r11 London
| Autor: Tomáš Veselý | Škola: G Opatov |
| Strany: 2 A4 | Obrázky: ne |
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| Textový náhled: 11 - London London is the capital of the United Kingdom. It is the 9th largest city in the world – its population is about 10 millions (with suburbs). London is situated on the river Thames in the south-east England. It was founded as a Roman settlement. The great fire in 1666 destroyed almost all th city. There are many places of interest. We can see them by walking or by various means of transport. London's famous red double-deckers go almost everywhere. For fast transport we can go by the Underground. It is the oldest underground in the world. Now it operates 11 lines and is 418 km long (in Britain only 3 cities have the underground: London, Glasgow and Newcastle). There are also 3 airports in London. The most important are Heathrow and Gatwick. 1. Buckingham Palace is the oficial London residence of the Queen. When we see the Royal Flag flying, we know that the Queen is at home. Every morning at 11.30 a.m. there is the Changing of the Guard at the gates in front of Place, while the Mounting of the Guard is performed by the Royal Horse Guards in front of Whitehall Place at 11 a.m. and 4 a.m. 2. Houses of Parliament were built in ghotic style but are only about 100 years old. The building stands on the north bank of the Thames. It is the place where the House of Commons meet to discuss and pass laws. When Parliament is sitting a Union Jack flies on the Tower. 3. Big Ben is the bell in the clock tower next to the Houses of Parliament. Big Ben was the nickname of Benjamin Hall, a minister who was a very tall man. Big Ben is the most famous clock in the world and is the landmark of London. 4. The Tower of London and Tower Bridge. This is the old Norman fortress built by William the Conqueror. It was used as a residence, then as a prison, and now it is a museum. It is guarded by 38 Yeomen of the Guard, better known as Beefeaters, who wear traditional Tudor uniforms. Eight ravens are at the tower; their wings are clipped because a legend says that if they fly away the tower will fall. Many famous people such as Anne Boleyn, the mother of Queen Elizabeth I, were executed here. Now the Crown Jewels are on show. Tower Bridge is a drawbridge: the lower section can be raised to let big ships pass through. 5. Westminster Abbey is one of the oldest buildings in London. Royal weddings and coronations take place here. Almost all English monarchs have been crowned on the coronation throne. Under the throne there is the Stone of Scone – a symbol of Scottish royalty. 6. Piccadilly Circus is the centre of London's entertaiment world – the famous West End where there are many theatres, cinemas, restaurants, discos, and nightclubs. A statue of Eros stands in the middle of the square. Piccadilly was named after a tailor who made collars known as „Piccatilles". 7. Trafalgar Square is near Piccadilly Circus. There is th statue of Lord Nelson on a column 52 meters high and two fountains. Many protest marches end up in this square which is, of course, a popular place for visitors to the capital city. 8. The Parks London has many big parks that give Londoners opportunity to walk in the green, sun-bathe and have picnics without leaving the city. ( You are allowed to walk on the grass! ) Hyde Park is the most famous. A long time ago there was a monstery here and in the 16th century it was a hunting ground for the King; now it is the „people's park" and it is used for all kinds of public occasions. The corner nearest Marble Arch is known as Spaker's Corner – if you have anything to say you can go there on Sunday mornings, stand on a box, and express your opinions to the crowd. The Serpentine is a man-made lake which separates Hyde Park from Kensington Gardens where the statue of Peter Pan stands. St. James's Park is considered the most most beautiful park. It is full of birds and squirrels, as well as ducks and swans on the lake. 9. Whitehall is a street where the goverment offices are. Horse Guards Parade takes place there. 10. Downing Street 10 is the official home of British Prime Minister since 1731. 11. St. Paul's Cathedral is one of the largest cathedrals in the world. It stands in the City. This great renaissance dome is the work of the famous architect Sir Christopher Wren and was built in the 17th century. The Cathedral is known for its Whispering Gallery. Standing on this Gallery you can clearly hear what is whispered on the opposite side 107 feet far from you. During the World War II it was badly demaged by bombs. In 1981 Prince of Wales and Lady Diana were married here. 12. The City is the oldest part of London around St. Paul. the City was founded by Romans in 43 AD. There are many banks ( the most important is the Bank of England ) adn offices here ( e.g. Mansion House – the Lord Mayor's home ). 13. The National Gallery is in Trafalgar Square. It houses paintings by nearly all the great European artists of the past and a large collection of British paintings and sculptures. 14. The British Museum is the largest museum in the world. It houses the biggest collection of all kinds af animals and minerals and rocks. There is a collection of fine and applied arts of all countries, periods and styles, e.g. antiquities from ancient Greece, Rome and the Orient, Egyptian mummies, Middle Ages manuscripts and also a good collection of drawings by Czech artist Václav Hollar who had lived in England for a long time. He died in London in 1677. The British Museum's library is the largest in the world. 15. The most famost shopping centres in London are in Piccadilly Circus, Regent Street and Oxford Sreet. The other well-known streets are Carnaby Street, Charing Cross Road and Pall Mall. 16. Windsor Castle is the residence of nearly all the British sovreigns outside London. 17. Kew Gardens are the Royal Botanic Gardens with the largest collection of living plants in the world. 18. Greenwich is the seat of the National Maritime Museum where the Royal Observatory is – here is a brass strip which marks the prome meridian. 19. The Post Office Tower is the tallest building in the Great Britain. It is adapted for telephone and TV services. It is nearly 190 m high. 20. With its 40 theatres and music halls London is a centre of Britain's theatre life. The most important are The National Theatre ( which moved in 1975 to new buildings on the South Bank ), The Royal Shakespeare Company ( which usually palys in Statford, but also here in the Barbican centre ). The Royal Festival Hall and the Royal Albert Hall, the Queen Elizabeth Hall are the main concert halls. There is much to see in London and still is true, what an English writer Samuel Johnson said two hundred years ago: „Whan a man is tired of London, he is tired of life." Anyway you can make day trips to various places such as Cambridge, Oxford, Canterbury, Salisbury, Brighton. | |