We started our third full day in London with our lovely tour guide Ruth. While Monday and Tuesday kept us in London proper, Wednesday would take us further afield as far as the London suburb of Uxbridge.
Our first stop was Bentley Priory, the Headquarters for Fighter Command during the Second World War. There, we not only got to see the lovely manor house and its beautiful gardens, but also got a guided tour through the rooms of the museum.
However, the real show-stopper at the priory was the gift shop and their tiny bairmen, purchased by what looked like at least a quarter of the class.
While our second stop had a less beloved gift shop, it was certainly further underground. Our second stop took us to the bunker at the heart of the Dowding System, the system that won Britain the Battle of Britain.
After climbing back up to the surface, we made our last stop for the day at the Runnymede Memorial for RAF soldiers who died in WWII without a marked grave. A beautiful memorial packed with symbolism due to its position in the area the Magna Carta was signed and British democracy began, it also has beautiful views from the top.
After a long and traffic-filled drive back to the hotel, we were glad to bring an interesting–but hot–day to a close and get ready to embark on our drive to Portsmouth the next day. Which is, incidentally, where I am writing from.