LONDON

LONDON

the capital city of England and the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Northern Ireland
it lies on the river Thames, covers an area of 1,580 sq. km
population: 7 million people (12 mil. in its conurbation)
includes the City of London and 32 boroughs
it's the seat of the Monarch, the Parliament, the Government,
the Supreme Court
contains many museums, galleries, theatres, many historical
buildings, parks


History
the Celts settled the place as early as 800 B. C.
43 A. D. - Romans established Londonium
when Romans left the island, it remained the capital of Britons
during the reign of Norman kings (12th century) the royal court
moved from Winchester (the formal capital) to London for ever
16th century - establishment of trading companies, the Royal
Exchange (1565)
1665 - more than 75,000 people died from a plague epidemic
1666 - the Great Fire of London destroyed 4/5 of the city;
during the following decades hectic building activity rebuilt
the town; Sir Christopher Wren was appointed the main architect
(constructed about 50 churches, many public buildings)
17th century - Lloyd's Insurance Company was established, Bank
of England (1694), Stock Exchange (1773)
the reign of Queen Victoria (1837 - 1901) - London grew and
flourished


Industry, commerce, transport
industry: woodworking, furniture-making, chemical (oil), food
(breweries, sugar refineries), clothing, printing, diamond
cutting, electrical engineering, paper-making, production of
cement, car industries

financial and commercial centre - London Stock Exchange, gold,
silver, platinum trade, postal services, art trade
the river Thames - used as a highway since prehistoric times;
the Port - one of the best in the world, now it's rebuilding
into "The Metropolitan Water City"; the port has moved to
Tilbury; riverbuses

airports: Heathrow, Gatwick, London City Airport
rails, underground (the oldest in the world - since 1863), buses
(Victoria Coach Station)


Sights and important places
the City is the oldest part of London in the East (now is the
home to the financial district)
the East End (to the east of the City) - immigrants and working
people

the West End - chic chops, theatres, residential areas, parks
the most stylish parts of London: Kensington, Belgravia,
Knightsbridge, Chelsea

the City of London - self-governing enclave since the 12th
century, is headed by the Lord Mayor (he enters his office in
November - "Lord Mayor's Show")

Tower of London - William the Conqueror began to build the White
Tower, than successive kings extended it; it was used as royal
home, prison (Walter Raleigh, Guy Fawkes, Rudolf Hess), an
executive site (Ann Boleyn, Catherine Howard, Thomas More), a
royal mint, an observatory; now it's museum - arsenal of
weapons, the Crown Jewels; the Yeomen Warders (Beefeaters) -
uniform from Tudor times; six ravens - protect the kingdom;
Ceremony of the Keys (every night when the gate is locked)
Tower Bridge (1894) - can raise in the middle to allow ships to
pass up the river
Docks, incl. St. Katherine Dock (1828)

St. Paul's Cathedral - Sir Christopher Wren masterpiece was
completed in 1711 after 35 years; Baroque style, the main nave
is 170 metres long and is crowned by a central dome which raises
111 metres; the 2nd largest church in the world after St.
Peter's in Rome; inside the dome along the cupola runs the
Whispering Gallery (remarkable acoustic); took place there: W.
Churchill's funeral service, wedding of Prince Charles and
Princess Diana (1981); heroes are buried there: Admiral Nelson,
the Duke of Wellington, Ch. Wren

the Monument - commemorates the place in Pudding Lane where the
Great Fire of London started; it's about 60 metres high
Bank of England (Threadneedle St.), the Stock Exchange, the
Lloyds of London

the City of Westminster - it was separate from London; contains:
Royal Palaces, Abbey, Government offices
the Houses of Parliament - seat of British Parliament; after
fire in 1834, rebuilt in 1840 in neo-gothic style; the only
remaining building is Westminster Hall, dating from 1097; the
seat of Parliament since 1547; the House of Lord is a gothic
hall lavishly decorated in red with the throne of Sovereign, in
front of this is Woolsack - the seat of Lord Chancellor who
presides over the House; the House of Commons - green leather
benches facing to the table where the mace is placed, is
presided over by the Speaker

Big Ben (the bell named after his author) - 97.5 metres high
Parliament Square - there used to stand the West Monastery;

statues: Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln, Benjamin Disraeli
Westminster Abbey (11th century) - Coronation Chair (13th cent.,
cont. the Stone of Scone - symbol of Scottish Royalty); buried

there: Elizabeth I., Mary Stuart, Henry VII., Charles II.,
Edward the Confessor - the founder of the cathedral, Geoffrey
Chaucer, Robert Browning; Poet's Corner - monuments of John
Milton, Walter Scott, Lord Byron, William Shakespeare
Westminster Abbey (11th century) - Coronation Chair (13th cent.,
cont. the Stone of Scone - symbol of Scottish Royalty); buried

there: Elizabeth I., Mary Stuart, Henry VII., Charles II.,
Edward the Confessor - the founder of the cathedral, Geoffrey
Chaucer, Robert Browning; Poet's Corner - monuments of John
Milton, Walter Scott, Lord Byron, William Shakespeare
Whitehall - Government; Royal Horse Guard - changing guards;
Downing St. (no. 10 is a seat of Prime Minister since 1735);
Banqueting House (paintings by Peter Paul Rubens on the ceiling)
- the only remaining part of the Whitehall Palace (originally
seat of Archbishop, from 16th cent. Royal Palace) - in 17th
cent. Palace burned down twice; window from which Charles I.
stepped out onto the scaffold (1649)

Buckingham Palace - the seat of kings and queens; built in 1703
by the Duke of Buckingham; Queen Victoria was the 1st monarch to
live there since 1837; outside: changing of the Guards, Queen
Victoria Monument

the Mall - exclusive street with best-known gentlemen's clubs
and expensive shops

Trafalgar Square - largest in London; commemorates Admiral
Nelson's victory over Spanish fleet at Spanish Cape Trafalgar in
1805; in the middle - Nelson's Column (50 m)

National Gallery - on the Trafalgar Square; greatest collection
of Western paintings from 13th century till now; next to it is
National Portrait Gallery

Piccadilly Circus - busiest place in London; notable centre of
entertainment in the West End; in the centre is at the top of
the Fountain stands Eros, the Greek God of Love (built by Lord
Shaftsbury - the famous philanthropist)


Shopping, parks, theatres, museums, galleries
Oxford St., Regent St., Bond St., Piccadilly, Covent Garden,
Soho
St. James's Park (the oldest), Hyde Park (+ Speaker's corner),
Kensington Gardens, Regent's Park
National Theatre, The Olivier Theatre, Barbican centre,
Littleton Theatre
British Museum, British Library, London Dungeon, Madame
Tussaud's, The Tate Gallery
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