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Places of Interest in Great Britain

Britain is rich in its historic places which link the present with the past. They are: the Tower of London, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square and so on.

The Tower of London

The Tower of London is one of the most famous and most interesting places in the city. The Tower was once a palace, a fortress, a prison and even a Zoo. Today it is known as a historical museum. Despite being called “The Tower of London”, the place consists of 20 towers. The White Tower is the oldest of them. It was built at the time of William the Conqueror. The Tower of London used to be a place where many famous people lived their last days before execution. Anne Boleyn was beheaded there and future Queen Elizabeth was kept in the prison but later she was released and became Queen.

Nowadays the Tower of London is a place of great interest for millions of people.  Tourists can also speak with the guardians who wear special uniform which was assigned to them during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I.

Big Ben

Big Ben is one of the most popular places of interest in London and symbols of England. Every year many people visit the capital of Great Britain to see it and take some photos with it in the background. It is thought that Big Ben is a high tower with a very big clock, but that’s not really true. There are many hypotheses for the origin of the name “Big Ben”. The most popular one suggests that the bell was named after Sir Benjamin Hall, who was responsible for the installation. Some of people say he was really tall and that’s why this bell is called big, but the majority believe it is called Big because of its size.

Big Ben is one of the best-known landmarks in Europe. Nowadays the word Big Ben connects the bell, the clock and the tower at the same time. The tower is closed to the general public, but people with a "special interest" might offer an excursion for additional paymen t.

Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey is a place where all English kings and queens were crowned and Royal wedding ceremonies took place. In addition, many royalties and great people are burried there:  Queen Elizabeth I, William Shakespeare, Charles Darwin, Isaac Newton, Bernard Show, Lord Byron, Walter Scott and many others. According to the ancient tradition, the church was founded by St.Peter 900 years ago. Later it was rebuilt during the reign of Henry III. The original Westminster Abbey was built in the Romanesque style and then it was reconstructed in the Gothic style. The church is very high and has a magnificent exterior.

Buckingham Palace

With its architecturally defined profile, this is one of London's most popular historical buildings. Buckingham Palace was built in 1703 for the Duke of Buckingham. 

The ceremony of the Changing of the Guard that takes place daily at eleven o'clock in the morning. Every day a large crowd of people gather to see this famous and traditional ceremony. It is an event that, in spite of its regularity, appears to be a solemn classical ritual, of purely British flavour.

Buckingham Palace is not only the royal residence: it's a small city under one roof. It has a cinema, a post-office, some cafes and a restaurant, a hospital and even a night club. More than 700 people work here every day.

Trafalgar Square

Trafalgar Square is the pride of the inhabitants of London. This place is the center of Westminster and connects the three main streets. It also amazes with its greatness and annually gathers crowds of tourists to admire this landmark. The square was founded in 1820. The square was named after the naval Battle of Trafalgar on this site, which was led by Admiral Horatio Nelson. In memory of this outstanding man, a column with a granite monument of Nelson on the summit was erected on the square. The height of the column is 56 meters. Four huge lions of bronze are installed at the foot.

The square was named after the naval Battle of Trafalgar on this site, which was led by Admiral Horatio Nelson. In memory of this outstanding man, a column with a granite monument of Nelson on the summit was erected on the square. The height of the column is 56 meters. Four huge lions of bronze are installed at the foot.

Trafalgar Square since its inception, has become a traditional place for both rallies and pickets, and for holiday events and festivals. Every New Year city ​​dwellers meeting on the square, where a festive Christmas tree of Great Britain is established.

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