A weekend getaway in London

This is a very super delayed post....visited London almost a month ago (2nd weekend in April) and didn't have time to update till now.  It's a birthday gift from me to Angelene =) Not her first time there but definitely my first! =P Still funny to recall how I kept this as a secret from her until her birthday...

We went down south to London by train and reached London Euston station in 2 hours' time, bright and early in the morning. What surprise it was for us when we bumped into Winston, whom we just got to know at a BBQ 2 days earlier! We had breakfast together and chatted for a while before moving on our ways....as we were at Euston station and not too far away from King's Cross we decided to take picture at the famous platform 9 3/4 for the Hogwarts Express....unfortunately for us King's Cross station was undergoing some renovation and hence the platform had a 'plastic'-ky appearance =.=

waiting for Hogwarts Express...hehe

We then took the tube to our first destination....St Paul's Cathedral. It's a really magnificent building....we didn't go in as we had to reserve our precious time for other attractions =P

us in front of St Paul's Cathedral

We then walked around (and got a bit lost in the process) to finally reach our second destination, Tate Modern....planned to cross the Millennium Bridge to reach the Tate at first but somehow we made a big round and went the other way....but we made it anyway thankfully =) We went in to explore a bit and then decided to move on to the other main attractions of London.

in front of Tate Modern

We passed by Borough Market....quite unexpected as we didn't know it's open that day! Happy happy =D

Borough Market

bought our lunch and enjoyed them under the sun

 As we headed out of the church courtyard (where we had our lunch) to continue on our journey, we saw some people handing out coupons for free coffee...so we took one each =D Such unexpected surprises...as I told Angelene, 'God knows you like visiting markets so he led us here; God knows you love coffee so He provided coffee for you!!'

got coupon for free coffee each!!! And we claimed our BIG cup of latte and mochaccino....haha

Continuing our journey with free coffee in our hands...

HMS Belfast

Tower Bridge ♥ 

 Took loads of pics at Tower Bridge....we set up the tripod and start posing away...many passers-by looked at us as though we are photography professionals LOL. We crossed the Tower Bridge to reach the Tower of London, a castle...there was quite a long queue so we didn't go in. (And besides I had been in a castle before)

Tower of London

We then took the tube to Pimlico to check in our hostel....left our luggage in the rooms and then took teh tube again to Westminster. As I walked out of the Underground station I could see so many people on the streets!! Busy busy busy...so this is what they call 'hustle and bustle of the city'!

Big Ben!

Westminster Abbey

London Eye

Met a group of people who were giving out free hugs near Big Ben....such happy moments =)

We walked down the street to Trafalgar Square...so shocked to see even MORE people.....the huge crowd!! I mean I expected a lot of people at London....but not this huge crowd!

Event promoting Amsterdam...hence the orangy colour

To avoid the crowd we 'escaped' into the National Gallery nearby. Photography inside the gallery wasn't allowed though and we walked out a few minutes later....

the National Gallery

We walked along Oxford Street for some shopping and took the tube from Piccadilly Circus to Leicester Square, where we headed to Chinatown for dinner....

Chinatown

Angelene told me that she used to go to London with her friends 'just for the famous roast duck'....hence our dinner:

DUCK...YUMMY!

colourful badges

Night time came....time to go back for rest =)

Next morning we visited Buckingham Palace. Wanted to see the Changing of the Guards but unfortunately didn't have the chance as the London Marathon was going on and the 'ceremony' was cancelled! But oh well, not many people get to 'experience' London Marathon during travelling right...

Buckingham Palace

London Marathon

Wellington Arch

We even managed to go to Hyde Park

And finally, Harrods!

The Diana and Dodi Memorial inside Harrods 

Spent some time shopping at Harrods...then time to rush back to check out, grab our luggages and cabut! But before that we need to have lunch....Angelene wanted me to try the English pub food but we didn't know where to look for one...as we headed back to Euston station we prayed that there's a pub somewhere near the station so we could have lunch and get back to catch the train in time....and God listened =) There's a pub just opposite the train station! We happily went in for our late lunch =D

Sunday roast (beef or chicken)....with Yorkshire pudding!

bought these macaroons near Harrods earlier...finally got to taste the famous Laduree macaroons (supposed to get them in Paris), though in London~ 

Though the time spent was short, though we were both dog tired at the end of both days...I'm sure we did enjoy ourselves...I love our pics =D