We decided to go away in half term, and I planned a fun filled few days in Reading and then Greenwich.
Reading is pretty rubbish to be honest, there is bascially nothing to do there. Once we arrived, by train – we walked to the hotel, and then took a stroll down the Thames with the purpose of showing the girls where the man who commuted via helicopter lived – I think he may have moved.
After that we walked into town, had a look at the Oracle and then had a beer. Lacking for things to do we visited Vue and watched Lego Batman – then we had an exceedingly strong curry.
Bye Reading.
Next day was into the Big Smoke, which is always a little bit exciting, we crossed town from Paddington to Greenwich, and after checking in we took a stroll up to the observatory and straddled the east / west line and saw some interesting things about the first reliable clocks..
After this we walked under the Thames, which I always like, and got the train to the O2, where I surprised the girls with a walk to the top of the O2, on their new walkway. It’s quite good, but you don’t really get a sense of height and its pretty expensive (£30 each). But it was goodto do, and as we went up at 4:15 it was getting dark and the sights were pretty good.
After this exertion we had some chicken and went home to bed.
Next morning was breakfast in Bills, then a mooch around Greenwhich village where they were filming The Crown then onto our 10:40 sailing into Westmister. Nice little jaunt in the boat, then straight back over to Tower Bridge for the next surprise..
Tower Bridge has added glass walkways, I was a little nervous, but hought I would be able to do it – it was very weird trying. I had to hold Kate and Sian as I stepped on it, I was sweating cobs, and my knees were knocking, but after a while I managed it on my own. It was a very odd sensation when you know you are safe, but you body just wont do it!
After the Bridge we headed to a nearby German place so I could have a stein and a sausage, then we walked up Fenchurch Street to the Bank and had a look around the Museum where we picked up a gold bar – £400K’s worth – it was pretty heavy, and shows that those films where gold bars are being passed around must have very strong thieves.
After this we went to an “escape room”, where you are locked in a room and have to work out some riddles. We spent about half the time wondering out loud just what was happening, but then things clicked and we progressed nicely – in the end we did the lot,with 17 second to spare ;o)
After this it was a quick beer by BT Center and then the train back to Greenwich where we headed to an Italian which was off the tourist track – it was pretty good..
Home – bed. Had a quick look at Buck House the next day, then got the train home. We like London.
o2 – 7/10
Boat – 6/10
Tower Bridge – 8/10
Bank – 6/10
Escape Room – 7/10
Few days away – 8/10