The Tower of London served for 900 years as a fortress, residence for kings, armory, treasury, prison, and place of execution. The National Gallery has one of the largest collections of Western European paintings, though it is hard to believe it started with only 38 paintings. St. Paul's Cathedral's magnificent dome, built after the original burned down in the Great Fire of London, has been a notable landmark. Madame Tussauds wax museum was established in London by sculptor Marie Tussaud and has branches in 10 other cities. The Greenwich Observatory was founded by King Charles II to study astronomy and fix longitude measurements. Tower Bridge, sometimes confused with London Bridge upstream, is an iconic drawbridge in London that opened

2. Tower, for nineTower, for nine
hundred year’shundred year’s
stories was astories was a
fortress, which wasfortress, which was
the residence of thethe residence of the
kings, the armorykings, the armory
and the Treasury,and the Treasury,
as well as a prisonas well as a prison
and place ofand place of
execution.execution.
Tower of London

3. National GalleryNational Gallery
You can spend a whole dayYou can spend a whole day
exploring one of the largestexploring one of the largest
and finest collections ofand finest collections of
Western European paintings,Western European paintings,
and did not have time to seeand did not have time to see
and experience all the way. Itand experience all the way. It
is hard to believe that theis hard to believe that the
national collection startednational collection started
with only 38 paintings in thewith only 38 paintings in the
house of a wealthy bankerhouse of a wealthy banker
on Pall Mall.on Pall Mall.

4. St. Paul's CathedralSt. Paul's Cathedral
St. Paul's magnificent domeSt. Paul's magnificent dome
over the centuries has beenover the centuries has been
a notable and significanta notable and significant
object in the London scene.object in the London scene.
Built in 1673 by SirBuilt in 1673 by Sir
Christopher Wren after theChristopher Wren after the
original cathedral burnedoriginal cathedral burned
down in the great fire ofdown in the great fire of
London, is the most famousLondon, is the most famous
of all the temples dedicatedof all the temples dedicated
to Saint Paul.to Saint Paul.

5. Madame Tussaud’sMadame Tussaud’s
wax museum in London's Marylebone, with brancheswax museum in London's Marylebone, with branches
in 10 cities in Amsterdam, Las Vegas,in 10 cities in Amsterdam, Las Vegas,
Copenhagen, New York, Los Angeles, Hong Kong,Copenhagen, New York, Los Angeles, Hong Kong,
Shanghai, Washington, Vienna and Berlin. He wasShanghai, Washington, Vienna and Berlin. He was
established by a sculptor Marie Tussaud.established by a sculptor Marie Tussaud.
The first exhibition of wax works by Phillip Curtis wasThe first exhibition of wax works by Phillip Curtis was
held in 1770 and enjoyed great success. In 1776,held in 1770 and enjoyed great success. In 1776,
the exhibition was held in the Palais Royal in Paris.the exhibition was held in the Palais Royal in Paris.
Next event on the Boulevard du Temple in 1782, aNext event on the Boulevard du Temple in 1782, a
predecessor of the Cabinet of horror.predecessor of the Cabinet of horror.

6. In 1777, Marie Tussaud created her first wax figureIn 1777, Marie Tussaud created her first wax figure
(Voltaire), and then followed by Jean-Jacques Rousseau(Voltaire), and then followed by Jean-Jacques Rousseau
and Benjamin Franklin. During the French Revolutionand Benjamin Franklin. During the French Revolution
she made death masks of the royal family. After hisshe made death masks of the royal family. After his
death in 1794 Philip Curtis's collection goes to Mariedeath in 1794 Philip Curtis's collection goes to Marie
Tussaud.Tussaud.
In 1802, Marie Tussaud moved to London. In connectionIn 1802, Marie Tussaud moved to London. In connection
with the Anglo-French war Maria Tussaud and herwith the Anglo-French war Maria Tussaud and her
collection can not go back to France, and she was forcedcollection can not go back to France, and she was forced
to travel to the UK and Ireland. In 1835 he establishedto travel to the UK and Ireland. In 1835 he established
the first permanent exhibition on Baker Street in London.the first permanent exhibition on Baker Street in London.
One of the central parts of her museum was the CabinetOne of the central parts of her museum was the Cabinet
of horror. Part of the exhibition included victims of theof horror. Part of the exhibition included victims of the
French Revolution, the figures of murderers and otherFrench Revolution, the figures of murderers and other
criminals.criminals.

8. The GreenwichThe Greenwich
ObservatoryObservatory
The Observatory fromThe Observatory from
Greenwich Park. TheGreenwich Park. The
Greenwich RoyalGreenwich Royal
Observatory wasObservatory was
founded by order offounded by order of
King Charles II toKing Charles II to
study astronomy andstudy astronomy and
to fix longitude; seeto fix longitude; see
the page about thethe page about the
Prime MeridianPrime Meridian

9. Tower BridgeTower Bridge
drawbridge in central Londondrawbridge in central London
on the River Thames, nearon the River Thames, near
the Tower of London.the Tower of London.
Sometimes it is confusedSometimes it is confused
with the London Bridge,with the London Bridge,
located upstream. Openedlocated upstream. Opened
in 1894. Is also one of thein 1894. Is also one of the
symbols of London andsymbols of London and
BritainBritain

10. In the second half of the XIX century because of increasedIn the second half of the XIX century because of increased
equestrian and pedestrian traffic in the port area in theequestrian and pedestrian traffic in the port area in the
East End was a question of building a new crossing eastEast End was a question of building a new crossing east
of "London Bridge." Laid in 1870, Tower Subway tunnelof "London Bridge." Laid in 1870, Tower Subway tunnel
as Metro served for a short time and eventually began toas Metro served for a short time and eventually began to
be used only for pedestrian traffic.be used only for pedestrian traffic.
In 1876, a committee was formed to develop solutions toIn 1876, a committee was formed to develop solutions to
the current problem. Competition was held, which wasthe current problem. Competition was held, which was
granted more than 50 projects. Only in 1884 was declaredgranted more than 50 projects. Only in 1884 was declared
the winner and the decision to build the bridge, thethe winner and the decision to build the bridge, the
proposed juror G. Jones. After his death in 1887, theproposed juror G. Jones. After his death in 1887, the
construction headed by John Wolfe-Barry.construction headed by John Wolfe-Barry.

11. Work began June 21,Work began June 21,
1886 and lasted for1886 and lasted for
8 years. June 30,8 years. June 30,
1894 the bridge1894 the bridge
was inaugurated bywas inaugurated by
the Prince ofthe Prince of
Wales, Edward andWales, Edward and
his wife, Princesshis wife, Princess
Alexandra.Alexandra.