London

People all over the world like travelling. They visit different continents, countries, cities and towns to learn different ways of life, to meet different people, to taste different food, to see different places and to practise foreign languages. Everyone knows that travelling broadens our scope. It helps us to learn a lot of things that we will never learn sitting at home in front of our TV set or with a book in our hands. It gives us an opportunity to gain valuable experience of discovering a new place. This site invites you to discover one of such places.

London – the capital of the country of the English language. It is the capital of the United Kingdom, its economic, political and cultural centre.

You will have an opportunity to see some pictures and learn a lot of interesting information about London sights by doing different tasks.

London is made up of two ancient cities which are now joined together.

They are:

• the City of London, known simply as 'the City' which is the business and financial heart of the United Kingdom. It is also known as the Square Mile. It was the original Roman settlement (ancient Londinium), making it the oldest part of London and already 1,000 years old when the Tower of London was built.

• the City of Westminster, where Parliament and most of the government offices are. Also Buckingham Palace, the official London residence of the Queen and the Royal family are there too.

Together they all make up a region known as Greater London.

Other facts about London

• London is the biggest city in Britain and in Europe.
• London occupies over 620 square miles.
• About 12 per cent of Britain’s overall population live in London .
• London is the seat of central government in Britain.
• The tallest building in London is the Canary Wharf Tower.

The Palace of Westminster

From the middle of the 11th century until 1512 the Palace of Westminster was the royal home to the Kings and Queens of England.

The Palace of Westminster features three main towers. Of these, the largest and tallest is the 98.5-metre (323 ft) Victoria Tower, which occupies the south-western corner of the Palace. Palace of Westminster, known also as the Houses of Parliament or just Westminster, is where the two Houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (the House of Lords and the House of Commons) have their sitting. It is the place where laws of British life are debated and passed.

Big Ben

The Palace of Westminster has the bell Big Ben that is struck each quarter hour. A light in the clock tower tells when the House of Commons is in session. Big Ben is one of the most famous landmarks in the world. The clock tower is situated on the banks of the river Thames and is part of the Palace of Westminster.

Officially "Big Ben" does not refer to the whole clocktower (also known as St Stephen's Tower), but to the huge thirteen ton bell that strikes the hour.

The Tower

For over 900 years, The Tower of London has been standing guard over the capital. As a Royal Palace, fortress, prison, place of execution, arsenal, Royal Mint, Royal Zoo and jewel house, it has witnessed many great events in British history.

The Tower of London was originally built by William the Conqueror in 1066.

In the centre of the Tower of London is the famous White Tower. It is the oldest part of the fortress and was built by William the Conqueror.

The Tower, or Bloody Tower as it is known, has been host to many famous executions and imprisonments.

As well as being a palace and a fortress, the Tower of London has also served as:

• the first Royal Armoury
• Royal Mint (where money is made)
• Royal Observatory
• Royal Zoo

Today the Tower of London houses the Crown Jewels and is open to the public as a museum.

The Legend of ravens

Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge has stood over the River Thames in London since 1894 and is one of the finest, most famous bridges in the World. It is the London bridge you see in movies and on advertising literature for London. Tower Bridge is the only Thames bridge which can be raised.

Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is the Queen's official and main royal London home. It has been the official London residence of Britain's monarchy since 1837. Queen Victoria was the first monarch to live there.

Buckingham Palace is used also for the administrative work for the monarchy. It is here in the state apartments that Her Majesty receives and entertains guests invited to the Palace.

Trafalgar Square

Trafalgar Square, designed by Sir Charles Barry, was constructed in the 1840s on the site that was originally the Royal Mews for hawks and then royal stables.

The Square is named in honour of the British victory, led by Admiral Lord Nelson, at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

On the north side of Trafalgar Square is the National Gallery.

It was founded in 1824 when George IV persuaded the government to purchase 38 major paintings, including works by Raphael and Rembrandt.

The National Gallery houses one of the biggest picture collections in the world.

Nelson`s Column

DomNelson's column is guarded by four huge bronze lions sculpted by Sir Edwin Landseer in 1868.inating the square is the 56 m (171 feet) column, Nelson's Column, with its 5.5m (18 feet) statue of Nelson on top. It was erected in 1843.

They were made out of metal from guns that had been taken from old battleships.

St. Paul`s Cathedral

St Paul's Cathedral seen today was built between 1675 and 1711 by Sir Christopher Wren.

The original Norman cathedral, destoyed in the Great Fire of London of 1666, was even larger than Wren's new building.

Inside, St. Paul's is packed with memorials to notable Britons including Christopher Wren, Wellington and Admiral Nelson, hero of Trafalgar.

you can climb 530 steps to the Golden Gallery, an observation platform atop the dome of the cathedral. From there you can look out over the modern skyline of the city of London.

At the dome's base is the Whispering Gallery, a circular walkway halfway up the inside of the dome. Due to the acoustics of the curved surface, a phrase whispered against one wall can be heard against the far wall 112 feet away.

London Eye

One cannot leave London without observing the whole city from London Eye.

The British Airways London Eye (Millennium Wheel) stands 135 metres (443 feet) high on the South Bank of the River Thames between Westminster and Hungerford Bridges. It is the world's highest observation wheel.

London double-deckers are world famous.

Their red image is quite recognizable. That is

why they are one of the most famous symbols

of London.

London Parks

Hyde Park

St. James`s Park

Green Park

Regent`s Park

Summing up

Now you know almost everything

about London and its sights.

We hope you liked it.

If you want to know more, go to

• http://www.doubledecker-bus.com/history/

http://projectbritain.com/

Resources

1. http://www.britainexpress.com/uk-picture-of-the-day-image.htm?photo=2003

2. http://projectbritain.com/

3. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:City_of_London.jpg

4. http://www.check-in-london.com/victoria-westminster/westminster

5. http://wiki.pippkro.ru/index.php/

6.http://wiki.pippkro.ru/index.php/The_Tower_of_London

7. http://www.vip-london.ru/excursions/57.html

8. http://www.gardenvisit.com/garden/trafalgar_square

9.http://www.skyscrapernews.com/picturedisplay.php?ref=2491&idi=Nelsons+Column&self=nse&selfidi=2491NelsonsColumn_pic1.jpg&no=1

10.http://www.artofthestate.co.uk/london_photos/nelsons_column.htm

11. http://smscourt.com/snaps-pictures/bridges/bridges-in-world/attachment/tower-bridge-by-night

12. http://www.tourist-information-uk.com/buckingham-palace.htm

13.http://www.prweb.com/releases/2006/04/prweb367233.htm

14.http://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki/:London_Eye_at_night_2_edit.jpg

15. http://danieldefo.ru/my_journal/in/654

16. http://www.doubledecker-bus.com/history/

17.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ravens_of_the_Tower_of_London

18.http://www.theweygallery.com/artists/carolineappleyard.htm

19.http://www.placesonline.com/europe/united_kingdom/england/london/photo_detail.asp?filename=7681_londra_hyde_park

20. http://www.planetware.com/picture/london-st-jamess-park-eng-gb278.htm

21. http://www.mooseyscountrygarden.com/botanical-gardens/regents-park-london.html

22. http://www.edwud.com/2009/06/11/canada-gate-green-park-london/

There are a number of different places to visit in London.

What are they? In a second you will find out everything

about them!

There are a lot of bridges over the river Thames

in London. But the most famous is Tower Bridge.

Ravens have lived at the Tower of London for hundreds of years. Legend has it that if the ravens ever leave the Tower of London the White Tower will crumble and a great disaster shall befall England.

A familiar sight at Buckingham Palace is the Changing of the Guard ceremony that takes place in the forecourt each morning. The monarch and the royal palaces have been guarded by the Household Troops since 1660.

There are a number of big parks full of trees, flowers and grass in London. They are