We left the flat at around 10:30am and walked down to Green Park tube station and got a train up to Kings Cross Station.
Kings Cross Station
We walked from there to Amity’s home, Deb’s 2nd cousin, about a slow 20 minute walk away, it was very warm. It was really good to see Amity and she (& her flat mates) gave us a nice welcome. The rest of her family, Steve, Catrina and Eleanor all arrived shortly after. It was good to see them all. We sat in the backyard and talked for a while. Catching up on all the family news.
Around 11:55am we all walked down to Amity’s local pub, the Union Tavern, for an English pub Sunday Lunch. Deb has been wanting to have a Sunday Roast in an English pub forever. So it was a medium rare roast beef lunch for her with all the trimmings down to the Yorkshire pudding. She was very satisfied. There were 3 roasts ordered and 3 fish and chips, all delicious. Yes, I succumbed to the lure of British fish and chips. Yum.
After lunch we walked down the road a bit and jumped on a bus down to The National Portrait Gallery.
National Portrait Gallery
Mosaic floor tiles they discovered during the renovations are now a permanent part of the gallery flooring
Amity has just started working there as a volunteer. The gallery reopened last Thursday after an extensive 3 year renovation. We had a great time being shown around by our “private guide”. We are sure Amity will enjoy working in the Gallery and will learn a lot. There are so many great art works in the collection, from the middle ages through to modern times. 
I was a bit disappointed that the new Paul McCartney photographic exhibition was closed, but it was great anyway.
From there we walked to St James Cafe in St James Park just off The Mall. We all had a drink and cooled down for a while, then said goodbye to Amity.
From there we walked through the park and into the Westminster precinct. It’s always surprising / interesting to turn a corner and see Westminster Abbey there in front of you, it’s such an iconic building with such a lot of history. 
A little further around and the Big Ben tower came into view.
Winston and Big Ben
The last time we were here it was hidden behind scaffolding while it was being renovated. Who would have thought that its clock face was in blue writing with green trim above and gold highlights all over. 
They have done a magnificent job in the renovation. We then walked on a bit more and in the centre of the Westminster Bridge over the Thames you get a great view up and down the river 
and along the Houses of Parliament in the Palace of Westminster.
Eventually it was time to go, we said goodbye to Eleanor on the bridge, we will see her in Cambridge. And then we walked to the Underground at Westminster and caught a train to Green Park. We said our goodbyes on the train platform to Steve & Catrina, they had another train to get and we were walking home. It was so good to see them all again.
We walked home up the hill, to a long cold drink and the end of our day with family and exploring London.
