The history of london

LONDON
London was an important city in Roman times, and there are substantial Roman remains, mostly below street level. By the Middle Ages, when London became the political and commercial capital of England, it was one of the most important cities in Europe.
The history of London begins about the year AD 43, when the Romans were in possession of the southern part of Britain and founded a military station on the present site of London. An insurrection of the British led by Boadicea caused it to be burned in AD 61. It was the centre of various disturbances until about 306, when Constantine constructed walls and fortifications, and thereby established stability and laid a firm basis for commercial prosperity. From 369 until 412 it was the capital of Britain, when it was known as Augusta. Subsequently it became the chief seat of the Saxons. King Alfred expelled the Danes and fortified the city. It became famous as a commercial centre at the beginning of the reign of Edward III.
London was not built as a city in the same way as Paris or New York. It began life as a Roman fortification at a place where it was possible to cross the River Thames. A wall was built around the town for defence, but during the long period of peace which followed the Norman Conquest, people built outside the walls. This building continued over the years, especially to the west of the City. In 1665 there was a terrible plague in London, so many people left the city and escaped to the villages in the surrounding countryside. About 69,000 persons succumbed to the dread disease. In 1666 the Great Fire of London ended the plague, but it also destroyed much of the city. A destructive fire spread over 340 acres, burning about 15,000 houses.
From these calamities the city recovered with marked rapidity. The Bank of England was established in 1694. Sir Hans Sloane founded the British Museum in 1759, the old walls were torn down in 1760, and about that time the streets were improved by pavements, lighting and sanitary regulations. In 1840 the present parliamentary buildings were commenced9, and in rapid succession followed the construction of great parks and many different municipal improvements. Although people returned tolive in the rebuilt city after the plague and the Great Fire, there were never again so many Londoners living in the city centre.
In the course of history the original commercial nucleus of the City of London (only a mile square - 2.6 sq. km) was adjoined by the City of Westminster, where the political centre established by the monarchy was supplemented by the admini­strative offices of Parliament and Whitehall (originally a royal palace). Gradually London expanded, absorbing outlying villages, such as Kensington and Hampstead, until by the end of the 19th century (during which the industrial revolution had made London the largest and most important city in the world) much of the central area of London had been developed in a way which is still recognizable today. During the twentieth century growth has continued into the outer suburbs, into the surrounding areas known as the "home counties" (Kent, Surrey, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex) and into the 12 new towns (out of a total of 32 in Britain as a whole) which were created after 1945 within a radius of 129 km (80 miles) of London to help to relieve the pressure of population and the capital's housing problem. To restrict the sprawl of built-up areas, London pioneered the concept of a "green belt" around the city, where the land is left open and free from further large-scale building development.
These days not many people live in the city centre, but London has spread" further outwards into the country, including surrounding villages. Today the metropolis of Greater London covers some 700 square miles and the suburbs of London continue even beyond this area. Some people even commute over 100 miles (over 150 km) every day to work in London, while living far away from the city in the country or in other towns.
London - Лондон (1)
London draws people from all over the world. Some come on business, some come to study, to work or on holiday. London is naturally a very English city and it is very cosmopolitan, containing goods, food and entertainment, as well as people, from many countries of the world. London spreads its influence over much of the southern areas of England; it gives work to millions of people who live not only in the inner city areas but in surrounding districts. There is much in London which fascinates visitors and inspires the affection of Londoners: the splendor of the royal palaces and the Houses of Parliament, the dignity of St. Paul’s Cathedral and many monuments and beautiful parks. London shows examples of buildings that express all the different areas of its history. Buckingham Palace is the official London residence of the Sovereign. The daily ceremony of the Changing of the Guards takes place in its courtyard. The palace was built in 1703 by the Duke of Buckingham. Piccadily Circus Has become an important meeting point – for as well as sightseers. At its heart is a bronze fountain topped by a figure of a winded archer, known as Eros, the pagan god of love. This area is now famous for its theatres, clubs and shops. Whitehall is a street in central London running from Trafalgar Square to the Houses of Parliament and containing many important buildings and government offices, such as the Treasury, Admiralty and others, In the centre of the roadway stands the Cenotaph, the memorial to the fallen of both world wars. The Prime Minister’s residence at No. 10 Downing Street is directly connected to Whitehall. London is always full of life. The streets are crowded with traffic. High ‘double-decker’ buses rise above the smaller cars and vans. The city of London today is the financial powerhouse of the country and one of the chief commercial centers of the western world. The city has its own Lord Major, its own Government and its own police force. Here the medieval buildings stand side by side with modern glass high-rise offices. The parks of London provide a welcome contrast to the great built-up areas. St.James’s Park, Green Park, Hyde Park, and Kensington Gardens are linked together. They form 313 hectares of open parkland in the heart of London.
London - Лондон (2)
London is the capital of Great Britain, its political, economic and commercial center. It’s one of the largest cities in the world and the largest city in Europe. Its population is about 9 million. London is one of the oldest and most interesting cities in the world. Traditionally it’s divided into several parts: the City, Westminster, the West End and the East End. They are very different from each other and seem to belong to different towns and epochs. The heart of London is the City, its financial and business center. Numerous banks, offices and firms are situated there, including the Bank of England, the Stock Exchange and the Old Baily. Few people live here, but over a million people come to the City to work. There are some famous ancient buildings within the City. Perhaps the most striking of them in St. Paul’s Cathedral, the greatest of British churches. St. Paul’s Cathedral has always dominated the center of London. It stands on the site of former Saxon and Norman churches. They latter were destroyed in the Great Fire and the present building, completed in 1710, is the work of the eminent architect Sir Christopher Wren. It is an architectural masterpiece. Londoners have a particular affection for St. Paul’s, which is the largest Protestant Church in England. Its high dome, containing the remarkable Whispering Gallery, is a prominent landmark towering above the multistoreyed buildings which line the river-bank. The Tower of London was one of the first and most impressive castles built after the Norman invasion of England in 1066. Since the times of William 1 various kings have built and extended the Tower of London and used it for many purposes. The Tower has been used as a royal palace, an observatory, an arsenal, a state prison, and many famous and infamous people have been executed within its walls. It is now a museum. For many visitors the principal attraction is the Crown Jewels, the finest precious stones of the nation. A fine collection of armour is exhibited in the keep. The security of the Tower is ensured by a military garnison and by the Yeoman Warders or Beefeaters, who still wear their picturesque Tudor uniform. Westminster is the historic, the governmental part of London. Westminster Abbey is a national shrine where the kings and queens are crowned and famous people are buried. Founded by Edward the Confessor in 1050, the Abbey was a monastery for along time. The present building dates largely from the times of Henry 3, who began to rebuild the church, a task which lasted nearly 300 years. The West towers were added in the eighteenth century. Since William 1 almost every English monarch has been crowned in this great church, which contains the tombs and memo- rials of many of Britain’s most eminent citizens: Newton, Darwin, Chauser, Dickens, Tennyson, Kipling and etc. One of the greatest treasures of the Abbey is the oaken Coronation Chair made in 1300. The Abbey is also known for its Poet’s Corner. Graves and memorials to many English poets and writers are clustered round about. Across the road from Westminster Abbey is Westminster Palace, or the Houses of Parliament, the seat of the British Parliament. The Parliament of the UK of Great Britain and Northern Ireland consists of the House of Lords and the House of Commons. The House of Lords consists of just over 1,000 members of the different grades of nobility - dukes, marquesses, earls, viscounts and barons. In the House of Commons there are 650 members. They are elected by secret ballot by men and women aged 18 and over. Every Parliament is divided into Sessions. Each of these may last a year and usually begins early in November. The Clock Tower, which contains the hour-bell called Big Ben, is known the world over. The bell is named after Sir Benjamin Hall. Buckingham Palace is the official residence of the Queen. The West End is the richest and most beautiful part of London. It is the symbol of wealth and luxury. The best hotels, shops, restaurants, clubs, and theatres are situated there. There are splendid houses and lovely gardens belonging to wealthy people. Trafalgar Square is the geographical center of London. It was named in memory of Admiral Nelson’s victory in the battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The tall Nelson’s Column stands in the middle of the square. On the north side of Trafalgar Square is the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery. Not far away is the British Museum - the biggest museum in London. It contains a priceless collection of ancient manuscripts, coins, sculptures, ets, and is famous for its library. The East End is the poorest district of London. There are a lot of factories, work- shops and docks here. The streets are narrow, the buildings are unimpressive. The East End is densely populated by working class families.
London - Лондон (3)
London is a royal city. The British queen has a palace there – Buckingham Palace, which is the official London home of the Royal family. It is a vast 600 roomed palace but it has no style and is quite uninteresting. The 1st sovereign to live in the Palace was Queen Victoria. There is the Queen Victoria memorial in front of the building. The British people like the Queen and the royal family. They like important occasions too, such as: the Changing of the Guard, the State Opening of the Parliament and some others. The Houses of Parliament (The Palace of Westminster) stand on the bank of the river Thames. The Palace of Westminster is the seat of the Parliament. It is built in the Gothic style. The Clock Tower, which contains the hour-bell called “Big Ben”, is known all over the world. The Tower is old and it has a long and a cruel history. The Tower was a royal residence, but now it’s a museum. One can see ravens on the territory of the Tower. There is a legend which dates from just over a century ago: that as long as there are ravens at the Tower, Britain will continue to exist. St. Paul’s Cathedral and Westminster Abbey are famous London churches. St. Paul’s Cathedral was built by Christopher Wren in Renaissance Style (all other English churches are Gothic). It took Wren about 35 years to build the Cathedral. It is an operating church, because it is the largest Protestant Church in England. It is high dome, containing the remarkable Whispering Gallery. Westminster Abbey is situated in Parliament’s Square. This is the place where all the kings and queens of England were crowned. Darwin, I. Newton, Kipling, Dickens, W. Scott and many other well-known people are buried there. Five important streets meet at Picadilly Circus in London’s “West End”. The cars, the red London buses, and the taxis go round a statue there. People don’t remember the statue’s real name. They say: “It’s Eros, the Greek god of love”. Picadilly Circus is a very busy place. It’s busy day and night. People come here to shop at the day time, and at night they come for a night out. Trafalgar Square is the center of London. It is famous for the tall Nelson’s Column – the monument to Admiral Lord Nelson. The square was named Trafalgar to commemorate the victory at Trafalgar in 1805 where Nelson was killed. The pedestal of the Column is decorated with bas-reliefs representing Nelson’s most familiar victories. At the base of Nelson’s Column are four lions. On the north side of the square are the National Portrait Gallery. The National Gallery has a collection of paintings from British, Italian, Spanish, French, Dutch and other famous schools. It is an international, rather than, as it is named, a National Gallery.
London - Лондон (4)
If I had a chance to go to London I'd like to see not only the places of interest but many other interesting things there. Certainly everyone knows that the most famous sights of the capital of the Great Britain are Tower Bridge over the river Themes, Big Ben, The Houses of Parliament, Trafalgar Square, Saint Paul's Cathedral, The British museum, Art Gallery. It seems I know all these sights well because we have been getting acquainted with them since the 5-Th form up to now. I think it will be enough one-day excursion to see all these sights with my own eyes. I'd better visit the one of the numerous English pubs- the local beer halls where Englishmen like to spend their free time reading, talking, discussing traditional matters - political, sports and weather over the glass of beer. Or I'll try to feel myself as a real Englishman visiting a house of a common English family. I'd like to sit round the fire place which is traditional for every English house. If I were lucky I would visit one of the competition or a tournament where traditional English sport games are played - rugby or lawn tennis, horse racing or cricket. I'd like to walk among the students of Cambridge or Oxford university in their campus and to imagine that I am one of them. I believe my impression on London won't be full if I don't visit Madam Tussad's museum in Baker street. I'm looking forward to seeing their life - size wax portraits of kings and queens, well - known writers, singers and even criminals One of my evenings in London I'd like to spend in a disco club to watch the way English teenagers and young people spare their time, to listen to their popular groups, to make friends and what not.
London - Лондон (5)
London is the capital of Great Britain. It is a political, economic and commercial center. It is one of the most enjoyable cities. Visited by millions of tourists, the city offers them an astonishing variety of scenes. London is one of the largest cities in the world and its population is about 9 million. London is situated on the river Themes. The city is very old. It has more than 20 centuries old history. Traditionally the city is divided into several parts: the City, the Westminster, the West End and the East End. The City is the oldest part of London; it's financial and business center. Numerous banks, offices and firms are concentrated here, including the Bank of England, the Stock Exchange and the Old Bailey. Two masterpieces are situated within the city: St. Paul's Cathedral and the Tower of London. St. Paul's Cathedral was built in the 17th century by Christopher Wren. It has always dominated the center of London. It is an architectural masterpiece. All Londoners have a particular affection for St. Paul's, which is one of the largest Protestant Church in England. Its high dome, containing the remarkable Whispering Gallery, is a prominent landmark towering above the multi-storied buildings, which line the riverbank. The Tower of London was built in the 11th century. It was one of the first and most impressive castles built after the Norman invasion of England in 1066. The Tower has been used as a royal palace, an observatory, an arsenal, a state prison and many famous and infamous people have been executed withing its walls. It is now a museum. For many visitors the principal attraction is the Crown Jewels, the finest precious stones of the nation. A fine collection of armour is exhibited in the Keep. Trafalgar Square is the geographical center of London. It was named so to commemorate Nelson's Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.The monument in the middle of this square known as Nelson's Column is surmounted with the Statue of Nelson 16 feet high. The pedestal of the Column is decorated with the bas-reliefs representing Nelson's most famous victories. At the base of the column, there are four big lions. On the north side of the square are the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery. The National Gallery has an outstanding collection of finest arts from Britain, Italy, Denmark and other countries. The Westminster is the aristocratic, official part of London. It includes Buckingham Palace where the Queen lives and the House of Parliament stretching for nearly 1000 feet along the north bank of the Themes. Westminster Abbey is a national shrine where the kings and queens are crowned and famous people buried. Chaucer, Tennyson, Newton, Dickens, Hardy, Kipling were buried in Westminster Abbey. The House of Parliament called officially the Palace of Westminster, were formerly a palace for kings and queens. The Palace was used both as used as a royal residence and as a parliament house until the 16th century. In the course of the 16th when the royal family moved to the new palace within half of mile Whitehall Palace, the Westminster Palace was occupied by the Parliament and became its permanent home. The Parliament of the United Great Britain and Northern Ireland consists of just over 1000 members of the different grades of nobility. In the House of comments, there are 635 members. The Clock Towers, with contains the hour bell, called "Big Ben" is known all over the world. The bell is named after Sir Benjamin Hall, the first Commissioner of Works. The West End is the richest and most magnificent part of London. It is a real symbol of wealth and luxury. The best hotels, restaurants, shops, clubs, parks and houses are situated there. The East End is the industrial district of London. There are many factories and the Port of London there. The region is densely populated by working class families. London hasps buildings that express all the different areas of its history. London manages is a unique way to reflect its past and at the same time to fulfill the functions of a modern city.
London - Лондон (6)
London has been home of many famous Englishmen. Some were born there. Some lived there all their lives. Others lived in London only for a short time but all gave something to this great city One of the first names of importance is that of Geoffrey Chaucer, the poet. He lived most of his life in London. He knew the courts of King Richard II d King Henry IV. His most famous work, 'The Canterbury Tales", opens at the Tabard Inn, in Southwark. Chaucer held official posts in London and is buried in Westminster Abbey. William Shakespeare also lived in London. He lived there for more than twenty years. He acted at the Globe Theatre and wrote his plays in London. But London's famous men are not only writers. Sir Christopher Wren, the architect, spent most of his life in London. He designed many beautiful churches, including St. Paul's Cathedral. He also designed palaces and fine houses. Music is represented by a very interesting figure. This is George Frederick Handel. He came to London from Hanover in 1710. He lived for a time at Burlington House, Piccadilly, now the Royal Academy. After some success and some failure he at last became famous. This happened when he composed "The Messiah". "Judas Maccabeus". and 'The Music for the Royal Fireworks". Like Chaucer and many other great artists. Handel is buried in Westminster Abbey. Another famous London figure is one of England's greatest seamen. Admiral Lord Nelson. He has a very special memorial in Trafalgar Square. The monument consists of a very tall column. On top of it stands a figure of Nelson. It is called the Nelson Column. Equally famous is the general who led the army at the battle of Waterloo in 1815. This was the Duke of Wellington. His house stands at Hyde Park Comer. It is sometimes known as Number One, London. Like Admiral Nelson, the Duke of Wellington is buried in St. Paul's Cathedral.
London - Лондон (7)
In 1996, in winter I went to London. This city impressed me very much. When we leaved from Archangel the weather was terrible: it was awfully cold. But when we arrived to London there were green leaves on the trees and the air was much warmer then in our city. That was the first thing that impressed me in London. We lived not in the central part of the London City, but in the suburb, and the atmosphere in that part of the city was pleasant and quiet. The streets were clean and tidy; the houses in our neighborhood were very nice. These things aroused in me pleasant emotions. London offers its visitors the great variety of scenes. The places of interest are fascinating there. Such buildings like Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's Cathedral and Tower of London impressed me by their beautiful architecture. They reflect the past of English people and they affected me greatly. One more interesting thing to view is The London Bridge. It looks especially effective when you cross it. But I think that the most outstanding building to view in London is Big Ben. This beautiful tower rises among the multi-storeyed buildings and it looks very exciting. Especially beautiful it looks in the evening when the lighting is on. I was also impressed by English shops. The great variety of things to buy helps you to find anything you want. Especially I was impressed by multi-storeyed shops, which we can't find in Archangel. These shops have elevators and even shop guides. It takes hours to explore them. All these things are able to impress even the man who traveled a lot and saw many interesting places. English people impressed me very much too. They are friendly and easy to talk to. When you walk in the street you see smiling faces and it is very pleasant. They are not always criticizing everything and complaining on something. But the most impressive place to my mind is Madam Tussauds museum of wax figures where you can find perfectly made figures of the most famous people of the world from Lenin and Bill Clinton to Michel Jackson and The Beatles. In some halls figures are shown in interesting scenes in some they are just sitting or standing. There are also figures of great historic people who lived long time ago. I think that London is worth visiting because of its great places of interest and because exploring of them provides a lot of minutes of pleasure. I also think that it would be very exciting to make a journey to this city for citizens of Archangel in winter because such quick getting from the northern city to the city where even in winter there is green grass and no snow makes a great affect.
London - Лондон (8)
London is the capital of Great Britain, its political, economic and cultural centre. It is situated on the both banks of the Thames. London is one of the largest cities in the world. It's population is more than 9 million people. London was founded more then twenty centuries ago. The East End includes the poorer districts, the industrial center, the port, the London docks. The streets here are narrow and dirty, the houses are poor. Working class families live here. London is famous for its wonderful places of interest such as the British Museum, the Tower of London, Buckingham Palace, and many others.
London - Лондон (9)
London — the capital of Great Britain is situated on the Thames River. It is the largest city in Europe with a population of eight and a quarter million. It is divided into four parts: the City, Westminster, the West End and the East End. The City is the business and commercial heart of London. Many banks, offices and firms are concentrated there. The Tower and St. Paul's Cathedral are in the centre. The Tower is about 900 years old. Many years ago it was a royal residence, then a prison. Now it is a museum. St. Paul's Cathedral is very large and fine. It was completed in 1710. The famous English architect Christopher Wren planned and built St. Paul's Cathedral. If the City is the business part of London, Westminster is the centre of administration. We can see the Houses of Parliament there. It is a beautiful building with two towers and a very big clock called Big Ben. The Houses of Parliament stand in Parliament Square. Westminster Abbey is opposite the Houses of Parliament. Many great Englishmen were buried in Westminster Abbey. To the west of Westminster Abbey you can see Buckingham Palace. It is a royal residence. The ceremony of the changing of the guards which takes place in front of Buckingham Palace is of great interest to the tourists. Rich people live in the West End. The best and most expensive clubs, restaurants and theatres, beautiful houses and parks are there. The East End —the district of plants, factories, slums and docks — is for the working people. London is unlike any other city in the world. It has rather wide streets but low houses. It looks very grey because there is so much rain and fog there. Only buses and pillar-boxes are red. This city has never been planned and it has many parts which are different from each other.
London is one of the largest and most interesting cities in the world. Greater London covers an area of about 600 square miles and has the population of nearly 9 million people. In London today, there still stand numerous landmarks reminding us of the town, as it was five or six centuries ago. The old town that stood until the Great Fire of 1666 was surrounded by a wall. Inside the wall there were streets lined with wooden one-story houses. Almost the whole of the town was contained in what is still known as the City. Nowadays the City is London's commercial and business centre. The City is only one square mild in area and only a few thousand people live there. During the day it's full of energy and life, but towards the end of the day it grows almost desolate. It contains the Bank of England, the Stock Exchange and the head offices of numerous companies and corporations. Thanks to them, the City is often referred to as "the money" of London. But the City is also a Mecca for a museum - goes. Here is situated the Tower of London that comes first among the historic buildings of the British capital. Founded by Julius Caesar and rebuilt by William the Conqueror, it was used as a fortress, a royal residence and prison. Now it is a museum of armour and the place where the Crown Jewels are kept. A twenty minutes' walk from the Tower will take you to St. Paul's Cathedral, the greatest of English churches. In one of its towers hangs one of the largest bells of the world, Great Paul. Another important part of' London, where most of the government buildings are located, is Westminster. Tourists are invariably taken to see Westminster abbey, where many English sovereigns, outstanding statesmen, poets and artists are buried; Westminster, the seat of the British Parliament, with its famous Big Ben that strikes every quarter of an hour. Visitors with plenty of money to spend come chiefly to the West End of London, its shopping and entertainment centre. The theatre land is stretched around Piccadilly Circus. Not far from it one can see the British Museum and the Covent Garden Opera House. Expensive shopping promenades-Regent Street, Oxford Street and Bond Street - would lead you to Regent Park and Hyde Park. The last - but not the last - of London's functional zones is the East End. It is the district inhabited by workers and the poor. Industry is chiefly found in that part of the capital, grey with soot and smoke. London is the main centre of Britain's printing and the manufacture of clothing, food and drink, precision instruments and aircrafts, cars and ships. London's port is the third biggest port in the world.

London - Лондон (11)

When we think of Paris, Rome, Madrid, Lisbon and other European capitals, we think of them as "cities". When we think of the whole of modern London, the capital city of England and the United Kingdom, that great area covering several hundred square kilometres, we do not think of it as a city, not even as a city and its suburbs. Modern London is not one city that has steadily become larger through the centuries; it is a number of cities, towns, and villages that have, during the past centuries, grown together to make one vast urban area. London is situated upon both banks of the River Thames, it is the largest city in Britain and one of the largest in the world. Its population is about 7 million people. London dominates the life of Britain. It is the chief port of the country and the most important commercial, manufacturing and cultural centre. There is little heavy industry in London, but there is a wide range of light industry in Greater London. London consists of three parts: the City of London, the West End and the East End. The City extends over an area of about 2.6 square kilometres in the heart of London. About half a million people work in the City but only less than 6000 live here. It is the financial centre of the UK with many banks, offices and Stock Exchange. But the City is also a market for goods of almost every kind, from all parts of the world. The West End can be called the centre of Tendon. Here are the historical palaces as well as the famous parks. Hyde Park with its Speaker's Corner is also here. Among other parks are Kensington Gardens, St.James's Park. In the West End is Buckingham Palace. Which is the Queen's residence, and the Palace of Westminster which is the seat of Parliament. The best-known streets here are Whitehall with important Government offices. Downing Street, the London residence of Prime Minister and the place where the Cabinet meets. Fleet Street where most newspapers have their offices, Harley Street where the highest paid doctors live, and some others. Trafalgar Square is named so in commemoration of Nelson's great victory. In the middle stands the famous Nelson Column with the statue of Nelson 170 feet high so as to allow him a view of the sea. The column stands in the geographical centre of the city. It is one of the best open air platforms for public meetings and demonstrations. One of the "musts" for the sightseer are the Houses of Parliament, facing the Thames, on one side, and Parliament Square and Westminster Abbey, on the other. The House of Commons sits to the side of the Clock Tower (Big Ben), the House of Lords - to the Victoria Tower side. Westminster Abbey is the crowning and burial place of British monarchs. It has its world famed Poet's Corner with memorials to Chaucer, Shakespeare, Milton, the Bronte's sisters. Tennyson. Longfellow, Wordsworth, Burns, Dickens, Thackeray, Hardy, Kipling and other leading writers. Only a few however, are actually buried there. Here too is that touching symbol of a nation's grief. The Grave of the Unknown Warrior. The name "West End" came to be associated with wealth, luxury, and goods of high quality. It is the area of the largest department stores, cinemas and hotels. There are about 40 theatres, several concert halls, many museums including the British Museum, and the best art galleries. It is in the West End where the University of London is centred with Bloomsbury as London's student quarter. The Port of London is to the east of the City. Here. today are kilometres and kilometres of docks, and the great industrial areas that depend upon shipping. This is the East End of London, unattractive in appearance, but very important to the country's commerce. In recent times London has grown so large. that the Government has decided that it must spread no farther. It is now surrounded by a "green belt" - a belt of agricultural and wooded land on which new buildings may be put up only with the permission of the planning authorities.
London - Лондон (12)
When a man is tired of London? He is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford. Samuel Johnson. Today, more than 200 years later, Johnson's words still ring true. There are few places that offer such a variety of sights, entertainments, educational and business opportunities, world- famous museums and theatres, and superb shopping. London draws people from all over the world. Some come to study, to work or on holiday. London is naturally a very English city, yet it is the least typical of Britain as it is very cosmopolitan, containing goods, food and entertainment, as well as people, from many countries of the world. London spreads its influence over much of the southern areas of England; it gives work to millions of people who live not only in the inner-city areas, but in surrounding districts. Some people even commute over 100 miles (over 150 km) every day to work in London. There is much in London Which fascinates visitors and inspires the affection of Londoners: the splendor of the royal palaces and the Houses of Parliament, the Dignity of St. Paul's Cathedral and many monuments, the fine architecture of numerous historic buildings, and the beautiful parks. London shows examples of Buildings that express all the different areas of its history, it manages in a unique way to reflect it's past and at the same time to fulfil the functions of a modern city with its commercialism and bustle London is the capital of Great Britain. It is a political, economic and commercial center. It is one of the most enjoyable cities. Visited by millions of tourists, the city offers them an astonishing variety of scenes. London is one of the largest cities in the world and its population is about 9 million. London is situated on the river Themes. The city is very old. It has more than 20 centuries old history. Traditionally the city is divided into several parts: the City, the Westminster, the West End and the East End. The City of London today is the financial powerhouse of the country and one of the chief commercial centers of the western world. The City has its own Lord Mayor, its own government and its own police force. Here the medieval buildings stand side by side with modern steel and glass high-rise office blocks. The territory of the City of just over one square mile contains several banks, including the Bank of England, the Stock Exchange and offices of many financial companies. The Westminster is the aristocratic, official part of London. It includes Buckingham Palace where the Queen lives and the House of Parliament stretching for nearly 1000 feet along the north bank of the Themes. Westminster Abbey is a national shrine where the kings and queens are crowned and famous people buried. Chaucer, Tennyson, Newton, Dickens, Hardy, Kipling were buried in Westminster Abbey. The House of Parliament called officially the Palace of Westminster, were formerly a palace for kings and queens. The Palace was used both as used as a royal residence and as a parliament house until the 16th century. In the course of the 16th when the royal family moved to the new palace within half of mile Whitehall Palace, the Westminster Palace was occupied by the Parliament and became its permanent home. The Parliament of the United Great Britain and Northern Ireland consists of just over 1000 members of the different grades of nobility. In the House of comments, there are 635 members. The Clock Towers, with contains the hour bell, called "Big Ben" is known all over the world. The bell is named after Sir Benjamin Hall, the first Commissioner of Works. The Tower of London was built in the 11th century. It was one of the first and most impressive castles built after the Norman invasion of England in 1066. The Tower has been used as a royal palace, an observatory, an arsenal, a state prison and many famous and infamous people have been executed within its walls. It is now a museum. For many visitors the principal attraction is the Crown Jewels, the finest precious stones of the nation. A fine collection of armor is exhibited in the Keep. Trafalgar Square is the geographical center of London. It was named so to commemorate Nelson's Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.The monument in the middle of this square known as Nelson's Column is surmounted with the Statue of Nelson 16 feet high. The pedestal of the Column is decorated with the bas-reliefs representing Nelson's most famous victories. At the base of the column, there are four big lions. On the north side of the square are the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery. The National Gallery has an outstanding collection of finest arts from Britain, Italy, Denmark and other countries. Piccadilly Circus has become an important meeting point - for traffic as well as sightseers. At its heart is a bronze fountain topped by a figure of a winged archer, popularly known as Eros, the pagan god of love. The majority of London's places of entertainment are concentrated around Piccadilly Circus. This area is now famous for its theatres, clubs and shops. Whitehall is a street in central London running from Trafalgar Square to the Houses of Parliament and containing many important buildings and government offices: the Foreign and Commonwealth offices, the Treasury, Admiralty and Ministry of Defence. In the center of the roadway stands the Cenotaph, The memorial to the fallen of both world wars. The Prime Minister's residence at No. 10 Downing Street is directly connected to Whitehall. London is always full of life. The streets are crowded with traffic. High "double-decker" buses rise above the smaller and vans. The Parks. of London provide a welcome contrast to the great built-up areas. St. James's Park, Green Park, Hyde Park, and Kensington gardens are linked together. They form 313 hectares of open parkland in the heart of London.