2. Officially called the Palace of Westminster, there was a royal palace here in the middle ages. Henry VIII gave it over to government. A fire almost completely destroyed the old palace in 1834. The present building was built in the distinctive Victorian Gothis between 1840 and 1860 by Sir Charles Barry and A W Pugin. The great bell is named after the first Commissioner of Works, Sir Benjamin Hall. Also in the clock tower is a prison cell for MPs who transgress against Parliamentary privilage - it was last used in 1880 for this purpose. THE BIG BEN
3. Wembley stadium is a football stadium located in Wembley Park WEMBLEY STADIUM
4. The river was first bridged by the Romans at a convenient ford, and for centuries that remained the only bridge over the river in the area. The next bridge to be built was Westminster in 1750. Others soon followed including Tower bridge in Victorian times. . The Queen Elizabeth II Bridge at Woolwich was built in1991 to take the M25 over the river. THAMES
5. The hanging of the Guard in London takes place at a number of venues daily Buckingham Palace at 11.30 daily, in the forecourt of the palace by the soldiers in their red jackets Horse Guards , a square facing Whitehall, at 11 daily (except 10 on Sunday) by the Household Cavalry St James Palace , which is perhaps a better place to see the guards close up, as they are a bit hidden away in Buckingham Palace Also once a year on the Queen's Official birthday (like Paddington Bear she ha two birthdays every year) there is the Trooping of the Colour Parade on the second Saturday in June. The Colour (regimental flag) of one of the five regiments of foot guards is paraded to the sound of massed bands, hundreds of colourful soldiers are on the parade ground, and the Queen takes the salute. There are various rehearsals which enable you to see the thing much better than the real thing, when places are reserved only for the "good and the great". BUCKINGHAM PALACE
6. Hyde Park, London Hyde is a London Royal Park which Henry VIII acquired in 1536 (it had been owned by the monks of Westminster Abbey before that). A large area of open space in the city centre of 630 acres and a perimeter of 4 miles. It has the memorials at Marble Arch at the east side and Kensington palace at the west. Also within its environs is the Albert Memorial, Queen Victoria's monument to her husband. The Serpentine Lake is popular for boating, sailing and even bathing. To the south of the Serpentine runs Rotten Row, the fashionable riding track through the park While up by Speaker's Corner at Marble Arch you can hear Briton's exercise their right to free speech. There may be a dozen or more at any one time, each standing on a soap box, and spouting (usually) controversial views, strongly held on any topic you can think of - religion, politics, fox hunting, trade unions, Europe, tourists.
