June 23, 2026

 June 23, 2026 – London

This morning we enjoyed a very posh breakfast at The Savoy before heading off to Westminster Abbey. We learned that POSH means Port out, starboard home. The best seats when traveling by boat. Our local guide, Simon, was extremely knowledgeable and quite a storyteller. His tour brought the Abbey to life.

I had always thought of Westminster Abbey as simply the place where royal weddings and coronations took place—the events we have all watched on television. I was amazed to learn that more than 3,000 people are buried or memorialized there. In addition to kings, queens, and religious leaders, the Abbey honors scientists, writers, poets, and other notable figures.

The scientists’ section includes Sir Isaac Newton and Stephen Hawking. Nearby are memorials to literary greats such as William Shakespeare and Oscar Wilde. There is even a memorial honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

One of the most moving sites in the Abbey is the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior. Most of the memorial stones are set into the floor and walked upon by visitors. However, the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior is treated with special reverence. No one walks across it—not kings, queens, nor even royal brides. It is surrounded by red poppies, reminiscent of the famous poem In Flanders Fields, and serves as a powerful reminder of those who made the ultimate sacrifice.

After leaving Westminster Abbey, we walked across the street to see Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament. Then we separated from the group, as many had already visited the Tower of London and wanted to spend their afternoon elsewhere.

Matt and Amy had purchased the same entry time as we had, so the four of us took the Underground together. We had been warned that the trains would be crowded due to earlier flooding, but compared to New York City, it didn’t seem too bad. After a few stops, we arrived and walked to the Tower entrance.

By then the day had become quite warm, so our first stop was the Crown Jewels. We also saw knights in armor and soldiers on horseback. Afterward, we found a café where we cooled off and grabbed a bite to eat.

Later, we walked over to Tower Bridge and spent some time watching the boats pass beneath it. A pleasant breeze was coming off the river, making it a wonderful place to sit and relax.

When we were ready to leave, we caught an Uber from The Tower Hotel back to The Savoy. I must say, there is something to be said for Waymo! We saw some Waymo cars yesterday, but not down where we needed one.  Unfortunately, our Uber driver had been smoking, and the lingering smell made for a less-than-pleasant ride.

Back at The Savoy, we relaxed and prepared for our 5:00 p.m. dinner and evening performance of Six.

Meanwhile, Susie and Jeff chose a different adventure. After Westminster Abbey, they walked back toward the hotel, passing Downing Street—though the Prime Minister was nowhere in sight. They enjoyed beautiful views of the London Eye as they strolled along the Thames.

After lunch at The Savoy River Restaurant, Jeff visited the National Gallery, where he saw incredible works by many of the world’s great masters.

Dinner this evening was organized according to which show each guest would be attending. Jeff and Susie were seated with one group while we joined Sharon and Jack, along with Candy and Eddie Klingenberg. It was enjoyable spending time with people we had not gotten to know as well during the trip. We shared stories about hobbies, retirement, and grandchildren.

The featured entrée was Beef Wellington, and it was absolutely delicious.

Our show, Six, was playing at the Vaudeville Theatre, conveniently located directly across the street from the hotel. We were fortunate to have aisle seats, (Michelle asked for them specifically) allowing Steve a little extra room to stretch out.

The theatre was packed, and audience members were enjoying cocktails right at their seats. The show itself was highly entertaining—bright, energetic, visually stunning, and incredibly fast-paced. I would describe it as Ariana Grande singing the history of King Henry VIII and his six wives!

Since we have spent the last two weeks learning so much about English history, many of the stories were already familiar, which made the performance even more enjoyable. Hearing the British accents added another layer of authenticity to the experience. Judging by the audience’s enthusiasm, many people had clearly seen the show multiple times.

Afterward, we returned to the hotel and waited for Susie and Jeff, who had attended The Play That Goes Wrong. They thought it was very cleverly written, although the humor leaned a bit too heavily toward slapstick comedy for their tastes.

To end our final evening in London, we enjoyed a nightcap at The American Bar.

Off to bed.

Good night, London.