^You got a really good deal on that one. I got a Canon EFS 17-85mm Macro with a Stabilizer. A stabilizer is very important if you don't want to carry a tripod wherever you go, crucial with a telephoto lens.
didn't notice the London pix, my favorite is that one:
But I got a bit of a critique, if you don't mind: It would've helped if the Big Ben was taken in a vertical way. The horizontal/vertical choice is very critical. By taking a Horizontal pic of the Big Ben, you totally destroyed the dynamic. It's good to exaggerate the height of monuments, and just follow the movement.
a horizontal Big Ben just seem static. dynamic is crucial.