Annotations

span incentive

Comprehension Check Exercises

I. Fill in the blank with the correct word:

1. The East End of London … a number of administative districts of London in England.

2. The term East End was first applied to the districts immediately to the … of the medieval walled City of London.

3. A shabby man from Paddington, St Marylebone or Battersea might pass muster as … .

II. Complete the sentence with the best answer (a, b or c) according to the information in the text:

1. The East End is

1. to the west of the River Thames.

2. to the north of the River Thames.

3. to the east of the River Thames.

III. Find out whether the statement is true or false according to the information in the text:

1. The East End of London is an area with no formal authority or boundaries.

2. The East End is a formal designation, and has fixed boundaries.

3. The term East End was invented about 1880.

4. Throughout history the area has absorbed waves of immigrants.

IV. Questions:

1. What did the East End roughly correspond to by the late 19th century?

2. Why was it a final incentive to the poorest to get out of the East End at all costs?

3. Why has the East End always contained the poorest areas of London?

4. What are the main reasons for the East End containing some of the poorest areas of London?

5. In what way has the East End changed recently?

6. What have community tensions been raised by?

V. Do you remember?

1. What became a concentrated reminder to the public conscience?

2. Where have the majority of the old style cockneys moved?

Architecture in London

The British Museum, one of London's top tourist attractions

London is not characterised by any particular architectural style, having accumulated its buildings over a long period of time. Few structures predate the Great Fire of 1666, except for the Tower of London and a few scattered Tudor survivors in the City.

In itself, the City contains a wide variety of styles, progressing through Wren's late 17th century churches and the financial institutions of the 18th and 19th century such as the Royal Exchange and the Bank of England, to the early 20th century Old Bailey (England and Wales' central criminal court) and the 1960s Barbican Estate. Notable recent buildings are the 1980s skyscraper Tower 42, the Lloyd's building with services running along the outside of the structure, and the 2004 Swiss Re building, known as the "Gherkin".

London's generally low-rise nature makes these skyscrapers and others such as One Canada Square and its neighbours at Canary Wharf and the BT Tower in Fitzrovia very noticeable from a distance. High-rise development is banned at certain sites if it would obstruct protected views of St. Paul's Cathedral. Nevertheless, there are plans for more skyscrapers in central London, including the 72-story "Shard of Glass", which will be one of the tallest buildings in Europe.

Other notable modern buildings include City Hall in Southwark with its distinctive ovular shape, the British Library in Somers Town, the Great Court of the British Museum, and the striking Millennium Dome next to the Thames east of Canary Wharf. The disused (but soon to be rejuvenated) 1907 Battersea Power Station by the river in the southwest is a local landmark, whilst some railway termini are excellent examples of Victorian architecture, most notably St Pancras and Paddington (at least internally).

Several monuments pay homage to people and events in the city. The Monument in the City of London provides views of the surrounding area whilst commemorating the Great Fire of London which originated nearby. Marble Arch and Wellington Arch, at the north and south ends of Park Lane respectively, have royal connections, as do the Albert Memorial and Royal Albert Hall in Kensington. Nelson's Column is a nationally-recognised monument in Trafalgar Square, providing a focal point for the whole central area.