Westminster – where the Houses of Parliament compete with Big Ben’s brand new bling

Hello, lovely readers!

After far too long, I’m back in full exploration mode — but this time with the silver fox, the gorgeous man I married last year. He’s the one I quoted the final line of Mary Oliver’s The Summer Day to:

“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”

His answer? “Exactly what we’re doing now — exploring this wild, beautiful world, with you. Starting right here!”

And so, here we are — beginning our UK adventure in the very heart of London: Westminster.

First Impressions

We’ve just popped out from the Tube into blazing sunshine and boom! Right there before us is Big Ben (actually The Elizabeth Tower – Big Ben’s the bell within) and the Houses of Parliament, sparkling after a recent city spruce-up for the coronation. It’s the sort of view that makes you stop in your tracks and say, “Jet lag? What jet lag? Time’s a wasting!.”

Our delightful hosts help forge the way through the throngs of tourists queuing to take selfies in front of Britain’s famous red phone booths, around the ubiquitous red double deckers and on to the quiet street that will be our home for the coming weeks. No time for naps, kit shed, comfy sneakers on, we launch straight into a ‘hood recon.

Westminster Abbey — But Not a Cathedral?

Despite what the postcards suggest, Westminster Abbey isn’t actually a cathedral. It’s a Royal Peculiar — a church under the direct jurisdiction of the monarch, not a bishop. The actual cathedral here is Westminster Cathedral, and it’s a dazzling surprise for first-time visitors. And that’s the big G, the silver fox!

Westminster Cathedral — Bold and Beautiful

Forget Gothic spires — this striped beauty is Neo-Byzantine glamour at its best, built between 1895 and 1903. With massive towers and marble floors, it feels like a mix between Venice and Istanbul. Its 87-metre bell tower is the tallest church tower you can climb in the UK — and yep, the views are worth the climb.

We were surprised to see that inside, large sections are left bare brick, intentionally unfinished so that future generations can add their own artistry. It’s a rare, living work-in-progress.

Oh! And if you’re a music lover, take note: the cathedral’s choir is world-famous, and Pope Benedict XVI even attended a service here. We recommend attending Evensong, the acoustics are spectacular!

Of course we wrap the day with a perfectly crisp Gin & Tonic in a typical British Pub and settle down for a long overdue catch up with C and A, our lovely hosts. Aussies themselves, here for a work post and packed with the knowledge of true locals. They’d already stocked us up with Tube apps, and all things designed to keep the ball rolling as we launch into three weeks of exploration.

Quirky Westminster Facts You’ll Love

• Britain’s Oldest Door – lives in Westminster Abbey. Oak, circa 1050 and still hanging in its original frame.
• Graffiti on the Coronation Chair — schoolboys from the 1700s and 1800s couldn’t resist carving their names into this royal relic.
• The World’s Shortest War — Zanzibar surrendered after 38 minutes in 1896, following a British declaration from Westminster’s Foreign Office.

Why Westminster Feels Like the Heart of London

Wow! It’s more than grand buildings and famous names — Westminster is a living museum of ceremony, tradition, and little surprises. Walk a few minutes in any direction, and you’ll stumble onto something with a story to tell.

And that’s exactly what this trip will be about — the grand and the unexpected, stitched together into a map of memories.