LONDON is the capital of the United Kingdom, Great Britain, and Northern Ireland. It lies on the River Thames, and it is the largest city in the country.

London is the seat of the Monarch, the Parliament, the Government, the Supreme Court, the Church of England, etc.

LONDON is the centre of cultural, political, and social activities.

• Tourists come here to visit monuments, museums, galleries, theatres, historical sights, and parks.
• The city is home to about 9 million inhabitants.
• The most important parts of London are: the city, Westminster, the West End, the East End

HISTORY OF LONDON

The city’s history is very rich, including several disasters that have affected London.

• In 1665, a disease called the Black Plague killed more than 100,000 people.
• In 1666, there was a big fire, ´The Fire of London´ which destroyed most of the city, e.g., St. Paul’s Cathedral and 88 other churches.

QUESTION TIME
part 1

1. What‘s the population of London?
2. Give some reasons why tourists visit London.
3. Name the most important parts of this city.
4. What huge disasters affected London in the past? When did they occur?

BONUS QUESTION: Sum up the introduction of the topic ‚London‘.

PLACES OF INTEREST

The Tower of London

The Tower of London is the typical symbol of the capital and, at the same time, a top tourist attraction. William the Conqueror began to build the massive fortress to defend the city of London. It was the place of some of the bloodiest events in English history. Many important personalities were arrested and executed there.

The Tower of London is now a museum where tourists go to see an arsenal of
weapons and the Crown Jewels.

The Tower is guarded by the Yeoman Warders called “Beefeaters”. They wear a distinctive/ typical uniform from Tudor times. Beefeaters guard together with six ravens that are kept in the Tower. Legend says that it would be the end of the Tower and the kingdom if the ravens flew away. So the ravens’ wings are clipped to prevent this.

Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge is a typical London landmark. It has two Gothic towers. Two glass-covered Walkways link the top of the towers to allow walkers to cross over the River Thames and give them beautiful views of the river. The bridge is raised in the middle to allow tall ships to pass up the river.

Trafalgar Square

Trafalgar Square is the largest square in London. It’s a place of political demonstrations, heavy traffic and tourists. In the middle of the square is the statue of Admiral Nelson, who looks towards the Houses of Parliament and is guarded by four magnificent bronze lions.

Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey is a gothic building with twin towers. The Abbey is a ´Coronation church´. Coronations of every king or queen (except two) have been held here.

Visitors can admire Coronation Chair – this oak chair has been used at every coronation. The Abbey contains many royal tombs. There were many important royal funerals, such as Diana Princess of Wales and Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth = the Queen’s Mother. The Abbey is a living church – there are regular services every day.

St Paul’s Cathedral

St Paul’s Cathedral is the seat of the Bishop of London and the spiritual centre of the city. It is a masterpiece of a famous architect Sir Christopher Wren, who rebuilt this cathedral and 52 other city churches after the Great Fire of London in 1666. The Cathedral is built in the Baroque style.

QUESTION TIME
part 2

1. Choose a place and give a detailed description of it.
   a) The Tower of London
   b) The Tower Bridge
   c) Trafalgar Square
   d) Westminster Abbey
   e) St Paul‘s Cathedral

Buckingham Palace

This is the official London residence of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. The Royal Standard flutters when Her Majesty the Queen is in residence.

An inseparable part of the Palace is the Queen Victoria Memorial in front of it. The statue represents the ideals of motherhood, truth, justice, peace, and progress.

The five regiments of Foot Guards, easily recognized by their scarlet uniforms and bearskins, guard Buckingham Palace. The Guard is changed at 11.30 am. This ceremony takes 40 minutes and is usually watched by vast crowds.

Houses of Parliament

Houses of Parliament is the political centre of the United Kingdom, the home of the British
Parliament. They were rebuilt in the Neo-Gothic style in 1840 after a fire destroyed the previous building.

The complex includes:

• The House of Commons,
• The House of Lords,
• Westminster Hall – the great hall dates from medieval times.

Big Ben

Big Ben is a famous landmark in London. It’s a part of the Houses of Parliament. Big Ben is not the clock’s name but the bell’s name (named after Sir Benjamin Hall). It has been telling the time since 1859.

10 Downing Street

No. 10 Downing Streetis not open to the public, and it is the official home of the British Prime Minister.

London Eye

London Eye is the most popular tourist attraction. It is the tallest sightseeing wheel in the world.

Piccadilly Circus

Piccadilly Circus is a place where five busy streets join into the circular square. It is the most alive and noisiest place in London. It is a centre of entertainment, nightclubs, theatres, cinemas, and restaurants. Many colourful advertisements light the square.

At the top of the Fountain, the circus center, stands Eros, the Greek God of love.

QUESTION TIME
part 3

1. Choose a place and give a detailed description of it.
   a) Buckingham Palace
   b) Houses of Parliament
   c) 10 Downing Street
   d) London Eye
   e) Piccadilly Circus

Hyde Park

Hyde Park is probably the most popular among tourists because of its Speaker’s Corner. It is a place where everybody can speak his or her opinions openly without fear.

Madame Tussauds

Madame Tussauds is visited by thousands of visitors every year. It contains waxworks of famous world figures, e.g., international statesmen (Winston Churchill, Gandhi, Margaret Thatcher), sportsmen (Martina Navrátilová, David Beckham), film stars (Beatles, Madonna), Royal Family, the Pope, and many other famous people.

The National Gallery

The National Gallery contains the best-known collection of paintings, e.g. Rubens, Rembrandt, Raphael, El Greco, etc.

Harrods

Harrods is the world’s best-known store. The store began as a small grocer’s shop, and at the same time, it was the first store in the world with an escalator. Other big shopping stores are Selfridges, Marks and Spencer, John Lewis.

QUESTION TIME
part 4

1. Choose a place and give a detailed description of it.
   a) Hyde Park
   b) Madame Tussauds
   c) The National Gallery
   d) Harrods
   2. Do you know of any other attractive places to see in London?
   3. Have you been to London? Tell us more about your trip there.

BONUS QUESTION: Give a 5-minute speech on the topic of LONDON.