London Day 2: Big Ben across the Thames River. Most people think that that is the nickname for the tower, but it is actually the name for the bell that resides inside the tower on the north end of the Palace of Westminster. Being the third tallest free standing clock tower in the world, Big Ben is the largest four-faced chiming clock in the world. Over 150 years old, the clock tower was constructed in 1858.

At 316 feet tall, the tower was renamed the Elizabeth Tower this year in honor of Queen Elizabeth's 60th year on the throne.

And no, my picture taking is not bad. The tower is actually leaning, not as bad as Pisa, but it is leaning due to excavation of tunnels near Westminster. Until 2003, the tilt was not visible to the human eye.

Designed by Augustus Pugin, the clocks are laid out in a stain-glassed manner. With 312 pieces of opal glass, the clocks diameter is 23 feet wide.

A view of The London Eye from Westminster Bridge.

A street looking down the Houses of Parliament. The tops of the street lamps have golden crowns on them.

A look back at the backside of The Houses of Parliament which were the royal homes from 1042 to 1547. Largely destroyed by fire in 1834, the palace was rebuilt by Pugin in a Victorian Gothic Style. These are currently the homes for the Houses of Lords and The Houses of Parliament.

Just another beautiful building on Parliament Square.

Finally, the sun is coming out.

The famous towers of Westminster Abbey. Westminster is a working church. Prayers are said on an hourly basis inside the abbey. Constructed in the 10th century, the abbey was under the authority of the Catholic Church. In the 16th century, The Church of England split from Rome.

Since the crowning of William the Conqueror in 1066, Westminster has been the place where all future coronations of queens and kings has occured. This is where they all have been buried since then too. This is the greatest church in the English-speaking world.

Waiting in line for the abbey to open. Built by Edward the Confessor, the abbey was completed only a week before his death. A day after its consecration, he was buried.  

Since 1100, sixteen royal weddings have been held in the abbey, the most recent being Prince William and Kate Middleton. Only two of the weddings performed were for actual sitting monarchs.

Among many kings and queens buried in here, other notables include Geoffrey Chaucer, Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin, Robert Browning, Alfred Lord Tennyson, and George Handel. Another note, Elizabeth I had her half-sister, Mary Queen of Scots, killed. They are buried across the hall from each other in the abbey.