A short walk arounds London's West End taken in early September. Normally the term is used to describe the Theatre area as well as the famous shopping streets of Oxford and Regent Street so perhaps Westminster would be a better title though the term Westminster is associated with national politics and the nickname "Westminster Village" comes from the relatively small number of people involved and the fact that everyone knows each other and gossip like mad
The area has been in the global spotlight recently first with the anti-Bush demonstrations then a mere two weeks notice scene of jubilant celebrations following England's spectacular victory in the Rugby Union World Cup. Did anyone go to both I wondered at the time.
I was in town when they unveiled the new feature but missed "Cuddly" Ken Livingstone whose Loony Left policies have now been adopted by the Tory party causing the London Evening Standard to change his alias. At the time I thought they should have got the Scotland team of 1973 together with some of their fans for a little paddle just to show that we are the best of friends now.
Nelson's Column named after Admiral Nelson who was victorious at the Battle of Trafalgar.
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More of the renovated fountain area reflecting the naval theme of the square.
The square from a distance. The Church Spire is of St. Martin's in the Fields a famous church that also marks the end of St. Martin's Lane.
Admiralty Arch at the end of The Mall and known more recently for Norman Lamont's famous press statement following Sterling's exit from the European Exchange Rate Mechanism. More recently known as the location of famous kiss and make up dinner between Gordon Brown and Tony Blair, hosted by John Prescott. I guess the portions were generous or maybe Brown insisted on prudence given the possibility of tax rate rises but eneded up paying on his credit card called the "Nation's Credit Card" by the opposition Conservative (Tory) party..
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Onto St. James Park built on former hunting grounds but donated to the public but like the Mall was just about empty. Darren and Tracey from the commuter towns choosing to wander round aimlessly on the South Bank and try and be a bit arty but stupidly not having the courage to enter Tate Modern in case they got shown up.
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Another shot of the fountain showing the London Eye or Millennium Wheel which was far more popular than The Dome which never really got going.
The capsules hold thirty people and before you ask people have but someone has walked naked along 200 k.m. The Pennine Way which takes some beating.
An enhanced picture postcard shot of Westminster Abbey (left) The House of Commons and Big Ben (right.)
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Round to Lambeth Bridge and we get a shot of The Wheel and The House from the middle of the bridge.
This was taken during the Summer recess - I guess they are getting connected to the Internet when everyone is going broadband.
A building I didn't recognise but I think it maybe connected with the teaching hospitals on the South Bank of the Thames.
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The London Eye in profile.
An attempt at an arty shot of the wheel. The idea was to take two and combine them but I'm using Paintshop here so decided to cut my losses.
A shot from the bank showing the Jubilee Bridges which make the walk from Charing Cross to Waterloo far less stressful than it was. Charing Cross Station is the arched building.
Two more shots of the 60's built South Bank arts complex that earned the "Monstrous Carbuncle" tag. The staircase is notorious by the way.
And you can see how stress free the walk is compared with the old Hungerford Bridge on the left.
A silly shot at the end. A couple of nuns by a stall offering tea, coffee and baguettes though it looks to have closed down having misread the views of the British public.