London

London

The capital of the UK

Nickname - The Big Smoke – massive air pollution (especially in the first half of the 20th century – because of the coal-fired power stations inside the city – gradually they were moved out of the city or replaced)

Location

• In the south-east of England and stands on the River Thames

Brief history

• Was founded by Romans – Londinium

• 1066 William the Conqueror arrived

• Edward the Confessor built his palace in Westminster and established Westminster Abbey

• 1599 – Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre was opened

• After 2WW was destroyed – today the face of London is changed

Population

• About 8,5 million residents

Parts

• The City of London – with its own Lord Mayor

  • Financial centre

  • Many banks and financial institutions

• The City of Westminster – Parliament and Government

• The West end – used to be a poor part

  • Theatres, parks

Sights and monuments

• Trafalgar Square – Admiral Horatio Nelson, who defeated the French army (Napoleon Bonaparte) in 1805 – Battle of Trafalgar

• Tower Bridge – over the River Thames

• The Tower of London – the famous prison, also was as royal residence, zoo

  • Home for Crown Jewels

  • Beefeaters – yeoman Warders (=strážci Toweru) – guided tours

• Buckingham Palace – official residence and workplace of Her Royal Highness the Queen Elizabeth II. And her royal family

• London Eye – 135metres tall Ferris wheel

• Westminster Palace - Big Ben and Houses of Parliament

• Westminster Abbey – gothic cathedral, the oldest religious buildings,

  • tradition place of the coronations and most British monarchs are buried here and royal weddings

• Downing Street 10 – official home of British Prime Ministers

• St. Paul’s Cathedral – known for its Whispering Gallery

• Piccadilly Circus – London’s hub, five major roads converge here

  • statue of the Greek God of love Eros

Institutions

• The Queen has official residence in Buckingham Palace

• British Parliament is in Westminster Palace

• Prime Minister – 10 Downing Street

Public transport

• 6 international airports, Heathrow is the third busiest airport in the world.

• The Tube – has 11 lines

• Double decker

• Black cab – taxi

The City

• The oldest part of London around St. Paul. There are many banks (the most important is Bank of England) and offices here.

Great Fire 1666

• ended the plague, but it also destroyed much of the city

• Although people returned to live in the rebuilt city after the plague and the Great Fire, there were never again so many Londoners living in the city centre.

The Houses of Parliament

• are in gothic style but were built after the old building had burnt down. The only part, which escaped the fire, was Westminster Hall. There is also a famous clock-tower with Big Ben.

Whitehall

• The street where the government offices are

• Horse Guards Parade takes place here.

National Gallery

• on the Trafalgar Square

• greatest collection of Western paintings from 13th century till now

The British Museum

• the largest museum in the world

Greenwich