London sights Project work done by Grigoryeva Polleena

London sights Project work done by Grigoryeva Polleena school No. 39 Cheboksary

London Founded about 2000 years ago by the Romans, Londinium, now called London has a long history. It was already the largest city in Western Europe in 1700, when 575, 000 people lived in London. This was largely due to the Industrial revolution, which started in England. London lived its heyday during the Victorian age, when London was also the capital of the huge British empire. Today London is a cosmopolitan city of more than 10 million people, still the largest in western Europe and it is one of the main financial centers in the world.

London double-deckers

Houses of Parliament

Houses of Parliament The Houses of Parliament, also known as the Palace of Westminster is the seat of Britain's two parliamentary houses, the House of Lords and the House of Commons. In the middle of the 11 th century, King Edward the Confessor had moved his court to the Palace of Westminster, situated on a central site near the river Thames. In 1265 a parliament was created with two houses: the Lords and the Commons. The House of Lords met at the Palace of Westminster while the House of Commons did not have a permanent location. After King Henry VIII moved his court to Whitehall Palace in 1530, the House of Lords continued to meet in Westminster. In 1547 the House of Commons also moved here, confirming Westminster as the central seat of government, a position it still holds today.

The new Palace of Westminster In 1834 a fire destroyed the Palace of Westminster. A competition was organized to create a new building for the two houses of parliament. A design by Sir Charles Barry and his assistant Augustus Welby Pugin was chosen from 97 entries. They created a large but balanced complex in neo gothic style. The whole complex was finished in 1870, more than 30 years after construction started. It includes the Clock Tower, Victoria Tower, House of Commons, House of Lords, Westminster Hall and the Lobbies.

Victoria Tower The Victoria Tower is the tallest tower in the Palace of Westminster. It was designed by Sir Charles Barry, and named after Queen Victoria, the reigning monarch. It is a square tower at the southwestern end of the Palace. At the top is an iron flagstaff. If the Queen is in, then the Royal Standard is flown. Otherwise the Union Flag is flown. The entrance to the Palace is at the base of Victoria Tower. The Queen uses this entrance whenever she enters the Palace for the State Opening of Parliament or other official ceremonies.

Victoria Tower

House of Commons from London Eye

The House of Commons plays the major role in lawmaking. It is made up of 630 elected members. The Speaker is the Chairman of the House of Commons. The Party which obtains the majority of seats in the Houses of Commons is called the Government and the others –the Opposition which forms the socalled “shadow cabinet”. The first 2 rows of seats are occupied by the leading members of both the Government and the Opposition. They are called “front -benchers”.

House of Lords

The Members of the Upper House (the House of Lords) are not elected. The House of Lords consists of more than 1. 000 members: 830 are the members of the upper House by the right of inheritance, 270 members are given life peerage and 26 members of the House of Lords are spiritual peers (bishops and archbishops). The Lord Chancellor is the Chairman of the House of Lords.

Big Ben

Big Ben is an integral part of the Houses of Parliament. Big Ben is the name given to the clock on one of the towers of the Houses of Parliament. The clock with its bell is named after Sir Benjamin Hall, the chief Commissioner of Works when the Houses of Parliament were rebuilt in 1850. Sir Benjamin Hall was a very tall and stout man. His nickname was “Big Ben”. The clock was the largest in the world and still the largest in Great-Britain. The clockfaces have a diameter of almost 25 ft (7. 5 m). The hour hand is 9 ft or 2. 7 m long and the minute hand is 14 ft (4. 25 m) long.

London Eye

London Eye A recent but already very popular tourist attraction is the London Eye, a giant observation wheel located in the Jubilee Gardens on the South Bank. The 135 meter (443 ft) tall structure was built as part of London's millennium celebrations. Construction of the observation wheel took more than a year and a half to complete. In the process over 1700 tonnes of steel were used. The futuristic looking capsules accommodate up to 25 passengers. Each egg-shaped capsule is 8 meters long and weighs 500 kg. The observation wheel turns slow enough for people to embark while it is moving. A complete turn takes about 30 minutes. Thanks to the construction of the glass capsules, the passengers have a great 360° view over London. Many famous landmarks are clearly visible, including the Buckingham Palace, St. Paul’s Cathedral and the House of Parliament. On a clear day you can see as far as 40 km (25 miles).

London Eye and the House of Parliament

London Eye Capsule

St. Paul’s Cathedral

St. Paul’s Cathedral Early history: In 962 and 1087, the Cathedral was destroyed by fires, but each time it was rebuilt. By that time, it was one of the largest cathedrals in Europe. The majestic St. Paul's Cathedral was built by Christofer Wren between 1675 and 1711. It has the largest dome in the world after the St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. The high dome contains the remarkable Whispering Gallery where whisper can be heard at a great distance.

Inside St Paul's Cathedral's Whispering Gallery

Dome of the St. Paul's Cathedral

Tower of London The Tower of London is one the world’s most famous fortresses and has seen service as a royal palace, prison, armoury and even a zoo! It is still home to the Crown Jewels and Beefeaters.

The Tower of London was built at the beginning of the 11 th century to defend London against invaders. The construction of the Tower of London was initiated by William the Conqueror in 1070. It was built to enforce the power of the king over the newly conquered country. The Tower of London was strategically built near the river Thames and consists of almost 20 towers in total.

White Tower The original tower is the so-called White Tower, completed in 1080. It is 27. 4 meters high and 4. 6 meters wide. The name comes from the white stone used in the tower.

The Bloody Tower was built by King Henry III. The date the Bloody Tower was built was between 1238 – 1272. The Bloody Tower was originally named the Garden Tower , it was given this nickname from the murderous events which were believed to have occurred in the building. It was then believed to be the scene of the murder of the two little Princes in the Tower- Edward V and his brother the Duke of York. Finally it was believed that Henry VI also met his gruesome death here. The very walls of the Bloody Tower contain some of the bloody secrets and the history of the Tower of London.

The Chapel of St. John The Norman Chapel of St. John, in the White Tower, is one of the finest surviving examples of Norman church architecture. Built in 1080 of white stone, the chapel measures 55 feet six inches long by 31 feet wide. Services are still held in the chapel periodically.

Crown Jewels The Tower of London houses a collection of Jewellery, displayed for the public. It is a practice introduced by King Charles II who wanted to impress his subjects. The collection includes the Imperial State Crown, covered with no less than 3250 splendid precious stones. It was made for Queen Victoria for who the 2. 2 kg weighing St. Edward's kings crown was too heavy.

British Imperial State Crown

Royal Armories Another must-see collection in the Tower of London is the Royal Armories. This museum can claim to be the oldest museum displayed in England. The collection is one of the largest armories in the world. The Royal Armories also include Asian and Islamic weapons.

Gun Rack (Royal Armories)

The Tower is guarded by Yeomen-Warders who are often called “Beefeaters”.

They are dressed in traditional medieval clothes of Tudor times. Now they are also tourist guides.

The ravens live on the territory of the Tower of London as part of its history. There is a legend that if the ravens disappear Great Britain will face a great tragedy and as long as there are ravens at the Tower Britain will continue to exist.

The Ceremony of the Keys Old traditions and ceremonies are kept up in the Tower of London. One of them is the Ceremony of the Keys. It takes place every night at 10 p. m. The Headwarder comes out with a bunch of keys and an old lantern. The sentry calls: “ Halt! Who comes there? ” The Headwarder replies: “The Keys”. “Whose keys? ”, -asks the sentry. “Queen Elizabeth’s Keys” is the answer. After that the sentry says: “Advance, Queen Elizabeth’s Keys. All’s well”.

The Ceremony of the Keys

Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge Disliked by most when constructed in 1894, the Tower Bridge has become a symbol of London. The Tower Bridge , named after its two impressive towers, is one of London's best known landmarks. This Victorian Bridge is now more than 100 years old. The middle of the bridge can be raised to permit large vessels to pass the Tower Bridge. It used to be raised about 50 times a day, but nowadays it is only raised 4 to 5 times a week. The bridge is 60 meter long and its towers rise to a height of 43 meter. From the top of the towers, you have a great view on the center of London. You can also visit the inside of the tower, where you can observe the original mechanism used to raise the bridge.

Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace Buckingham Palace, one of several castles owned by the British Royal family, is one of the major tourist attractions in London. The original building was constructed as a countryhouse in 1705 by the duke of Buckingham, John Sheffield. In 1850 the large east wing was added. It includes a large 40 meter long ballroom. A part of the palace is still used by the Royal family. A flag is hoisted each time the Queen is in the castle. Other parts of the castle can be visited, including the lavishly decorated state rooms.

Buckingham Palace is located in Westminster, at the end of the Mall. It is bordered by Green Park in the north and by St. James's Park in the east.

Buckingham Palace seen from St. James's Park

The statue in front of the Palace the Queen Victoria Memorial.

Guard at Buckingham Palace

The ceremony Changing of the Guard takes place in front of the Buckingham Palace every day at 11. 30 a. m. and lasts for 30 minutes. The Queen’s Guards wear traditional uniforms and tall black fur caps called busbies.

Westminster Abbey The Westminster Abbey , located near the Houses of Parliament, is more a historical site than a religious site. Since 1066, every royal coronation, with the exception of Edward V and Edward VIII has taken place in Westminster Abbey. The abbey also serves as the burial ground for numerous politicians, sovereigns and artists. The abbey is stuffed with graves, statues and monuments. In total approximately 3300 people are buried in the Church and cloisters. Some of the most famous are Charles Darwin, Sir Isaac Newton and David Livingstone.

Poet’s Corner