Visiting Buckingham Palace - A Day out at the Start of August

 We have discovered a local coach company which both Mr S and I find very good. We have had several outings, holidays, days out that we have enjoyed and are also looking forward to more. We were delighted they were doing a trip to London to visit Buckingham Palace during August, we added that to our list.

We arrived in plenty of time for our scheduled tour starting at 2 p.m. and had decided in advance to put up a packed lunch and enjoy that in some nearby park. We are just 'Country Mice' and probably could have found a nearby restaurant, however with good weather forecast the promise of sitting in a park after a coach ride was certainly appealing.  We had been warned by the coach office, not to take any bags other than a normal sized handbag, as those had to be left at the start, and with the end of the tour exiting further along Grosvenor Place where the coach was to pick us up, that would entail too much time in our opinion. So on the coach we decanted our picnic from our cool bag into one of those bags that fold into a small thing which when we had eaten out lunch would be back in my handbag.

We had about two hours in St Jame's Park, and found it altogether delightful, except I had never seen such crowds of people.  There were also a large variety of water fowl on the lake including this attention grabbing Pelican.

Several other Pelicans were further along but you just could get near enough for the throng of people choosing to take selfies with them!

As you approached Horse Guard Parade the border and beds became more vibrant, and the long border of one's left was magnificent.

There were so many different plants behind the first rank of plants with many more to add interest for the weeks to come.

On the left hand side of the path, was an 'Exotic Jungle Garden'.  So many plants and so well arranged as if in a Victorian or Edwardian garden.

And they had a nice variety of Coleus including the one I am looking forward: Plectranthus scutellariodes Skeletal, common name: Coleus Skeletal.

As we were about to curve round the east end of the lake we could see what we recognised from televised ceremonial and military events and went a little further onto Horse Guards Parade, and marvelled at the architecture surround the large open space. It is amusing that whilst I am writing this I brought up an aerial view of the park and parade ground, and have just realised why there were police officers and officials around the southern end of the ground: this area is  the back of 10 and 11 Downing Street!

Mr S loves a cannon, and it is a very impressive commemoration...

 Back around the the southern shore and the Duck Island Cottage gardens.

We made our way then along the southern shore of the lake, and went up to await our tour which started at 2 o'clock.  Of course no photographs of the interior were permitted, and several of the rooms were being refurbished, but this left many more rooms and much art to take in and admire.  In fact we both agreed we went through far too fast.  After St James's Park, we had thought the gardens of Buckingham Palace would be equally magnificent from a planted bed perspective.  After the event I realise that part of the garden is not open to those with only a house tour ticket, so something for another time perhaps.

To pass the time, we enjoyed a royal cuppa and piece of cake on the south-west facing terrace  but sadly served in a paper cup and on a paper plate!  Afterwards an amble along a path which was well cordoned off with attendants along the line to ensure no one veered off the path.  From this path one got the impression of a delightful lake with many trees.

On our way out of the city I caught a glimpse of some very different styles of architecture, and I managed to catch a picture of the Sculpture at Princes Court, Brompton Road.

For a cost per head of £55 per person including coach travel and entry, this was a really lovely day out for Mr S and I.