WELCOME TO LONDON In London you can see many magnificent places. Look and remember

BUCKINGHAM PALACE Buckingham Palace, one of several castles owned by the British Royal family, is one of the major tourist attractions in London The original building was constructed as a countryhouse in 1705 by the duke of Buckingham, John Sheffield. King George III bought the house in 1761 for his wife and had it altered by William Chambers.

Buckingham Palace is located in Westminster, at the end of the Mall. It is bordered by Green Park in the north and by St. James's Park in the east. The statue in front of the Palace is the Queen Victoria Memorial.

Houses of Parliament The City of Westminster, at the heart of London is the place where the parliaments have been located for more than 700 years. In the middle of the 11th century, the Edward the Confessor had moved his court to the Palace of Westminster, situated on a central site near the river Thames.

Big Ben This tower, opposite the larger Victoria Tower is better known as the Big Ben, the nickname of the bell inside the tower. It is uncertain whether the nickname comes from Benjamin Hall, the first commissioner of Works, or from Benjamin Caunt, a famous boxer. The Big Ben is only one of five bells hanging in the clock tower, but it is with its 13 tons the largest. The clock itself was designed by E.B. Denison & E.J. Dent and was completed in The clock tower reaches a height of no less than 96 meters.

St. Paul’s Cathedral St. Paul's Cathedral has had an eventful history. The first records date from 604 AD, when Mellitus, Bishop of the East Saxons built the first wooden church on the summit of one of London's hills. At the end of the 7th century, it was built in stone by Erkenwald, Bishop of London. In 962 and 1087, the Cathedral was destroyed by fires, but each time it was rebuilt. By that time, it was one of the largest cathedrals in Europe. Rebuildings and extensions in the 13th and 14th century enlarged the cathedral even more.

Tower Bridge The Tower Bridge, named after its two impressive towers, is one of London's best known landmarks. This Victorian Bridge is now more than 100 years old. Designed by Wolfe Barry and Horace Jones, and completed in 1894, the middle of the bridge can be raised to permit large vessels to pass the Tower Bridge. The bridge is 60 meters long and its towers rise to a height of 43 meters. From the top of the towers, you have a great view on the center of London. You can also visit the inside of the tower, where you can observe the original mechanism used to raise the bridge.

Westminster Abbey The Westminster Abbey, located near the Houses of Parliament, is more a historical site than a religious site. Since 1066, every royal coronation, with the exception of Edward V and Edward VIII has taken place in Westminster Abbey. The abbey also serves as the burial ground for numerous politicians, sovereigns and artists. The Abeby is stuffed with graves, statues and monuments. Many coffins even stanę upright duet to the lack of space. In total approximately 3300 people are buried in the Church and cloistersHouses of Parliament