London Day 1
The Journey
What a fantastic first day we've had! Despite facing horrendous traffic that made for a long journey into the capital, our pupils were absolutely brilliant throughout. Their patience, good humour and excitement were wonderful to see.
When we finally arrived in London, the children's reactions were priceless. Their faces lit up as they took in the iconic sights – the buzz of the city, the historic buildings and the famous landmarks whizzing past the bus windows. I'm quite sure they would have been happy to tour around on the bus for even longer!
Exploring the Tower of London
After dropping our bags at the hostel, we set off along the Thames Path to the Tower of London. We were incredibly lucky with the weather – brilliant sunshine which felt almost unbelievable after yesterday's torrential rain back home.
The children were captivated from the moment we entered. Highlights included:
- The Crown Jewels – the children gazed in absolute awe at the magnificent collection, their eyes wide with wonder
- The White Tower – they marvelled at the impressive suits of armour and medieval weapons on display
- The Norman Garderobe – this proved particularly popular (as you might expect with this age group!)
- Interactive Games and Activities – these brought history to life and kept everyone engaged
The visit culminated with learning about Anne Boleyn and her tragic end. The children showed themselves to be amazing historians and I was genuinely impressed by their knowledge and the thoughtful questions they asked.
Settling into the Hostel
After our historical adventure, we walked back to the hostel to check into our rooms. This is always one of the most exciting parts of any residential trip – finding out roommates, choosing beds, and getting settled into our temporary home away from home. I'm pleased to say that everyone was very happy with their rooms.
Evening Explorations
Once settled, we ventured out to explore our local area. We're fortunate to be staying directly opposite St Paul's Cathedral, which looked absolutely magnificent lit up against the clear January sky. The children were mesmerised by the sight.
Dinner at Pizza Express was a lively affair! The children thoroughly enjoyed themselves and left with full tummies after four courses – the noise levels certainly reflected their excitement and energy! 😵💫
Bedtime Reflections
As I write this, the children are getting into their pyjamas and preparing to settle down for the night. Today, they have been funny, kind, joyful, cheeky, playful and curious – it has been an absolute joy to spend the day with them.
We're all excited about tomorrow's adventures, though I'm hoping they're not too excited to fall asleep!
More updates to follow tomorrow.
Caroline, Kirsty, Sue and Dan x
