Welcome to London

What do you know about London? London is the capital city of England and the United Kingdom. London is situated in southeastern England along the Thames River. London is the most populous city in the European Union with a population over 7 million.

Famous Landmarks in London London is a major tourist destination, with spectacular landmarks and monuments including the Houses of Parliament, Tower Bridge, the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace and the London Eye amongst its many attractions, along with famous institutions such as the British Museum and the National Gallery.

The map of London

River Thames The Thames River, which runs through London, is the most important river in England. Most of central London is located along the Thames and a number of bridges over the river connect the northern and southern parts of London.

River Thames

Buckingham Palace Buckingham Palace is over 300 years old and is the official London residence of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, serving as both home and office. It is open to the public from mid-August until the end of September.

Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace Бъкингамският дворец The Queen lives here.

The Changing of the Guard The Changing of the Guard ceremony in front of Buckingham Palace attracts many tourists.

The Houses of Parliament and Big Ben The Palace of Westminster is better known as the Houses of Parliament and is one of London's best known monuments. Big Ben is the great bell in the Clock Tower on the eastern end of the Houses of Parliament. The Houses of Parliament is the seat of the British Government. This large Gothic building was founded in 1840.

Westminster Abbey This is the oldest church in London. Westminster Abbey is one of Europe's finest Gothic buildings. Kings and Queens of England have been crowned here since 11th century.

The Tower of London It was founded by William the Conqueror. Many tourists visit the Tower of London every year to see the Crown Jewels and the ravens that live there. There is a legend that the Tower will fall if it loses its ravens, so they are carefully guarded. The Tower of London, located on the northern bank of the Thames River, was built in the 11th century. Now the home of the Crown Jewels, the Tower of London has had a varied and macabre past. Over the last ten centuries the tower has been a palace, a prison an arsenal and even a zoo.

Trafalgar Square Trafalgar Square is London’s most famous square. At its centre is Nelson's Column – in memory of Admiral Nelson-one of Britain’s best loved heroes. The granite column is 185 feet high surmounted by a statue of Lord Nelson. At the four corners of the monument sit the superb Lions-like four great guardians. The square is a popular gathering place for public meetings and is a popular location to celebrate New Years Eve.

Hyde park Hyde Park is a very big and beautiful park in London. It is famous for the Speaker’s Corner – a place where anybody can speak about anything here.

The London Eye The London Eye, next to County Hall, is another of London's most modern landmarks. It is the world's biggest ferries wheel and can carry 800 passengers at a time on a thirty-minute ride. The London Eye is a big wheel that takes you 135 m above London. It is the slowest big wheel in the world and the best way to see the hole city. You can see for 40 km in all directions.

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 and is sometimes mistakenly called London Bridge, which is the next bridge upstream.

British Museum The museum was founded in 1753. It is well-known for its various collections which illustrate every aspect of the progress of civilization.

Globe Theatre Interior Shakespeare was born in Stratford-upon-Avon in 1564. Later he lived in London. Shakespeare wrote 37 plays. These famous plays were performed in the Globe Theatre. A fire destroyed the theatre in 1613. A new Globe Theatre was built in the same place in 1997 and you can see Shakespeare’s plays there today. The Shakespeare’s plays were performed in the Globe Theatre.

Double-decker bus Double-decker bus is a popular form of public transportation in London.

Let’s see again the photos Buckingham Palace Double-decker bus Tower Bridge Hyde park Changing of the Guard Big Ben

How well do you know the sights and famous landmarks of London How well do you know the sights and famous landmarks of London? Test yourself with this quiz. 1. Where are these lion statues found? a) At the entrance to Buckingham Palace b) At the fountain outside Buckingham Palace c) At the entrance to the National Gallery d) At the foot of Nelson's Column on Trafalgar Square e) On the South Bank

2. What is the name of this London landmark? a) Tower of London b) South Bank Tower c) Tower Bridge d) Oxo Tower

3.What is this clock tower commonly called? a) Big Benjy b) Big Benjamin c) Big Ben d) The Westminster Clock e) The Westminster Tower

4.What is the name of this royal palace? a) Buckingham Palace b) Windsor Palace c) Albert Palace d) Lady Diana Palace

5. What colour are the buses in London? Yellow Green Red Black

6. What is this London landmark called? a) Tower of London b) South Bank Tower c) Tower Bridge d) Buckingham Palace e) Windsor Palace

7. What bird can you see in the Tower of London? Owl Raven Sparrow Pigeon Eagle

8. What is this theater called? a) London Historic Theatre b) Shakespeare's Theatre c) Rose Theatre d) Globe Theatre

9. On a clear sunny day, how far can you see from the top of the London Eye? a) Up to 10 kilometers b) Up to 20 kilometers c) Up to 30 kilometers d) Up to 40 kilometers

10. Which is the oldest church in London? Westminster Abbey St. Paul’s Cathedral St. Peter's Cathedral St. Vincent's Cathedral

More information about London's famous landmarks http://www.londondrum.com/cityguide/landmarks.php http://www.london.world-guides.com/monuments.html

Created by: Iskra Gancheva Petkova English teacher at Hristo Botev School, village of Sadina, Popovo municipality, Targovishte district E-mail: iskra5@abv.bg