Prepared: Perevozkin Alexander Sights London Prepared: Perevozkin Alexander

The Tower of London The Tower of London is one of the most imposing and popular of London's historical sites. It comprises not one, but 20 towers. The oldest of which, the White Tower, dates back to the ll th century and the time of William the Conqueror. Nowadays a lot of tourists visit the Tower of London, because of the Tower's evil reputation as a prison. The Tower is famous as home of the Crown Jewels. Today they can be viewed in their new jewel house. They include the Crown of Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother which contains the celebrated Indian diamond.

Many stories associated with British history come from the Tower Many stories associated with British history come from the Tower. In 1483 King Edward IV's two sons were murdered in the so-called Bloody Tower. Over two centuries later the skeletons of two little boys were found buried beneath steps in the White Tower. Traitor's Gate has steps leading down to the River Thames. Countless prisoners, including the future Queen Elizabeth I of England, were brought to the Tower by barge and ascended the steps before being imprisoned. For many it was their last moment of freedom before their death. But Elizabeth was released from the Tower and became Queen. The King's second wife, Anne Boleyn, was brought to trial there in 1536 and beheaded. Six years later her cousin, Catherine, Henry VIII's fifth wife, suffered the same fate. Sir Thomas More was beheaded there in 1535. Of course, no visit to the Tower would be complete without seeing the ravens; huge black birds who are an official part of the Tower community. Legend states that if the ravens were to leave the Tower the Crown will fall, and Britain with it. Under the special care of the Raven Master, the ravens are fed a daily diet of raw meat. And there is no danger of them flying away, because their wings are clipped.

Westminster Abbey Millions of visitors a year arrive in London to see the sights of the city. One of the most attractive constructions is Westminster Abbey. It attracts visitors not only with its architectural glory but also with its rich history and cultural importance.

London. St Paul's Cathedral St Paul's Cathedral is one of the most famous buildings in the world, and it is also one of the greatest survivors! There was once a Roman temple on the site, dedicated to the goddess Diana. Since then there have been four different Christian buildings. The first Christian church was built by the Saxon King, Ethelbert of Kent. Being made of wood it didn't stand a chance and was eventually burnt down. It was rebuilt in stone but that didn't work either as it was destroyed in a Viking invasion. When the Saxons used wood again on the third church, it was doomed to be destroyed by fire again!

The clock tower on the West Side houses the bell known as Great Paul The clock tower on the West Side houses the bell known as Great Paul. At three metres in diameter, it is the heaviest swinging bell in the country. Of course there is the famous dome and the cross on top is 365 feet from the ground. It is the second largest cathedral dome in the world. Only St Paul's in Rome is bigger. Why not pay St Paul's a visit? One feature you will find interesting is the Whispering Gallery, where you can whisper at one wall, and then hear what you whispered on the opposite wall 107 feet away!

Trafalgar Square Trafalgar Square, set in central London, is one of Britain's great tourist attractions. A visit to the capital would be incomplete without going to marvel at Nelsons Column and the four giant lions at its base, or to admire the lovely splashing fountains and to feed the pigeons, who have made their home here. Built to commemorate Admiral Nelson, the square was named after the Spanish Cape Trafalgar where his last battle was won. It was John Nash, who designed the first layout of the square in the 1820's. Although he didn't live to see its completion, his Neo-classical design was adhered to, achieving the unified effect of the beautiful buildings we admire today. Building of the square began in 1829 and was still being developed into the 1840's.

The British Museum The British Museum is a museum in London, founded in 1753. It contains one of the world's richest collections of antiquities and (until 1997) one of the largest libraries in the world: British Library. The British Museum's collection of seven million objects representing the rich history of human cultures mirrors the city of London's global variety. It includes monuments of primitive and antique culture, Ancient East culture, the richest collection of engravings, pictures, ceramics, coins.

Hyde Park London is full of wonderful parks and Hyde Park is one of them. Situated in the center of London it’s considered to be a royal park. Hyde Park covers over 1, 4 square kilometers or 350 acres. It has a finest landscape and is often used for political meetings or festive celebrations. A long time ago the park belonged to Westminster Abbey and it got its name from an ancient unit of area. Now it has become one of the beloved places of Londoners who just want to have a rest or walk. The main attraction of the park is Serpentine Lake which is open for swimmers, and the gallery of the same name.

Other interesting sights in Hyde Park are Apsley House with the Wellington Museum and Wellington Arch. These objects remind about the parade in 1815 in honor of Wellington’s victory over Napoleon. Another sight is the statue of Achilles, which became the first almost naked statue in London and caused uproar of citizens. Queen Victoria chose Hyde Park for holding the first World Exhibition in 1851. Hyde Park is also famous for its Speaker’s Corner. It’s the place where different orators and preachers demonstrate their eloquence. That’s why Speaker’s Corner is considered to be the place where anyone can freely proclaim and state their ideas. Nowadays Hyde Park is also often used for different rock concerts and many famous bands have already played here.

Tower Bridge This bridge was built in 1894 and it is still in daily use even though the traffic in and out of the London wharves has increased to an extraordinary extent during the course of the 20th century.

Tower Bridge commands wide and magnificent views of both the city and the river. After Tower Bridge, the wharves of London extend until Tilbury. The gigantic port of this city, which has one of the heaviest movements of ocean-going traffic in the entire world, occupies practically the whole bank of the Thames from Teddington. It is virtually impossible to get a complete idea of its colossal extention. In fact it is one wharf after another, apparently continuing endlessly. There is one way to form a closer idea of the grandiosity of this port: to view it from Tower Bridge on a clear day.