London/Normandy 2016: Day 6

WJU Students at Hampton Court Palace

   Today's journey in the U.K. had two major locations of interest on the list. First was Hampton Court

Palace. After a brief 40 minute train ride to the outskirts of the city, we disembarked and came upon the great palace that housed both King Henry VIII and King William III. The palace is built on a massive scale, not just due to the imposing building at the center, but also because of the royal gardens that encompass the entire grounds of the palace. The palace was full of stories about its former occupants, such as how the reign of Henry VIII and his quest for a male heir to the throne would have great consequences
for all of those in England for years to come.

In addition to the interesting exhibits detailing the reigns of Henry VIII and William III, the palace grounds also contained beautiful gardens. 

The King's Staircase

Hampton Court Palace from the Rear Gardens

After a few hours of trying to see all we could of the complex, we took a train back to the heart of London where we took a brief walk to the Imperial War Museum. The museum greets visitors at the gates with two large naval guns that once sat upon British battleships. 

V-1 and V-2 Rockets in the IWM's Main Lobby

The museum itself was composed of five levels that featured items related to Britain's various military involvements, such as in the two World Wars and in Northern Ireland. One of the highlights of the museum was the newly opened Holocaust exhibit that offers an in-depth examination of the events before, during, and
after one of the darkest moments in modern history. The exhibit had accounts from survivors, countless artifacts, and intense information that gave visitors a sense of the core motivation behind the Nazis' extermination of the Jewish people. Another highlight was the newly redesigned First World War exhibit. The museum placed military events into the larger context of British society at war. Its combination of interactive displays and historical artifacts resulted in an interesting and powerful display.

After the group completed its tour of the war museum, several students decided to take a ride on the London Eye. Now branded the Coca-Cola London Eye, it is Europe’s tallest Ferris Wheel with a height of 443 ft. On the south bank of the River Thames, it is London’s largest tourist attraction, offering visitors a bird’s eye view of the city below. They chose the eight-thirty to nine o’clock time slot Saturday evening—perfect for viewing the city both before and after the lights came on. 

Each car on the London Eye is fully enclosed, and it is not possible for them to sway because of the sturdy design of the Ferris Wheel. The ride is slow, taking thirty minutes for the wheel to turn the full 360 degrees. There is a round bench in the center of each car, and there are screens that give you information about the various famous landmarks around London that you can view from the Eye. For instance, when we tapped on the picture of Westminster Abby, we learned that it hosted Queen Elizabeth’s coronation and Prince William’s wedding, and that seventeen royals are buried there.

View from the London Eye

When they began their ride, the students were facing Waterloo and the Hungerford bridge. It was neat to watch the boats go by below, and to watch the skyline before you grow more and more expansive. Upon reaching the top of the Eye, the face of Big Ben as it stood over the Westminster bridge and the rest of Parliament lit up. The lights on the Eye illuminated the wheel Coca-Cola red, and the trees behind it were lit with dazzling blue. The sky darkened and the city shined. With every turn of the towering Eye came a new perspective, a new picture, a new experience.

Parliament and Big Ben

Others took a long walk through the city. After crossing the London Bridge, we came under the shadow of the iconic Big Ben clock tower that is attached to the Parliament building and strolled by Westminster Abbey on our way to Trafalgar Square. After enjoying the atmosphere for some time, we split into groups to find dinner before returning to the hostel.

A Trafalgar Square Lion being consoled by a WJU Student