LONDON
London
(Samuel Johnson)
London spread over the banks of the Thames River is the biggest city in the world. It is one of the twenty most populated cities of the world and is a big political, economical and cultural center. London today occupies area of 625 sq. mi. It is a wonderful world seen by many foreign tourists first from a plane in the sky, who are surprised by a zigzag-like ribbon of the Thames and beauty of its numerous bridges.
London became home for 7 million people, who live not in nameless suburbs but in former little towns it consists of, in Westminster and the districts, which kept the traits of their provincial past, – Marylebone and Kensington, Hampstead and Highgate, – where the central streets and historical monuments remind of the people, who created London, which every generation discovers for themselves anew. London’s documented history dates back to the time when there was still a swamp on the site of Westminster. Romans settled on the territory of today’s City Area around 60 B.C., built a bridge across the Thames and created the famous commercial center that attracted multitudes of tradesmen. The significance of Westminster, which was originally built as a king’s palace not long before William the Conqueror’s invasion in 1066, began to increase after it became the seat of Parliament. The Palace was not far from the Thames, near the Westminster Abbey, several miles away from the city.
Unlike many big cities, London did not develop from one center but formed by the way of merging of separate towns and settlements; therefore, it is divided into several historical districts. They are the City – center of town and the hub of the world’s trade; West End – aristocratic area; East End – the center of sea trade; Soho – the center of entertainment; Westminster – the administrative center.
In the City there are banks, stock markets, offices of the biggest companies. The boundaries of this district, basically, match the limits of the Roman city; the remains of fortifications, foundations of temples and thermae testify about that. Every morning around 300 thousand office clerks stream into the City, although its indigenous population is only 6 thousand people. The West End quarters are filled with mansions, hotels, shopping streets, colleges, museums and entertainment establishments. East end is a district of docks and workers’ quarters characterized by density of build-up and almost an absolute absence of plants. In Soho there is Chinatown, and in its restaurants one can taste dishes of various cuisines. In Neasden there is the biggest Hindu temple outside of India – Shri Swaminarayan Mandir. It occupies an area of 6,071 sq. m. 1,526 Indian masters labored on carvings for it; the temple was opened on August 20, 1995. In Westminster there is the Royal court and most of the Government’s buildings.
In London there are a lot of historical places, many magnificent stores and boisterous nightlife. The list of London’s places of interest is really impressive, but among them several can be pointed out for they became symbols not only of the city but of the whole country as well.
The Buckingham Palace is the official residence of Her Majesty Queen of Great Britain Elizabeth II. As many people view it, it is the most famous place of note in London. The Palace was built in 1803 by Earl Buckingham and became Royal residence in 1837. It is the latest built Kings’ Palace in London. In the Palace there are 661 rooms, 18 of which are open to the general public since beginning of August until beginning of October. The Queen herself with her spouse occupy 12 rooms in the northern wing. When the Queen is in the Palace, the Royal Flag flies on the roof, and during this time the Palace cannot be visited. In the rooms of the Buckingham Palace there is the treasury of the Royal collection – canvasses of Rembrandt, Rubens, Vermeer, Poussin, Claude, sculptures by Canova and Chantry, Sevres porcelain, the best patterns of English and French furniture. An interesting sight that attracts many tourists is a daily ceremony of Change of Guards in the Square in front of the Palace. The ceremony begins at 11:30 and happens in the summer daily, while in the winter – every other day.
The Tower is the main construction in the Roman style on London’s territory. Its history is around nine centuries long. During that time it was the King’s residence, an armory warehouse and the Treasury as well as a prison and a site of executions. In the Tower many famous people lay their heads down on the scaffold. Among them were Thomas Moor, Sir Walter Reilly, Henry VIII’s wives Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard. The first construction on the territory of the fortress was the White Tower built on an order of William the Conqueror for the Royal family’s safety during public disorders. On the Tower’s territory one can also see the treasury of the British Crown, Medieval King’s Palace, exhibition “Diamonds and Crowns: making of Royal Jewelry” in Martin’s Tower, Museum of the Royal Fusilier’s Regiment. Since XIV century, the fortress has been guarded by yeomen-guards usually called “Beefeaters.” Today they are not only an indispensable part of the traditional ceremonies but also tourist’s guides of the Tower. Another item of note in the fortress is black ravens. As legend has it, if the ravens leave the fortress, the English Monarchy will fall.
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