Grand Tour Blog

London Day 2: Tower of London, Globe Theatre, and more

Writing and Photos by Taylor '20

Today we rose early to pack and prepare for the full day ahead of us. Following a delicious breakfast, we departed for the Tower of London. 

Once again, we boarded the double-decker bus at the stop right outside our hotel and rode it all the way to Bakerloo station where we shoved our way into the tube. The morning crowd of commuters, compounded by the closure of one of the major train lines, left us with barely any room to maneuver. After several transfers, we arrived at the Tower and began exploring. 

Here, we walked through the Bloody Gate and learned about the torture of prisoners held there, but the highlight of our experience here was most definitely the Crown Jewels exhibit. It was such an incredible experience to be within feet of the adornments used in the coronations of British kings and queens. Although no photographs were allowed, the overwhelming beauty of these pieces will surely leave a lasting impression on our hearts and minds.

Next, we crossed the Tower Bridge to reach Borough Market, where we stopped for lunch. The market overflowed with various foods and pastries from every country imaginable. With our stomachs filled, we walked to the Shakespeare Globe Theatre. 

The original structure, as well as the first reconstruction, were destroyed, so the current theatre we toured is actually the second reconstruction. Nevertheless, sitting in the wooden bench seats gave us a quick glimpse into the life of an original Shakespeare fan. 

Our final stop before dinner was the British Museum where, among other artifacts, we saw the famous Rosetta Stone. For dinner, we ate a restaurant downtown where we celebrated Matt’s golden birthday—18 years old on the 18th of October! To cap off the evening, we attended an exhilarating performance of Phantom of the Opera. The beautiful singing, spectacular acting, and thrilling special effects culminated in an overall amazing experience. Tomorrow marks our last day in London to wrap up our incredible journey through Europe, see you all very soon!