Changing of the guard, Lords, Abbey Road

Busy day planned today, we will get to Buckingham Palace for the changing of the guard at 10.30 so no need to rush out. Got there early and got a good spot under the fountain at the front gates. Crowds built up really quickly. We knew it was one of the things we have to do in London but we wouldn’t worry doing it again, lots of ceremony beautiful horses and precision marching by the guards, all very impressive but just a one off experience needed for us.
From there we went around the corner to the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace. Just a big garage I suppose. All the old coaches and transport for the royals, some with so much gold trim and expensive timber and lace work they are kept behind glass. Other are just on display in the open with a bit of rope around them. The coaches date back of course hundreds of years and all have lots of history attached to them, there are even a few Rolls Royce cars there dating back into the 1960s which have all been used in certain ceremonies.
Didn’t hang around there too long because we were due to do a tour of the Lords cricket ground so we walked from there across Green Park and got the tube to Lords. Did the tour, very informative from the establishment of the ground (by Thomas Lord in the 1700s from a cow paddock), which is on a slope.....from the north end to the south end of over 2 metres, to modern day facilities like the huge media centre on the south end. We did a walk through the Long Room and on to the famous Pavilion where many a cricketer has celebrated in style. We went through the museum where the original Ashes Urn is on display. The tour was conducted by one of the members, a grumpy old Sergeant Major who had holes in his shoes and gravy on his shirt...we were a little scared of him at first but he mellowed over the time of the tour.
We decided to have a late lunch after Lords, we knew Abbey Road was somewhere just around the corner so stopped at a cafe, had an overpriced high tea and asked her which way to Abbey Road, she hadn’t heard of it and didn’t have a clue where to send us. We wandered for a while looking at maps upside down until we ran in to a postman, he had a bit of an idea and we found it easy enough with his directions. Did the walk across the pedestrian crossing, checked out the Abbey Road Studio walls covered in Beatles graffiti, got photos then got the the tube back to London, walked the 30 minutes home from there along Oxford Street after a couple of little detours - Carnaby Street being one of them.
Went to the pub just around the corner from our motel and had battered fish and chips and beer/wine for tea.