Away in April 2011 – Day 10 Travel to London

London, Radlett, St Albans City Station

Sunday, 10 April 2011

A long drive to Radlett, near St Albans, to return the hire car to their premises. On the way, stopped at a Welcome Break – a whole complex of eateries, children’s play area and facilities off the motorway. Motorways fast moving but some road works going on around Luton and crawled at 50 miles per hour for several miles. Foliage on trees changing with soft creep of many hues of green and gold, and splashes of white blossom.

Shortish walk to Park Street railway station only to find midlands trains not running due to strike by train drivers. Rang for taxi to St Albans station and then caught train to St Pancras international railway station. Very short journey – comfortable train. Lovely old station – they have preserved the old tunnels behind a lot of glass. Lots of international comings and goings – Paris anyone? Brussels?

Followed signs to underground. Purchased 7 day oyster travel card for £32.60 each and then caught tube to Vauxhall station.

When we were on Black Prince Road (and almost at our apartment according to our map) we were stopped by a man asking whether we needed help. He turned out to be the manager of the apartments! Very odd.

Our accommodation for 7 nights is the Westminster view apartment Southbank, on the 4th floor. The apartment is very roomy with separate bedroom and bathroom and open plan kitchen/ lounge. We even have our own balcony with inner courtyard views! Embankment convenience store is just below so handy for breakfast and other basics.

We don’t have direct views from our apartment but we are literally on Southbank, a promenade along the Thames. Westminster, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben are across the river from us.

Dinner at The Rose, a pub/ cafe not far from us – not flash – roast beef for Anthony and salmon fishcakes for me.

Then lovely walk along the embankment to the London Eye, on our side of the river, which turns out to be tourism central – very crowded with tourists of all ages and nationalities, all taking photos as sun starts to fall.

But we’re in London! Feels unreal.

Back in our apartment, can’t get internet connection and call to manager for password not successful. Will try again in the morning.

	Welcome break off M1 The South [Map]		View from our apartment in London [Map]
	Our apartment block – close to original ship build [Map]		Yours truly with view to Westminster [Map]
	Southbank along the Thames [Map]		Big Ben [Map]
	The London Eye [Map]		Oyster card – London in your pocket – priceless [Map]