Zuzana Pažítková
London
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London, the capital of England and of Great Britain, is an exciting city. It is a city of traditions,
historic buildings, monuments, theatres, parks and interesting museums. About nine million
people live in London and its suburbs. The river Thames flows from west to east and divides
London into two parts. London is also a big industrial city producing clothing, food, drinks and
many specialized goods.
Tower Bridge
Tower Bridge is one of the most famous bridges in London.
The Tower
In the past the Tower used to be a fortress, a royal palace, and a prison. Many famous people in English
history were imprisoned and put to death there. Now the Tower is a museum of arms. It is also the place
where the crown jewels are kept.
St. Paul’s Cathedral
About 20 minutes´ walk from the Tower there is another historic building, St. Paul’s Cathedral, the greatest
of English churches. It was built by the famous English architect, Sir Christopher Wren. Wellington, Nelson
and other great men of England are buried in St. Paul’s Cathedral.
Westminster with its Royal Palaces and Government offices
Westminster Abbey is the centre of this area. It has been the coronation church of almost all English kings
and most of them are buried there. There is also Poet’s Corner, the burial place of many famous English
poets. Close by Westminster Abbey stands the Palace of Westminster known as the Houses of Parliament.
The buildings are in the Gothic style but they are not truly historic. They were built in 1840 on the place of
the old Palace which was destroyed by fire. One part of the original building, Westminster Hall, is still there
today. The Houses of Parliament are the seat of the British Parliament. The Parliamentary session begins in
November. During the time Parliament is in session a flag flies at the top of the Big Ben tower clock which is
famous for its accuracy and for its 13-ton bell.
Buckingham Palace
Another place of interest for visitors to London is Buckingham Palace, the London residence of the British
royal family in the City of Westminster. Every day at 11,30 the Queen’s Guard in full dress uniform perform
the ceremony of changing the Guard at Buckingham Palace. The royal standard is flown when the sovereign
is in residence.
West End
The West End is area, famous for shops and entertainment. There, there are such well known streets as
Piccadilly, Bond Street, Regent’s Street, Carnaby Street, and Oxford Street. In the West End we can find most
of London’s theatres, cinemas and nightclubs. In the centre of Piccadilly Circus there is the Statue of Eros
/God of love/. One of the most interesting streets of London, where especially young people like to wander,
is Carnaby Street. It is full of shops offering the latest fashion. In the centre of the West End, there is
Chinatown marked by beautiful Chinese gateways. London’s Chinatown is attractive place for tourists who
Zuzana Pažítková
like to taste traditional Chinese food in its typical restaurants. London’s East End used to be a slum in the
19th century. It is historically associated with the Cockney dialect. This area was heavily bombed during
World War II and then it was rebuilt again.
Trafalgar Squares
One of the largest London squares is Trafalgar Square with the statue of admiral Nelson in the middle. On
the northern side of Trafalgar Square there is the National Gallery built in the classic style. It contains
Britain’s best-known collection of paintings including those by Raphael, Rubens, Van Dyck, El Greco and
others. Just behind the National Gallery there is the National Portrait Gallery in which portraits of British
monarchs can be seen. The Tate Gallery is another big gallery containing modern art. It is situated not far
from the Houses of Parliament. Among the most famous London museums, the Victoria and Albert museum,
and the British museum should be mentioned. Thousands of visitors visit Madam Tussaud´s museum every
year. Waxworks of famous people from all the world can be found there.
Parks and Gardens
London has a large number of parks and gardens. The best-known are the following ones: St. James´ s Park,
Buckingham Palace Gardens, Hyde Park, Regent’s Park and Kensington Gardens. St. James’s Park is situated
near Buckingham Palace. It is the smallest but the oldest of London’s royal parks. Buckingham Palace
Gardens are bordered in the east by royal residence. Hyde Park is the largest of the royal parks. It has its
attractions, e.g. a little lake /the Serpentine/, and Speaker’s Corner where anybody can make a public
speech about any topic. In Regent’s Park there are the Zoo, the Open-Air Theatre and two lakes. The
Kensington gardens are very beautiful with the Victorian Gothic Albert Memorial and a big cultural centre.
The visitor of London is never far away from a park.
London’s parks play a very important role in helping to form the city’s character.
Transport
London is an important centre of transport. The world’s first electric under- ground was opened in London in
1890. The London /Heathrow/ International Airport is situated in the western part of Greater London. The
most typical means of transport for tourists is a red double–decker bus.