Westminster & Shakespeare

We started our morning off with a visit to Westminster Abbey and walk through the government district. The walk from our tour book finished up at Trafalgar Square where we took in the National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery.

Westminster Abbey was fascinating. We saw the burial places of Queen Elizabeth I and many other monarchs. Also on display is the coronation chair. Sorry but no pictures inside the Abbey.

The National Gallery was also great. My favorite piece had to be the Arnolfini Wedding Portrait.

After an early dinner we headed over to the Globe Theatre and watched a production of Macbeth.

That was thoroughly entertaining. Seeing it performed there really puts the contemporary productions into perspective.

View of the Houses of Parliament from over the bridge.

And Big Ben.

Westminster Abbey: for such an important building, it's actually not very large.

I'm not sure if this picture is "legal" but it was outside the main building, supposedly it's Britain's oldest door. According to the sign, most likely constructed in the 1050s.

St. Martin-in-the-Fields has brass rubbings that you can do. Here's me working on one. It's more work than you think.

Tah dah!

The Globe Theatre from across the Millennium Bridge.

The cheap seats had to perform as part of the set as a scene from Dante's Inferno.

And a view of the inside of the theatre.