Wrote this yesterday, but Blogger wasn't working at the time:

Despite being exhausted, I knew I had to take the opportunity to get some
touristy crap done.
First, paid a visit to the Sir John Soane's Museum (it's in walking
distance), a wonderfully eccentric collection of art and artifacts
(apparently, Soane kept most of this stuff that way while he was alive...
weird guy).  Photos on the web site: http://www.soane.org/

Then, headed down near Westminster Abbey.  Didn't feel like paying for the
tour, but I got some good photos of the building, and Big Ben.  Will post
them when I get the chance... which isn't now.

Next, went to Picadilly circus (I think I'm already getting pretty good at
navigating the subway).  This is basically the London equivalent of Times
Square -- giant video screens and glitzy, tourist-friendly megastores
galore.   Went a little out of the way to visit Hamleys, a particularly
famous (and gigantic -- much bigger than the Times Square Toys 'R US)
toy/game store.

Finally, I ate dinner at a cheap, unextraordinary, but sufficiently
pleasant vegetarian Thai buffet, close to the hotel where I'm staying.
The hotel, by the way (Ridgemount Hotel) is small, but nice -- I believe
it's family-owned, meaning that there's a human touch absent from your
typical chain.

That's all for now.  Going to crash soon.  (Yeah, it's not even 9 here,
but I need it.)

Anyways, this morning had an unexciting but tasty breakfast at the hotel (eggs, cereal, toast, juice, coffee.)  I'm going to head out to go to the Natural History and Science museums - both free.  If there's time after that, I might try to stop at the Tate Modern - modern art, as the name suggests, and also free.