Day 43 28 June 2023 London Sky Garden, Borough Markets & more

We got the Central Line Underground from Bond St Station down to Bank Station. Once out from the underground we let our phones get their bearings before heading off to The Sky Garden.
Sky Garden is London’s highest public garden and offers 360-degree views of the city. We (Deb) had organised our tickets a while ago, so we bypassed and long line of walk-ups. We got through security with no problems and then hopped in a lift to the 35th floor, where it all happens. Our lift got to the 35th floor, stopped, and then headed back down to the ground floor where we were met by a group of people in Hicks vests. Apparently the fire alarm had gone off and the building had to be evacuated. We were so glad we weren’t in the lift before us, I think they had to walk down from the 35th floor. We talked about it for a while and decided it wasn’t worth waiting around for the all clear, we can come back another day.
As we left we noticed a small church just around the corner from Sky Garden, it was very non-descript, industrial looking building, it was St Margaret Pattens. It was built by Christopher Wren in 1687 and escaped damage through WWII. It has a 200’ spire, Wren’s 3rd tallest. The church has several “unusual features, the one I like is a punishment box carved with the Devil’s head where wrongdoers had to sit during the church.
We decided we would walk to The Borough Markets via The Tower Bridge, and so around the back end of The Tower of London. On our way we saw a very inviting pub, The Hung, Drawn and Quartered! (Overflow from the Tower?) Just down the road from there we found the All Hallows by the Tower Church which was founded in 675ad. It has had a very colourful history with the site having remnant 2nd century tessellated flooring, the Saxons establishing the church on this site, and then many changes of ownership through Medieval times, and many additions and modifications over the years, especially after the damaged caused by bombings in WWII. Due to it proximity to The Tower of London it was used for the temporary burial site for those executed by beheading in The Tower. Sir Thomas More being one of the more notable temporary “residents”.
It was an interesting walk from there to the Tower Bridge. I guess most people don’t really get to see the far side of the Tower of London. It looks great and interesting in all its medieval construction.
The Tower Bridge, what can you say. It is one of the most recognisable structures in London. It’s even more impressive close up. The shear scale of it is awesome.
From there we walked along the southern bank of the Thames down to The Borough Markets. The markets were really buzzing when we got there, it was midday as we arrived. The markets are a mix of food stalls and fresh produce stalls. There were so many people there getting lunch, and there was a huge range of foods you could get, everything from Oysters to Pies. It was fun watching the business of the market.
We left there and made our way over the Thames to St Paul’s Cathedral via London Bridge. And yes can confirm, this London Bridge is definitely (currently) not falling down!
We got to St Paul’s at the east end of the building, not the normal way you would approach it. It’s easy to forget just how big this building is. A very grand scale old building dating back to humble beginnings in 604ad to the current building that was designed by Christopher Wren in the 17th century (1675-1710). An earlier gothic styled “Old St Paul’s ” was almost completely destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666. We decided we will come back and visit the Cathedral during Evensong, rather than pay the 23 pound a head for a “tourist” visit. It is becoming more common to have to pay to go inside churches as a tourist.
From there we got the Tube from St Paul’s Station to Oxford Circus. We did a little bit of shopping at Waitrose’s on Oxford St and then went over to Cavendish Square Gardens afterwards just to have a bit of quiet time, sat on the grass, in the park with all the locals, and there was lots of them.
We then walked home and tried to get the cricket (Day 1 of the 2nd Ashes Test at Lords) on TV. No luck there, it’s on pay TV. So put on a VPN and watched the telecast from home. Tech is great when it works.