Welcome to London!

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Welcome to London!
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London

• London is the capital of Great Britain, its
  political, economic and cultural centre. It is
  one of the largest cities in the world. Its
  population is more than 11 million people. London
  is situated on the river Thames. The city is very
  old and beautiful. It was founded more than two
  thousands years ago. Traditionally London is
  divided into several parts the City, the West
  End and the East End. The City is the oldest part
  of London, its financial and business centre. The
  West End is the part where rich people live. It
  is the most beautiful part of London. The East
  End is an industrial district of London.

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Tower of London

• It was founded by William the Conqueror as
  a Royal Residence. It has been a citadel, royal
  palace, seat of government and also the scene of
  some of the bloodiest events in English history.
  Kings, queens, princes and people of the highest
  rank were tortured, beheaded, murdered or
  imprisoned. The White tower contains a collection
  of arms and armour, including even a suit of
  armour made for an elephant. The Tower is also
  the nations treasure house, containing the Crown
  Jewels. Ceremonial is still part of the daily
  life within the Tower. Each night the Chief
  Warder locks the gates at 9.30 p.m. and presents
  the keys to the President Governer a ritual
  that has taken place for 700 years. Yeoman
  warders still wear the distinctive colourful
  uniform that dates from Tudor times.

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Tower Bridge

• The most famous of Londons bridges is the
  Tower Bridge. Twin Gothic-style towers are
  connected by a walkway 142 feet above the water
  level. Tower Bridge is the only Thames bridge
  which can be raised. The road over the bridge is
  built on two central sections, they open two or
  three times a week to let ships through. Up the
  bridge there are walkways with good views of
  London.

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Westminster Abbey

• Westminster is a fine Gothic building. It is
  founded in 1049. Westminster Abbey is the
  crowning place of British monarchs. Kings and
  queens (except 2) have been crowned here since
  1050. The Abbey contains the tombs and memorials
  of many famous English scientists. It has its
  poets corner, where many writers are buried.

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Houses of Parliament

• This Gothic-style building on the banks of
  the river Thames is where laws governing British
  life are formulated, debated and passed. At the
  opposite corner of the building rises the
  Victoria Tower, the largest and tallest square
  tower in the world. The flag over it shows that
  the Parliament is on work. The monarch is not
  allowed into the House of Commons. At the start
  of each session the queen goes to the House of
  Lords, sits on a throne and sends her
  representative, Black Rod, to knock on the door
  of the Commons to ask 650 members if they will go
  and listen to her speech. In front of the
  monarchs throne is the Woolsack. This is the
  seat of the Lord Chancellor when the House is
  sitting.

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Big Ben

• On the best known landmarks in the world is
  the Clock Tower Big Ben. This name is given to
  the bell in the Clock Tower on which the hours
  are struck. The name commemorates Sir Benjamin
  Hall who was Commissioner of Works when the bell
  was cast. The bell weighs 13 ½ tons, the four
  clock faces each have a diameter of 22 ½ feet,
  the hour hands are 9 feet and the minute hands
  are 14 feet long. The height of the Clock Tower
  is 316 feet and a light shines from above the
  clock when the House is in session at night.

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Buckingham Palace

• It is the best-known palace in the world.
  The first floor balcony is the scene of formal
  appearances of the royal family on important
  occasions. Below it in the forecourt the
  colourful ceremony of Changing the Guards takes
  place daily. The interior of the palace is never
  opened to the public. The state rooms are used to
  receive visiting heads of state and for
  ceremonies. At the gates of Palace you can see
  Londons Town Crier. He wears an early 19th
  century style costume, carries a bell and owns a
  loud, commanding voice. His duty, on important
  national occasions, is to proclaim news.

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Trafalgar Square

• Trafalgar Square is a popular place for
  political demonstrations and pigeons. The Square
  was laid out in 1840 to commemorate the great
  naval victory of Britain in 1805 in which Admiral
  Lord nelson took part and was fatally wounded. In
  the center of the square there is a monument
  known as Nelsons Column with the statue of
  Nelson at the top. Round the pedestal there are
  four bronze carvings representing Nelsons famous
  naval victories. At the base there are four great
  lions. Every Christmas a fir tree is set up in
  Trafalgar Square, a gift from the people of
  Norway in thanks for the hospitality shown by the
  British nation to their Royal Family during World
  War II.

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St. Pauls Cathedral

• It is a masterpiece of Sir Christopher
  Wren, Englands great architect. The cathedral
  was built between 1675 and 1710. St. Pauls has
  been the setting for solemn and significant
  occasions in the nations history. You can see
  the huge dome with a golden ball and cross on the
  top. There are two towers, the north one contains
  12 bells, the south the clock and Great Paul,
  the largest bell in England. The dome is the
  second largest in the world. St. Pauls contains
  monuments to the nations heroes. The inside of
  the Cathedral is very beautiful. You can climb
  263 steps and get into the Whispering Gallery. It
  is called so because if someone whispers close to
  the wall on one side, a person on the other side
  can hear what is said. Then if you climb another
  118 steps you will be able to look all over
  London. There are steps up to the golden ball.

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TOWER OF LONDON
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BIG BEN
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WESTMINSTER ABBY
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HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT
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BUCKINGHAM PALACE