3. St. Paul Cathedral
The City‘s greatest monument, was
built by
Sir Christopher Wren between 1675
and 1710.
The cathedral is second in size only to
St. Peter’s in Rome. Between the two
west towers rises the famous dome. It
is 365 feet high and beneath it is the
celebrated “Whispering Gallery”.
Christopher Wren is buried there.
Among the many memorials to famous
men
within the Cathedral are the tombs of
Wellington, victor of Waterloo, and
Nelson, hero of Trafalgar.
4. British Museum
This Museum started as a museum
which collected everything. It was
founded by sir Hans Slone, who was a
great collector. He collected rare
books and pictures, stuffed animals,
birds and butterflies.
Built in the first half of the 19-th
century, now the British Museum is
one of the largest museums in the
world. Its famous exhibits include the
works of man from prehistoric times to
the present day.
5. The Houses of Parliament
Once a royal palace the Houses of
Parliament are now the seat of the
Government and the heart of the
Commonwealth.
In 1834 it was destroyed by fire.
The new building was built between
1840 and 1852. This enormous edifice,
probably the largest in the world
contains over 500apartments as well
as the Central
Hall, Clock Tower, and the House of
Lords
and the House of Commons.
The Clock Tower, 320 feet high is
famous for its immense hour bell,
known as “Big
Ben”.
The Houses of Parliament stretch for
nearly
1000 feet along the bank of the
Thames.
6. Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey is a symbol of
English
tradition at its best. The coronations of
nearly all English kings and queens
since
William the Conqueror have taken
place
here. Many of them are buried within
the
Abbey.
Beneath the roof of this Gothic building
there are also the graves and
memorial
slabs of statesmen, philosophers and
other
distinguished people. Here you can
see
memorials to Isaac Newton, Charles
Darwin, Geoffrey Chaucer, Alfred
Tennyson, Charles Dickens and
Thomas
7. Tower of London
The Tower of London which has been
at time or another citadel, palace,
prison, mint, treasury, armory,
observatory is perhaps London’s most
outstanding link in the long chain of its
history.
Nowadays the Tower is a museum,
housing the National Collection of
Armour and the Crown Jewels and
Royal Regalia.
The ravens are another famous sight.
The legend says that without them the
Tower will fall.
The Raven Master is the person who
gives them food.
8. Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace is the official
residence of Her Majesty the Queen
and her family. It’s open to the public.
The first monarch who took residence
there was Queen Victoria. When Her
Majesty is in residence the Royal
Standard flies the east front of
Buckingham Palace.
The ceremony of the Changing of the
Guard at Buckingham Palace is a
great tourist attraction. It takes place
daily in the forecourt at 11.30 a.m. and
lasts half an hour.
To the sound of music, the guardsmen
in their traditional bearskins arrive and
give the palace keys to another group.
