Sightseeing in London
London is the capital of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. At the same time it is the largest city in the country, the residence of the monarch, the representatives of the Church of England, government representatives, Parliament, and the Supreme Court. London is the center of cultural, political and social activities. Tourists come here at all seasons of the year to visit the monuments, museums, galleries, scientific institutions, but also the theatres, of which there are about fifty in London.
London is home to about 9 millions inhabitants. London is one of the largest cities of the world - it occupies an area of 1600 km2. The metropolis is divided into Old London and thirty-two districts.
The city's history is very rich. Several disasters have afflicted London. In 1665 the Black Plague killed 70,000 people. In 1666 the Great Fire broke out, destroying most of the city.
Despite this, many of London's monuments have survived. Parliament is one of the most prestigious buildings in London. Its predecessor was Westminster Palace. It was built during the reign of King Edward and extended during that of William the Conqueror.
The typical symbol of the capital of Britain is the Tower of London. Its construction was started by William the Conqueror. Today the Tower is the best preserved fortress in the country. Many important personalities were arrested and executed there. At the present time it houses a museum.
Tower Bridge stands next to the Tower. This is the last bridge on the Thames before it empties into the sea. It was built in 1894. It has two characteristic towers with a height of 65 m.
The Temple is a district with Gregorian buildings and parks. Originally it was the Templar's residence. Buckingham Palace has become the official royal residence. The royal family has lived there since 1837. During most of the year it is not open to the public.
Trafalgar Square is one of the most important squares. In the center of the square the statue of Captain Nelson was raised. It stands atop a 55 meters-high column.
Hyde Park - the foundations were laid out by King Henry VIII who had the park Westminster Abbey turned into an English park. In 1635 the area was opened to the public.
Westminster Abbey is the important historical building in London. The first church was built there as early as the 7th to 8th centuries. The present monastery was established by King Edward. The church is characterized by French Gothic influence.
Saint Paul's Cathedral is the second most important church in London. In its present form the building started to come into being in the end of 11th century. Due to the thorough rebuilding, nothing is left of the original structure.
The National Gallery is situated inside a building dating back to 1838. Soon, however, the building was not sufficient and needed to be enlarged. The works of the world master painters are kept here - Rembrandt, Rubens, etc. Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum is an attraction for tourists. It contains wax statues that portray the most prominent people from all over the world.
London
London is the capital of the United Kingdom. It is the 9th largest city in the world - its population is about 10 million with suburbs. London is situated on the river Thames in south-east England. The great fire in 1666 destroyed almost all of the city. There are various means of transport. London's famous red double-deckers go almost everywhere. Underground is the oldest underground subway system in the world. Now it has 11 lines and is 418 km long. There are also 3 airports in London.
The Houses of Parliament are in the Gothic style but were built only in the last century. There is also a famous clock tower with Big Ben.
Downing Street 10 is the official home of the British Prime Ministers.
Westminster Abbey was founded in the 11th century. Britain's Kings and Queens are crowned here.
St. Paul's Cathedral is one of the largest cathedrals in the world.
The City is the oldest part of London around St. Paul. There are many banks and offices here.
Tower Bridge is one of the most famous symbols of London. It was built only in the last century.
Trafalgar Square is the main square in London. There are a fountain and Nelson's column there.
The British Museum is the largest museum in the world. It has the biggest collection of all kinds of animals and minerals.
Buckingham Palace is the Queen's residence in London.
There are many parks in London. The largest of them is Hyde Park.