LONDON,THE CAPITAL of LONDON,THE CAPITAL of GREAT BRITANGREAT BRITAN

London is one London is one of the oldest of the oldest and greatest and greatest cities of the cities of the world.world.

To this place ,in the year 55 B.C., Caesar came from Rome. The Romans made Londinium a large and rich city.

In 1066 came William the Duke of Normandy (William the Conqueror) and settled in Londinium which now became London.

Now London is a big political, industrial cultural Now London is a big political, industrial cultural centre. More eight million people live there. centre. More eight million people live there. The city is situated on both banks of the river The city is situated on both banks of the river Thames which connects London with the sea Thames which connects London with the sea and makes it a large seaport..and makes it a large seaport..

The CityThe City The West EndThe West End The East EndThe East End Westminster.Westminster.

The important parts of The important parts of London areLondon are

The City is the heart The City is the heart of business and of business and commercial life of commercial life of London.London.The Mansion House, The Mansion House, the official residence the official residence of the Lord Mayor, of the Lord Mayor, St. Paul’s Cathedral St. Paul’s Cathedral are in this district. are in this district.

Everything in the Everything in the West End belongs to West End belongs to aristocracy and aristocracy and bourgeoisie.bourgeoisie. Trafalgar Square with Trafalgar Square with the Nelson Column, the Nelson Column, the national Gallery the national Gallery and the National and the National Gallery are situated Gallery are situated here. here.

MAIN SIDES of LONDONMAIN SIDES of LONDON

WESTMINSTER WESTMINSTER PALACEPALACE

THE HOUSES of PARLIAMENTTHE HOUSES of PARLIAMENT

The Houses of The Houses of Parliament, the seat of Parliament, the seat of the British Government, is the British Government, is very large Gothic very large Gothic building.building.It is divided into two It is divided into two chambers-the Houses of chambers-the Houses of Commons and the House Commons and the House of Lords.of Lords.The present building of The present building of Westminster Palace was Westminster Palace was founded in 1840. founded in 1840.

BIG BENBIG BEN

Big Ben, the huge Big Ben, the huge clock on the Clock clock on the Clock Tower of the Houses Tower of the Houses of the Parliament, was of the Parliament, was made by Mr. Dent. It made by Mr. Dent. It first came into service first came into service in 1859. It is 313 ft in 1859. It is 313 ft high and 41 ft square. high and 41 ft square. Big Ben strikes only Big Ben strikes only one on hour and the one on hour and the other four Bens tell other four Bens tell the quarters and the the quarters and the half hourshalf hours..

WESTMINSTER ABBEYWESTMINSTER ABBEY

Westminster Abbey, a Westminster Abbey, a fine Gothic building, fine Gothic building, was founded in 1049. was founded in 1049. Westminster Abbey is Westminster Abbey is the crowning place of the crowning place of British monarchs. British monarchs. Kings and Queens of Kings and Queens of England have been England have been crowned here since crowned here since 1050.1050.It has poet’s corner. It has poet’s corner.

ST. PAUL’S ST. PAUL’S CATHEDRALCATHEDRAL

The cathedral was built The cathedral was built by Sir Christopher Wren by Sir Christopher Wren

between 1675 and 1710.between 1675 and 1710.If you climb 263 steps to the If you climb 263 steps to the

Westminster Gallery you Westminster Gallery you run round the dome.run round the dome.

Among the great cathedral Among the great cathedral of the world St. Paul’s is of the world St. Paul’s is unique in that it was unique in that it was conceived by one man conceived by one man and built under his and built under his supervision during his supervision during his lifetime. lifetime.

THE TOWERTHE TOWER

The Tower, one of the The Tower, one of the most ancient buildings of most ancient buildings of London, was founded by London, was founded by William the Conqueror.William the Conqueror.The Tower has served as The Tower has served as fortress, palace, state fortress, palace, state prison and royal treasury, prison and royal treasury, now it is a museum.now it is a museum.The Tower is guarded by The Tower is guarded by the Yeoman Warders, the Yeoman Warders, popularly called popularly called ‘Beefeaters’.‘Beefeaters’.Just outside the Tower, Just outside the Tower, on Tower Hill, is a on Tower Hill, is a traditional open-air traditional open-air meeting place at which meeting place at which political meetings are political meetings are held. held.

BUCKINGHAM BUCKINGHAM PALACEPALACE

Buckingham Palace is the Buckingham Palace is the London home of the QueenLondon home of the Queen

THE BRITISH MUSEUMTHE BRITISH MUSEUM

The British Museum The British Museum was founded in was founded in 1753.It is famous for 1753.It is famous for its various collections.its various collections.In the first place the In the first place the British Museum is a British Museum is a great library great library containing five or six containing five or six books.books.Secondly it is a great Secondly it is a great scientific institution, scientific institution, known as Natural known as Natural history Museumhistory Museum. .

LONDON IS FULL of PARKS AND LONDON IS FULL of PARKS AND GREEN SPACESGREEN SPACES

In South Kensington In South Kensington there are several large there are several large museums, The Victoria museums, The Victoria and Albert Museums and Albert Museums with a magnificent with a magnificent collection of applied collection of applied arts also includes a arts also includes a wide-ranging display wide-ranging display of ceramics, of ceramics, masterpieces and a masterpieces and a selection of selection of Constable’s Constable’s masterpiecesmasterpieces. .

Hyde park, Hyde park, originally a originally a royal hunting royal hunting forest, is the forest, is the largest park in largest park in LondonLondon..

Beyond Hyde Beyond Hyde Park lies Park lies another royal another royal park, park, Kensington Kensington GardensGardens..

In the north of In the north of London is London is Regent’s Park Regent’s Park with Zoo and with Zoo and open-air open-air theatretheatre. .

THE LONDON THE LONDON EYEEYE

The highest place The highest place where from you can where from you can have a look of whole have a look of whole LondonLondon

STREETS AND STREETS AND SQUARES OF LONDONSQUARES OF LONDON

Soho is Known as Soho is Known as district of cinema-district of cinema-producers, because producers, because all the biggest film-all the biggest film-companies have companies have offices there. offices there. Soho is the favorite Soho is the favorite place of writers, place of writers, composers, painters, composers, painters, cinema-stars and cinema-stars and thousands of people thousands of people of the world. of the world.

Whitehall is a street Whitehall is a street of government of government offices, leading to offices, leading to Westminster Westminster Palace.Palace.Whitehall was once Whitehall was once a palace where a palace where English queens and English queens and kings lived.kings lived.

Downing Street Downing Street is a quiet little is a quiet little street where street where the prime the prime ministers of ministers of England live in England live in house No 10. house No 10.

Fleet Street is now Fleet Street is now the centre of the centre of journalists and journalists and newspaper mennewspaper menOffices of most Offices of most English daily and English daily and evening papers are evening papers are situated here.situated here.Publishing houses of Publishing houses of many big foreign many big foreign newspapers are also newspapers are also there.there.

Piccadilly Circus is a Piccadilly Circus is a West End shopping West End shopping centers.centers.

At night Piccadilly Circus At night Piccadilly Circus looks quite fantastic looks quite fantastic with its colored lights with its colored lights and illuminated neon and illuminated neon signs.signs.In the centre of the In the centre of the square is a column square is a column and a statue of Eros, and a statue of Eros, the god of love. the god of love.

Leicester Leicester Square is Square is considered to considered to be the place be the place of of entertainment entertainment and night and night clubs.clubs.

TRAFALGAR SQUARETRAFALGAR SQUARE

Trafalgar Square is Trafalgar Square is very popular with very popular with Londoners.Londoners.Trafalgar Square is Trafalgar Square is one of the principal one of the principal landmarks in the landmarks in the West End.West End.In the centre of the In the centre of the square is the square is the monument known as monument known as Nelson’s column. Nelson’s column.

LONDON TRAFFICLONDON TRAFFIC

In London one can see In London one can see many buses, cars and many buses, cars and taxis in the street.taxis in the street.Thee are no trams in Thee are no trams in London since 1952. London since 1952. The main transport is the The main transport is the underground (tube).underground (tube).Fares in London are high. Fares in London are high. The people prefer double-The people prefer double-deckers or the tube deckers or the tube because the fares are because the fares are lower there.lower there.

LONDON IS AN ANCIENT CITY LONDON IS AN ANCIENT CITY BUT……….BUT……….

It is also a It is also a living city and living city and like all living like all living cities it is cities it is constantly constantly developing.developing.