Those were the days when the Shard was under construction. By the river Thames, we stood high up inside one of the capsules of the London Eye, the giant Ferris Wheel. Twilight was giving way to an English night and the city was just beginning to light up. A light drizzle, so typical of the place, was underway and the water drops clinging to the glass of our capsule appeared almost ethereal. We would have stayed for not more than half an hour on this giant Ferris wheel for the full rotation. But then, it's not about the duration. A lighted Westminster Palace with the Big Ben on the north bank of the Thames looked so imposing. Sitting slightly ahead, the Westminster Abbey was no less either. During the full decent, my eyes remained fixated on these iconic moments of the United Kingdom . Our decent continued and soon we were down below...out of the capsule. But within those few minutes, I knew, I collected some moments which would last forever.
The government district of Westminster used to be the capital of the Kingdom of England during medieval days. The original Palace of Westminster was built more than thousand years ago. From the eleventh to sixteenth century AD, the Palace of Westminster served as the royal residence of the Kings of England. Unfortunately, the Palace was destroyed by fire during the nineteenth century to be rebuilt again in its present shape. Owned by the Monarch by the right of the Crown, it serves as the meeting point of the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The Palace has served numerous ceremonial functions including the coronation of some monarchs.The Elizabeth Tower, popularly referred to with the name of its Bell, the Big Ben is an iconic landmark of United Kingdom and the symbol of the British democracy. Sometimes known as "A Dream in Stone", the Westminster Palace is indeed a classic beauty.
Located very close to the Palace is the Church of Saint Peter, more popularly known as the Westminster Abbey. While the stories of origin of the church dates back to tenth century AD, the Church continued its evolution to its present shape during the subsequent centuries. Considered one of the most sacred buildings of the United Kingdom, the Church is the traditional place of coronation and burials of British monarchs. King Edward's chair, on which the coronation takes place is also housed in this Church. As the burial site of many prominent British personalities including the monarchs, prime ministers, military leaders, scientists, poets and actors, the Church holds the highest significance in British cultural and religious history. In fact, its considered one of Britain's most significant honors to be commemorated here. Apart from the kings and the queens and the politicians, some notable names who rest here are of the likes of Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin and more recently Stephen Hawking.
Just adjacent to the Abbey and within it's ground is the Church of St. Margaret. It was founded by the Benedictine monks during the twelfth century and was for the locals.
It wont be an understatement to say that these three iconic monuments, the Palace of Westminster, Westminster Abbey and the Church of St. Margaret at the bank if the river Thames, form the heart of the United Kingdom. Together, they are also in the list of the UNESCO World Heritage sites. And seeing the three from the top of the London Eye, getting lighted up, is something to treasure forever.
I have been to London after this experience...mostly for work. I have experienced the city like a local...traveled in the tubes, the trams and the buses and walked by the Thames and the streets of London enjoying the frequent drizzles. But...its still so fresh..the few minutes spent in an capsule of the giant London Eye in an autumn evening still continues to remain one of my most enchanting and magical travel moments.
This post is for alphabet ‘U' of the #BlogchatterA2Z 2020 challenge:
U for United Kingdom
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