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London
London is the capital of Great Britain. It is 1596 square kilometre in size. About 6,8 million people live there and slowly it grew into one of the world's major cities. London is divided in 33 Boroughs. The interior part is the only 2.7 square kilometre big City. The business city with the Bank of England, the stock market, the town hall, the royal opera house, Covent Garden and the St Paul's Cathedral. In the southeast of the city, at the end of the harbour, is the Tower of London with the Tower Bridge; in the southwest and west, is the goverment quarter with the Buckingham Palace, Downing and Regent Street, Traflagar Square, Westminster Abbey and the Parliament Buildings; in the east are the educational and the culture furnishings: the university, TU (trade union), the British museum, National Gallery, Victoria and Albert Museum. There is the commerce and the industry position, the world harbour and the international airports, Heathrow and Gatwick.
The people who immers in this big metropolis, have not only the experience from these fascinating city, but at the same time the reflection of the British essence and of the English way to live. For example: The Londoner taxis, which there especially high roof, so that the gentlemans which there Bowler Hat's can get in comfortable. Or about the Speaker's Corner in the Hyde Park, where all the peoples can philosophize and disturbed over God and the world.
Each district in London has his own atmosphere. Different areas seem like different citys. The West End is a rich man's world of shops, offices and theatres. The East End is the old working people's district, where there are many small flats and houses, some old, some new.
London is always changing. New buildings go up and old ones come down. Poorer areas become fashionable and people with more money move into them.
London offered everyone something: museums, parks, castles, pubs, markets, and, and, and ...
In London are a lot of pubs, too. They be open continuous, from Monday until Saturday. Some closed in the afternoon. The stay in a pub and the consumption of alcohol is allowed only when you be 18 years old.
Sights
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace has been the London home of the British sovereign since 1837, when George III (\"Mad King George\") bought the house from the Duke of Buckingham for his new wife, Charlotte.
Extensive remodelling of the house began in 1762, although much of its conversion to a Palace was carried out later, during the reign of George IV, under the direction of the renowned architect, John Nash. The semi-State and State Rooms of the present Palace are largely unchanged since that period.
Remodelling and refacing of the Palace was undertaken during Queen Victoria\'s reign by Blore and later, Webb, with the present forecourt, where the Changing of the Guard takes place, completed in 1913.
Buckingham Palace is open between 6th August and 1st October 2000. Cost of entrance is around £10.50.
Houses of Parliament (Palace of Westminster)
Sir Charles Barry\'s magnificent gothic edifice looks so permanently entrenched on its site by the River Thames that it is hard to imagine that it is less than 150 years old. Even more amazingly, many critics panned the building upon its construction - Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli even advocated the hanging of the architect as an example to others!
It is not widely known that the building was never in fact finished - originally, Barry wanted to enclose the Norman Westminster Hall and the forecourt within two more sides of buildings and a great gatehouse was to stand on the corner. Unfortunately, the advent of the Crimean war and the consequent strain on Government funds meant that the proposed extensions were never built, although Pugin\'s gothic interiors remain.
The House of Commons and the House of Lords were actually formed in the 13th Century by Sir Simon de Montfort, whose statue stands in the Parliament grounds.
Despite Britain\'s rather stuffy reputation as a country, the House of Commons is a very unruly and aggressive chamber. Indeed the \'bearpit\' reputation of Prime Minister\'s Question Time has meant that it is now widely televised abroad.
Tower of London
The Tower of London was built by William the Conqueror, following his successful invasion in 1066. His initial structure was added to over the years by the various monarchs until it stood majestic and nearly square with two lines of walls defending the White Tower.
The Tower has been host to many famous events - most of them murderous. Perhaps the most infamous of these was the murder of the \'Princes in the Tower\', Edward V and Richard, Duke of York, by Richard III in 1483. It is from this date that the Garden Tower took its present name, The Bloody Tower. Other famous prisoners who were executed on Tower Green include William Wallace, the Scottish rebel made famous by the film \'Braveheart\'; Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, two of Henry VIII\'s wives; Lady Jane Grey and Sir Walter Raleigh.
The Jewel House, which houses the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom including the 1937 Imperial State Crown, worn by the monarch during the coronation, is also within the confines of the Tower of London.
The National Gallery
The National Gallery, built in 1838 by William Wilkins, is one of the focal points of London and, as a result of its dominant position overlooking Trafalgar Square, the steps of the National are a well-known London meeting point.
The gallery houses the National Collection of some 2,300 paintings, dating from 1260 to 1900 A.D. Every major school and artistic movement is represented in the Collection, with the works gathered chronologically in each of the National\'s four wings.
The Collection was first established by the purchase of the private collection of the philanthropist John Julius Angerstein in the 1820\'s and was subsequently increased by the donation of paintings by Sir George Beaumont, as well as by other purchases.
Museum of London
The museum of London is proudly promoted as the largest and most comprehensive city museum on earth. This stylish website gives details on current exhibitions of London throughout the last 500,000 years of mankind\'s history.
Visit the 14 galleries and learn about all aspects of London life, including the Great Fire of London of 1666 and the Blitz in 1940-41. There are also plenty of special exhibitions detailing important London figures and events in the capital\'s history.
Science Museum
The Science Museum, London is one of three museums which, together with the National Railway Museum, York and the National Museum of Photography, Film and Television, Bradford make up the National Museum of Science and Industry. The Science Museum helps the public understand and enjoy the history and contemporary practice of science, medicine, technology and industry. We aim to inspire, enlighten and educate.
Tower Bridge
Completed in 1894 after just 8 years of construction, Tower Bridge has become perhaps the most distinctive landmark in London after Big Ben and arguably the most famous bridge in the world (although residents of San Francisco may disagree!).The Tower Bridge experience is an award-winning exhibition inside Sir Horace Jones\'s beautiful structure, which tells the story of the bridge\'s history and construction. There are also panoramic views from its walkways.The attraction is open from 10 am to 6.30 pm, April to September and 9.30 am to 6 pm during the remainder of the year. Last admissions are one hour and fifteen minutes before closing. The main entrance to the attraction is from the North Tower, by St. Katherine\'s Wharf and the Tower of London.
Big Ben
This 316 ft. clock tower was completed between 1858 and 1859. Big Ben is named, probably, after Sir Benjamin Hall, the first Commissioner of Works.
Big Ben was first broadcast on New Year\'s Eve in 1923. The light above the clock is lit while the Commons is sitting. Big Ben weights over 13 tons. The mechanic of the clock alone weights over 5 tons. The figure on the clock face are about 2 feet long, the minute spaces are 1 ft. square and the copper minute hands are 14 ft. long.
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