Topics%20for%20credit / London
.docLONDON
London is the capital of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It stands on both banks of the river Thames. There are about 20 bridges over the Thames. London is one of the largest cities in the world. Its population is over 9 mln people. The city is very old – it was founded more than 2,000 years ago.
Traditionally London is divided into 3 parts: The City, the West End and the East End.
The City is the oldest part of London; its financial and business centre. There are a lot of banks, companies and offices in the City, but very few people live here. Its nickname is the Square Mile of Money.
The famous St’ Paul’s Cathedral and the Tower of London are also in the City. St’ Paul’s Cathedral was built in the century by Sir Christopher Wren, a renowned English architect. There is a famous “Whispering Gallery” there.
The Tower of London was built by William the Conqueror in the 11th century and used to be a fortress, palace and prison. Now it is a museum, where the Treasures of the Crown are kept.
The West End is the aristocratic part of London and the most beautiful part of it. There are a lot of places of interest there – Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament with the famous clock Big Ben, Westminster Abbey – all British kings and queens are coronated here. Also, there is the Poets’ Corner, where many great Englishmen were buried – Newton, Dickens, Darwin, Kipling etc. Trafalgar Square is the centre of the West End – it was named in memory of admiral Nelson’s victory in the battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The Nelson’s Column is in the centre of the square.
There are a lot of museums, galleries and libraries in London – the National Gallery, the British Museum,
the Tate Gallery, one of the most famous galleries in the world.
The East End is an industrial district of London. There are a lot of plants, factories, workshops and docks there.
The Underground of London is called the Tube.
1. What is the official name of the country?
2. What is the capital of the UK?
3. How many bridges are there across the Thames?
4. How old is London?
5. How many parts is it traditionally divided into?
6. What is the oldest part of London?
7. What is the City’s nickname? Why?
8. Do people live in the City of London?
9. What can you tall about St. Paul’s cathedral?
10. What do you know about the Tower of London?
11. What is one of the towers of the Houses of Parliament famous for?
12. What is the place where the British monarchs are coronated?
13. Who is buried in Westminster Abbey?
14. What can you tall about Trafalgar Square?
15. What is the nickname of the underground of London?
16. What is the East End?
17. Which Gallery is one of the most famous in the world?