The Palace of Westminster, the home to the Parliament of the United Kingdom, was constructed after a fire in 1834 destroyed the previous palace that had served as the royal residence for centuries. Commonly known as the House of Parliament, the pres
Seated in the shadows of Tower Bridge on the south bank of the Thames River in London. The drawbridge was opened in 1894 and spans 800 feet between its twin towers that rise 200 feet above the water. The towers house the machinery that raises the
A black cab cruises by The Red Lion, at 48 Parliament St. in London. Given its proximity to the United Kingdom's political institutions, including the Houses of Parliament, the pub is famous for its patrons who work in government.
A London perspective from the Victoria Embankment on the South Bank of the River Thames.
“Peace descending on the Quadriga of War '' – the largest bronze statue in Europe – crowns the Wellington Arch at Hyde Park in London. Created by Adrian Jones, the allegorical sculpture features a four-horse chariot (or quadriga) and Nike, the wing
This street, Great Scotland Yard, connects Northumberland Avenue to Whitehall in the St. James’ district of Westminster in London. The street also has connections to English and Scottish royalty and the city's police. In centuries past, this scene
Storefronts on Neal Street at Covent Garden in London. (Photo: © Joseph Kellard/kellardmedia.com)
I took this photo of the London skyline while walking along the Thames River east of the Tower Bridge.
The Palace of Westminster, the home to the Parliament of the United Kingdom, was constructed after a fire in 1834 destroyed the previous palace that had served as the royal residence for centuries. Commonly known as the House of Parliament, the pres
The reconstruction involved what would become perhaps the world’s most famous timepiece, the Great Clock of Westminster, better known as “Big Ben.” Designed in the Perpendicular Gothic Revival style by Augustus Pugin, the first stone of the clock to
A view of Queen’s Walk, a pedestrian path that meanders along the south bank of the Thames River in London. The promenade extends 2.4 miles from Tower Bridge, from where I snapped this photo, to Lambeth Bridge. London City Hall and The Shard, the ta
“Still Water” is a monumental bronze sculpture of a horse’s head located at Achilles Way near Hyde Park Corner in London. British artist Nic Fiddian-Green completed the 33-feet-tall sculpture in 2011 and it was installed that year at Marble Arch. Th
During a boat tour I took on the River Thames, I felt at times a bit like I was back home in New York.  
On the river’s banks were not just skyscrapers but also an ancient Egyptian obelisk also rising into the London sky, just like the one in C
The Tower Bridge and the North and South banks of the Thames River seen from the observation deck on the 69th floor of The Shard, London’s tallest skyscraper. The Royal Navy’s World War II-era battleship HMS Belfast is permanently docked on the rive
The dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral is one of the most iconic sights of the London skyline. 

The famous cathedral atop Ludgate Hill, the fifth built on that site since St. Paul’s founding in 604 AD, was constructed after the previous church was destro
The dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral is among the most iconic sights of the London skyline. 
 The famous cathedral atop Ludgate Hill, the fifth built on that site since St. Paul’s founding in 604 AD, was constructed after the previous church was destroy
My photo of the north bank on the River Thames features the old and the new: the Tower of London, right, and a cluster of skyscrapers—among which are the Walkie Talkie (otherwise known as 20 Fenchurch Street), far left, and The Gerkin, the egg-shape
The Gherkin, designed by British architect Norman Foster, was completed in 2003. This elongated oval-shaped skyscraper is constructed of steel, glass, and concrete, and rises 41 stories into the London sky. Formerly known as the Swiss Re Building, t
The Palace of Westminster, home to the Parliament of the United Kingdom, lines the north bank of the Thames River in London. The building is better known as the House of Parliament, where that body has met for more than 900 years. Most of the mediev
The White Tower rises from the center of the Tower of London, one of England’s most historic sites on the northbank of the River Thames.  William the Conqueror broke ground on the Tower of London in 1066 and started to build the White Tower pr
@ Facade_St. Paul's Cathedral_London_Photo Joseph Kellard.jpg
The dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral is among the most iconic sights of the London skyline. 
 The famous cathedral atop Ludgate Hill, the fifth built on that site since St. Paul’s founding in 604 AD, was constructed after the previous church was destroy
The south tower of the Tower Bridge and the Shard, the tallest skyscraper in London.
The Palace of Westminster, the home to the Parliament of the United Kingdom, was constructed after a fire in 1834 destroyed the previous palace that had served as the royal residence for centuries. Commonly known as the House of Parliament, the pres
The Palace of Westminster, the home to the Parliament of the United Kingdom, was constructed after a fire in 1834 destroyed the previous palace that had served as the royal residence for centuries. Commonly known as the House of Parliament, the present building was constructed between 1837 and 1860.
Seated in the shadows of Tower Bridge on the south bank of the Thames River in London. The drawbridge was opened in 1894 and spans 800 feet between its twin towers that rise 200 feet above the water. The towers house the machinery that raises the
Seated in the shadows of Tower Bridge on the south bank of the Thames River in London.The drawbridge was opened in 1894 and spans 800 feet between its twin towers that rise 200 feet above the water.The towers house the machinery that raises the two bascules, both weighing in at approximately 1,000 tons.The bridge connects the Greater London boroughs of Tower Hamlets and Southwark.(Photo: © Joseph Kellard/kellardmedia.com)
A black cab cruises by The Red Lion, at 48 Parliament St. in London. Given its proximity to the United Kingdom's political institutions, including the Houses of Parliament, the pub is famous for its patrons who work in government.
A black cab cruises by The Red Lion, at 48 Parliament St. in London. Given its proximity to the United Kingdom's political institutions, including the Houses of Parliament, the pub is famous for its patrons who work in government.
A London perspective from the Victoria Embankment on the South Bank of the River Thames.
A London perspective from the Victoria Embankment on the South Bank of the River Thames.
“Peace descending on the Quadriga of War '' – the largest bronze statue in Europe – crowns the Wellington Arch at Hyde Park in London. Created by Adrian Jones, the allegorical sculpture features a four-horse chariot (or quadriga) and Nike, the wing
“Peace descending on the Quadriga of War '' – the largest bronze statue in Europe – crowns the Wellington Arch at Hyde Park in London.Created by Adrian Jones, the allegorical sculpture features a four-horse chariot (or quadriga) and Nike, the winged Greek goddess of victory, who holds a laurel wreath, the classical symbol of victory.The Wellington Arch was designed by architect Decimus Burton and constructed between 1826 - 1830 to commemorate Britain's victory in the Napoleonic Wars. Originally, the triumphal arch featured Matthew Cotes Wyatt’s colossal bronze equestrian statue of the 1st Duke of Wellington, who defeated Napoleon at Waterloo in 1815, from which the arch took its name. But Jones’ Quadriga replaced Wyatt’s statue, which stood 28 feet high and weighed 40 tons, the largest equestrian figure ever created.(Words and Photo: © Joseph Kellard/kellardmedia.com)
This street, Great Scotland Yard, connects Northumberland Avenue to Whitehall in the St. James’ district of Westminster in London. The street also has connections to English and Scottish royalty and the city's police. In centuries past, this scene
This street, Great Scotland Yard, connects Northumberland Avenue to Whitehall in the St. James’ district of Westminster in London. The street also has connections to English and Scottish royalty and the city's police.In centuries past, this scene consisted of open courtyards within the Palace of Whitehall, the primary residence of English monarchs from 1530 to 1698, the year it was destroyed by fire.During the 17th century, government buildings were built on the yards, which housed visiting Scottish royalty and diplomats and also served as residences for English civil servants. The 19th century saw London’s Metropolitan Police build their headquarters at 4 Whitehall Place, the rear of which faced Great Scotland Yard. This served as the public entrance for the police, and the station was thusly referred to as Scotland Yard, a name that has become synonymous with the London police. 

The Scotland Yard headquarters were relocated in 2016.
Storefronts on Neal Street at Covent Garden in London. (Photo: © Joseph Kellard/kellardmedia.com)
Storefronts on Neal Street at Covent Garden in London.(Photo: © Joseph Kellard/kellardmedia.com)
I took this photo of the London skyline while walking along the Thames River east of the Tower Bridge.
I took this photo of the London skyline while walking along the Thames River east of the Tower Bridge.
The Palace of Westminster, the home to the Parliament of the United Kingdom, was constructed after a fire in 1834 destroyed the previous palace that had served as the royal residence for centuries. Commonly known as the House of Parliament, the pres
The Palace of Westminster, the home to the Parliament of the United Kingdom, was constructed after a fire in 1834 destroyed the previous palace that had served as the royal residence for centuries. Commonly known as the House of Parliament, the present building was constructed between 1837 and 1860.The reconstruction involved what would become perhaps the world’s most famous timepiece, the Great Clock of Westminster, better known as “Big Ben.” Designed in the Perpendicular Gothic Revival style by Augustus Pugin, the first stone of the clock tower was set in 1843. When completed in 1859, it rose 316 feet into the London sky from the north end of the palace.The clock with four quarter bells was designed by Edmund Beckett Denison and George Airy, and constructed by Edward John Dent and Frederick Dent. The clock began ticking on May 31, 1859, and the bells were first struck on July 11. The clock was nicknamed "Big Ben" after Sir Benjamin Hall, who supervised its installation.The palace lines the north bank of the River Thames. Nearby, the Westminster Bridge, which crosses the river, was opened in 1862 as a redesign of the original bridge that opened in 1750. The bridge is painted in a shade of verdigris green to mirror the color of the leather seats in the House of Commons.
The reconstruction involved what would become perhaps the world’s most famous timepiece, the Great Clock of Westminster, better known as “Big Ben.” Designed in the Perpendicular Gothic Revival style by Augustus Pugin, the first stone of the clock to
The reconstruction involved what would become perhaps the world’s most famous timepiece, the Great Clock of Westminster, better known as “Big Ben.” Designed in the Perpendicular Gothic Revival style by Augustus Pugin, the first stone of the clock tower was set in 1843. When completed in 1859, it rose 316 feet into the London sky from the north end of the palace.The clock with four quarter bells was designed by Edmund Beckett Denison and George Airy, and constructed by Edward John Dent and Frederick Dent. The clock began ticking on May 31, 1859, and the bells were first struck on July 11. The clock was nicknamed "Big Ben" after Sir Benjamin Hall, who supervised its installation.
A view of Queen’s Walk, a pedestrian path that meanders along the south bank of the Thames River in London. The promenade extends 2.4 miles from Tower Bridge, from where I snapped this photo, to Lambeth Bridge. London City Hall and The Shard, the ta
A view of Queen’s Walk, a pedestrian path that meanders along the south bank of the Thames River in London. The promenade extends 2.4 miles from Tower Bridge, from where I snapped this photo, to Lambeth Bridge. London City Hall and The Shard, the tallest building in Western Europe, rise in the background. 

“Still Water” is a monumental bronze sculpture of a horse’s head located at Achilles Way near Hyde Park Corner in London. British artist Nic Fiddian-Green completed the 33-feet-tall sculpture in 2011 and it was installed that year at Marble Arch. Th
“Still Water” is a monumental bronze sculpture of a horse’s head located at Achilles Way near Hyde Park Corner in London. British artist Nic Fiddian-Green completed the 33-feet-tall sculpture in 2011 and it was installed that year at Marble Arch. The artwork was moved to its current location in 2021. I captured the horse’s head, which is lowered to drink water, just before a black cab drove by it. (Photo/Words © Joseph Kellard/kellardmedia.com)
During a boat tour I took on the River Thames, I felt at times a bit like I was back home in New York.  
On the river’s banks were not just skyscrapers but also an ancient Egyptian obelisk also rising into the London sky, just like the one in C
During a boat tour I took on the River Thames, I felt at times a bit like I was back home in New York. 
On the river’s banks were not just skyscrapers but also an ancient Egyptian obelisk also rising into the London sky, just like the one in Central Park in Manhattan, I’d thought.

And it turns out that the granite obelisks on each side of the Atlantic are twins. Pharaoh Thutmose III (1481-1425 BC) commissioned both structures for the Temple of the Sun in Heliopolis, where they were erected around 1450 BC. 

In 12 BC, the Romans found the obelisks toppled and partly buried in the desert.They were transported to Alexandria and installed at a temple devoted to Julius Caesar that was built by Cleopatra. Today, the obelisks that stand nearly 69 feet tall and weigh more than 220 tons are both called “Cleopatra’s Needle.” 
In 1819, Muhammad Ali, who ruled Egypt and Sudan, presented one obelisk as a gift to the United Kingdom, a gesture that commemorated two battles won by Lord Nelson and Sir Ralph Abercromby in Egypt in 1801. However, it was not erected on the Victoria Embankment in Westminster, now between Waterloo Bridge and Golden Jubilee Bridges, until 1878. The other in Central Park was erected in 1881, having been gifted to the United States to commemorate the opening of the Suez Canal.  
The Tower Bridge and the North and South banks of the Thames River seen from the observation deck on the 69th floor of The Shard, London’s tallest skyscraper. The Royal Navy’s World War II-era battleship HMS Belfast is permanently docked on the rive
The Tower Bridge and the North and South banks of the Thames River seen from the observation deck on the 69th floor of The Shard, London’s tallest skyscraper. The Royal Navy’s World War II-era battleship HMS Belfast is permanently docked on the river and serves as a museum.
The dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral is one of the most iconic sights of the London skyline. 

The famous cathedral atop Ludgate Hill, the fifth built on that site since St. Paul’s founding in 604 AD, was constructed after the previous church was destro
The dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral is one of the most iconic sights of the London skyline. 

The famous cathedral atop Ludgate Hill, the fifth built on that site since St. Paul’s founding in 604 AD, was constructed after the previous church was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666. Architect Christopher Wren (1632-1723) was appointed in 1668 to rebuild St. Paul’s after serving as an unofficial advisor to repair the deteriorating church before the fire.  “Wren’s design combined Neoclassical, Gothic, and Baroque elements in an attempt to symbolize the ideals of both the English Restoration and 17th-century scientific philosophy…,” reads the Encyclopedia Britannica’s online article on St. Paul’s.

Built primarily with Portland stone, the cathedral was declared complete in 1711. The dome rose between 1697 and 1708, the year the last stone was set on the 850-ton lantern at its top. The triple dome structure consists of an outer drum made of wood and lead, an inner dome visible from the interior, and a brick cone with iron chains at its base that support the lantern.

Two pineapple-crowned bell towers frame the west facade. The southwest tower features a clock nicknamed “Big Tom'' and a geometrical staircase leading to the cathedral’s library and archives. In 1941, during the Battle of Britain, bombs hit the cathedral, and repairs were made after the war.  At his death, Wren was buried in the crypt at St. Paul’s.
The dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral is among the most iconic sights of the London skyline. 
 The famous cathedral atop Ludgate Hill, the fifth built on that site since St. Paul’s founding in 604 AD, was constructed after the previous church was destroy
The dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral is among the most iconic sights of the London skyline. 
The famous cathedral atop Ludgate Hill, the fifth built on that site since St. Paul’s founding in 604 AD, was constructed after the previous church was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666. Architect Christopher Wren (1632-1723) was appointed to rebuild St. Paul’s in 1668 after serving as an unofficial advisor to repair the deteriorating church before the fire.  “Wren’s design combined Neoclassical, Gothic, and Baroque elements in an attempt to symbolize the ideals of both the English Restoration and 17th-century scientific philosophy…,” reads the Encyclopedia Britannica’s online article on St. Paul’s.
Built primarily with Portland stone, the cathedral was declared complete in 1711. The dome rose between 1697 and 1708, the year the last stone was set on the 850-lantern at its top. The triple dome structure consists of an outer drum made of wood and lead, an inner dome visible from the interior, and a brick cone with iron chains at its base that support the lantern.
In 1941, during the Battle of Britain, bombs hit the cathedral, and repairs were made after the war.  At his death, Wren was buried in the crypt of St. Paul’s.
My photo of the north bank on the River Thames features the old and the new: the Tower of London, right, and a cluster of skyscrapers—among which are the Walkie Talkie (otherwise known as 20 Fenchurch Street), far left, and The Gerkin, the egg-shape
My photo of the north bank on the River Thames features the old and the new: the Tower of London, right, and a cluster of skyscrapers—among which are the Walkie Talkie (otherwise known as 20 Fenchurch Street), far left, and The Gerkin, the egg-shaped building partially obscured on the right. 

William the Conqueror began building the Tower of London during the 11th century. Throughout its history the structure has served various functions, from royal fortress, palace and mint to a political prison and place of execution, as well as an arsenal and a public records office. 

The Walkie Talkie is a 34-floor office building designed by Rafael Viñoly, a Uruguayan architect, which was completed in 2014. The structure is topped by the Sky Garden restaurant and bar.Designed by British architect Norman Foster and completed in 2003, The Gerkin is a steel, glass and concrete structure of 41 stories that features offices and a restaurant and bar.
The Gherkin, designed by British architect Norman Foster, was completed in 2003. This elongated oval-shaped skyscraper is constructed of steel, glass, and concrete, and rises 41 stories into the London sky. Formerly known as the Swiss Re Building, t
The Gherkin, designed by British architect Norman Foster, was completed in 2003. This elongated oval-shaped skyscraper is constructed of steel, glass, and concrete, and rises 41 stories into the London sky. Formerly known as the Swiss Re Building, the Gherkin houses various offices, as well as a restaurant and bar. I took these photos from various points along Tower Bridge.
The Palace of Westminster, home to the Parliament of the United Kingdom, lines the north bank of the Thames River in London. The building is better known as the House of Parliament, where that body has met for more than 900 years. Most of the mediev
The Palace of Westminster, home to the Parliament of the United Kingdom, lines the north bank of the Thames River in London. The building is better known as the House of Parliament, where that body has met for more than 900 years. Most of the medieval part of the building was destroyed by fire in 1834, and the complex was rebuilt into the present palace between 1837 to 1860. The Westminister Bridge, in the first and third photos here, crosses the Thames.
The White Tower rises from the center of the Tower of London, one of England’s most historic sites on the northbank of the River Thames.  William the Conqueror broke ground on the Tower of London in 1066 and started to build the White Tower pr
The White Tower rises from the center of the Tower of London, one of England’s most historic sites on the northbank of the River Thames. William the Conqueror broke ground on the Tower of London in 1066 and started to build the White Tower probably around 1078. The White Tower served as a keep, a fortified tower, and residence within the castle that the nobility used as a potential final refuge should an adversary breach the outer fortication. The White Tower also houses the Chapel of St. John the Evangelist, a semi-circular Romanesque-style structure also built in the 11th century. Through the centuries the Tower of London served various functions, from royal fortress, palace and mint to an arsenal, political prison and place of execution. Several people intimately or otherwise closely associated with Henry VIII were executed at the Tower of London, including Anne Boleyn (his second of six wives) and her cousin Catherine Howard, Catherine Howard (his fifth wife), Lady Jane Grey (his niece), Thomas More (his Lord High Chancellor), Thomas Cromwell (his chief minister), Cardinal John Fisher (a Catholic who refused to accept him as head of the Church of England) and Thomas Seymour (the brother of his third wife, Jane Seymour).Today the Tower of London is a museum and the White Tower houses the Royal Armouries collection of arms and armours that includes those of Henry VIII, Charles I and James II. 
@ Facade_St. Paul's Cathedral_London_Photo Joseph Kellard.jpg
The dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral is among the most iconic sights of the London skyline. 
 The famous cathedral atop Ludgate Hill, the fifth built on that site since St. Paul’s founding in 604 AD, was constructed after the previous church was destroy
The dome of St. Paul’s Cathedral is among the most iconic sights of the London skyline. 
The famous cathedral atop Ludgate Hill, the fifth built on that site since St. Paul’s founding in 604 AD, was constructed after the previous church was destroyed in the Great Fire of 1666. Architect Christopher Wren (1632-1723) was appointed to rebuild St. Paul’s in 1668 after serving as an unofficial advisor to repair the deteriorating church before the fire.  “Wren’s design combined Neoclassical, Gothic, and Baroque elements in an attempt to symbolize the ideals of both the English Restoration and 17th-century scientific philosophy…,” reads the Encyclopedia Britannica’s online article on St. Paul’s.
Built primarily with Portland stone, the cathedral was declared complete in 1711. The dome rose between 1697 and 1708, the year the last stone was set on the 850-lantern at its top. The triple dome structure consists of an outer drum made of wood and lead, an inner dome visible from the interior, and a brick cone with iron chains at its base that support the lantern.
In 1941, during the Battle of Britain, bombs hit the cathedral, and repairs were made after the war.  At his death, Wren was buried in the crypt of St. Paul’s. 
The south tower of the Tower Bridge and the Shard, the tallest skyscraper in London.
The south tower of the Tower Bridge and the Shard, the tallest skyscraper in London.
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