London

London is a very old city. It’s the capital city of England and the UK

It is situated on the River Thames.

Its population is about 11 million people.

In the 1st century BC the Romans came to England and built a settlement on

the River Thames

They gave the town a Celtic name, Llyn-din (river place), later called Londinium. They built a bridge over the Thames.

In AD61 the native Iceni tribe led by Queen Boudicca

She and her army rose up against the Romans. They burnt Londinium. She was very brave. Her two daughters fought too. But they were caught. Boudicca gave the poison to her daughters and took it herself.

London consists of 4 parts

1. The City2. The West

End3. Westminster4. The East

End

The CityIs the oldest part of

London where the biggest banks, companies and offices are located.

Is the financial centre of London.

Lord Mayor lives there, in the Mansion House.

It’s also the historic part of London.

In 604 St Paul’s Cathedral was founded in London. But in 1666 a huge fire happened. It started in the kitchen of the king’s baker. It lasted for 5 days. It destroyed 80% of the houses, including St Paul’s Cathedral.

The famous architect Christopher Wren designed a new city.

It took him 37 years to build St Paul’s Cathedral.

When he died he was buried there.

In the 11th century William the Conqueror built the Tower of London.

It has been a fortress, a palace, a prison and a royal treasure.

It has the Crown Jewels.

The Tower of London is guarded by Beefeaters.

A group of ravens live at the tower.

The legend says that if they disappear the building will collapse.

The West EndIs the centre of London

where only wealthy people live.

Luxurious hotels, supermarkets, best cinemas, theatres and concert halls, beautiful parks are here. The main shopping streets are Oxford St, Regent St, Bond St.

WestminsterIs the administrative

centre where most of government buildings are situated: Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace.

Queen Elizabeth II lives in Buckingham Palace

In 1065, Edward the Confessor built the first great church in London – Westminster Abbey

It was a monastery – the West Minster.

There are a lot of tombs of famous monarchs, statesmen, scientists, writers, musicians: Charles Dickens, Rudyard Kipling, Robert Burns and others

The East End

Is the industrial part of London where only working people and immigrants live.

It is full of factories, workshops, docks, warehouses.

Someone who was born in the East End is called a cockney.