Welcome to London

Welcome to London

London was founded by the Romans in 43 A.D. and was called Londinium. In 61 A.D. the town was burnt down and when it was rebuilt by the Romans. That area is now called the City of London. Modern London is not one city. It is a number of cities, towns and villages that have, during the past centuries, grown together to make one vast urban area .

The Thames

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 seven million people and one more million travel in each day to work. It is a cosmopolitan, multi - cultural city. It is a big port, commercial and cultural centre.

Traditionally London is divided into several parts: the City, Westminster, the West End and the East End. The heart of London is the City, its financial and business centre. There are a lot of banks, offices and firms there, including the Bank of England, the Stock Exchange and the Old Bailey.

The Houses of Parliament

Westminster is now the political centre of London. The Palace of Westminster is among the world’s most famous buildings. It houses the British Parliament and is often called the Houses of Parliament. The Clock Tower of the Houses of Parliament is known as Big Ben.

The Tower of London was built by William the Conqueror who conquered England in 1066. He was crowned at Westminster Abbey. Now most of the Government buildings are located there. There are Crown Jewels are kept. The Ceremony of the Keys takes place at its gates.

Every night when the guard is changed at each gate there is the cry: “Halt! Who goes there?” Then the guard replies: “The Keys.”

“ Whose Keys?” “Queen Elizabeth’s Keys!” “Pass, Queen Elizabeth’s Keys! All’s well.” And so the Tower of London is safely closed for the night.

Westminster Abbey

One of the most examples of Gothic architecture, founded by Edward the Confessor in 1065 on the site of a church which had been built 500 years earlier. Many English sovereigns, outstanding statesmen, painters and poets (Newton, Darwin, and Tennyson among them) are buried here.

St. Paul’s

Cathedral

The greatest of English churches. It was built by a famous English architect, Sir Christopher Wren. St.Paul’s Cathedral with its huge dome and rows of columns is considered to be a fine specimen of Renaissance architecture. In one of its towers hangs one of the largest bells in the world, Great Paul, weighing about 17,5 tones.

Buckingham Palace

It is the official residence of the Queen. London’s most popular spectacle is the Changing of the Guard. It lasts every day about 30 minutes.

The British Museum

It is the largest and richest museum in the world. It was founded in 1753 and contains one of the world’s richest collections of antiquities. The Egyptian Galleries contain human and animals mummies. Some parts of Athens’ Patrhenon are in the Greek section .

Trafalgar Square

It is the geographical centre of London. It was laid out in memory of Lord Nelson’s great victory of 1805 in the battle of Trafalgar. Nelson’s Column in the middle of the square commemorates this national hero, who died during the battle.

Thank you for attention.