London
- general information
- capitol of Great Britain and England
- situated in the south-east of Britain
- lies on the river Thames
- covers an area of 1,580 square kilometres
- population 7-8 million
- seat of the Monarch, the Parliament, the Government and the Supreme Court
- one of the biggest cities in the world
- very important port
- contains many important museums, galleries, theatres and many historical buildings and parks
- history
- 800 B. C. the Celts settled the territory
- 55 B. C. the place had been occupied by the Romans
- 43 A. D. London was established – Roman Londonium (Llyndum – a walled place situated high)
- 5th century Romans left the place; Anglo–Saxon times
- 10th-11th century Danish kings
- 12th century Norman kings; the royal court moved from Winchester (the former capitol) to London for ever
- 17th century fire of London
- sightseeing
- The city of London
- the oldest part
- very centre of London
- East end – poor part, docks situated
- West end – opposite, rich part, shops, cinemas
- financial, commercial, cultural centre
- The Tower bridge
- the most famous bridge of London which is raised in the middle to allow ships to pass up the river
- built in 1894
- it takes 90 seconds to raise
- The Tower of London
- served till the 16th century as a royal home, a prison, an execution site, a royal mint and an observatory; there are also used to be a royal menagerie
- now it’s a museum where tourists go to see an arsenal of weapons, the Crown Jewels in the Jewel House, the prison, the execution block (Ann Boleyn, Thomas More were there beheaded)
- six ravens are kept in the Tower to protect the whole Kingdom
- Paul’s Cathedral
- Sir Christopher Wren’s masterpiece was completed after 35 years in 1711
- is built in the Baroque style
- The Monument
- commemorating the place in Pudding Lane where the Great Fire of London started
- it is about a 60 metre-high column whose 311 steps lead visitors to the terrace (from which they can admire a beautiful view of City)
- The city of Westminster
- political, administrative centre of London
- The Houses of Parliament
- political centre of U. K., the home of British Parliament
- Neo-Gothic style
- Big Ben
- clock tower
- the strike is used by the BBC as a time signal
- Downing Street 10
- has been the home of the Prime Minister since 1735
- Buckingham Palace
- the London home of the kings and queens of G. B.
- outside the Changing of the Guard
- Westminster Abbey
- its history goes back to the 11th century, although many parts were added later
- almost all coronations (since William the Conqueror 1066) have been held there, and many British kings and queens are buried in the Abbey (Elisabeth I., Charles II.)
- Coronation Chair – symbol of Scottish Royalty
- Poet’s Corner – there are the tombstones and monuments to some famous poets (John Milton, William Shakespeare…)
- Transport
- one of the oldest undergrounds – “tube” (large-many lines, one circle line-go easier, practical)
- red buses – double-deckers
- black taxis – cabs
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