Viktoria Troshina
The aim of this report is to introduce you
London- the city of great variety. London is the capital city of England and of
the United Kingdom, with population of about 6 - 7 million. It is the largest
city in Britain and one of the largest in the world. Historical and
geographical circumstances have made London one of the most important
commercial and cultural centers, while its range of historical connections and
its buildings attract millions of tourists from overseas each year.
The most famous older buildings in London
include Buckingham Palace (the Sovereign's residence in London), the Houses of
Parliament (an outstanding example of ninteenth-century Gothic Revival
architecture), St. paul's Cathedral (the second largest church in Europe),
Westminister Abbey (where Sovereigns are crowned), and the tower of London.
The length and breadth of Greater London
extends over an area of 700 square miles. The whole London is full of buildings
of incalculable artistic areas -- the City, Piccadilly, Hyde Park Corner to the
banks of the Thames -- providing an unfgettable and impressive image.
FROM THE HISTORY OF LONDON
The history of London begins about the year
AD 43, when the Romans were in possession of the southern part of Britain and
founded a military station on the present site of London. An insurrection of
the British led by Boadicea caused it to be burned in AD 61. It was the center
of various disturbances until about 306, when Constantine constructed walls and
fortifications, and thereby established stability and a firm basis for
commercial prosperity. From 369 until 412 it was the capital of Britain, when
it was known as Augusta. Subsequently it became the chief seat of the Saxons.
King Alfred expelled the Danes and fortified the city. It became famous as commercial
centre at the beginning of the reign of Edward lll.
London was not built as a city in the same
way as Paris or New Yourk. It began life as a Roman fortification at a place
where it was possible to cross the River Thames. A wall was built around the
town for defence, but during the long period of peace which followed the Norman
Conquest, people built outside the walls. This building cintinued over the
years, especially to the west of the City. In 1665 the there was a terrible
plague in London, so many people left the city and escaped to the villages in
the surrounding countryside. About 69,000 persons succumed to the dread
disease. In 1666 the Great Fire of London ended the plague, but it also
destroyed much of the city.
From these calamities the city recovered
with marked rapidity. The Bank of England was established in 1694. Sir Hans
Sloance founded the British Museum in 1759, the old walls were torn down in
1970, and about that time the streets were improved by pavements, lighting and
sanitary regulations.In 1840 the present parliamentary buildings were
commenced, and the rapid succession followed the construction of great parks
and many different municipal improvements. 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 center.
London expanded, absorbing outlying villages,
such as Kensington and Hampstead, untill by the end of the 19th century (during
which the industrial revolution had made London the largest and most important
city in the world) much of the central area of London had been developed in a
way which is still recognisable today. During the twentieth century growth has
continued into the outer suburbs, into the surrounding known as the "home
counties" (Kent, Surrey, Buckinghamshire, Essex) and into the 12 new towns
(out of total of 32 in Britain as a whole) which were created after 1945 within
a radius of 129 km (80 miles) of London to help to relieve the pressure of
population and the capital's housing problem.
These days not many people live in the city
center, but London has spread further outwards into the country, including
surrounding villages. Today the metropolis of Greater London covers some 700
square miles and the suburbs of London continue even beyond this area. Some
people even commute over 100 miles (over 150 km) every day to work in London,
while living far away from the city in the country or in other towns.
THE CITY OF LONDON
THE CITY
The city is the heart of London, its
commercial and business part. Numerous banks, ofices, firms and trusts are
concentrated there. The area of the City is about a square mile. It is an area
with a long and exciting history, and it is proud of independence and
traditional role as a center of trade and commerce. The City does not refer to
the whole central London but rather to a small area east of the center, which
includes the site of the original Roman town.
The City of London is one of the major
banking centres of the world and one can find the banks of many nations here.
Only five thousands people live in the City.
Before and afer the business hours the streets of the City are crowded with
more than a million people who come there to work.
ST. PAUL CATHEDRAL
Everybody coming to London for the first time
wants to see St. Paul Cathedral. This is the third cathedral with this name
which London has had. The two others were burnt down, the first in 1086 and the
second in 1666.
Christopher Wren was an architect who had
alredy buil many buildings. Now, in 1675, he started on the greatestwork. For
35 years the building of St. Paul's Cathedral went on, and Wren was an old man
before it was finished.
From the far away you can see the huge dome
with a golden ball and cross on the top. The inside of the cathedral is very
beautiful. After looking around, you can climb 263 steps to the Whispering
Gallery, above the library, which runs around the dome.It is called this
because if someone whispers close to the wall on one side, a person with an ear
close to the wall on the other side can hear what is said. Then, if you climb
another 118 steps, you will be able to stand outside the dome and look over
London.
But not only can you climb up, you can also
go down underneath the cathedral, into the crypt. Here are buried many great
men, including Christopher Wren himself, Nelson and others.
TOWER BRIDGE
This bridge built in 1894, is still daily use
even though the traffic in and out of the London wharves has increased to an extraordinary
extend during the course of 20th century.
Even today Tower Bridge regulates a large
part of the impressive traffic of the Port of London. Due to a special
mechanism, the main traffic way consisting of two parts fixed to two hinges at
the ends can be lifted up. In this way, the entrance and departure of extremely
large vessels is possible, and allows them to reach the Pool of London.
While the central stay measures 142 feet,
each bascule to be raised weighs 1,000 tons. Nowadays the pedestrian path is
closed. This footpath crossing which used to be allowed was by the upper bridge
which connected the top of each tower, situated at a height of 142 feet above
the waters of the famous Thames.
Tower bridge commands wide and magnificent
views of both the city and the river. After Tower Bridge, the wharves of London
extend until Tilbury. The gigantic port of this city, which has one of the
heaviest movements of ocean-going traffic in the entire world, occupies
practically the whole of the Thames from Teddington. It is virtually impossible
to get a complete idea of its colossal extention. In fact it is one of wharf
after another, apparently continuing endlessly.
THE TOWER OF LONDON
The City is the oldest part of the capital.
Among the first historic buildings is the Tower of London, built in 1087.
The history of London is closely connected
with the Tower. They say that London is the key to England and the Tower is the
key to London. The Tower of London was founded by William the Conqueror.It was
begun with the aim of protecting Londoners from invasion by the river.Since
rhen the Tower has served as fortness, palace, state prison and royal treasury,
now it is a museum. During the reign of Henry Vll part of it became a
managerie, and it was one the citizens entertainments to watch a bear being led
to the water's edge to catch salmon. It is now over a century since a Thames
salmon was caught-although as late as the 1820s the fish sold at Billingsstate
were all caught localy.
Tower Bridge is close by the Tower of London
and also is St. Paul's Cathedral, the greatest of English churches.
WESTMINSTER
Westminster is another central and important
part of London. Most governmental buildings are situated there. On the left
bank of the Thames is Westminster Palace, famous as the Houses of Parliament.
It is the seat of the British Parliament. The Clock Tower with the hour-bell
called "Big Ben" is known the world over.
BIG BEN
Why is this bell called "Big Ben"?
When the great bell was cast in London foundry in 1858, the question of its
name was discussed in Parliament. One member said, "Why not call it Big
Ben?"
There was much laughter among the members
because the man in charge of public buildings was Sir Benjamin Hall, a very
tall, stout man whose nickname was "Big Ben".
From that time the bell has been known as Big
Ben. The bell is 7 foot 6 inches high, and 9 foot 6 inches across the mouth. It
weihgs 13.5 tons. "Big Ben" is the name of the bell only -- not the
clock, and not the tower.
THE WEST END
The West End is the richest and most
beautiful part of London. The West End is the name given to the area of central
London north from the Mall to Oxford Street. Fine buildings, theatres, museums
and big shops can be found in the West End. The best streets and parks of the
capital are there too.
BUCKINGHAM PALACE
With it arcitecturally defined profile, this
is one of London's most popular historical buildings. Buckingham Palace was
built in 1703 for the Duke of Buckingham. Later restored by Nash, the present
facade was planned by Sir. Aston Webb in 1913. At the west end of the Mall,
Buckingham Palace is the London residence of the Sovereign. When the Queen is
here, the royal standart flutters over the palace. The Royal Mews, in Buckingham
Palace Road, house the coaches and horses used on all state occasions and are
open to the public on Wednesday and Thursday. The Queen's Gallery, also in
Buckingham Palace Road, has special exhibitions from the Royal collection and
may be visited every day except Monday. In its entirety, the Palace and the
beautiful gardens which surround it occupy an area of approximately 40 acres.
Altogether this is one of the most interesting places in London for all the
tourists.
The ceremony of the Changing of the Guard
that takes place daily at eleven o'clock in the morning, constitutes one of the
pageants that provokes most interest among the tourists. 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 vested with that solemn
classical ritual, of purely British flavour, that confers on the protocol
surrounding the monarchy of the United Kingdom an appearance which is nobly
aristocratic, and yet lively and popular at the same time. It is something
typically and intimately part of London's character.
HYDE PARK
Hyde Park is one of the most popular and most
frequented points in London. In one corner is located the old residence of the
Duke of Wellington, Apsey House, now Wellington Museum. Along one side of Hyde
Park runs Hyde Lane, by which you can arrive at Marble Arch, not far from where
is Speakers Corner, universally renowned as the place where numerous speakers
propound the most extraordinary ideas in front or the most heterogeneous
public.Hyde Park is the largest park in London: including the adjoining
Kensington Gardens, the length and breadth of the Park extend ocer an area of
636 acres. Hyde Park has a large and most attractive lake called the
Serpentine, whose area of 41 acres is used to swim in and to quietly row on in
summer.
Another attractoins of Hyde Park is the
horse-riding lane known as Rotten Row, which is a mile and a half long. The
large green expanse of Kensington Gardens with its many trees and flowers, its
gracious Road Pond and the lovely statue of Peter Pan, work of Trampton, also
constitutes a most attractive spectacle. Other well known and important parks
are Regent's Park, Green Park, St. James's Park and Kennington Park, all of
which provide for the Londoners tranquil, relaxing sports in which to stroll or
play. There are many swans in London parks and gardens and according to the
tradition they are considered to be the property of the Royal family.
THE EAST END
London is the city of great contrast. Its
western part is the richest. The poorest part of London is the East End.
THE POOREST PART OF LONDON
The East End grew with the spread of
industries to the east of the City, and the growth of the port of London. It
covers a wide area. A part like Bethnal Green, which was once a country
village, is quite different from the areas down by the river, where there are
many wharfs and warehouses.
It is also one of those areas of London where
people from abroad have come to find work. For centuries foreigners have made
London their home. Some have had to leave their country for religious or
political reasons. Others have wanted to find a better life. Some brought new
skills and started new industries. These days, many Jews and Bengalis live in
the East End, and within a small area you can see a mosque, a church and a
synagogue.
The East End is especially famous as the
center of clothing industry in London. The East End markets are famous through
the world. Street-salesmen promise that the goods are of the highest quality
and much cheaper than those you can buy in the West End.
The East End is the poorest part of London.
It is the most densely populated in London. There are poor houses, grey and black
with smoke. Narrow dirty streets are lined by miserable houses and slums. St.
Giles is the heart of Londons slums, the worst quarter of London. Most of the
working people live in East End. All the factories, mills, workshops and docks
are concentrated in the East End.
Thus we may say that the East End is the
hands of London, those hands which buil the banks of the City, the palaces,
hotels, theaters, rich houses and department stores in the West End.
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