I love London very much and I want to be there.London is my favourite city.There are many interesting things about London in this slide show.

1. THE NEW FACE OF LONDON

2. THE UNITED KINGDOM
The United Kingdom, consisting of Great Britain (England, Wales, and Scotland ) and Northern
Ireland, is twice the size of New York State. England, in the southeast part of the British Isles, is
separated from Scotland on the north by the granite Cheviot Hills; from them the Pennine chain
of uplands extends south through the center of England, reaching its highest point in the Lake
District in the northwest. To the west along the border of Wales—a land of steep hills and
valleys—are the Cambrian Mountains, while the Cotswolds, a range of hills in Gloucestershire,
extend into the surrounding shires.Important rivers flowing into the North Sea are the Thames,
Humber, Tees, and Tyne. In the west are the Severn and Wye, which empty into the Bristol
Channel and are navigable, as are the Mersey and Ribble. The United Kingdom is a consprime
minister.England has existed as a unified entity since the 10th century; the union
between England and Wales, begun in 1284 with the Statute of Rhuddlan, was not formalized
until 1536 with an Act of Union; in another Act of Union in 1707, England and Scotland agreed
to permanently join as Great Britain ; the legislative union of Great Britain and Ireland was
implemented in 1801, with the adoption of the name the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland; the Anglo-Irish treaty of 1921 formalized a partition of Ireland; six northern Irish counties
remained part of the United Kingdom as Northern Ireland and the current name of the country,
the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, was adopted in 1927.titutional
monarchy and parliamentary democracy, with a queen and a parliament that has two houses:
the House of Lords, with 574 life peers, 92 hereditary peers, and 26 bishops.

3. THE MAP OF UNITED KINGDOM

4. THE LONDON’S FLAG COAT OF ARMS

5. Elizabeth was born in London and educated privately at home. Her father acceded to the throne
as George VI on the abdication of his brother Edward VIII in 1936, from which time she was the heir
presumptive. She began to undertake public duties during the Second World War, in which she served in
the Auxiliary Territorial Service. In 1947, she married Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, with whom she
has four children: Charles,Anne, Andrew, and Edward.Elizabeth's many historic visits and meetings
include a state visit to the Republic of Ireland, the first state visit of an Irish president to the United
Kingdom, and reciprocal visits to and from the Pope. She has seen major constitutional changes, such
as devolution in the United Kingdom, Canadian patriation, and the decolonization of Africa. She has also
reigned through various wars and conflicts involving many of her realms.Times of personal significance
have included the births and marriages of her children and grandchildren, the investiture of the Prince of
Wales, and the celebration of milestones such as her Silver, Golden, and Diamond Jubilees in 1977,
2002, and 2012, respectively. Moments of sorrow for her include the death of her father, aged 56, the
assassination of Prince Philip's uncle, Lord Mountbatten, the breakdown of her children's marriages in
1992 (a year deemed her annus horribilis), the death in 1997 of her son's former wife, Diana, Princess of
Wales, and the deaths of her mother and sister in 2002. Elizabeth has occasionally
faced republican sentiments and severe press criticism of the royal family, but support for the monarchy
and her personal popularity remain high.
Elizabeth II

7. PRINCE WILLIAMPrince William, Duke of Cambridge (William Arthur Philip Louis born 21 June 1982),
is the elder son of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Diana, Princess of Wales. He is
second in line to succeed his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, after his father.
Prince William was educated at four schools in the United Kingdom and obtained a
degree from the University of St Andrews. He spent parts of a gap
year in Chile, Belize, Tanzania, and Kenya, where he has lived and holidayed several
times. Prince William has also taken Kiswahili studies at universities in Kenya and
Tanzania. He also completed training as an officer (eventually being commissioned as
a lieutenant in the Blues and Royals Regiment), and a pilot (earning his wings by
completing pilot training at Royal Air Force College Cranwell) in the British military. He
then underwent helicopter flying training in order to become a full-time pilot with
the Search and Rescue Force.William married Catherine Middleton, on 29 April 2011
at Westminster Abbey. Hours prior to the event, Buckingham Palace announced that he
would be created Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Strathearn, and Baron Carrickfergus.
Their first child, Prince George of Cambridge, was born on 22 July 2013. On 8
September 2014, it was announced that the couple were expecting their second
child.Following the end of his more than seven-and-a-half years of full-time service with
the British armed forces, in early 2014, from early January to late March, William
attended a series of seminars, lectures, and meetings in agricultural management at
the University of Cambridge.

9. Catherine Middleton
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge (Catherine Elizabeth
"Kate"; née Middleton; born 9 January 1982) is the wife of Prince
William, Duke of Cambridge. Following his father Charles, Prince
of Wales, William is second in line to succeed his
grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, as monarch of the United
Kingdom and 15 other Commonwealth realms.
Middleton grew up in Chapel Row, a village near Newbury,
Berkshire, England. She studied art history in Scotland at
the University of St Andrews, where she met William in 2001.
Their engagement was announced on 16 November 2010, and
she attended many high-profile royal events before they
married on 29 April 2011 at Westminster Abbey.She has had a
major impact upon British and American fashion which has been
termed the "Kate Middleton effect", and in 2012 was selected as
one of the "Most Influential People in the World"
by Time magazine. On 22 July 2013, she gave birth to a
boy, Prince George of Cambridge, who is now third in the line of
succession to the British throne. Her second pregnancy was
announced by Kensington Palace on 8 September 2014.

11. BIG BEN
There were two bells cast as the clock tower's hour bell. A first, sixteen ton weighing bell was
cast by John Warner and Sons in 1856. Since the Clock Tower was not yet completed, the bell
was hung temporarily in the Palace Yard. The bell soon cracked so it was recast in 1858 in the
Whitechapel Bell Foundry as a 13.5 ton bell. Unfortunately soon after this bell was placed in the
belfry in July 1859, it cracked as well. This time, instead of yet again recasting the bell, the
crack was repaired and a lighter hammer was used to prevent any more cracks. The hour bell
was probably named after Benjamin Hall, the First Commissioner of Works. Some sources
however claim the bell was named after Benjamin Caunt, a British heavyweight boxing
champion. The clock was the largest in the world and is still the largest in Great-Britain. The
clock faces have a diameter of almost 25ft (7.5m). The hour hand is 9ft or 2.7m long and the
minute hand measures 14ft (4.25m) long. The clock is known for its reliability, it has rarely failed
during its long life span. Even after the nearby House of Commons was destroyed by bombing
during World War II, the clock kept on chiming. The clock's mechanism, designed by Edmund
Beckett Denison, has a remarkable accuracy. The clock's rate is adjusted by simply adding
small pennies on the shoulder of the pendulum.

14. THE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER
The Palace of Westminster, more commonly known as the Houses of Parliament, is the seat of the
bicameral Parliament of the United Kingdom, comprising the House of Commons and the House of
Lords. It is located on the left bank of the River Thames in the borough of Westminster, London.
The building, now considered one of the finest gothic structures in the world, has had many
incarnations, thanks to a turbulent history which has included destruction by fire and bombing.A
royal palace was said to have existed at the site under King Cnut in the 10th century. The building, however,
spoken of by William Fitzstephen as an "incomparable structure," was built for Edward the Confessor in
the 11th century and enlarged by William I. In 1512 the palace suffered greatly from fire and thereafter
ceased to be used as a royal residence. St. Stephen's Chapel was used by 1550 for the meetings of the
House of Commons, held previously in the chapter house of Westminster Abbey; the Lords used
another apartment of the palace. A fire in 1834 destroyed the whole palace except Westminster Hall,
the Jewel Tower, the cloisters, and the crypt of St. Stephen's Chapel.

17. LONDON’S BRIDGE
"London Bridge" refers to several historical bridges that have
spanned the River Thames between the City of
London an Southwark, in central London. The current crossing, which
opened to traffic in 1973, is a box girder bridge built from concrete
and steel. This replaced a 19th-century stone-arched bridge, which in
turn superseded a 600-year-old medieval structure. This was
preceded by a succession of timber bridges, the first built by
the Roman founders of London.The bridge is the subject of the
popular nursery rhyme "London Bridge Is Falling Down" and is
regularly featured in popular culture.
The current bridge stands at the western end of the Pool of
London but is positioned 30 metres (98 ft) upstream from previous
alignments. The traditional ends of the medieval bridge were marked
by St Magnus-the-Martyr on the northern bank and Southwark
Cathedral on the southern shore. Until Putney Bridge opened in 1729,
London Bridge was the only road-crossing of the Thames
downstream of Kingston-upon-Thames.

19. VICTORIA TOWER
Due to the tower's prominent position and its part in royal ceremony, its
architect Charles Barry designed particularly rich carving and sculpture for
its interior and the underside of the entrance arch. These include statues of
the patron saints of England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales, a life-size statue
of Queen Victoria and two allegorical figures of Justice and Mercy.The
gateways of the tower were built wide enough to allow the Queen's Coach
to drive through for State Openings of Parliament.
As Queen Victoria was the reigning monarch during the reconstruction of
the Palace, the monogram VR appears throughout the Palace as do
numerous other royal emblems, such as the Tudor rose and Portcullis.The
restoration of the Victoria Tower between 1990 and 1994 required 68 miles
of scaffolding tube, and one of the largest independent scaffolds in Europe.
Some 1,000 cubic feet of decayed stonework was replaced, and over 100
shields were re-carved on site by a team of stonemasons.

22. ST. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL
St. Paul's Cathedral has had an eventful history. Five
different churches were built at this site. The first church,
dedicated to the apostle Paul, dates back to 604 AD, when
King Ethelbert of Kent built a wooden church on the summit
of one of London's hills for Mellitus, Bishop of the East
Saxons. At the end of the seventh century, the church was
built in stone by Erkenwald, Bishop of London. In 962 and
again in 1087, the cathedral was destroyed by fire, but each
time it was rebuilt and expanded. By that time, it had
become one of the largest cathedrals in Europe.
Renovations and extensions in the thirteenth and fourteenth
centuries enlarged the cathedral even more.

25. THE TOWER OF LONDON
The Tower of London is old, very old. The central White Tower was built by William the Conqueror after his
invasion of England in 1066. Since 1485, the iconic red and black-uniformed Beefeaters have been guarding
the Tower. Also crucial to security are the ravens. Superstition has it that if the ravens leave, the Monarchy will
fall. Consequently at least six pampered ravens are kept in residence at all times. These days the royal family
do not use the Tower of London as a residence, although they still keep the magnificent Crown Jewels here. In
the past, the Tower of London has also served as palace, jail, zoo, Royal Astronomy and fortress. The
Beefeaters and their families do continue to live at the Tower, which is like a little village inside. And
naturally, there are also ghostly inhabitants: it's no surprise considering there were 119 beheadings
(the last in 1747), the mysterious disappearance of the Princes in the Tower, and Henry VIII's dreadful
treatment of his wives. The ancient stones reverberate with dark secrets, priceless jewels glint in
fortified vaults and pampered ravens strut the grounds. The Tower of London, founded by William
the Conqueror in 1066-7, is one of the world's most famous fortresses, and one of Britain's most visited
historic sites. Despite a grim reputation as a place of torture and death, there are so many more
stories to be told about the Tower.This powerful and enduring symbol of the Norman Conquest has
been enjoyed as a royal palace, served as an armoury and for over 600 years even housed a
menagerie! An intriguing cast of characters have played their part, including the dastardly jewel-
thief Colonel Blood, tragic Lady Jane Grey and maverick zoo keeper Alfred Cops.

28. THE BUCKINGHAM PALACE
Buckingham Palace has served as the official London residence of Britain's
sovereigns since 1837 and today is the administrative headquarters of the
Monarch.Although in use for the many official events and receptions held by The
Queen, the State Rooms at Buckingham Palace are open to visitors every year.
Buckingham Palace has 775 rooms. These include 19 State rooms, 52 Royal and
guest bedrooms, 188 staff bedrooms, 92 offices and 78 bathrooms. In
measurements, the building is 108 metres long across the front, 120 metres deep
(including the central quadrangle) and 24 metres high.The Palace is very much a
working building and the centrepiece of Britain's constitutional monarchy. It houses
the offices of those who support the day-to-day activities and duties of The
Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh and their immediate family.The Palace is
also the venue for great Royal ceremonies, State Visits and Investitures, all of
which are organised by the Royal Household.Although Buckingham Palace is
furnished and decorated with priceless works of art that form part of the
Royal Collection, one of the major art collections in the world today. It is not
an art gallery and nor is it a museum.

31. Trafalgar Square, the heart of London, is one of the city’s most vibrant open spaces. Managed by the Greater
London Authority, Trafalgar Square is a landmark in central London enjoyed by Londoners and all visitors
alike. It is a lively place often used for a wide range of activities including: special events and
celebrations, St Patrick's Day, Pride, Eid and Chinese New Year; filming and photography; and rallies
and demonstrations. Home to the Fourth Plinth, which has been a centrepiece for some of the world’s
most provocative contemporary public art since 1999, as well as Nelson’s Column, the square is rich in
history and provides a platform for new artistic performances and events - visit our events pages to see
what's on. If you wish to hold an event on the Square please go to the Booking the Square page. If
you’ve got an idea for an event in Trafalgar Square then please submit your enquiry here. We welcome
all Londoners and tourists alike, and hope you enjoy your visit to London’s most famous square. In the
four corners of the lower level of Trafalgar Square stand four plinths. The plinth in the north-east carries
the equestrian statue of George IV, installed here in 1843. The statue of the king was created by Francis
Chantrey for the Marble Arch but was instead placed here. In the south-west corner stands a statue of
Charles Napier, a military leader best known for his time as commander-in-chief in India. The statue, by
George Gamon Adams, was installed in 1856. On the western side is the statue of Henry Havelock,
another military leader who spent much of his career in India. His statue was created in 1861 by William
Behnes. For over 150 years the plinth in the north-west corner of Trafalgar Square, commonly known as
the 'Fourth Plinth', remained empty. It was intended to hold an equestrian statue of King William IV. A
failure to gather sufficient funds for its construction meant it was never realized.
TRAFALGAR SQUARE

34. The Circus lies at the intersection of five main roads: Regent Street,
Shaftesbury Avenue, Piccadilly Street, Covent Street and Haymarket. It
was created by John Nash as part of the future King George IV's plan to
connect Carlton House - where the Prince Regent resided – with Regent's
Park. At the center of the Circus stands the Shaftesbury Memorial
Fountain. It was built in 1893 to commemorate Lord Shaftesbury, a
philanthropist known for his support of the poor. The seminude statue on
top of the fountain depicts the Angel of Christian Charity but was later
renamed Eros after the Greek god of love and beauty. The fountain was
made in bronze, but the statue is made of aluminum, at the time a novel
and rare material. Piccadilly Circus is now partly pedestrianized and a
favorite place for people to congregate before going to the nearby
shopping and entertainment areas. Soho, Chinatown, Leicester Square
and Trafalga Square are all within walking distance.
THE PICCADILLY CIRCUS

37. Tussaud created her first wax sculpture, of Voltaire, in 1777. Other
famous people she modelled at that time include Jean-Jacques
Rousseau and Benjamin Franklin. During the French Revolution she
modelled many prominent victims. In her memoirs she claims that she
would search through corpses to find the severed heads of executed
citizens, from which she would make death masks. Her death masks
were held up as revolutionary flags and paraded through the streets of
Paris. Following the doctor's death in 1794, she inherited his vast
collection of wax models and spent the next 33 years travelling around
Europe. She married to Francois Tussaud in 1795 lent a new name to
the show: Madame Tussaud's. In 1802 she went to London, having
accepted an invitation from Paul Philidor, a magic
lantern and phantasmagoria pioneer, to exhibit her work alongside his
show at the Lyceum Theatre, London. She did not fare particularly well
financially, with Philidor taking half of her profits. As a result of
the Napoleonic Wars, she was unable to return to France, so she
traveled throughout Great Britain and Ireland exhibiting her collection.
MADAM TUSSAUD’s WAX MUSEUM

44. LONDON’S BEEFEATORS
The guards at the Tower of London are called Yeoman
Warders. In principle they are responsible for looking after any
prisoners at the Tower and safeguarding the British crown
jewels, but in practice they act as tour guides and are a tourist
attraction in their own right. There are twelve Yeomen
Warders.While their role is usually confined to the Tower of
London, the Yeomen Warders do take part in one State
ceremony. At Coronations, they form a guard of honour inside
the annexe at Westminster Abbey.Their nickname
is Beefeater.Where does the name Beefeater originate
from?The name Beefeaters is often thought to come from the
French word -'buffetier'. (Buffetiers were guards in the palace
of French kings).