Embers in the London Sky – Tour of London!
Recently I had the joy of returning to London! While there, I snapped photos of many of the locations from my World War II novel Embers in the London Sky.
BBC Broadcasting House
In Embers in the London Sky, Hugh Collingwood works as a BBC radio correspondent based in the beautiful Art Deco-style Broadcasting House, built in 1932. From here, the BBC made the broadcasts that informed and inspired the British people during the war – and coordinated the shortwave broadcasts transmitted worldwide that were a lifeline of truth and hope for the oppressed peoples in Nazi-occupied Europe especially. This building was hit by Luftwaffe bombs twice during the London Blitz and also served as the site for American correspondent Edward R. Murrow’s famous rooftop broadcasts on CBS during the Blitz.
BBC Broadcasting House, London, 9 May 2024 (Photo: Sarah Sundin)
BBC Broadcasting House, London, 9 May 2024 (Photo: Sarah Sundin)
BBC Broadcasting House, London, 9 May 2024 (Photo: Sarah Sundin)
Sarah Sundin at BBC Broadcasting House and All Souls Church, London, 9 May 2024 (Photo: Sarah Sundin)
Whitehall
Aleida van der Zee Martens, the heroine of Embers in the London Sky, works at the Ministry of Health in Whitehall, the area of London where many British government ministries are located. At the north, Trafalgar Square and Nelson’s Column anchor Whitehall.
The Cenotaph (war memorial) in Whitehall, London, 10 May 2024 (Photo: Sarah Sundin)
The Cenotaph (war memorial) in Whitehall, London, 10 May 2024 (Photo: Sarah Sundin)
Foreign Office, Whitehall, London, 10 May 2024 (Photo: Sarah Sundin)
Trafalgar Square and Nelson’s Column, London, 10 May 2024 (Photo: Sarah Sundin)
Trafalgar Square and Nelson’s Column, London, 10 May 2024 (Photo: Sarah Sundin)
Regent and Oxford Streets
In the novel, Hugh and Aleida often walk along Regent Street extending south from Broadcasting House, through Oxford Circus (where Regent and Oxford Streets cross), and along Oxford Street toward Hyde Park.
Regent Street, heading south from Broadcasting House, 9 May 2024 (Photo: Sarah Sundin)
Oxford Circus, London, 9 May 2024 (Photo: Sarah Sundin)
Oxford Street, London, heading west toward Hyde Park, 9 May 2024 (Photo: Sarah Sundin)
The Strand and the Embankment
The Embankment runs along the Thames, and the Strand is a road that parallels the Embankment. The Strand Palace Hotel and the Savoy Hotel are featured in the novel – the Savoy was a popular spot for foreign correspondents in London during World War II.
Waterloo Bridge as seen from the Embankment, London, 10 May 2024 (Photo: Sarah Sundin)
Charing Cross Station, London, 10 May 2024 (Photo: Sarah Sundin)
Strand Palace Hotel, the Strand, London, 10 May 2024 (Photo: Sarah Sundin)
The Savoy Hotel, the Strand, London, 10 May 2024 (Photo: Sarah Sundin)
Hyde Park and the Dorchester Hotel
Many crucial scenes in Embers in the London Sky occur in London’s beautiful Hyde Park and at the historic Dorchester Hotel. We visited Hyde Park on a gorgeous sunny day!
Italian Gardens – a lovely spot for lunch…or a murder! Hyde Park, London, 9 May 2024 (Photo: Sarah Sundin)
Italian Gardens, Hyde Park, London, 9 May 2024 (Photo: Sarah Sundin)
Hyde Park, London, 9 May 2024 (Photo: Sarah Sundin)
Hyde Park, London, 9 May 2024 (Photo: Sarah Sundin)
The Dorchester Hotel, Park Lane, London, 9 May 2024 (Photo: Sarah Sundin)
The Dorchester Hotel, Park Lane, London, 9 May 2024 (Photo: Sarah Sundin)
Battle of Britain Monument
Along the Embankment now stands a monument to the heroes of the Battle of Britain, a pivotal part of Embers in the London Sky.
Battle of Britain Monument, the Embankment, London, 10 May 2024 (Photo: Sarah Sundin)
Depiction of pilots “scrambling” for their fighter aircraft, Battle of Britain Monument, the Embankment, London, 10 May 2024 (Photo: Sarah Sundin)
Depiction of Air Raid Precautions volunteers at work during the London Blitz, Battle of Britain Monument, the Embankment, London, 10 May 2024 (Photo: Sarah Sundin)
Depiction of St. Paul’s Cathedral standing amidst the smoke during the London Blitz, Battle of Britain Monument, the Embankment, London, 10 May 2024 (Photo: Sarah Sundin)
Thanks for sharing your lovely pictures!
Loraine
You’re welcome! I’m glad you enjoyed them.
I loved Embers in the London Sky! I can tell that a lot of research went into this book. It was hard to put it down.
Thank you, Heidi! I’m so glad you enjoyed the story!
Loved seeing your photos! Now I want to make another trip to London to see these specific locations.
We definitely got our steps in 😉 It was fun to see the sites, since I hadn’t seen some of them before.
I really love reading your books Sarah Thanks for sharing these wonderful photos of your trip to London
Thank you, Patti! I’m glad you like them.
Your books have been my all-time favorite from the time I read “Through Waters Deep” at 16! I have all of them but this one. I can’t wait to read this one too!
Thank you, Cara! I’m so glad you’re enjoying the stories!
These photos are wonderful! Thank you for sharing them. I’d love to go to London to see some of these amazing historical buildings and sights. For now, I’ll enjoy them vicariously through you! I’m behind on reading your newest book, but it’s definitely on my TBR list
Thank you, Karen!
Wow, this is Awesome! Thank you so much for sharing your photos, they are Beautiful and it looks like you had a great time! This is wonderful!
We did have a good time! Thank you, Alicia!
Wonderful photos. A memorable experience. Your novels are unforgettable.
Thank you so much, Anne!
Thank You for Sharing your Pictures they are all amazing ! And London sounds Beautiful I Love the cover of your Book and I can’t wait to read it!
Thank you so much, Sarah!
What cool pictures! I’d love to visit England someday.
By the way, I’m reading A Memory Between us right now and loving it! 🙂
Thank you, Faith! I’m so glad!
Thank You for sharing Love the Photo’s And Your book sounds like such a great story SARAH TAYLOR
Thank you for sharing these fantastic photos! I hope to one day visit there.
Thanks, Cyndi! London is definitely worth a visit! SO much history!
Loved the pictures. I love reading your books.
Thank you, Bernice!
These are marvelous photos, thanks for sharing!!
Now I can get a vision of the places in the book.
Thank you, Susan! I’m glad you like them.
Thanks for sharing your pictures. Although I know much has changed in London since WWII, it is great to be able to put an image with the story and picture what the characters might have seen.
Thanks, Katie! What’s amazing to me is how much has NOT changed. Even after the Blitz, they were careful to restore so much to the original state.
Beautiful photos! Maybe someday I will get there!
Thanks, Jan! I hope you can go someday!
Thanks for sharing the photos.
Thanks, Laura!
My best vacation was spent in London and it’s time to return! Thank you for sharing your photos and bringing back those memories! I look forward to reading Embers in the London Sky!
I think it’s my favorite city in the world!
It’s been a few years since I’ve been in London. I loved seeing your pictures. I am my church’s librarian and I’ll be adding your books at the start of the fiscal year. Thank you for your careful research.
Thank you, Lorraine! I’m so glad I’ll be joining your library 🙂
I love history and WWII is my favorite time to read about, I think because my Dad was in the Navy at that time. I really enjoy all of your books! Thank you for sharing your beautiful photos!
Thanks, Marybeth!
I must admit, I found these locations to be different from what I imagined.
Interesting!
I loved this book, as I do all of Sarah’s books. If you have not read it, then you MUST make it a summer read!
Thank you, Beth!
Thank you Sarah, for all the photos. It’s as if I was there with you.
I’ve liked all your books. I’m looking forward to reading
Embers in the London Sky.
Thank you, Kathy!
what a great trip!! Now I need to go to London again!
I love London!
Beautiful photos! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you, Faith!
One of my favorite places in the world. I didn’t want to.go.home: Europe/London is so unlike the US. Don’t let anyone tell you that British food is plain and simple – a ploughman’s lunch with a lager is a great way to start!
I love London so much!
I love your books! My husband does too!
Thank you for sharing your beautiful photos! Motivating me to make a plan to travel to Great Britain!
Love the pictures!! I’ve read lots of books that mention Hyde Park and some of the other places, too!!!
Loved all the photos of London as it’s been since 1997 that I was there with a tour group from Illinois and don’t remember any of these beautiful, informational photos. Thanks for sharing!
I almost went to England in my youth, but, alas, it was not to be. I’d love to go but not without my dogs, and then, of course, I might not come back! The photos are stunning, and I would love to read all of your novels.
Great pictures! Congratulations on your award nominations!
Loved the pictures, Sarah…just read the book while on vacation…I think it’s one of your best! I LOVED the ending!! Thank you!
Thank you for sharing your photos!
While you were touring London, my husband of 60 years and I were celebrating our anniversary. No foreign shores for us, but learning more about our new home of one year in Texas. I’d love to read this book of yours this summer as I try to stay cool. Congratulations on the nominations.
Wonderful pictures! I love watching the old WW II movies. My parents lived through that time period. Everyone pulled together with a common goal – Freedom!
Beautiful pictures of London in the spring! Love all your books. Have read books 1-3 in this series.
Thank you for the lovely photos. My parents both served in the Mighty Eighth Army Air Force in England. I have never been to England. But they returned twice to revisit the places they loved. Thank you!
Beautiful photos!
The pictures are wonderful!!! Thanks for sharing!!!!