On our trip to London, we started with a two-hour coach ride to St Paul’s Cathedral. Once we arrived, we explored the cathedral, including climbing 528 steps up and then 528 back down. It was incredible! We had the chance to see the cathedral from 30 metres up (the Whispering Gallery), then the views of London from 53 metres (the Stone Gallery), and finally from 85 metres (the Golden Gallery).

After climbing, a friend and I explored the cathedral floor, where we saw statues, visited the crypt, and looked at displays about the history of the cathedral. There were also many graves set into the floor.

Next, we got back on the coach and headed to the British Museum, where we explored statues and sculptures from Ancient Egypt and Greece. One room that stood out to me was the clocks and time exhibit—it was really interesting!

After the British Museum, we checked into our hotel before heading out for dinner at Honest Burger. After eating, we walked to the Lyceum Theatre to watch The Lion King. We returned to the hotel about four hours later and went straight to sleep, ready for the next day.

The next morning, after breakfast, we collected our belongings and boarded the coach to visit the Imperial War Museum. There, we explored exhibits on the lead-up to WWI, recruitment posters, uniforms, guns, and much more. We also learned about WWII and the vital role women played in the war. The museum had vehicles, boats, tanks, and planes, which were amazing to see! I found the stories and books especially fascinating—while the history was incredible, it was also heart- breaking to see what people endured during those times.

After finishing at the museum, we grabbed lunch at Sainsbury’s before taking the coach to the Buddhapadipa Temple, a Buddhist temple. There, we watched a YouTube video about the Buddha’s life, learned about Buddhist ideals, and even took part in a Buddhist meditation. We had also planned to visit the Peace Pagoda, but due to bad weather, we were unable to go.

After the temple visit, we began our journey home, and three hours later, we arrived back at school.

The trip was absolutely incredible, and I had so much fun! I am extremely grateful to have had the opportunity to visit London, so thank you to the staff for organizing it! If I had to pick a highlight, it would probably be the Imperial War Museum, especially the WWII section. Overall, I had such an amazing time!