Sights of London

This dialogue is a conversation between two girls, Olga and Julia. Julia lives in London and Olga came to the city as a tourist. The girls discuss the city's sights. So, the conversation begins.

−Well, Olga, what do you want to see first?

−Oh, I don't know, there are so many things to see. Besides, I don't have much time and how to spend it to the best advantage is rather a problem.

−I see. Then I may offer you to start our sightseeing with the principal historical buildings and monuments. What do you say to it?

−I like the idea, and where will we begin then?

−I think we'll start from Trafalgar Square which is London's geographical centre.

−Great! I know that in the centre of it there's a statue of Admiral Nelson who defeated the combined fleet of France and Spain at the battle of Trafalgar in 1805.

−Yes, it is called Nelson's Column. And it is guarded by four bronze lions. By the way, do you like painting?

−Rather! And I'm especially fond of the works by Leonardo da Vinci and Rembrandt.

−Really? Then we can spend an hour or so in the National Gallery which faces Trafalgar Square. It exhibits all schools of European painting from the 13^th to the 19^th century.

−It'll be very nice. And I'm also eager to see the British Museum. I'm told it's one of the world's greatest treasure houses. And I know that this year the Museum's 250^th anniversary is celebrated.

−Precisely so. But I think we should leave this visit for some other day. We could spend a whole day there. It's much too big to be seen in an hour or so.

−I suppose it is. Then what about going to the Houses of Parliament?

−From Trafalgar Square we could go along Downing Street which leads to Whitehall.

−It's a street of government offices, if I'm not mistaken?

−Yes, and walking a little further we'll come to Parliament Square, on one side of which there's Westminster Abbey and on the other side−the Houses of Parliament, the seat of the British Parliament. Here you can see the Clock Tower.

−Which is famous for the hour-bell and the clock named "Big Ben", isn't it?

−It is. And then we could go along the Mall and Buckingham Palace and have a look at Queen Victoria's Memorial facing the Palace.

−I know that Buckingham Palace is the official residence of the Queen.

−Quite so, and if you want to see more, we will get on top of a bus going towards the city. The bus goes along Piccadilly to Piccadilly Circus and Charring Cross, then along the Strand and Fleet Street to Ludgate Circus. There we might as well get off and walk up to St. Paul's Cathedral, the largest Protestant Church in England.

−I'm told that St. Paul's Cathedral is considered to be a fine specimen of Renaissance architecture. It was built by a famous English architect Sir Christopher Wren.

−Right you are. And after that, I think, we should go to the City, London's commercial and business centre, and see Tower Bridge, which is one of the beautiful bridges across the Thames. Inside the Bridge there's an old engine room which is now a museum. From this Bridge we can see the Tower of London that comes first among the historical buildings of the city.

−It is a museum of armour and also the place where Crown Jewels are kept. I know that the Tower of London was founded by Julius Caesar and in 1066 rebuilt by William the Conqueror. It was used as a fortress, a royal residence and a prison.

−Oh, you're rather informed. And do you know about the Ceremony of the Keys which takes place at its gates in present days just as many centuries ago?

−Every night when the guard is changed at each gate there's the cry: "Halt! Who goes there?" Then the guard replies: "The Keys. " "Whose Keys?" "Queen Elizabeth's Keys!" "Pass, Queen Elizabeth's Keys, All's well." And so the Tower of London is safely closed for the night. I suppose this ceremony is beautiful to watch.

−That goes without saying. And I think it's really more than enough for one day.