Day 4: Hampton Court, London Eye, and a bit of the modern city

 Up early to get to Waterloo to catch a train to Hampton Court Palace, where Henry VIII liked to escape from the heat of London.  Unfortunately, there was no escaping the heat for us.

C/D/B/A/O/H and I went (S went to the Chelsea Physic Garden instead).  We took a commuter line out of Waterloo, and from our final stop, the palace was a short walk.  

Our guide Sheila was dressed in Tudor fashion (she must've been sweltering) and gave us a whirlwind 60-minute highlights tour.  From the guide and the decor, it's clear that despite being used by dozens of Monarchs over hundreds of years, Hampton Court Palace is situating itself as the locus for Henry VIII stuff. We saw kitchens, privies, portraits of dead wives, crowns, tapestries, etc.  

We also saw that Hallie's favorite singer, Kacey Musgraves, is giving a concert here next week (we're sad we have to miss it!).  

After the tour, we did a hedge maze (we got out pretty quick) and then headed over to the Magic Garden, an area set aside for kids to play, etc.  It was too hot for H and O to be into playing outside, so most of zipped back to the train to head back into London (A stayed a bit longer and took the next train, scratching her history itch).

On the train back to London, our group of six decided to do the London Eye next (I begged off), since it was right next to Waterloo.  

They had a great time seeing all of London from the pod, and I checked out a few bits of modern and nearer London history: the Leake Street Arches graffiti tunnel and the old departure point for the London Necropolis Railway.

Also, here's a hotel made out of shipping containers!

We met back up and headed home.  S had committed she and I to watching O while her parents went out, but by the time I got back, plans had changed and I was no longer needed to sit. But, since I was hot and sweaty and expected to need to be back for family dinner soon enough, I just stayed in and cleaned up. 

Dinner was Turkish delivery, and we all crashed out pretty early.  The girls zonked by 7.50, and the adults were struggling to keep ourselves awake until 9.30.