London's Tabernacle, Thames, Tea and Tanks: Our Last Day in the Capital

| Our last sight we saw in London: the Imperial War Museum. |

2015 England Trip Travel Journal Entry
Sunday, March 22

We made it to the Met Tab (aka Metropolitan Tabernacle) again. I must say that although it seems more formal than what I have become used to at home, compared to evensong at Westminster it feels almost informal! It certainly feels more alive and more like a place where everyone is happy to be. The sermon was from Romans 2:1-19. I understood and learned more about the passage than I had before. Dr. Peter Masters certainly loves the Bible! That is quite evident.

Inside the Metropolitan Tabernacle

We had a lovely afternoon at the Kitchen Door Cafe and the charity shop nearby. :) Our bus went through Clapham Common (ref: Poirot), then on the way back we stopped by the river side and got a marvelous view of Vauxhall Bridge and the city up the Thames.

A view of Vauxhall Bridge from the south bank of the Thames.

The Battersea Power Station on the left (an unexpected surprise – and a film location on 'Sherlock').

The Cafe was cozy and whimsical, with our bright spotted and striped tea pots and cups in red and blue. The tuna and sweetcorn and cheese sandwiches on soft whole wheat bread were scrumptious. We got a slice of coffee flavored cake and of Victoria Sponge, plus a delicious scone. We were stuffed!

Mom, before we devoured our cake and sandwiches.
At the Kitchen Door Cafe.

And me... :)

Our happy tea cups and pots.

Another delicious scone...

We also enjoyed listening in a bit to the group of twenty-somethings at the table behind Mom, and planning for Paris from the Rick Steves guide that Mom had just found in the charity shop.

Inside the Kitchen Door Cafe.

Next was the IWM, also known as the Imperial War Museum, which is not far from our flat. It is rather a powerful experience visiting that place. The first thing to catch your eye is the display of life-sized plane hanging from the ceiling – real planes, as in a Spitfire from the Battle of Britain. Yes, that kind of real plane.

A Spitfire from the Battle of Britain.

Outside the IWM - it was a lovely last day in London.

Guns, planes, tanks, boats, cars and the like were all over the place! It was heartbreaking to walk through the WWI exhibit. The weapons and uniforms, and especially the faux trench with a real tank seemingly about to land on your head and crush you made me shudder, thinking of the misery those soldiers suffered through.

A WWI nurse's uniform - just like Lady Sybil's. :)

The WWII exhibits had a less melancholy air about them, and the 'Family in Wartime' exhibit was almost cheerful, even considering the air raid shelter. There were even a couple original dresses to see!

Living room memorabilia in the 'Family in Wartime' exhibit.

A real Enigma machine!!

Original WWII fashion.

© 2015 Anna Morton