London

By Ioana-Alexandra Vasil
London today

• Modern London is a hybrid creature formed from

the ancient cities of London and Westminster
evolving over the centuries into what is today a
sprawling metropolis comprising some 7500000
inhabitants in an area of about 480 square
kilometers.
• London, the greatest city in the world, is at least
two thousand years old and was settled long
before the first Roman invasion.
• Over the centuries a lot of buildings and
monuments have been built to remember
London’s great history.
Buckingham Palace

• Buckingham palace, the

building known to all as the
Queen’s official London home,
is a mixture of old and new.
The original house was built in
1703 for the Duke of
Buckingham. Over the years a
lot of changes were done by
the throne successors.
• From 1837 Queen Victoria
made Buckingham palace her
permanent home and
instituted the custom by
which the Royal Standard is
flown from the flagstaff to
show that the sovereign is in
residence.
Ceremonies at Buckingham
Palace
• One of most popular
ceremonies in London
is changing the guards
who perform guard
duties at Buckingham
Palace, St. James’s
Palace and Clarence
House.
Monuments beside Buckingham
Palace

• The Queen’s Gallery

presents an ever-changing
display of art treasures
from the royal collection.
• The Victoria Memorial and
the side fountain, in front
of Buckingham palace is a
part of the nation’s tribute
to Queen Victoria, built
between 1910-1912.
 London’s Parks

• St. James Park is by far the

prettiest and the oldest of
the royal parks. From St.
James Park you can see
London’s Eye and Big Ben
view.
• Green Park, added to St.
James Park by King Charles
II, is the smallest royal park
in central London.
 London’s Parks
• St. James Park offers you,
not only a relaxing walk
between grassland and
trees, but a nice view of
Buckingham Palace a
Victoria Memorial
monument.
• You can also see there the
monument for the second
world war heroes.
London’s famous streets

• White Hall is the street

linking Trafalgar Square
to Parliament Square and
is known for its
concentration of
Government offices and
historic buildings.
• Here is organized the
Guards Parade and the
famous ceremony of
Trooping the Colour.
Pomp, Pageantry and
Ceremonies
• The splendid Trooping the
Colors Ceremony, in honor
of the Sovereign’s birthday
starts from Buckingham
Palace to Horse Guards
Parade, behind White Hall.
• The troops, are from
Household Cavalry and the
Guard Division.
 The London Eye
• This observatory in the form
of a gigantic wheel is now
one of London’s most
outstanding attractions.
• Commanding views for 45
KM around, opened in the
year 2000, at a speed of 0,41
Km/h, it takes 30 min to go
right round once.
Big Ben
• Big Ben, the clock’s hour
bell, was probably named
after a famous boxer of
that time.
• The Clock Tower its
famous for its mighty
clock, which began its
service in 1859 and
became a reliable
timekeeper.
 The Houses of Parliament
• Westminster is a wonderful building which combines the historic
site of the old royal palace with the good planning and fine
craftsmanship of the mid 19th century.
• It was built to display the history of the nation, but it now has to
cope with the ever-increasing demands of a busy Parliament.
• The New Palace of Westminster has an unbroken line of large
pinnacles stretching along the river for 265m, the east front is a
paved terrace so popular in summer time.
• The highly decorated exterior includes lettering, heraldic panels
and over 300 statues of kings, queens and saints installed within a
regular gothic framework.
• The Victoria Tower rises 98m to the base of the flagstaff.
• Old Palace Yard is overlooked by the west front of the palace and
the great south window of Westminster Hall.
Westminster Hall
 Westminster Abbey
• Westminster Abbey was founded as a large Benedictine
monastery, today it upholds that tradition through a disciplined
life of prayer, work and study.
• The Abbey has also served as the coronation church of kings and
queens for over a thousand years.
• At the heart of the nation and standing alongside the Houses of
Parliament and the offices of the government, the Abbey is a
symbol of the connection between Church and state.
• No one knows exactly when the first church was built here, but it
was over a thousand years ago.
• Westminster Abbey had seen thirty-eight coronation ceremonies
from the coronation of King Edgar in 973.
• Westminster Abbey has different parts from special moments of
history:
Edwards the Confessor’s Chapel, the North Ambulatory, Henry
VII’s Lady Chapel, the South Ambulatory, St. Margaret’s Church.
Westminster Abbey
Traveling in London
• A good way of exploring
London through a longer
journey is by the
London’s famous red
buses as well as the
equal famous black
taxis, both an establish
part of the London
scene.
 Tourist attractions
• Between London's
tourist attractions we
can also count the
famous red telephone
boxes and the old red
mailbox.