On February 11, we introduced our Ben to the other Ben — Big Ben, gleaming after recent restorations. The tower (technically the Elizabeth Tower) was completed in 1859 and has been London’s timekeeper ever since. During World War II, its chimes continued even as bombs fell on the city, a symbol of endurance broadcast across the Atlantic to Allied troops and civilians alike.

We then joined the kids’ tour of Westminster Abbey, and our guide was fantastic — part historian, part storyteller. Inside, he showed the children the tile on the altar that was chipped during Kate Middleton’s wedding ceremony, a fun detail that made centuries of royal history feel personal. The Abbey itself dates back to 960 AD and has hosted every English and British coronation since 1066. It also includes memorials to figures like Franklin D. Roosevelt and Martin Luther King Jr., reminders of Britain’s enduring ties to America.

After the tour, we took the obligatory telephone-booth photo, then wandered through St. James’s Park to the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain. The flowing granite ring is meant to symbolize openness and equality, reflecting the people’s princess perfectly. The kids spotted swans gliding across the water before we continued toward Piccadilly Circus, where giant digital screens lit up the intersection.

The mix of ancient architecture and modern energy summed up London perfectly — steeped in tradition but always alive.