Having never traveled overseas to anywhere other than between NZ, Australia and Fiji, I didn’t pack properly. Took way too much stuff, some of which I dumped in a rubbish bin and some of which I posted home at a horrific expense.

Being a book lover I picked up some fantasic history books in London which then of course also had to be posted home as we were only at the start of our trip and I didn’t fancy lugging books all round Europe.

My advice to anyone going to London and Europe is to take as little as possible, there are plenty of Laundromats to do your washing, and it keeps the weight down to a manageable level. Especially when you have to lug cases up many flights of stairs.

Believe me you soon learn what is essential and what can be done away with.

When in London you just have to visit the Tower of London, Harrods, Piccadilly Circus, Petticoat Lane and all those other places that are synonymous with the old country.

We were so excited to be out and about and headed off to see the Tower of London by boat.

Taking a boat trip to the Tower of London is very relaxing and gives you time to take in the sights.  I bet it was a lot less stressful for us than it would have been for all those people in the past who were taken to the Tower prior to being executed.

A few of the notables  who were executed  at the Tower were:

• Anne Boleyn, the second wife of King Henry Vlll  who was beheaded on Tower Green;
• Guy Fawkes a conspirator who attempted to blow up Parliament House, in the gunpowder plot and tried to assassinate James 1;
• Lady Jane Grey, who was queen for only 9 days was beheaded.

There are many interesting tales to hear and of course you will get to see the Crown Jewels and the armory.

There are actually a number of towers that make up the Tower of London, so there is lots to see including the ‘Beefeaters’  in there elaborate attire, who are the Yeoman warders of the Tower.

One thing you really must do when your are in England is to go and see the crown jewels, what a magnificent collection.

The Crown Jewels of England are considered to be the most valuable and one of the largest jewelery collections in existence.

It is a truly awe inspiring experience to look on the wealth and craftsmanship of ages gone by.

The collection is made up of crowns ( for every occasion) swords, orbs and more.

There is the ring that was made for William IV’s coronation in 1831. Up until 1831 each Sovereign received a new ring that symbolised their “marriage” to the nation.

This tradition seems to have ceased in 1831. Pity really.

There is an amazing array of weaponry in the armory room. Below is a very small selection of swords, rifles and daggers set out in precision formation.

And of course no visit to London is complete without stopping in at the British Museum. Totally awe inspiring.

Another place you must visit when you are in London is  Harrods.

The food hall is a must to visit, they have just about anything you could want to buy including some very exotic foods.

Things are not cheap, so we brought the customary tourist purchase – a plastic bag and a mug. The toy section is also a must to visit.

Harrods is  well worth a visit if you have and hour or two to kill.

If you are heading into London then make sure you make some time to go to Madame Tussauds.

For those that don’t know, Madame Tussauds is where you can see all your favorite stars, both old and new, replicated in wax. The figures are so lifelike that you often find yourself apologizing to someone you bump into, only to find it’s a wax figure.

Here I am with a few of the rellies on the royal side. Bit stuffy this lot. Didn’t even get a cuppa. Thought the Duke of Edinburgh might crack a smile.

The waxworks is a fun outing and well worth the money.

We spent a few hours there and took heaps of photos with our favorite and not so favorite stars and personalities stars including Arnold Schwarzenegger, Adolf Hitler, Winston Churchill, the Beatles and the Queen.

Here I am chatting to my mate Anthony Hopkins. He looks rather dashing don’t you think!

And goodness me here comes Harrison Ford down the stairs.  Its amazing who you catch up with at Madame Tussard’s in London.

The beautiful Princess Diana

Marlon Brando