So, call me crazy, but back home in Utah when I was planning my trip to London, I had this crazy notion that the London Temple would actually be in London.... Isn't that insane! Well I was wrong. It's actually about 25 miles outside of London in New Chapel, Surrey.
I have to admit that it was a bit of nightmare finding it. I did some research online and was able to figure it out, but just barely.
I went to Victoria Station (not pictured above,) which is one of the main train stations in London and bought a ticket to the Lingfield Station. It's about a half hour train ride there. (This is the station above.) When you get there you'll need to call a taxi. I learned this the hard way. When I arrived I had no change and so therefore couldn't call a taxi. I believe it's a minimum of 20 pence to make a call. If you have a cell phone all the better, if you don't bring change. The workers in the station will give you a card with a number for the local cab company if you need it.
Cabs will not be waiting at the station, you will have to call for one to come pick you up.
Cabs will not be waiting at the station, you will have to call for one to come pick you up.
Anyway, I didn't have change, so I thought I'd try and walk. I walked away from the station and when I reached the main road off the station I turned right. I made two major mistakes here. First, I was under the misguided impression that it was close enough that I could walk it, and second I turned right instead of left, which is the actual direction of the Temple-initially. Ha!
After walking around for about half an hour I returned to the station where I received a miracle. A taxi pulled up to drop someone off. I ran over and asked him to take me, and about five-ten minutes later, and a 6 pound taxi ride, I was at the Temple. Yay! I must admit, it was relief. A big relief. Okay--I started crying... whatever.
After the session I walked around the grounds for awhile. This duck was hanging out by the pond. I thought he was cute. Hence the picture.
I love the copper on the steeple. I'd never seen copper used on a Temple like this before. It was really beautiful.
Another angle, and yes you have to deal with it. I earned every one of these pictures just by finding it!
Again--proof that I was really there.I was really pleased that I was able to finally take a picture where the steeple wasn't poking out the top of my head. Whew, it took some effort, I'm telling you.
I post this sign, because one of the difficulties I found when trying to figure out where the Temple was, was figuring out what city the train went into. There was a blog that I found where the lady said she took the train into Lindberg station. If I hadn't pulled up the location on Google maps, I'd probably still be standing in Victoria station, trying to figure out where to go. I post this picture as proof that this is indeed the station that you buy your ticket to. Lingfield, not Lindberg.
In all it was a wonderful experience and I was really pleased that I was not only able to find it, but was also able to attend a session.
