London - The Capital of Great Britain

London is the capital of the United Kingdom. London is situated on the river Thames. The Romans founded London (Londinium) in AD 43. In 1666 th Great Fire of London started in and most of London burnt down. In the 18th century a lot of houses were built in long terraces with private garden in the middle. London is the largest city in Great Britain and also one of the largest in the world - its population is about 12 million (with suburbs). Central London consist of four main areas: The City, Westminster, West-End and East-End. City is the oldest part of London. We can find there the Tower, the Tower Bridge and St Paul´s Cathedral. The Tower of London was built as a fortress it later became a prison and place of execution. Today are the Crown Jewels and a collection of arms and armour here. In St Paul´s Cathedral is famous the Whispering Gallery, where you can clearly hear what is whispered on the opposite side about 100 feet far from you. Tower Bridge is one of most famous brides in the world. 2nd area is Westminster with it´s Royal Palaces and Goverment officies. Westminster Abbey is the center of this area. All English kings and queens have been crowned here since 1066 and most of them are burried here. Buckingham Palace is the London home of the Queen. If the flag is flying on top it means she is at home. Every day at 11.30 AM the Queen´s guard perform the ceremony of changing the guard at Buckingham Palaca. Close by Westminster Abbey stand a Palace of Westminster know as the Houses of Parliament. It is the supreme law-making body in the country. It consist of the House of Commons and House of Lords. The Commons has 650 elected and paid Members of Parliament (MPs). In House of Lords are peers, bishops and 2 archbishops. General elections to choose MPs are every 5 years. In Britain are two large parties: Conservative Party and Labour party (Today: The Prime Minister is Tony Blair). The West-End is riches part of London. Thera are a lot of shops, banks.. Here are famous streets for example Piccadilly Circus, Carnaby Street.. In the middle of Piccadilly is a famous statue of Eros (the Greek god of love) holding a bow and arrow. The 4th part of London is called East-End. It is a poorest part, which is famous for it´s cokney-dialect. Greenwich the Royal Observatory is. There is the Prime Meridian.Windsor Castle is the residence of sovereigns outside London. London famous red double-deckers go almost everywhere. We can go by the Underground.

It is the oldest underground in the world. There are 3 airports. The most important are Heathrow and Gatwick. .