poloha, počet obyvatel
historie - původ názvu, od kdy, historické mezníky - 1066, 1666
politické centrum - sídla
kulturní centrum - divadla, muzea a galerie, parky
obchodní centrum - City
dopravní centrum - letiště, říční doprava, double deckers, cabs
zajímavá místa (umět s mapou a obrázky)
London is the capital of both England and the United Kingdom. It lies on the river Thames and covers an area of 1,580 sq km. About 12 million people live there. London grew from three centres:
the City (also known as the Square Mile),
the City of Westminster and
Southwark.
London is the seat of the Monarch, the Government and the Supreme Court.
History: it was occupied by the Romans - Londonium, during the 12th century the royal court moved from Winchester, the former capital, to London (William the Conqueror).In 1665 more than 75,000 people died from a plague epidemic and in 1666 the Great Fire of London destroyed four fifths of the city.
Industry and commerce: traditional industries - woodworking, furniture-making, the chemical and food industries, clothing, printing, diamond cutting. 22% of the world's financial transactions take place in London - the London Stock Exchange (established in 1773) is the biggest in the world. London is also an important centre of the gold, silver and platinum trade, art trade (Sotheby's and Christie's Auction Halls), there are studios (TV, Radio, Film), publishing houses and national press services.
Transport: river – river buses, large cargo ships. Air - airports Heathrow, Gatwick. Rail - 15 central railway stations. Underground - called tube, 273 stations. Buses - red double-deckers.
Places of interest:
The City of London - is the largest financial and commercial centre of Europe. It was formed by the Romans nearly 2000 years ago.
The Tower of London - it was built by William the Conqueror. It served as a royal home, fortress, mint, observatory, zoo, prison, execution site, a royal mint and an observatory. Now it is a museum - weapons, the crown jewels
The Tower Bridge - opened in 1894, built in the Gothic style.
The St. Paul's Cathedral - the second largest cathedral (after St. Peter's in Rome), built by architect Sir Christopher Wren who helped with constructions after the Great Fire, it was built 35 years and was finished in 1711. It is the seat of the Bishop of London
The Houses of Parliament - Palace of Westminster - the home of the British Parliament, 97.5 metres above the Parliament rises the clock tower called Big Ben (it is the name of the bell)
Westminster Abbey - coronations, buries
Buckingham Palace - the seat of the Queen
Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus - the best-known squares
Greenwich
Windsor Castle
St. Katharine's Docks
Globe Theatre
Parks: St. James's Park, Hyde Park (the Speaker's Corner - the place where everybody can speak publicly without fear of being arrested for their opinion), Kensington Gardens, Regent's Park (most elegant park with attractive gardens, lakes and zoo)
Museums: the British museum, the British library, the national gallery, the Sherlock Holmes museum, the Tate Gallery, Madame Tussaud's in Marylebone(wax portraits of famous and infamous world figures – the royal family, pop stars, etc.).