Text Some More Glimpses of London

Text Some More Glimpses of London

London is an ancient city. It grew up around the first point where the Roman invaders found the Thames narrow enough to build a bridge. They found a small Celtic settlement then known as Londinium (Londin meaning “wild, bold”) and by A. D. 300 they had turned it into a sizable port and an important trading centre with a wall which enclosed the homes of about 50,000 people.

One in seven of the population of the United Kingdom is a Londoner. About 8 million people live in Greater London.The built-up area of Greater London stretches 50 kilometres from east to west.

London now dominates British life. It is the home of the nation's commerce and finance, the main centre of its legal system and the press. It has the largest university and the greatest possibilities for sport in the country. London is one of the famous capital cities of the world, and every year attracts crowds of visitors from home and abroad. They come to explore its historic buildings, to see its museums and galleries, its streets and parks, and its people. Speaking about London we can't but mention its 4 MAIN PARTS.

I. Buckingham Palace in the Westminster area is the official London residence of the British sovereign. Its interior, open to the public during August and September while the queen is on vacation, contains many elegantly furnished apartments and noted collections of paintings. Westminster is the centre of parliamentary and government activities. There on Parliament square we may find the New Palace of Westminster (also known as the Houses of Parliament) which is the seat of the British Parliament, a great mass of buildings on the east bank of the Thames River. It was built (1840-60) after plans by Sir Charles Barry, on the site of the medieval royal residence, the Palace of Westminster, which was largely destroyed by fire in 1834. The exterior, in rich late Gothic style, is impressive with its three massive towers: Victoria Tower (102 m/336 ft), Middle Tower (91 m/300 ft), and Saint Stephen's, or the Clock Tower (98 m/320 ft). The latter contains the biggest clock in Great Britain, with four dials, each 7 m (23 ft) in diameter, which is considered to be one of the finest time-keepers in the world, and a great bell, Big Ben, weighing 13. 5 tons. Big Ben (Named after Sir Benjamin Hall) strikes every quarter of an hour. Just as the Westminster Palace stands for Parliament so Whitehall is often used as the name for central Government as most of governmental buildings are situated there. Off Whitehall in a small side-street Downing Street — are 2 quiet, unimpressive houses —— the official home of Prime Ministerat №. 10 and the Chancellor of the Exchequer at №11.

Westminster Abbey begun by Edward the Confessor in the 11th century in 1050 and rebuilt in the 13th century is regarded as the centre of the Westminster area. Most of English kings and queens were crowned there. It is also a giant mausoleum, and more than 3000 notable people are buried there. You can see the tombs of 2 great queen- rivalresses - Elizabeth the First Tudor and Mary Stuart - quite close to each other. Here you can see the graves of Oliver Cromwell, Darvin, Dickens, Newton, Kipling and other outstanding people. A visitor to Westminster Abbey is always fascinated with magnificent architecture. The beautiful arches and unusual sculptures contribute to the unique image of the church.

If now we walk along White Hall it will take us to Trafalgar square. It was so named in memory of the victory in the battle of Trafalgar where on October 21, 1805 the English fleet under Nelson's command, (Horatio Nelson was an English Admiral), defeated the combined fleet of France and Spain. The victory was won at the cost of Nelson's life. In the middle of Trafalgar Square stands Nelson's monument - a tall column with the figure of Nelson at its top.The column is guarded by four bronze lions.

The fine building facing the square is the National Gallery and adjoining it (but just round the corner) is the Portrait Gallery.

Дата добавления: 2015-11-05