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LONDON :

· the capital city of England · the population is about 7 milion · the area is 4 000 sq. km · it is situated on the river Thames in south – east England · the largest city of England (the 9th largest city in the world) · the oldest underground in the world · a large port

Transport:

· one of the largest ports and it has the oldest underground in the world · three airports – Heathrow, Gatwick, Stanstead Heathrow is the largest airport in Europe · red double – deckers (in town) · black taxis

City in the centre of London:

a) The City of London · the oldest part around St. Paul´s (there are many sights) · EAST END – dooks and factories · WEST END – centre for shopping, theatres, cinemas, only rich people live here

The Tower

  • was built by William the Conqueror in the
11th century

  • crown jewels are kept here
  • it was a royal palace, the a prison, a royal
zoo, now it´s a museum

  • the quards are called Beefeaters (yeoman) – they were traditional tudor uniforms
  • near the Tower is Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge

  • one of the most famous symbols of London
  • was buil in 1894
  • it can open in the middle to let large ships go through
  • it´s the last bridge across the Tames
  • inside its towers is a museum
  • there are 27 bridges across the Thames

St. Paul´s Cathedral

  • one of the largest cathedrals in the
world

  • built by Christopher Wren in the 17th
century

  • known for its Whispering Gallery – you
can clearly hear what is whispered on the opposite side

  • princ Charles and lady Diana were
married there

The monument

  • commemorates the Great Fire of London (1666)
  • a very tall column

b) The City of Westminster · the centre of political and administrative life · there are many banks, many outstanding sights

The Houses of Parliament

  • are situated on the left bank
of the Tames

  • the houses was built in Gothic
style

Big Ben

  • tower of the House of Parliament
  • a famous clock – tower with massive bell, made in 1858
  • it´s named after a rather fat member of Parliament a minister sir
Benjamin Hall

  • tower is 97 metres high

Westminster Abbey

  • was built in the 11th century
  • many kings and queens were crowned here
  • Poet´s Corner – writers, dramatists, scholars, poets are
buried here (for example Isac Newton)

Buckingham Palace

  • is the residenc of Queen´s family
  • the changing of the guard is a popular event (every day in summer we can see the changing of the guard)
  • the Queen Victoria Monument in front of it

Shopping centers of London

  • Oxford Street
  • Regent Street
  • Bond Street
Harots – big department (there buy king´s family) Next shops – WH Smith, Marks and Spencer,

No. 10, Downing Street

  • is the Prime Minister´s residence – Tony Blair

Whitehall

  • government offices are situated in this street

Hyde Park

  • one of the best – know London parks – there is Speaker´s Corner
  • a large green area, you can come and
relax, have picnic, some people go fishing in the Serpentine (lake) or boating as well. Lots of people go for long walkds and jogging here on Sundays

  • next parks : Regent´s park( contains London´s ZOO – 6 000 animals),
Kennington Park, Battersea park, St. James´s park( is the oldest one), Kensington Gardens

The Post Office Tower

  • the highest building in Great Britain – nearly 190 m

Museums and galleries :

The National Gallery

  • is situated in Trafalgar square
  • paintings by great European artists + British paintings and sculptures

The British Museum

  • the biggest collection of all kinds of
animals, minerals, rocks

Theatres and music halls :

  • there are about 100 theatres in London
The Royal Festival Hall The Royal Albert Hall the main concert halls The Queen Elizabeth Hall

The National Theatre The Old Vic The Royal Shakespeare Company

Picadilly Circus -most famous square in London

Trafalgar Square

  • there are Nelson´s Column, 2 fountains, pigeons (holubi), meetings and demonstrations

Madame Tussaud´s Museum

  • wax figures, famous turist atraction, about 4 000 figures,
for example : John Lenon, V. Havel

Wimbledon

  • the greatest tennis championship in the world is held there

Wembley

  • international football matches