Traveling on business seems to be a cycle. It’s not always that sexy to travel as you have to many times work two time zones. The cycle from your home is a trip to the airport, flight to another city, transport from airport to hotel, sleep, then back and forth between the hotel and the meetings you are in the city to visit.
Recently, part of the iPBX Circle team at AINEO was in London for meetings with other CSPs (Communications Service Providers). As there were additional meetings in the next week, we had to stay over the weekend. Usually, staying over the weekend just means time away from the family and doesn’t have much appeal. However, we had heard rumors about the depth of history, architecture, and raw economic power of the once ‘ruler of the modern world’, the United Kingdom.
Instead of spending the weekend in a hotel room as we’ve done so many times, we were introduced to company that knew London. Not just knew where Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and the Eye of London was, they really knew London. We met the boss, Mario, of Mario’s City Strolls for what turned out to be an afternoon adventure in Westminster and the City of London (not to be confused with Greater London).
Although, our group was small, Mario spent the time with this little group from Japan to show us the history, the architecture, and the influence that Great Britain had and how they took it to the bank. It truly was the British Empire for a reason. London is a very rich city.
You always hear about bad food and bad weather in London. The weather can certainly be wet, but if you have the opportunity to visit London, we highly recommend you do it. The hotels are very overpriced so maybe better to find other places to stay.
It was very refreshing to absorb a significant amount of information about the city you were visiting for a change. The beauty of it was that we were always in contact. We just bought a local mobile SIM and were always available when we needed to be. Below are some of the things we learned in London with the pictures to match.
Special thanks to Mario’s City Strolls for helping us to compile it. Here we go!
Admiralty Arch, the entrance to the Mall from Trafalgar Square. 
The Palace of Westminster serves as the meeting place of the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom 
Nelson’s Column is a monument in Trafalgar Square in the City of Westminster, Central London built to commemorate Admiral Horatio Nelson, who died at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805 
dome of St Pauls Cathedral. North side of the Thames.Built by the great British architect, Sir Christopher Wren, who was responsible for the rebuilding of most of The City of London and its churches, post the Great Fire of London in 1666. 
George and Vulture – the pub that Dickens would frequent. Now the meeting place once a year of The Pickwick Group, a group of Dickens aficionados 
Corinthian Column of Portland Stone, in Paternoster Square, in memory the The Great Fire of London, 1666, and The Second Great Fire of London – The Blitz, 1940. 
Leadenhall Market. The oldest market in the City of London from the 1100s, and original site of TheRoman Basilica and Forum 1800 years ago. 
The Jamaican Wine House, originally opened as The Turks Head/Pasqua Rosee Coffee House in 1652 
Tower Bridge 1894. The gateway to “The City of London” 
The Tower of London, built by the last ever invader of Britain, William The Conqueror, in 1078. It served as a prison from 1100 to 1952 
Another view of The Tower of London