Harry Potter Scenes

In Oxford is Christ Church, otherwise famous for Harry Potter Film Scenes. (I'm sure the original builders are turning over in their graves and that notion!)
This is the stairs leading to the great hall seen in the first film as the kids are led into the Great Hall

New College Lane

Another Bridge of Sighs. This one is by Hertford College into Queen's Lane.

A medieval Back street
A neat half timber house

Radcliffe Square

Entrance to library. (See Book on archway above door)

Christ Church Cathedral

Day 5 Oxford

Day 5 Rob, Melinda and I took off for Fairford, England where we would stay for 2 nights. This would allow us to see some southern cities. On the way there we stopped at Oxford. The consensus was that Cambridge is more picturesque, but Oxford had lots of "Harry Potter" sights.

Peterbourough Cathedral

Once again, we went to see the inside of this cathedral and it was closed due to services. At least this time the scaffolding was down and we could get a picture of the front. Maybe the third time we go here will be the charm and we'll actually get in!

Day 5 Burghley House

Took Rob and Melinda to Burghley House but this time went also to the gardens

It was a fancy water park for kids. Don't know if you can see the kids in their bathing suits running through the fountains

Trafalgar Square

Trafalgar Square
One of the many "little" cars

Buckingham Palace

Casual Pedestrian reminders on the pavement

(Must have had some casualties due to the Brits driving on the wrong side of the road!)
In front of Buckingham Palace

Protestors

Protestors on the way to Westminster Abbey

"Bobbie's"

Westminster Abbey

On to the Abbey!

Popular London Sights

London Bridge
London Eye
Big Ben

The Tower of London

Made the first stop at the Tower of London, now home to Britain's Crown jewels, once home to Kings and Queen's, then prisoners and first built as a fortress and palace. Most famously the site of King Henry VIII's executions of two of his wives.

Traitors gate, where the prisoners were brought in by boat

Guarding the Tower

I decided to enjoy the day at the outside cafe (Me in middle of picture with white coat on). I enjoyed watching the boats and people go by while Rob and Melinda went through the Tower. However, when I decided to get a bite to eat, I was soon swarmed by several birds. They thought I should share my snack. One bird sat on the other chair watching me and jumping on the table close enough to make me guard my snack. When I shooed him away he decided to dive bomb me. I quickly ate my last bite and he decided to go away. Needless to say, I didn't enjoy my snack as much as I thought I would. Brazen birds....

Day 4 Tubing to London

On Tuesday we hit London. We drove to Loughton and got on the train to London.
Whew... made the train... we even "minded the gap"

The River Cam

Ah... punting on a lazy spring day.
This time we didn't see too many people lose their poles or fall in. It was during the week and not too many drinkers.

The Bridge of Sighs taken from the back view

The Bridge of Sighs is named after the Venetian bridge. (Both are covered) Venice's is called that due to prisioners being led over the bridge to state prison. Cambridge's bridge has bars to stop the undergraduates from coming back late at night and climbing in!