London is the capital of Great Britain. It is a political, economic and
commercial center. It is one of the most enjoyable cities. Visited by millions
of tourists, the city offers them an astonishing variety of scenes. London is
one of the largest cities in the world and its population is about 9 million.
London is situated on the river Themes. The city is very old. It has more than
20 centuries old history. Traditionally the city is divided into several parts: the
City, the Westminster, the West End and the East End. The City is
the oldest part of London; it's financial and business center. Numerous banks,
offices and firms are concentrated here, including the Bank of England, the
Stock Exchange and the Old Bailey. Two masterpieces are situated within the
city: St. Paul's Cathedral and the Tower of London. St. Paul's Cathedral was
built in the 17th century by Christopher Wren. It has always dominated the
center of London. It is an architectural masterpiece. All Londoners have a
particular affection for St. Paul's, which is one of the largest Protestant
Church in England. Its high dome, containing the remarkable Whispering Gallery, is a prominent landmark towering above the multi-storied
buildings,
which line the riverbank. The Tower of London was built in the 11th century.
It was one of the first and most impressive castles built after the Norman
invasion of England in 1066. The Tower has been used as a royal palace, an
observatory, an arsenal, a state prison and many famous and infamous people
have been executed withing its walls. It is now a museum. For many visitors
the principal attraction is the Crown Jewels, the finest precious stones of
the nation. A fine collection of armour is exhibited in the Keep. Trafalgar
Square is the geographical center of London. It was named so to commemorate
Nelson's Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805.The monument in the middle
of this square known as Nelson's Column is surmounted with the Statue of
Nelson 16 feet high. The pedestal of the Column is decorated with the
bas-reliefs representing Nelson's most famous victories. At the base of the
column, there are four big lions. On the north side of the square are the
National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery. The National Gallery has
an outstanding collection of finest arts from Britain, Italy, Denmark and
other countries. The Westminster is the aristocratic, official part of London.
It includes Buckingham Palace where the Queen lives and the House of
Parliament stretching for nearly 1000 feet along the north bank of the Themes.
Westminster Abbey is a national shrine where the kings and queens are crowned
and famous people buried. Chaucer, Tennyson, Newton, Dickens, Hardy, Kipling
were buried in Westminster Abbey. The House of Parliament called officially
the Palace of Westminster, were formerly a palace for kings and queens. The
Palace was used both as used as a royal residence and as a parliament house
until the 16th century. In the course of the 16th when the royal family moved
to the new palace within half of mile Whitehall Palace, the Westminster Palace
was occupied by the Parliament and became its permanent home. The Parliament
of the United Great Britain and Northern Ireland consists of just over 1000
members of the different grades of nobility. In the House of comments, there
are 635 members. The Clock Towers, with contains the hour bell, called
"Big Ben" is known all over the world. The bell is named after Sir
Benjamin Hall, the first Commissioner of Works. The West End is the richest
and most magnificent part of London. It is a real symbol of wealth and luxury.
The best hotels, restaurants, shops, clubs, parks and houses are situated
there. The East End is the industrial district of London. There are many
factories and the Port of London there. The region is densely populated by
working class families. London hasps buildings that express all the different
areas of its history. London manages is a unique way to reflect its past and
at the same time to fulfill the functions of a modern city.
|