Top Of The World - The Shard, HMS Belfast and Peruvian dinner

[5th August]

Today we headed into London, to London Bridge Station. When we arrived we got off the train and all the emergency alarms went off and everyone was told to exit the station. We met Brogs (a uni friend) just outside the station and made our way to The Shard.

Di had won a red letter day and decided to trade it in for 4 Shard and Champagne tickets so we only had to pay for 1 child in the end, which is just as well since a regular adult ticket is 33 quid!

To get to the top you have to take 2 lifts. Then when you get to the top, you have an amazing view! The Shard is currently the tallest building in Western Europe (something in Russia is apparently taller). We had a beautifully clear day and could see for miles.

We all got the interactive gadgets, the boys loved them and sat and listened to everything on there. They have done it really well by keeping the info short and sweet and with lots of random facts thrown in. This gave us girls time to catch up and sup on some champagne, very civilised - must say, the bubbles got straight to your head when you are at that height!

There are two floors to view from, the second one is more garden like with fresh air and plants. Apparently there are 9 apartments within the Shard building each one costing around £50 million! 

After we had taken in all the views we nipped to the loo... this is most certainly a loo with a view!

Then we headed off to the war ship HMS Belfast which is docked in the Thames.

Unfortunately we weren't on the ball and hadn't printed out the discount vouchers before leaving the house - I know, very shabby of us. If you are planning to go make sure you do it, it will save you a fair bit. It was expensive to go in but it was great, the boys loved it! Be warned, there are 9 floors and most of them are accessed by going up and down steep stairs/ladders.

We took a break on deck and had fun waving to the tourists as they went by and the boys got busy with selfies...

We also had fun posing with the models on board....

As evening drew in, the rain arrived and we headed back towards the station to Tito's Peruvian where we met another two old uni mates, I haven't seen Matt and Damien since we graduated in 1995! It was good to catch up and hear about other course members that they are still in touch with.

We had a great meal, I went for the lomo saltado which was my favourite dish from when we were travelling in Peru.

We left around 8pm, the boys worn out (moms too) and headed back to Brighton. The weather on the way back was crazy pants, on one side of the train it was beautifully sunset skies and the other black clouds and thunder storms, we did get a stunning double rainbow too! Good way to end a fab day.