Welcome to London

Welcome to London

London is the capital of Great Britain

It is situated on the river Thames. It is the largest city in Europe and one of the largest cities in the world.

The Thames is the “noblest river in Europe”, has a number of bridges and tunnels.

Big Ben

There are many sights in London. One of them is the House of Parliament. It is a very large and beautiful building with two high towers at the corners. One of the towers is the Clock Tower.

The House of Parliament

Official name is the Palace of Westminster. Most of the buildings was built in 1840 after the fire in 1834 destroyed the old palace. At the north end of the building, by Westminster Bridge, is the famous clock is the tower, Big Ben. In fact, Big Ben is the name of the bell in the tower, not clock.

Big Ben . The English people built the tower with the clock in 1858. The clock has 4 faces and a very big loud bell. The bell weighs 13 tons

Westminster Abbey

Opposite the House of Parliament is Westminster Abbey. It is a very beautiful church built over 900 years ago. After William the Conqueror, every King and Queen of England was crowned king or queen here. The tombs of many great statesmen, scientists and writers are in the Abbey.

WESTMINSTER ABBEY

Buckingham Palace, London residence of the British sovereign, takes its name from the house built early in the 18 th century for dukes of Buckingham. In 1761 George III bought the Palace for his wife. Since then it is known as “ queen’s house”.

There are 600 rooms in Buckingham Palace. In August and September, you can usually visit some of the rooms in the palace. But there are always lots of people coming to see them, so be ready to wait.

The Ceremony of the Keys

• The Ceremony of Keys happens every night at 10 pm at the Tower of London. It goes back to the Middle Ages. Five minutes before 10 the Headwarder comes out with a bunch of keys and an old lantern. He goes to the guardhouse and cries, “ Escort for the Keys!” Then he locks the three gates and goes to the sentry who calls, “ Halt! Who comes here?”The Headwarder replies, “ The Keys!” “ Whose Keys?” demands the sentry. “Queen Elizabeth’s Keys”. So the Keys are carried to the Queen’s House where they are safe for the night.

Changing of the Guard

• At the royal palace you can always see soldiers who wear colourful uniforms: scarlet tunics, blue trousers and bearskin caps. They traditionally guard the palace.

Changing of the Guard

• Changing of the Guard is one of the most popular ceremonies. It takes place at Buckingham Palace every day at 11.30 am. The ceremony always attracts a lot of spectators – both Londoners and visitors of the British capital.

Mounting the Guard

• This is another colourful ceremony. It takes place at the Horse Guard in Whitehall at 11 am on Sundays. The Guard is a detachment of cavalry troops and consists of the Royal Horse Guards and the Life Guards. The ceremony begins with the trumpeters sounding the call. The new guard arrives and the old guard returns to its barracks. The ceremony lasts 15 minutes.

The Mall is a street that connects Trafalgar Square and Buckingham Palace

St Paul’s Cathedral

St Paul’s Cathedral is not far away , on Ludgate Hill. It was built by Sir Christopher Wren after the Fire of London. Wren built more than fifty London churches.

The Tower of London is now a museum, and one of London’s most famous building. More than two million people visit it every year. Yeoman Warders ( also called Beefeaters) tell them all about Tower.

Holmes and his equally famous friend Doctor Watson shared rooms at 221b Baker Street

221b Baker Street

• In 1990, a museum was at last opened at 221b Baker Street, through it should have happened long ago. After all, 221b Baker Street is the world’s most famous address and people have been writing to it for more than 100 years.
• Everything in museum reminds us of the stories we know so well.

“ BIG RED DECKERS”

Londoners are proud of their “ big red buses”. The typical bus in London is a red double-decker. The first London bus started running between Paddington and the City in 1829. It carried 40 passengers and cost a shilling for six kms.

London “ Big Red Deckers”

These days some of London buses may not be red but they always carry the red roundel.

The famous London black taxi cabs can be hailed in the street.

London consists of four parts. They are : the City, the West End, East End and Westminster.

City

The City is small in area but it is the commercial center of the capital. Many banks and offices are situated there.

City is the most futuristic part of London

London EYE

The British Airways London Eye, sometimes called the Millennium Wheel , is the first-built and largest observation wheel in the world since the end 1999. It is 135 meters high.

London EYE

The wheel has 32 closed and air conditioned passenger capsules. It moves at about 0.9 km/h so that one round takes about 30 minutes.

The Wheel does not

usually stop to take

passengers; the

movement is so slow

that passengers can

easily walk on and off

the moving capsules.

But it is stopped to

give disabled or

elderly passengers

time to get off safely.

Since its opening, the

Eye has become one of

the main tourist

attractions.

London Eye

Westminster

Westminster is the

administrative

center of London

The West End is the richest part of London. You can find the best shops, theatres, cinemas, museums, art-galleries, parks and squares there.

Piccadilly Circus is the heart of London’s West End.

There are more than fifty theatres in the West End of London. And many other small theatres and theatres clubs are in Greater London. Some of the plays and shows last for a few weeks. Some go on for years.

London is one of the most beautiful cities in the world