opened for ships with coal 100 years ago. Unfortunately, the free audio guide app is only in English and our capacity for taking in information is already used up, so we have a hard time processing further information.
Now we walk along the Thames to the Sky Garden. On the 37-story skyscraper 'Walkie Talkie', there is an observation deck with a landscaped garden at the top of its tower, called the Sky Garden. You can go there for free if you have pre-booked a ticket. I reserved these tickets online 3 weeks ago, there's nothing you can do on the day itself. When we arrive upstairs, we walk around the garden and enjoy the view of the city from above. The view is amazing and clear, we can spot some landmarks. Unfortunately, the terrace is closed, the wind is too strong. Afterwards, we walk past the Monument, which commemorates the Great Fire of London in 1666. With our last destination of the day, St. Paul's Cathedral, we end the tour. The 111-meter-high church was rebuilt after the fire and is impressively in front of us. Unfortunately, our time and energy is not enough today to admire this masterpiece of architectural history. We find the nearest metro station and start the return to the campsite. We cook a quick dinner and look forward to a hot shower to wash away the strains of the day. Finally, I have to give a big shoutout to Erik and David. They are doing well, listening and looking interested. The past few days have been exhausting for us, but it's worth exploring this city.