London is the capital of Great Britain) London(London), Greater London, the capital of Great Britain, the main economic, political and cultural center of the country. One of the largest cities in the world by population. It is located in the center of the so-called London Basin (at an altitude of 5 m above sea level), on a plain surrounded from the North, East and South by chalk cuest ridges, on both banks of the estuary of the River Thames, which flows into the North Sea. The climate is maritime with mild winters and cool summers. The average temperature of the coldest month (January) is 5.3 °C, the warmest (July) is 18.9 °C; precipitation averages about 645 mm per year. Fogs are frequent, during which, due to air pollution, a smoky veil (smog) forms over L..
═ Administratively (since 1964), L. itself, together with the suburbs, forms a separate unit - Big L. (at the expense of the territory of neighboring counties), consisting of 32 metropolitan districts (districts) and City. Area 1.8 thousand km 2
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Population 7.4 million (1971).
═ About 1/7 of the population of Great Britain is concentrated in the Big L. conurbation. Conurbation continues to expand within the suburban area, the so-called. metropolitan belt. In this belt, after World War II (1939-45), 8 new satellite towns were built (Basildon, Bracknell, Crowley, Stevenage, Welwyn Garden City, Harlow, Hatfield, Hemel Hempstead), designed to resettle part of the population and move industrial enterprises from overcrowded central districts of conurbation. The population growth here is the highest in the country; in 1951-71 it increased by 53%. At the same time, the population of Greater Leningrad began to decline from the middle of the 20th century (8.2 million people in 1951, 7.8 million people in 1961). 1/10 of all British immigrants live in Greater L.. Bolshoy L. accounts for one-sixth of the economically active population of the country (4.3 million people in 1966); the same share is employed in industry; over one-fourth in transport and communications; banks, more than 1/5 in trade and 1/5 ≈ in the service sector.
═ City government. The citywide governing body is the Municipal Council of Greater L., consisting of 100 elected councilors and up to 16 aldermen co-opted by the council. Councilors are elected for 3 years, the term of office of aldermen is ≈ 6 years (every 3 years, half of their composition is re-elected). The municipal council annually elects a chairman and vice-chairman, forms permanent committees that oversee the work of departments and other divisions of the administrative apparatus of the council.
═ The metropolitan boroughs and the City have their own municipalities. The municipal councils of the districts are composed of elected councilors and aldermen. The City Council consists of three divisions called courts: the general assembly, the aldermen, and the general council. The court of general assembly includes the lord mayor, sheriffs, aldermen and about 70 "guild elders" listed as Fremen (representatives of various companies settled in the City). Aldermen and Councilors are elected from 25 constituencies by the permanent residents and taxpayers of the City, with Aldermen for life and Councilors for 1 year. The Court of Common Council is composed of the Lord Mayor of the City, elected by the Court of Aldermen, and 159 councillors.
═ Most of the functions of government are carried out by the Greater L. Municipal Council and the metropolitan district councils. Some issues (for example, fire protection, ambulance) are exclusively within the competence of the city municipality, social security issues, libraries, sanitary supervision, etc. handled by county councils. To manage the water supply and the port of London, special bodies have been created that are not subordinate to the city authorities; the Metropolitan Police reports directly to the Ministry of the Interior.
═ English bourgeois revolution of the 17th century.
═ In the 19th - early 20th centuries. revolutionary emigrants from many countries were active in Leningrad. K. Marx lived and worked in Leningrad (in 1849–83; there is a grave and a monument to Marx in the Highgate cemetery) and F. Engels (in 1870–95), many participants in the Paris Commune of 1871, W. Liebknecht, L. Kossuth, J. Mazzini and others. Russian revolutionary emigration to Leningrad in the second half of the 19th century was represented by A. I. Herzen, who published The Bell in 1857–65 together with N. P. Ogarev, P. A. Kropotkin, S. M. Stepnyak-Kravchinsky, and other. In April 1902, V. I. Lenin arrived for the first time in Leningrad, where Iskra began to be published. In 1903, with the leading participation of Lenin, the work of the 2nd Congress of the RSDLP was completed here. Under the leadership of Lenin, the Third Congress of the RSDLP (1905) and the Fifth (London) Congress of the RSDLP (1907) were held in Leningrad.
═ In Leningrad, a mass movement of solidarity with Soviet Russia under the slogan "Hands off Russia!". On May 10, 1920, London dockers refused to ship weapons intended for the war against the Land of the Soviets. On July 31-August 1, 1920, the founding congress of the Communist Party of Great Britain was held in Leningrad. The workers of Leningrad took an active part in the General Strike of 1926. After World War II (1939–45), Leningrad repeatedly became the scene of strikes (strikes by dock workers, urban transport workers, railroad workers, machine builders, shipbuilders, and municipal employees), which intensified especially in the early 1970s. 's; Workers in Leningrad took an active part in mass strikes against anti-trade union legislation (1970–73).
═ L. is the largest center of the peace movement in Great Britain. For a number of years "peace campaigns" were carried out in Leningrad from the military research and development atomic center at Aldermaston. Beginning in 1949, national congresses and conferences in defense of peace were convened in Latvia. L. is the place of many diplomatic meetings, conferences and international conferences.
═ L. A. Zach.
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Economy. Bolshoi Leningrad is the largest industrial center, producing 1/6 of the output (conditionally clean) of the country's manufacturing industry. The development of most industries is associated with meeting the needs of the population of the capital, with the processing of imported raw materials and materials coming through the port of London, with an abundance of labor force of various qualifications, as well as with research work in the latest fields of knowledge. Industry structure
Main Industries
Share in the total number of people employed in industry (1966), %
Share in conditionally net industrial output (1963), %
Paper and printing
food
sewing
Chemical
Woodworking
═ About 4/5 of those employed in industry (1966) accounted for 5 main industrial regions: Central (the western and northern surroundings of the City; 20% of those employed in the industry of the city), which hosts a large printing, clothing, furniture industry, the production of scientific equipment, control and measuring instruments, machine tools, equipment for the printing, clothing industry, as well as jewelry; Pritemzensky (near the port's berths; 11% of employees) ≈ various food and chemical industries, non-ferrous metallurgy, cable production, ship repair, car building (Ford's plant), downstream ≈ oil refining and petrochemistry; Northern (the valley of the Li River; 13% of the employed) - clothing, furniture, chemical industry, electrical engineering, including the production of radio and television equipment, electric lamps; Northwestern (along the routes linking Greater Leningrad with the Midland; 23 percent of the employed)—new industries, chiefly electrical engineering and electronics, auto-aviation, and machine tool building; Southwestern (in the valley of the Vandal River and along communications, to Croydon; about 10% of employees) - electrical engineering, machine tool building, production of scientific and control and measuring instruments.
═ Bolshoy L. ≈ the transport hub of the country. An important international center for airlines [airports London (Heathrow) in the West and Gatwick to the South of L.]. The port of London is one of the largest in the world in terms of cargo turnover (66.7 million tons in 1970). The port stretched 50 km down the Thames; has 5 systems of closed docks-basins (the first one was built in 1669). Imports are 5 times more than exports. Oil, foodstuffs, timber, various raw materials and semi-finished products, paper and various industrial products are imported; export of industrial products of conurbation and other regions of the country. The port of London accounts for one-fourth of the coastal traffic of Great Britain (the main cargo is coal). Leningrad has the oldest subway system in the world (built 1860–63).
═ A variety of financial, banking and commercial institutions, the main departments of many British and international monopolies and foreign branches, and the stock and commodity exchanges are concentrated in Leningrad. Major trade, financial and many other business transactions take place here.
═ N. M. Polskaya.
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Architecture. Unlike other large cities, Latvia did not develop from a single center, but was formed by merging independent cities and settlements; in this regard, its architectural appearance is very diverse. The historical centers of Leningrad are: the center of the political life of the city ≈ Westminster[where Westminster Abbey, the palaces of Buckingham and St. James (since the 16th century), the Banqueting Hall (Banqueting House; 1619-22, architect I. Jones), the Palace of Westminster (parliament), the new Westminster Cathedral] and the City are located part of Leningrad, where banks, stock exchanges, and offices of the largest monopolies are located. The City adjoins the Tower Hamlets area with the castle of William the Conqueror - the Tower - the former residence of the English kings, then a prison for political prisoners (the oldest part of the Tower - the "White Tower", about 1078-85). The boundaries of the City basically coincide with the boundaries of the Roman city (remains of Roman fortifications, foundations of temples and baths have been preserved); here are: the Romanesque church of St. Bartholomew-the-Great (founded in 1123), the Romanesque-Gothic church of the templars of St. Mary (12-13 century), the town hall (Guild Hall; about 1411-40; rebuilt in 1788-89 , architect J. Dans Jr.). In the West of the City there is a complex of "Company of Lawyers" ≈ Temple (the hall, half-timbered gates, 16≈17th century have been preserved). Of the old buildings located outside these centers, the Gothic Southwark Cathedral (St. Savior; 13-15 century) and Hampton Court Palace (from 1515; late Gothic hall ≈ 1531-36, east and south wings ≈ 1689-94, architect K. Ren). The City area was built up rapidly and randomly, repeatedly undertaken since the 16th century. attempts to streamline its urban structure (for example, reconstruction projects after the fire of 1666, architect K. Wren, J. Evelyn) were ignored. On the territory of Westminster there are quarters of the West End with mansions, hotels, main shopping streets, colleges, museums and entertainment establishments, to the East of the City ≈ East End, an area of docks and working quarters, characterized by crowded buildings and an almost complete absence of greenery. Examples of ensemble construction of past eras have been preserved mainly in the aristocratic West End: such is the development of Regentspark, Regent Street, Oxford Circus, Park Crescent, undertaken in the era of classicism and marked by strict unity and monumentality of the general design (sometimes by an organic connection with park complexes). (all ≈ between 1812≈30, architect J. Nash), Adelphi, Portlandplace, Fitzroy Square (all ≈ between 1768≈1800, architects brothers R. and J. Adam; preserved in fragments); such is the building of many quarters - typical "terrace houses" of the 2nd half of the 19th century.
═ Of the individual monuments of classicism: the churches of K. Wren (St. Mary-le-Bow, 1670-80 and many others) and J. Gibbs (St. Mary-le-Strand, 1714-17; St. Martin-in-ze -Fields, 1722≈26), St. Paul (Saint Paul; 1675≈1710, architect C. Wren); hospitals in Greenwich (1616≈1728, architects I. Jones, C. Wren and J. Vanbrugh) and Chelsea (1694, architect C. Wren), residence of the Lord Mayor Manchon House (1739≈53, architect J. Danse the Elder) , Somerset House (1776≈86, architect W. Chambers). In the style of late classicism and neoclassicism - the Bank of England (1788-1833, architect J. Soane; fragmentarily preserved), the British Museum (1823-47, architects R. and S. Smork), the stock exchange (1841-44, architect W. Tait ), Greater London Council (1911≈22, architect R. Nott), Britannic House (1924≈27, architect E. Lutyens); Neo-Gothic buildings - Parliament House (in Westminster), churches - All Saints (1849-59, architect W. Butterfield) and St. Mary Abbots (1869-79, architect J. G. Scott), Tower Bridge (1886-94 , architect J. Barry, H. Jones). Stations of eclectic form are King's Cross (1851-52, architect L. Cubitt) and St. Pancras (1868-74, architect J. G. Scott, W. Barlo). Interesting Examples of Modern Architecture: The Daily Express Edition (1932, architect H. O. Ellis and Clark), medical Center in Finsbury (the Techton group, 1939), the Royal Concert Hall (Royal Festival Hall; 1949≈51, architect R. Matthew, L. Martin), National Council of the Dockers' Union, Air Terminal (both 1956, architect F. Gibberd) , Castrol House office building (1959, architects Gollins, M. Ward and others), American Embassy (1960, American architect E. Saarinen), Vickers skyscraper (1962, architect R. Ward), editorial office of The Economist magazine (1964, architects A. and P. Smithson), Arts Center (1967, architect H. Bennett). In the 20th century residential complexes were created within the boundaries of Greater L., in the construction of which modern concepts of a satellite city were implemented, innovative methods of landscape architecture were implemented: such are the experimental garden cities built on the initiative of E. Howard (Welyn Garden City, since 1920, architect L. de Soissons and others) and created on the basis of the plan of Greater L., compiled by L. P. Abercrombie (1944), satellite cities (Stevenage, from 1946,═ from 1946, architect F. Gibberd and others). The spontaneous growth of L. itself, the chaotic development, traffic difficulties, and the extensive destruction caused by World War II (1939–45) made it necessary to regulate the layout of the city, but the projects devoted to this (City Center, 1947, architects C. Holden, W. Holford; St. Paul's Cathedral area, 1956, architect W. Holford) were not implemented (or were only partially implemented). Construction of isolated residential microdistricts of a mixed nature (Highpoint blocks in Highgate, 1933, the Tecton group; quarters ≈ Holfield in Paddington, 1949≈56, architects L. Drake, D. Lasden; Churchill Gardens in Pimlico, 1947≈55, architects F Powell, I. Moya, Golden Lane in the City, 1957, architect P. Chamberlin, and others, Alton in Roehampton, 1951–59, architects H. Bennett, R. Matthew, and others) does not affect the town-planning structure of L. as a whole.
═ Educational institutions, scientific and cultural institutions. In L. are: University of London, City University, City Polytechnic Institute, Central London Polytechnic Institute, Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Royal Academy of Music, London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, Royal Ballet School, Royal Academy of Dance; Royal Society of London, the Royal Academy of Arts, the British Academy of Humanities, the Royal Institution of Great Britain, and a large number of scientific societies and scientific institutions in all fields of science, technology, art; one of the largest in the world British Museum Library, National Scientific and Technical Library, large libraries at universities; over 30 museums, including British museum, Science Museum, British Museum of Natural History, Geological Museum, Victoria and Albert Museum, Museum of London, National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery, British Theater Museum, tate gallery, Imperial War Museum, National Maritime Museum and many others. There are about 80 theaters (1973) (the theater buildings are rented by various troupes). Leading drama groups: National Theater (operating at the Old Vic Theatre), Royal Shakespeare Theater Branch (at the Aldwych Theatre), English Stage Company (at the Royal Court Theatre), Mermaid Theatre; opera and ballet theaters - Covent Garden and Sadler's Wells; the largest concert halls are the Royal Festival Hall and the Royal Albert Hall.
═ See ill.
═ Lit.: F. Engels, The situation of the working class in England, K. Marx and F. Engels, Soch., 2nd ed., vol. 2, p. 263≈310; Kerzhentsev P. M., London, 2nd ed., M. ≈ P., 1923; Semenov V. M., According to Lenin's places in London, M., 1960; Voronikhina L. N., London, [L.], 1969; Polskaya N. M., Features of the growth and settlement of the suburban area of London, “Bulletin of Moscow State University. Series 5. Geography, 1970, No. 3; Ikonnikov A. V., London, L., 1972; Mitchell R. J. and Leys M. D. R., A history of London life, L., 1963; Eades, G. E., Historic London, L., 1966; An encyclopaedia of London, ed. by W. Kent, L., 1951; London landmarks. A guide with maps to places where Marx, Engels and Lenin lived and worked, 3 ed., L., ; Bird J., The geography of the port of London, L., 1957: Hall P., The industries of London since 1861, L., 1962; his, London 2000, L., 1963: The geography of greater London, ed. by R. Clayton, L., 1964: Greater London, ed. J. T. Coppock and H. C. Prince, L., 1964; Martin J. E., Greater London: and industrial geography, L., 1966; Rayns, A. W., The London region, L., 1971; Rasmussen S. E., London: the unique city, L., 1937; Pevsner N., London (The buildings of England, v. 6, 12), Harmondsworth. 1952≈57; Olsen D.J., Town planning in London. The eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, New Haven, 1964; Trent C., Greater London, its growth and development through 2000 years. L., 1965.
Big soviet encyclopedia. - M.: Soviet Encyclopedia. 1969-1978 .
London is located in the south-east of Great Britain, on top of the River Thames, about 83 km from the mouth North Sea. Satellite imagery shows that the metropolis is compactly located in the green belt, with its main ring road (the M25 motorway) winding around it within a radius of about 30 km from the center. The growth of built-up area was halted by the strict control of town planning in the mid-1950s. Its physical limits correspond more or less to the administrative and statistical boundaries separating the metropolitan county from the "home counties" of Kent, Surrey and Berkshire (clockwise) to the south of the river and Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex to the north. The historic counties of Kent, Hertfordshire and Essex extend beyond the current administrative districts with the same names as significant parts of the metropolitan county, which was formed in 1965. Most of this county south of the Thames belongs to the Historic County of Surrey, while most of the county north of the Thames historically belongs to the county of Middlesex. The area of this county is 609 square miles (1573 sq. km).
Climate of London
Continuous records of London weather extend back to 1657, with specific wind direction data available from 1723 and precipitation from 1697. The fluctuations show a cyclic pattern, with severe winters during the 1740s, 1770s, 1809-17, 1836-45 and 1875-82, followed by a prolonged rise after 1919 when the climate became warmer, mostly due to milder weather during the autumn months.The modern metropolis has the equal climate of South East England, with mild winters and moderate summers. The average daily air temperature is 52°F (11°C), with 42°F (5.5°C) in January and 65°F (18°C) in July. Residents shed their winter coats in April or May and start dressing warmly again at the end of October. The prevailing wind is west-southwest. Due to the sheltering effect of the Chiltern Hills and North Downs, there is slightly less rainfall than the surrounding counties. On an average year, you can expect 200 dry days out of 365 and a total rainfall of about 585 mm, evenly distributed over 12 months.
Brief history of London
London was founded as a center of communication by the Romans shortly after they invaded Britain in 43 AD. Londinium, as it was then called, was a small village on the Thames, on the way to the provincial capital in eastern England. The Romans built a bridge across the Thames along this route, the first bridge on the Thames near the small village. The city had narrow, crowded streets lined with tiny shops and houses built of wood and plaster. Even London Bridge, which was much more than just a river crossing, had this tendency of narrow, crowded spaces. Therefore, a new stone bridge was built in 1177 to replace the old one. The metropolis has grown, as has its population; By 1600 there were 200,000 souls, by the end of the 17th century it had risen to 576,000, surpassing both largest metropolis in Europe. Thus, this place became the largest city in Europe. He also became cultural center, the center of the English cultural renaissance, with such major figures as Christopher Marlowe, Ben Jonson, William Shakespeare. It was the economic center of Britain and the center of a prosperous empire. It continued to grow and develop in line with what we see today, always blending the past with the present.sights of London
A trip to the capital would not be complete without visiting some of London's best attractions. From the modern hotel, the London Eye to the historical part, many attractions are free to visit, while others are available at a discount or special offers when using the London Pass. 1. Warner Bros. Studio. The Making of Harry Potter.You can spend a magical day viewing the locations and venues where the Harry Potter films were filmed. Here you can see the costumes and props used in all the Harry Potter films and explore the famous Great Hall, Dumbledore's office and Hagrid's hut. 2. London eye.
One of the most important attractions. It is able to offer the best panoramas from 33 booths, each weighing about 12 tons and accommodating a maximum of 25 people. It is here that people rise for incredible impressions, with a breathtaking view of more than 56 of the most popular sights - in just half an hour! 3. Madame Tussauds.
In this place you will encounter the most famous people on this earth. Shakespeare and Lady Gaga are here, influential people of show business, sports stars, politicians and even the royal family are here. 4. Tower of London
You can take a tour around the most recognizable architectural structure. Learn the history of this place as the home of the royal family, a place of detention and execution, a treasure trove of jewels and even a zoo! Here, tourists have the opportunity to look at the White Tower, sneak into the bedroom of the king of the Middle Ages and marvel at the crown jewels.
Fully deserving of World Heritage status, over a million visitors a year flock to this 700-year-old building. This is the most popular tour in the world, it is here that you can immerse yourself in the history of British kings and queens.
Accommodation in London
Whether you're looking for a bed and breakfast or want to treat yourself to a luxury hotel in the city, Central London has countless accommodation options. This way you can stay within walking distance of attractions such as Westminster Abbey and St. Paul. Exploring the vibrant surroundings of the center will be easy and save precious energy and time.
Stay in Covent Garden. A stay in central Covent Garden is for those who want to enjoy the area's fantastic array of shops, restaurants and attractions. Stay in the Eastern part. Here you can discover East London, a cool and lively area with a convenient transport hub and major attractions. Accommodation in the East End has many options, from hostels for the nightlife lure, to luxury hotels for business travelers heading to the Canary Wharf financial district. Here you can enjoy oriental street art and numerous attractions such as Brick Lane and Olympic Elizabeth Park. Liverpool Street Station has a large transport hub.
Stay in Greenwich. Greenwich is the perfect hub from which to explore the rest. This charming area with a fast transport hub makes it a great option if you want to see the city from a different point of view and drive to the center in less than 30 minutes. Stay in the North. The hotels here are excellent value for money - the perfect choice for a cheap stay in the metropolis, if you do not need to be in the center. With efficient transport links to the North, the Central is within easy reach, with Kings Cross St Pancras and Euston tube stations just minutes from the hotel.
How to get there?
London can be reached by mainline train from Eurostar, using ferries, there are also many bus routes, but the most convenient option is a flight to one of the five airports. There is five major airports: London City, Gatwick, Heathrow, Luton and Stansted. Their website has all the information a traveler will need about London airports, locations and connections, including a map of the airports. When planning an early flight from Gatwick Airport, you can stay at one of the nearby hotels. It is possible to find airport hotels near Gatwick Airport or a short drive from the hotel. Have Gatwick hotels near north terminal and south terminal. Many hotels at Gatwick Airport offer transfers between the hotel and the airport - usually a small transfer fee. The city has five major airports and the last thing to do before enjoying the sights is to figure out how to get from the airport to your accommodation. There are many airport transfer options to suit different budgets.LONDON Public Transport
Metropolitan (metro). For most tourists, this is the most convenient method of getting around the city. Subway lines are evenly distributed in all districts. public buses. The famous red buses are frequent, and for those who are willing to invest in learning the route map, it is useful and cheap. You can see more on the top deck of a bus than when traveling by subway.
River transport. Relatively little used by locals, but the service operates year-round along the River Thames, passing major attractions. More services are introduced during the summer, including a 3-hour trip to Hampton Court. Tour buses- a popular way to move around the metropolis on the first day.
London(Eng. London) - the capital of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, as well as England, The largest city on the British islands. The area of the city is 1579 km2. The population is more than 7 million people. In terms of population, the city ranks 14th in the world, 2nd in Europe (after Moscow), and first in the European Union and Great Britain. London plays a leading role in the political, economic and cultural life of Great Britain. The city has Heathrow International Airport, one of the largest in the world, a river port on the River Thames, many world-famous attractions: Westminster Abbey, the Palace of Westminster complex with a clock tower, St. Paul's Cathedral, the Tower Fortress and others.
Flights to London:
London is located on the prime meridian, which is also often called the Greenwich Meridian (after the area it crosses).
Two main areas: City (business center) and Westminster (administrative center).
The climate in London is temperate maritime. Most days of the year are cloudy, although the rainfall is even less than in Rome or Sydney. Snow is rare even in winter. Record high temperature - +38 C (recorded in 2003)
History of London
Founding of the city and the Roman period
London was founded in 43 AD. e., during the invasion of Britain by the Romans, led by Emperor Claudius. There is a theory that by the time of the invasion there was a large settlement in this territory, but during archaeological sites nothing of the kind has been found. However, most of the historical center has not been excavated, and the existence of the settlement before the invasion cannot be completely denied.
At first, London occupied a very small area. In the 19th century, archaeologists found that the length of the city from east to west was about 1 mile (about 1.6 km), and from north to south - about 0.5 miles (about 0.8 km).
Approximately 60 AD. e. the city was attacked by the British queen Boudicca (Boadicea) and a significant part of London was set on fire. The Romans responded by capturing some 80,000 Britons. Shortly thereafter, a battle took place between the Britons and the Romans. According to the established opinion, the battle took place on the site of the modern King's Cross station, and Boudicca, having been defeated, committed suicide by taking poison.
The Romans rebuilt the city in a few years, according to a clear urban plan. Londinium soon became one of the most important settlements Roman Britain. In the 2nd century, it reached its peak - by the year 100, Londinium became the capital of Britain, replacing Colchester, the population was about 60,000 people. The most important administrative buildings were located in the city.
Around the year 200, Britain was divided into two parts - Upper and Lower. Londinium became the capital of Upper Britannia. Around the same time, the so-called Roman Wall was built - a defensive fortification along the perimeter of the city, the remains of which have been preserved in the center of modern London. At the end of the 4th century, Britain was divided anew, and Londinium became the capital of the province of Maximus Caesarensis. In the 5th century, the Romans left Londinium, and the city was gradually settled by the Britons.
Saxon period and Middle Ages
In the middle of the 6th century, Lundenburg ("London Fortification", the Saxon name for Londinium) was incorporated into the East Saxon kingdom. In 604, King Saebert converted to Christianity, and a bishop appeared in the city for the first time. The first bishop of London was called Melitius. At the same time, St. Paul's Cathedral was built. Presumably, initially it was a rather modest chapel. The cathedral was later destroyed by the pagan heirs of Saebert.
At the end of the 7th century, about one and a half kilometers from Lundenburg, the Saxon settlement of Lundevik (that is, the London settlement) was founded. Apparently, in Lundevik there was a harbor for merchant ships and fishing boats.
Since 730, the city came under the rule of Mercia, a large English kingdom. In the 9th century, Lundenburg was attacked by the Vikings. They controlled the city for twenty years, after which King Alfred the Great made peace with the invaders. However, in 1013 Lundenburg was again occupied by the Vikings and was under their rule until 1042.
In 1066, after the victory at Hastings, William the Conqueror became king of England. The coronation took place in the newly completed Westminster Abbey. William gave the people of London certain privileges over the people of other cities. During his reign, a fortification was built in the southeast of the city, now known as the Tower. In 1097 his son William II began the construction of Westminster Hall, which served as the basis for the Palace of Westminster. In 1176, the construction of the famous London Bridge began, which lasted about 600 years.
In May 1216, London was occupied for the last time by foreign troops - the city was captured by the French king Louis VIII, ending the reign of John Landless. Later, his own barons rebelled against Louis, and with their help, power in the country again passed into the hands of the British.
The plague that raged in Europe in the 14th century did not bypass London. The Black Death came to England in 1348. The exact number of deaths in London is unknown, but it is estimated that between 30,000 and 50,000 people became victims of the plague.
The epidemic became an indirect cause of the peasant uprising led by Wat Tyler (1381), during which London was plundered and devastated. The peasants stormed the Tower, killed the Lord Chancellor (an important public office in medieval England), the Archbishop of Sudbury Simon and the keeper of the royal treasury. The uprising was eventually crushed by the royal troops, and Tyler himself was sentenced to death.
In the Middle Ages, London was divided into two main parts - the administrative and political Westminster and the commercial city. This division continues to this day. For the Middle Ages, London could be considered a large city - by 1300, approximately 80,000 people lived in it. City self-government was also formed - the Lord Mayor became the head of London.
London in the 16th-18th centuries
With the advent of the Tudor dynasty in England, the era of absolute monarchy began. The centralization of power in the hands of the king led to the fact that the capital began to develop and grow rich even faster than before. The reigns of Henry VIII and Edward VI had a favorable effect on the city - the famous London parks Hyde Park and Kensington Garden were founded and several large hospitals were opened.
The reformation that took place in England under Henry VIII did not end, unlike in other countries, in bloodshed: here, church reforms were controlled by the king and were initiated “from above”, and not “from below”, as in most other countries. After the Reformation, about half the area of London was occupied by religious buildings and about a third of the population were monks. The situation changed in 1538-41, after Henry VIII issued a law on the supremacy of the king over the church. After that, a significant part of the church property was confiscated and transferred into the hands of the king and his closest vassals.
London has developed into one of the largest trading centers in Europe. Small businesses flourished in the city, and large English businessmen conducted their trade all over the world - from Russia to America. Giant companies were created, such as the East India Company in 1600. After the Spaniards captured and plundered the large Dutch city of Antwerp in 1572, London became the largest center of trade on the North Sea. The population of the capital rapidly increased - from 50,000 people in 1530 to 225,000 in 1605. Also in the 16th century, the first maps of London appeared. The first public theaters appeared, the most popular of which was the Globe, which played plays by William Shakespeare.
In the 16th century, aristocrats and courtiers began to settle in the West End. Soon the area became one of the most prestigious places in the city. Until now, a house in the West End is a ticket to the high society of London.
During the English civil war London took the side of Parliament. Militia troops were raised and defensive fortifications erected to protect the city from the royalists, who moved closer and closer to the capital - the Battle of Brentford took place just a few miles from London. However, a well-organized defense did not allow the royal troops to take the city, which played a decisive role in the war - the wealth stored in London helped Parliament win.
In London, as in all European cities of that time, there was no sewerage and health care system, in addition, the city was heavily overpopulated, and therefore epidemics regularly broke out there with many hundreds, and sometimes thousands of victims. But the worst happened in mid-seventeenth century, in 1665-1666. In England it is called the Great Plague. In London, about 60,000 people (a fifth of the city) became victims of the epidemic. Samuel Pepys, the city's chronicler, wrote the following on September 4, 1665: “More than 7,400 people died in a week, 6,000 of them from the plague. Day night, almost without interruption, the funeral ringing of church bells is heard from the street.
Immediately after the end of the epidemic, another catastrophe happened - the Great Fire of London in 1666. If the Great Plague mowed down the population of London, the fire caused serious material damage, destroying 13,200 houses (about 60% of the city) and 87 churches (including old cathedral Saint Paul). Oddly enough, but only eight people died in the fire, but many were left without a home and lost all means of livelihood.
After the restoration, London finally turned into the financial capital of the world. In 1694, the Bank of England opened, allowing the country to further increase its influence on world economy. In 1700, 80% of England's imports and 69% of its exports came from London, and the city's population exceeded 500,000.
In the 18th century, during the Enlightenment, the press and literature became widespread. Since then, Fleet Street has become the center of London's publishing life. In the same century, an increase in crime in the capital was noted, due to which punishments were toughened: even for a minor crime, the death penalty was now threatened.
In 1707, London acquired the status of the capital of Great Britain, a new state created through the union of England and Scotland. In the same 18th century, the new St. Paul's Cathedral and Buckingham Palace, symbols of modern London, were built, as well as Westminster Bridge, which became only the second bridge in London over the Thames. TO late XVIII century, the population of London reached a million people.
London in the 19th century
London of the century before last is a city of contrasts. On the one hand, it was the capital of the largest state in the world - the British Empire, the economic and political center of the world, and on the other - a city where millions of poor people lived in slums, practically without a livelihood.
XIX century - the era of rapid industrialization and urbanization in Europe and North America. In this century, a huge number of new factories and factories were built in London, and the population increased by 6 times. In the XIX century London was the largest city in the world, by 1900 its population was about 6 million people. Entire industrial districts appeared in the capital, and the most famous of them is the East End, which has become the opposite of the fashionable West End. I must say, from the point of view of the English language, this is quite logical: the East End (English East End) is translated as "Eastern Territory", and the West End (English West End) - as "Western Territory", that is, even etymologically these two districts represent two edges, two sides of one city.
In the century before last, cardinal changes took place in the appearance of London. In 1836 the first Railway, connecting London Bridge and Greenwich, and in less than 20 years 6 stations were opened. In 1863, the world's first subway appeared in London. In addition, Big Ben, Albert Hall, the Trafalgar Square complex, Tower Bridge were built in the 19th century. For the first time in the history of London, there was sewage.
In the 19th century, the system of city self-government was reformed, since the old system, which had existed since the Middle Ages, clearly did not meet the requirements of an overgrown metropolis. In 1855, the Metropolitan Board of Works was created to oversee urban development and infrastructure. In 1888, this body was liquidated, and administrative functions were for the first time assigned to an elected body - the London District Council (Eng. London County Council).
In the middle of the century, London faced mass immigration for the first time. A particularly large influx of visitors came from Ireland. A large Jewish community also formed in the city.
London in the 20th - early 21st centuries
First World War temporarily stopped the development of London. The city was hit by air raids for the first time. Between the two world wars, London continued to grow, but more in area than in population.
In the 1930s, many residents of the city suffered due to the Great Depression: the unemployment rate rose sharply, the standard of living fell. The inability of the authorities to do anything led to the emergence of many radical parties of both left and right directions. Most of them were based in the working East End. The Communists won several seats in the British Parliament, and the British Union of Fascists also enjoyed wide support. The struggle between left and right culminated in the so-called Battle of Cable Street - street fighting between political extremists of both flanks and the police.
In the same 30s to London from Nazi Germany many Jews fled. During the Second World War, the capital of Great Britain was subjected to repeated air bombardments, the heaviest of which occurred in September 1940 and May 1941. Many residents were evacuated from the capital. Subway stations served as bomb shelters. In total, during the war in London, 30,000 civilians became its victims, 50,000 were injured, tens of thousands of houses were destroyed.
In the post-war period, London lost its status as the largest port in the UK, as the equipment of the docks was outdated and the port could not serve large cargo ships. London's water terminals were moved to the nearby towns of Felixstow and Tilbury, and the Docklands area was redeveloped in the 1980s to now house offices and apartment buildings.
In 1952, the Great Smog, an extremely harmful mixture of fog and industrial smoke, descended on London for five days. Soon, the concentration of combustion products in the air became so high that in the following weeks about 4,000 people died from smog in the city, and another 8,000 became victims of the disaster in the next few months. The incident forced the authorities to seriously address this problem, as a result of which a nationwide law "On Clean Air" (1956) was issued, as well as a similar city law (1954)
In the 1960s, thanks to popular musical groups like the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, it became one of the world's centers of youth subculture (earning the nickname "Swinging London"). In 1966, the England team won the World Cup in the final at Wembley Stadium.
London became a target for terrorists in the 1970s, when the city was first attacked by the Irish Republican Army. These attacks were regularly repeated until the end of the 20th century, after which the Irish group was replaced by Al-Qaeda, which organized a series of explosions in London public transport on July 7, 2005.
From the middle of the century, despite the influx of immigrants from the Commonwealth countries (especially from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh), the city's population began to decline, decreasing from almost 9 to 7 million people in the 1980s, after which it began to slowly grow.
London welcomed the new millennium with the opening of several new buildings, such as the Millennium Dome and the London Eye, the Ferris wheel that has become a new symbol of the city.
At the beginning of the 21st century, London won the right to host Olympic Games 2012. The UK capital will become the first city to host the Olympics three times.
In 2004, a plan for the development of the city was adopted. According to him, by 2016 the population of London should reach 8.1 million people, the number of skyscrapers should increase. The authorities also intend to improve the public transport system.
Administrative division and city self-government
The city government of London has a rather complex structure. It has, as it were, two tiers - the first is city government, the second is local. City administration is carried out by the Great London Authority (GLA for short), local administrations are local administrations of municipal districts. City Administration responsible for strategic planning, economic development cities, police, fire service and transport, local - for local planning, schools, social services, etc.
In turn, the Greater London Authority consists of two parts. The first is the mayor of the city, representing the executive branch, the second is the London City Assembly, which limits the powers of the mayor and approves the city's annual budget. The Greater London Administration appeared recently, in 2000, instead of the Greater London Council, which was abolished in 1986 (thus, the city existed for 14 years without a central authority).
Administratively, London is divided into 33 districts, which include 32 municipal districts, designated by the special word borough and the City. Each district has its own administration and district council, which is elected every four years. There is no district administration in the City, but there is a traditional authority in the district - the Corporation of London, which has been preserved almost unchanged since the Middle Ages. In addition, the City has its own police force, independent of the City.
Economy
London is the most important economic and financial center of Great Britain and Europe, one of the world's financial centers. The city's gross regional product in 2004 was $365 billion (17% of UK GDP). The economic importance of the entire London agglomeration is even higher - the regional product in 2004 amounted to $642 billion.
The most important branch of the city's economy is finance, including banking services, insurance, asset management; The headquarters of the largest banks and financial companies, including such as HSBC, Reuters, Barclays, are located in London. One of the world's largest centers of currency and stock trading is the London Stock Exchange. For centuries, the city's business district has been the focus of urban financial life.
The second most important industry in the economy of London is information. The capital is home to the headquarters of the BBC, one of the largest media corporations in the world. The most popular newspapers are published in London, including The Times, published with almost 700,000 copies daily, The Sun, The Daily Mirror and others.
Many British and multinational companies are headquartered in London, including BP, Royal Dutch Shell, Unilever, Corus Group, SABMiller, Cadbury Schweppes and others. More than 100 of the top 500 largest European companies are headquartered in the British capital.
London remains one of the largest industrial centers in Britain. The industry of the city and its suburbs is represented by mechanical engineering (automotive industry, electronics, machine tool building, shipbuilding and ship repair, etc.), light, food, oil refining and petrochemical industries, printing, etc. are widely developed.
Tourism is one of the most important sources of income for London. In 2003, this industry provided permanent job 300,000 people. For the year, visitors leave in London 5 billion f. In terms of popularity among tourists, the city is second only to Paris. London hotels are numerous and varied, here you can find both budget and very expensive hotels.
Despite the fact that London was once one of the largest ports in Europe, now even in the UK it is only in third place. The annual cargo turnover is 50 million tons of cargo.
The economic heart of London is the City, and especially the famous Piccadilly Circus.
Transport
London's public transport system is one of the busiest in the world, and therefore it has to constantly increase and thereby complicate. The next round of increasing the city's transport network is timed to coincide with the preparations for the 2012 Summer Olympics. The three main forms of public transport in London are buses, tubes and taxis.
Transport for London is responsible for London's urban transport. In particular, it operates the London underground, buses and trams and licenses city taxis and public water transport.
Buses are used for local transportation. There are 700 routes on which buses carry up to 6 million passengers on weekdays. The famous Routemaster model buses, which have become one of the symbols not only of London, but of the whole of Great Britain, were removed from linear operation in 2005 and now go only on sightseeing routes.
The London Underground is the oldest in the world. It has been in continuous operation since 1863 and carries 3 million passengers daily, which is about 1 billion people a year. The London Underground consists of 12 lines, most of which link the city center with its outskirts. Londoners often refer to the Underground as a "pipe" because of the very small diameter of the deep tunnels.
In addition to the "classic" subway, since 1987, the Docklands Light Railway system has been operating in London, which can be called a light subway. Unlike the "classic" London Underground, the Docklands Light Railway route is laid mainly not in tunnels, but on overpasses. Docklands Light Railway trains run automatically. There are several transfer stations between the London Underground and the Docklands Light Railway.
London used to have an extensive tram system, but this was closed in 1952. Since 2000, Croydon, a suburb of London, has been operating a modern Tramlink tram system. There are plans to build new tram lines closer to the city centre: West London Tram and Cross River Tram (scheduled to open in 2016).
In addition to trams, London also had a trolleybus service, which was discontinued in 1962. However, there are plans to restore the trolleybus service.
There is also public water transport in London. The city's waterway system is known as the London River Services. Some routes are aimed at tourists, while others are more commonly used by Londoners themselves as regular public transport, such as commuting to work. Although London River Services is licensed by Transport for London, it is operated by private firms and bus and tube passes are not valid on London's waterways (although they may offer discounts).
London's famous black taxis look exactly the same as they did seventy years ago, except for the advertising that now covers many of these cars. Now in London, newer models and more modern looking cars are also used as taxis. It is worth noting that, unlike most major cities, in London all taxis are controlled by the city administration, or rather the municipal service Transport for London.
Closer to the outskirts of the city, traffic on the streets is predominantly automobile. There are several high-speed routes in London, the inner ring road. A fee is charged for the entry of private cars into the city center (since 2005 - £8, approx. 400 rubles).
There are five airports in London: Heathrow, the world's busiest airport, another major airport, Gatwick, small Stansted and Luton, and London City, intended mainly for business charter flights.
Education
About 378,000 students study in London, 125,000 of them at the University of London. This university is the largest in the UK and includes 20 colleges and several institutes. Other major higher education institutions: London Metropolitan University, University of East London, University of Westminster, South Bank University, City University, Middlesex University, New London College.
Museums and libraries
The center of London's museums is the South Kensington area, which houses the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum, the Victoria and Albert Museum (the world's largest collection of arts and crafts and design). Other notable museums are the British Museum, which has a collection of about 7.5 million items; the London National Gallery, one of the world's most respected art museums; the famous Wax Museum Madame Tussauds; Sherlock Holmes Museum. You can call the museum and the current royal residence - Buckingham Palace, part of the premises of which is open to visitors, usually one month a year (August-September). Also sightseeing tours are held in the Houses of Parliament, the Tower, London cathedrals. The National British Library is located in London.
Theaters
Several major commercial theaters specializing in musicals, comedies and dramas are located in the West End. There is even a special term West End theatre, which is used in England to refer to entertainment commercial theaters of the Broadway type. Of the classical theaters, the National Theater in the South Bank area, the new Globe Theater and the Theater at the Royal Court should be noted.
London's classical music theaters are widely known in the world: the famous Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, the Royal Albert Hall, the Elizabeth II Theatre.
Famous streets and squares
- Piccadilly (street and square) - the economic center of the city. The walls of the houses on the square are covered with advertisements. In the middle (but not in the geometric center) of Piccadilly Circus is a fountain and the famous sculpture of Anteros, popularly called Eros.
- Trafalgar Square is dedicated to the defeat of the Spanish-French fleet in 1805. In the middle of the square is a monument in honor of Horatio Nelson, the admiral who commanded the English fleet in the Battle of Trafalgar. Trafalgar Square is home to the London National Gallery.
- Oxford Street is a shopping street. There are boutiques and shopping centers here.
- Harley Street - a street in Westminster, famous as a street of doctors - many doctors still practice on this Harley Street.
- Abbey Road is famous for the recording studio of the same name, where many legendary musicians made their recordings: The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Manfred Mann and others. The Beatles released an album in 1969 called Abbey Road.
Entertainment
The most famous shopping spot in London is Oxford Street, but this is not the only shopping street in the city: Bond Street in Mayfair and Knightsbridge, which is home to the famous shopping center Harrod's. Fashion stores can be found in the same Mayfair, on Carnaby Street in Soho and on King's Road in Chelsea.
In London, you can find many restaurants for every taste. The most expensive ones are in Westminster, the more democratic ones are in Soho. Restaurants specializing in the national cuisine of different nations are scattered throughout the city, the most famous of them are Chinese in London's Chinatown and Bangladeshi on Bricklain Street.
One of the most famous places in London is Soho - a small area with bars, restaurants, pubs and shops. Among other things, Soho is known for its macabre establishments, including brothels and nightclubs. Soho also has several gay clubs and pubs.
The city of London is located on the territory of the state (country) Great Britain, which in turn is located on the territory of the continent Europe.What administrative-political part does the city of London belong to?
London is included in the administrative-political part: England.The administrative and political part is an enlarged territory consisting of several subjects of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.
In which county (county) is London located?
The city of London is part of the county (district) of Greater London.A characteristic of a county (district) or a subject of the country is the possession of the integrity and interconnection of its constituent elements, including cities and other settlements that are part of the county (district).
The county (county) of Greater London is administrative unit states of Great Britain.
The population of the city of London.
The population of the City of London is 8,416,999.What time zone is London in?
The city of London is located in the administrative time zone: UTC0, in summer UTC+1. Thus, you can determine the time difference in the city of London, relative to the time zone in your city.Telephone code for the city of London
The telephone code of the city of London: +44 20. In order to call the city of London from a mobile phone, you need to dial the code: +44 20 and then directly the subscriber's number.Official website of the city of London.
Website of the City of London, official website of the City of London or as it is also called "Official website of the City of London": http://www.london.gov.uk/.Flag of the city of London.
The flag of the city of London is the official symbol of the city and is presented on the page as an image.Coat of arms of the city of London.
In the description of the city of London, the coat of arms of the city of London is presented, which is the hallmark of the city.Metropolitan in the city of London.
The underground in the city of London is called the London Underground and is a means of public transport.The passenger traffic of the London Underground (London Underground congestion) is 1,260.00 million people per year.
The number of underground lines in the city of London is 11 lines. The total number of underground stations in London is 270. The length of the underground lines or the length of the underground tracks is: 402.00 km.
One of the oldest cities in Europe, London, is of interest to many of our readers. Most often you can hear such questions: "Where is it located? What is the climate in the city? What sights can you see? Is London the capital of England or Great Britain?" In this article, we will try to answer all these questions.
The most populous city in the world, the center of world trade, London - the capital of Great Britain, is located on the banks of the Thames. The city center (City) is located on the left bank of the river.
Climatic conditions
Due to the proximity of the sea, the climate in the city is mild. The average air temperature (annual) does not exceed 10.3°C. In winter, the air rarely cools below -3.9°C. Prolonged frosts are extremely rare. Precipitation in the form of rain and thick fogs are frequent. The Thames freezes no more than 6 times a century.
From the history of the city
In 43 A.D. e. the Romans captured the city that already existed at that time during one of their campaigns. There is a version that its name comes from the Latin word "londinium", however, no one still knows its meaning. It is assumed that it refers to some kind of wilderness, but this is not known for certain.
As a result of numerous wars, the city was practically destroyed. Only in the Middle Ages it began to be restored. To date, the capital of Great Britain is the richest city in the country.
Population and religion
Currently, London is inhabited by 8.5 million people, of which only 44% are native British. All other residents of the capital are migrants from other countries. These are people from India, Poland, the countries of the Middle East, Italy, France, Russia. Migration has been going on for more than one century, so the number of indigenous people is gradually decreasing.
The majority of Londoners are Christians (48%). Muslims account for 12%. The rest of the population professes various religions, their number is insignificant. The phrase "London is the capital of Great Britain" in English sounds like "London is the capital of the Great Britain". Each of us must have learned this in school.
Is London the capital of England or Great Britain?
Pretty common question. This beautiful city in Europe is the capital of England, as well as the capital of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It is the largest city in the British Isles.
sights of London
Even the person who cannot answer the request: "Name the capital of Great Britain" - probably at least once in his life saw in photographs the image of the main attraction of London - the famous tower clock with a bell, which is called Big Ben. True, this is not entirely true. Big Ben is called a bell, not a tower, as many mistakenly believe.
Many tourists who come to this city for the first time are happy to go to the 135-meter-high Ferris wheel, which bears the rather strange name of the London Eye. From the height of this attraction, you can see the whole city and notice especially beautiful places that you need to visit.
The capital of Great Britain is famous not only for its historical monuments. The attention of tourists is also attracted by modern unique buildings. For example, a wonderful skyscraper "cucumber". It's actually called "Mary X 30". It has an oblong shape and green glass windows. That is why the Londoners called him "cucumber". But it is not main feature this building. It is unique primarily because, due to its shape, it consumes half as much electricity as its multi-storey counterparts.
London - the capital of Great Britain - is the largest cultural center in Europe. He is famous huge amount museums, exhibition and concert halls.
Exploring London
If you ask one of the tourists who have visited this city: “What is the capital of Great Britain?”, You will surely hear in response: “Magnificent and contradictory, noisy and cloudy, sophisticated”, etc. etc. Epithets, characterizing this city, a lot. One thing is certain: he will not leave anyone indifferent.
Area Westminster
The central area of London, rich in historical and architectural monuments. It is part of the administrative district of the same name. Located on the left bank of the Thames.
Westminster Abbey
This is the second symbol that the capital of Great Britain is proud of. St. Peter's Church, more commonly referred to as Westminster Abbey by the English, was built in 1745. In total, with short interruptions, the construction lasted 500 years!
This church is very important for the nation - most of the English kings and queens were crowned and buried here. It is believed that Westminster Abbey was founded by the first Bishop of London, Mellitus. Today it is open to tourists.
Palace of Westminster
The capital of Great Britain carefully preserves this very first palace of the English kings. It was built in the 21st century. It was the permanent London residence of the kings until 1512, when a terrible fire destroyed it. After that, it was handed over to Parliament. But in 1834 an even stronger fire finally destroyed the building. The palace was restored for 30 years. Today, the country's Parliament is located here.
Buckingham Palace
London is the ancient and unchanging capital of the country. Great Britain honors its history, and therefore is very sensitive to its unique monuments.
Buckingham Palace was built in 1750. It was created for the Duke of Buckingham. For 150 years it was the private property of a noble family. In 1761, King George III bought it from the duke's heirs. During the Victorian era, it acquired the status of an official royal palace.
Westminster School
She is in the same area. This is the most expensive and largest private school in England. Among its graduates are many famous people countries and the world - the philosopher John Locke, the scientist Robert Hooke, the creator of the famous bear cub Winnie the Pooh, the writer Alexander Milne and seven prime ministers of the country.
Hyde Park
The biggest royal garden capital Cities. Its area is 142 hectares, and it is located between the Serpentine Lake and Park Lane. For the whole world, the name of this park is a symbol of freedom and democracy because of Speakers' Corner. Since 1872, anyone can speak here, on any topic. In this part of the park, magnificent lawns are laid out, luxurious, well-groomed trees grow. Londoners play football and tennis here, have picnics.
There are many monuments in the park - the majestic statue of Achilles, the fountains of Artemis. More modern ones are the Animals at War memorial, the Reformers Tree mosaic, a monument to the victims of the 2005 terrorist attack.
Trafalgar Square
Located in the heart of London, at the intersection of The Mall, Whitehall and Strand. Initially, the square was named after William IV. In 1805, it was renamed and named after the victory of the British troops in naval battle at Cape Trafalgar. The great Vice Admiral Nelson was killed in this battle.
On the square is the London National Gallery with the richest collections of paintings, the Admiralty Arch and the parish church of St. Martin.
Now various celebrations and city celebrations are held here. Before the New Year, a large Christmas tree is set up here.
The square is also famous for the fact that on May 8, 1945, Winston Churchill announced the surrender of Germany on it.
Tower Bridge
If the capital of Great Britain is still yours cherished dream, you have probably seen this grandiose building in the photo, which is often printed by various publications.
Every year, thousands of tourists come here to see this legendary bridge. Londoners who use it on a daily basis rarely think about its architecture and history. Tower Bridge is the face of the city, its calling card.
The history of its creation began in 1872. At this time, the English Parliament considered a project to build a second bridge across the Thames, in the area of the Tower fortress.
The towers of the structure are connected by pedestrian crossings raised 34 meters above the roadway and 42 meters above the water level. The carriageway consists of three spans, one of which (the second) is divorced.
Today, the drawbridge mechanism is controlled by electricity. At that time road traffic freezes, and the spans rise up. Thousands of tourists admire this amazing spectacle with delight.
Oxford
World famous university town. The building of the university is famous for its amazing architecture, and the grounds for its stunning landscape design. The decision to create a new educational institution was accepted in 1133. Oxford became a university town in its present form under Henry II. Soon even members of high society began to study here.
covent garden
World famous London theatre. It can accommodate 2268 people, has 4 tiers. The proscenium is 12.2 m wide and 14.8 m high.
The Royal Theater of Convent Garden was founded in 1660 thanks to Charles II, who allowed William Davenant to manage one of the theater companies.
avenue of stars
An analogue of the Hollywood Walk of Fame, founded in 2005. This is an alley that runs through Covent Garden. It is adorned with handprints and the stars of artists who have achieved great achievements in creativity. To receive their star, the performer must be from the UK, Commonwealth of Australia or Ireland. Jimmy Page, guitarist from Led Zeppelin, was the first to receive it.
As you can see, contrary to popular belief, London is not only a city of constant rain. In fact, this is a bright and original metropolis with a rich history and rich cultural life. It is inhabited by friendly people who honor and carefully preserve the monuments of the history of their country.
We hope that after you carefully read this article, if you are asked: "Name the capital of Great Britain", you will not be mistaken and give the correct answer.
