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Interesting places in London in English. What could be a lesson about the capital of Britain?

What should an English lesson be like? How to give an interesting lecture in English? We will talk about this and much more today, dear readers. Let's devote our conversation to the topic of the English lesson about the capital of Great Britain, London. This topic is found in all classes of the English language school curriculum. That is why it is relevant and will be of interest to those who teach or study English. How to teach an English lesson about the capital of Britain - London?

We all know the phrase from school: London is the capital of Great Britain - London is the capital of Great Britain. An English lesson on this topic (Lesson about London) is a type of lecture on civilization and culture. Such an English lesson (like all others) must be comprehensive, all the main stages of the lecture must be followed.

The lesson can be combined or a lesson on new material, or it can be integrated (connection with other school subjects). It is advisable that the outline of your English lesson be detailed and detailed. This will make your task easier during the lesson. If you are pressed for time, you can jot down a short summary of the lesson with the main points. The summary should contain the following steps:

Organizing time
Checking homework
Explanation of new material
Consolidation
Homework assignment
Assessment

Don't forget to work on points such as:

Forms and methods of work
Your Lesson Objectives
Didactic material
Time of each activity.

In principle, each teacher builds his lesson the way he wants. But the basic steps must be followed.

Travel to London

London is a very beautiful and interesting city. It has beautiful architecture, sights, interesting people. It represents Britain as a whole. An English lesson on the topic of London can really be organized as an exciting trip to the capital of Great Britain. Let your English lesson be lively and bright, full of colors and rich in various kinds of didactic material.

You can start the lesson with an epigraph or several epigraphs on the topic of London. These could be proverbs or statements of famous people about the capital of Great Britain. Invite the children to read them, translate, comment, and express their opinions. We bring to your attention several such quotes with translation:

“When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for the“re is in London all that life can afford.” (Samuel Johnson) - When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; because London has everything life has to offer
“How can you ever be late for anything in London? They have a huge clock right in the middle of the town." (Jimmy Kimmel) - How can you be late for anything in London? After all, there is a huge clock right in the middle of the city
"A city like London was always going to be a paradox." (China Mieville) - A city like London has always been a paradox.

Next, read with your students some interesting text or dialogue on our topic. Let it contain interesting information regarding the capital of Great Britain, about the sights of this city, about its inhabitants, about its holidays.

Don’t forget to prepare a Power Point presentation, pictures, posters and posters with views of London, video and audio materials for such a lesson. The child must perceive information visually and auditorily, so it is better and longer retained in memory.

Don't forget to include vocabulary work in your lesson, as the child should leave the lesson with a certain amount of vocabulary on the topic. You can also touch on all aspects of language learning little by little. Reading, translation, writing, a couple of grammar lessons, etc. Try to include words on the topic everywhere.
Everything you need to know about an English lesson and its stages

Let's discover the sights of London!

If our lesson is dedicated to the topic of the British capital, namely The City of London, then we cannot do without mentioning the sights of this city. The children will be interested to hear a short story about these species, as well as see them on the screen or on an overhead projector. And if you have the opportunity to show a short educational film about the sights of this wonderful city, then that’s just wonderful!

We offer you a list of the main London attractions in English with translation:

Big Ben - Big Ben. The famous clock tower, the ringing of which can be heard throughout London
Buckingham Palace - Buckingham Palace. Residence of the British Queen Elizabeth II
Tower - Tower. Former residence of British kings
Tower Bridge - Tower Bridge. Swing bridge in central London over the River Thames, near the Tower of London
Hyde Park - Hyde Park. Hyde Park is famous for the fact that anyone can give a speech in the center of the park
London Eye - London Eye. The famous Ferris wheel
Albert Hall - Albert Hall. World famous concert hall
Changing of the Guards - Changing of the guard. The famous Changing of the Guard ceremony that takes place every morning in front of Buckingham Palace
The Thames - Thames. The river on which London is located
The Royal Theater Covent Garden - Royal Theater Covent Garden. The world famous royal theater.

London offers these and many other attractions to its guests.
You can show them on slides in a presentation or on posters. Children will have a lot of fun looking at the slides and learning something about them at the same time.

Distribute pictures of these attractions with captions in English on their desks, let the children read them several times and remember them. You can also make sentences in English about these views of the British capital.

What methods can help us?

Many may wonder what forms and methods of work can be used in such a lesson? First of all, visual and audit methods are suitable here, of course. The child must see all the sights and hear their names in English. You can use the method of a short survey based on what you saw/heard.

The method of conversation/discussion is also important. And, of course, since we are dealing with children, we cannot do without the play method. After all, it has long been known that a child perceives everything more easily and effectively through play. More games, especially on such a topic as the capital of Britain - London (London - the capital of Great Britain). Play a guessing game with them in English, as well as who can name the most attractions, etc.

An English lesson can be made even more fun and educational by introducing integrated Elements into it. An integrated lesson is a connection between a subject (in our case, English) and other school subjects. If our topic concerns the area of civilization, then this lesson can be associated with history. After all, we tell the story of the emergence of London as a city, the history of its attractions in English.

You can also connect this lecture with fine arts by asking the children to draw a landmark they like, or to depict a map of London. In general, you can use whatever you want here!

It’s the London’s largest and most fashionable park. It was once a royal hunting forest. There are restaurants and bars at each end of the Serpentine lake. Hire a boat.

Number 10, Downing Street has been the home of the British Prime Minister since 1735.

The Houses of Parliament

Its official name is the Palace of Westminster. Most of the building was built in 1840 after the fire of 1834 destroyed the old palace. At the north end of the building, by Westminster Bridge, there is the famous clock tower, Big Ben. In fact Big Ben is really the name of the bell in the tower, not of the clock.

The Tower of London

It's the London's oldest building. Since it was built by William the Conqueror in the 11th century, this castle has been a Royal palace, a prison, a place of execution, a zoo, the Royal Mint, and an observatory. Today it’s a museum and houses the Crown Jewels. There is a gift shop.

The Natural Museum

It’s located in Kensington and is one of London’s greatest museums. There is a huge collection of animals and plants, including a quarter of a million butterflies, a blue whale and the famous dinosaur skeletons. There is a cafeteria, a gift shop, and a book shop.

Madame Tussauds, Morylebone Road

The famous Waxworks Museum has the models of famous people from pop stars to prime ministers, displays of battles and a Chamber of Horror.

The Royal Observatory, Greenwich

It is situated 10 miles outside London on a hill above the River Thames. The Observatory contains telescopes and displays about astronomy, including Halley's Comet and Black Holes. There is a video theater and a souvenir shop. Picnic in Greenwich Park. You can take a river boat to Greenwich from Westminster Bridge.

London Attractions

Hyde Park

This is the largest and most luxurious park in London. This was once a forest for royal hunting. Restaurants and bars line the entire shore of Lake Serpentine. You can rent a boat here.

Downing Street
Number 10 Downing Street has been the home of the British Prime Minister since 1735.

Houses of Parliament

His official name- Palace of Westminster. Most of the building was built in 1840, after a fire in 1834 destroyed the old palace. At the northern end of the building, near Westminster Bridge, is the famous clock tower, Big Ben. In fact, Big Ben is the name of the bell on the tower, not the clock.

Tower of London

This is the oldest building in London. Since it was built by William the Conqueror in the 11th century, the castle has been a royal palace, a prison, an execution site, a zoo, a Royal Mint and an observatory. Today it is a museum housing the royal jewels. There is a gift shop here.

Museum of Nature

It is located in Kensington and is one of the largest museums in London. There is a huge collection of animals and plants, including a quarter of a million butterflies, a blue whale and the famous dinosaur skeletons. There is a cafeteria, gift shop and bookstore.

Madame Tussauds, Morilbone Road

This famous Wax Museum features images of famous people, from pop stars to prime ministers, battle panoramas and a chamber of terror.

Royal Observatory, Greenwich

It is located 10 miles from London on a hill above the River Thames. The observatory houses telescopes and hosts astronomical exhibitions, including material on Halley's Comet and Black Holes. There is a video theater and a gift shop. Relax in Greenwich Park. You can get to Greenwich by river boat from Westminster Bridge.

1. What is London’s largest and most fashionable park?
2. What street has been the home of the British Prime Minister since 1735?
3. What is one of London’s greatest museums?
4. Where can you see the famous waxworks?
5. Where is the Royal Observatory located?

Fashionable - fashionable, popular
to hire a boat - rent a boat
execution - execution
whale - whale
waxwork – wax figure
horror - horror, fear
to contain – contain
display – exhibition

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High altitude attraction

The London Eye, also called the Millennium Wheel, is a huge Ferris wheel on the south bank of the River Thames. The height of this impressive structure is 135 meters and the diameter is 120 meters. From a bird's eye view you can enjoy a unique view of the city. From there you can see other London sights. In English the name sounds like this: Giant wheel.

This attraction was built in 1999 and was Despite the fact that today this record has been surpassed by similar attractions in China and Singapore, the structure has a unique design and allows you to look at one of the most interesting cities in the world from a completely new point of view.

water world

The London Aquarium opened in March 1997. Today it receives about one million visitors every year. Walking through its glass tunnel, you discover a magical underwater world. An amazing design of a London landmark, in English it sounds like Sea Life London Aquarium. Here a person comes face to face with sharks and penguins.

The oldest fort

It is one of the most famous fortresses in the world. At various times, it managed to serve as a royal palace, a prison, an armory and even a zoo. This ancient castle is protected by the Foundation World Heritage UNESCO. The Tower was built in 1078 by King William I in order to instill fear in the conquered people. To feel the atmosphere of medieval England, you need to visit the Tower and other similar attractions of London. There are many poems and songs about this place in English. And the ancient walls of the fort keep many secrets.

Unusual museum

Tate Modern is the national gallery of modern and contemporary art. It is part of the Tate group of galleries and is located on the banks of the River Thames. The collection includes examples of British and international modern art from 1900 to the present day. The gallery opened in 1992 in the converted Bankside Power Station building.

The dimensions of the station are impressive - 35 meters high and 152 meters long. The building inside contains a stunning turbine room, a boiler room next to it and a central chimney that can be seen from the outside. Tourists do not always have the opportunity to see all the sights of London. In English and other languages, there are collections describing various types of art. With their help, you can fill in the gaps in knowledge about contemporary art.

The Wax Museum

She learned to make faces from wax in 1770 from Phillip Curtis. Her creative path was very interesting. At the age of 17, she found herself in the court retinue of King Louis XVI at the Palace of Versailles. When the revolution broke out, she began to take money from the executed nobles. She had to look for severed heads under mountains of bodies. This is how the collection began to accumulate. She inherited many exhibits from her teacher Phillip Curtis. She held exhibitions in France and England. In 1835, the first permanent exhibition space in London appeared on Baker Street. Today the museum still attracts great interest. Over more than 200 years of history, many millions of people have passed through the doors of the museum.

Houses, parks, sculptures, museums, attractions and much more - all these are the most interesting sights of London. Topic: English language, culture, history, biography of famous people - will always be relevant not only for tourists.

Who among you does not remember the notorious phrase “London is the capital of Great Britain”? All our compatriots learned it by heart in school English lessons. But the time has come to learn something new and really interesting about London. Today we'll take you on a virtual tour of one of the world's greatest capitals to find out why London is worth visiting.

One of the most mysterious blue topaz in the world has the beautiful name London Blue. The stone received its name thanks to London gemologists, who for the first time gave it an extraordinary depth of color. In the restrained tones of topaz, romantic natures see a hazy sky somewhere over the Thames. In their opinion, this stone perfectly conveys the atmosphere of foggy and mysterious London, which we will plunge into today.

Let's continue our course in modern regional studies and explore the sights of London to understand whether this city is what we imagine it to be.

London's iconic landmarks

Let's start our journey with the iconic sights of London.

1. Big Ben

Big Ben is a real symbol and business card(a landmark) capital of Great Britain. All guests of London rush (to head to) to the Thames embankment or to London Bridge (not to be confused with Tower Bridge) in order to catch (to catch) the most favorable angle (an angle) for a photograph against the backdrop of Big Ben - that’s what we used to call the clock a clock tower. But not everyone knows that Big Ben is actually the name of a bell, which is hidden from prying eyes and strikes the time every hour. The legendary bell is currently undergoing restoration, and until 2021, you can only enjoy its sound on special occasions.

2. Palace of Westminster

The Parliament of Great Britain consists of the House of Lords or the upper house (the House of Lords) and the House of Commons or the lower house (the House of Commons), which meet in the Palace of Westminster. In Parliament, bills are put forward for discussion (to propose new legislation for discussion), which after debate are either accepted (to pass a bill) or rejected (to defeat a bill).

3. Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge, along with Big Ben, is one of the most recognizable sights of the capital of Foggy Albion. The bridge has captivated many directors and musicians - you've probably heard about it in the song of the singer Zemfira. Tower Bridge used to be raised to raise a drawbridge about 50 times a day for the passage of cargo ships, but now this is done only a few times a week.

4. Tower of London

Few places in Britain are as steeped in legends and superstitions as this fabulous fortress. The Tower of London is not only an architectural wonder. It also houses an impressive collection of weapons (weaponry) and armor (armour). A tour of the fortress will be given to you by the magnificently dressed ceremonial guards of the castle - beefeaters. Only the most conscientious non-commissioned officers of the country's armed forces who have served for at least 22 years can join their ranks.

5. Westminster Abbey

Admirers of medieval ecclesiastic architecture should definitely visit this sublime cathedral - the hallowed coronation site of English sovereigns. Here you can see Britain's oldest door, a 900-year-old garden, a royal sarcophagus and much more. It was in Westminster Abbey that the royal wedding of Kate Middleton and Prince William took place in 2011.

6. St. Paul's Cathedral

St Paul's Cathedral is rightfully considered one of the most grandiose (majestic) buildings in London. For city residents, the dome of the 300-year-old cathedral is a source of pride and resilience. St Paul's Cathedral is also famous for its choristers.

7. Ferris wheel

From the altitude of the London Eye, a spectacular view unfolds to unfurl. As soon as you lift off, the wheel begins to rotate extremely slowly - just as the queue moves towards it - and you can slowly enjoy the London panorama. If you are staying in the city for a few days, go first to the London Eye: this way you can honestly say that you have seen all the sights.

Museums of London

London is a real treasure for lovers of museums and galleries; there are a great many of them here. You can get to know the culture and art of Great Britain better if you visit at least some of them.

1. National Gallery and British Museum

These museums are first on the list of places of worship (a must-visit) in London. The British Museum houses historical artifacts from the time when England was still a powerful maritime state with colonies under its control. And at The National Gallery you can admire paintings and sculptures of classical and avant-garde art. The main thing is not to get lost among the streams of tourists (tourist traffic) from all over the world and have time to look at the immortal masterpieces from behind the tops of the same admirers (admirers) of beauty.

2. British Tate Gallery and Tate Modern Gallery

Tate Britain and Tate Modern will allow you to plunge even deeper into the world of art. All pieces of art are arranged in chronological order, so you can track how artists changed their outlook on beauty over time and entire art movements were born from new ideas.

The Tate Gallery houses works, the earliest of which date back to the 16th century. Among the exhibits there are canvases by such artists as Rossetti, Turner, Blake and Monet.

Tate Modern has the largest exhibition hall in the world, where you can usually see large-scale art installations by contemporary artists. After visiting all the halls, don’t forget to go up to the top floor - there is a beautiful view of the city from there.

3. Madame Tussauds

Despite the expensive tickets, the waxworks museum is so popular that it has affiliated institutions all over the world. Celebrity statues are so believable that it seems they are about to come to life (to vivify) and speak to you. If you are interested in politics, you will be interested in getting up close to the Queen of England, Barack Obama or Vladimir Putin, and if you are more attracted to show business, Lady Gaga, Daniel Craig, Britney Spears and many others.

4. Harry Potter Museum

2. Znamenny March (June)

The Queen's birthday is celebrated with pageantry, with flyovers, flag-waving marches, and fireworks.

3. Guy Fawkes Night or Bonfire Night (November)

On this night, Londoners commemorate Guy Fawkes and his foiled attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament back in 1605. People burn bonfires and have fun on the night of November 4-5. The best views of the firework displays are from Primrose Hill, Highbury Fields and Alexandra Palace.

4. Boxing Day (December)

Boxing day is one of the most important Christmas holidays, celebrated on December 26th. On this day, stores hold their biggest sales with dramatic price reductions. If you're interested in all-under-one-roof shopping, check out Westfield London.

Food

After enjoying spiritual food, it’s time to taste ordinary food. London can offer dishes to suit every taste and budget.

A universal rule (a rule of thumb) is that Londoners do not like to look for new catering establishments, preferring to dine in local gastropubs and simple eateries (no-frills cafes). It is not considered shameful to buy a sandwich at Marks & Spencer and have lunch in Hyde Park. City residents prefer to go to restaurants on special occasions. Among the favorite delicacies of Londoners are: a sandwich with French fries between two slices of bread (chip butty), salty paste (marmite), which is usually spread on toast, and jellied eel.

A full English breakfast has become something of a national brand. If you order this dish, you'll find bacon, sausages, baked beans in tomato sauce, scrambled eggs, fried eggs, and mushrooms on your plate. ) and toast.

Also, as a breakfast, you can be served salty (savoury) or sweet porridge (porridge) with chocolate chips (chocolate crumbs). The main thing is to refrain from a witty exclamation: “Oatmeal, sir!” Previously, such breakfasts were considered poor folk’s food, but now they are a gourmet dish glammed up by restaurants.

The legendary English dish is fish and chips (fish’n’chips). If you don't try it, you won't be allowed to leave the airport. We haven’t checked it ourselves, but it’s better not to risk it. Time Out magazine has compiled a selection of 10 places in London where you can try fish’n’chips.

The British cherish and honor the heritage of their country (to embrace one’s heritage), especially afternoon tea (5 o’clock tea). To arrange it at home, prepare a tea pot, cups, saucers, a serving tray and napkins. Next, boil water (to heat the water) in a kettle, add loose tea (one teaspoon) per guest. Remember: tea bags are prohibited! Allow the tea to infuse for 3 to 5 minutes and pour into cups. The first cup must be poured by the owner or mistress of the house.

Most Londoners drink tea with milk. Previously, this was done so that cold milk would prevent hot tea from leaving cracks or stains on expensive porcelain cups. Offer guests treats: traditional English scones (scones), pancake-like flat buns made from liquid yeast dough (crumpets) or other pastries.

If you're in London, you should go to a real English tea party. The Telegraph has prepared for you a list of 10 cafes and restaurants in London where you can taste tea.

Food markets are a separate type of entertainment in London, something between art and food. You'll see cascades of fruits and vegetables, slices of pink ham and fresh hot cross buns on the shelves. And at the famous flea markets you can find deposits of rare and antique souvenirs. Let's explore the best markets in the city:

Borough Market is one of the city's oldest markets, specializing in farm and rural produce. Behind the food stalls you will find all sorts of delicacies. Blogger Mark Vince went to the market especially for you and tried the most delicious things.
Camden Market is the center of various youth subcultures. Here you can eat in food courts, listen to street musicians and wander through vintage (gitchy) boutiques. Most shops and street stands are open only on weekends.
The Portobello market is ready to delight you with craft drinks and food, handmade items from artisans, as well as clothes from both famous and niche designers.

London is famous not only for its gastronomic pleasures, but also for its bars, which is confirmed by the following fact: in 2017, London's American Bar was voted the best bar in the world. Londoners themselves have earned a bad reputation for binge drinking. But this is an exaggeration. Many of the pub habitués are gregarious and harmless people. Despite the high prices, the generosity of bartenders in London is a common place. People like to drink in beer gardens or patios.

Unusual areas of London

1. Docklands

The Docklands was once a poor port area and is now home to skyscrapers and waterside restaurants.

2. Pop Brixton

Pop Brixton is a self-built neighborhood made from shipping containers, a hub of start-ups and a vibrant community scene. Large containers house cafes, educational spaces and offices. You can spend the whole day here.

3. Underground art space

The Vaults is a contemporary art center located underneath Waterloo tube station. Unusual exhibitions, avant-garde theatrical performances(performances) - everything for lovers of arthouse and everything non-standard.

4. London Artists' Quarter

London's Artists' Quarter is another creative cluster where you can find coffee shops, paintings, rare book stores and, of course, inspiration.

Entire books could be written about such a diverse London, and the topics for them would never end. This city is alive, it feels the mood and captures the spirit of the time, changing with it. London has something for everyone, so you can always look at the city in a new way. A selection of resources will help us with this.

Useful resources

Blogs and websites about London:

Londonist is perhaps the most popular site about the UK capital, with which you can plan your weekend in London or see

London Attractions

The famous clock Big Ben stands near the Houses of Parliament. Big Ben is a big bell. The clock has four faces and five big bells. The biggest bell is known as Big Ben. The bell is named after Sir Benjamin Hall; the first commissioner of works when the Houses of Parliament were rebuilt in 1850. He was a tall man, whose nickname was Big Ben. So people know the clock as Big Ben. You hear it every hour. The bell weighs 13720 kilograms. It has a deep tone and you can hear it on the radio: “This is the BBC. The time is six o’clock.” And then you hear the deep boom of Big Ben of six times.

Big Ben looks most attractively at night when the clock faces are illuminated. You even know when parliament is in session, because a light shines above the clock face.

Questions:

Where does Big Ben stand?

Who was the bell named after?

Who was Sir Benjamin hall?

Buckingham Palace

Buckingham Palace is the Queen’s official residence and is used to receive and entertain guests on state, ceremonial and official occasions for the Royal Family. The Queen has four palaces in Britain.

The Buckingham Palace is located between the Green Park, Hide Park and St. James's Park. During August and September you can go inside Buckingham Palace. The palace is very big. You can see 19 of the rooms, ballroom and gardens, the gallery with the Royal family’s greatest treasures including paintings and the finest French and English furniture. If the Queen’s flag is flying outside the palace, it means that the Queen is at home.

What is the Queen’s official residence?

Where is Buckingham Palace located?

When can guests go inside Buckingham Palace?

10 Downing Street

10 Downing Street is the residence and office of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and the headquarters of Her Majesty’s Government. Downing Street is located in Whitehall in central London, a few minutes’ walk from the Houses of Parliament and a little farther from Buckingham Palace. It is actually the official residence of the first Lord of the Treasury, but in modern times this post has always been held simultaneously with the office of Prime Minister.

Questions:

Where is Downing Street located?

Is 10 Downing Street the office of the Prime Minister?

Is 10 Downing Street far from the Houses of Parliament?

What is located next to 10 Downing Street?

4.Trafalgar Square

Trafalgar Square is the geographical center of London. It was so named to commemorate Admiral Nelson’s victory at the Battle of Trafalgar. In the middle of the square there is a very famous monument Nelson’s Column with the statue of Lord Horatio Nelson on the top. The Column is over 170 feet high. Its pedestal is decorated with bas-reliefs of famous naval battles. At the base of Nelson’s Column there are four great lions.

Trafalgar Square has become famous as a point for all kinds of demonstrations, marches and political meetings.

Each year in December, the people of Norway send a gift of an enormous Christmas tree to Britain which is erected in Trafalgar Square. This is thanks for Britain’s part in liberation during the Second World War.

Questions:

Why was Trafalgar Square so named?

Where is Column of Nelson located?

What can you tell about Christmas tree in Trafalgar Square?

5.London Eye

The London Eye is a giant observation wheel located on the bank of the river Thames. It is 135 meters high. As the wheel turn it stops to allow tourists to see fantastic views over the city. It takes half an hour for the London Eye to complete one rotation.

Since opening in March 2000 the London Eye has become a symbol of modern Britain. The London Eye is visited by over 3.5 million people a year.

The wheel carries 32 sealed and air-conditioned egg-shaped passenger capsules. Each 10 tones capsule holds 25 people, who are free to walk around inside the capsule, though seating is provided.

Questions:

Where is the London Eye located?

Since what time has the London Eye become a symbol of modern Britain?

How many tourists visit the London Eye a year?

How many passengers does the wheel carry?

6.Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge is the most famous bridge over the River Thames. It is close to the Tower of London, which gives it its name. Sir John Wolfe Barry designed it.

The bridge consists of two towers which are tied together. The bridge was officially opened on 30 June 1894 by the Prince of Wales (the future King Edward VII), and his wife.

The bridge is 244 meters (800 feet) in length with two towers each 65 meters (213 feet) high.

Thousands of tourists visit Tower Bridge every year.

Questions:

What is the most famous bridge in London?

Why does it give its name?

When was Tower Bridge officially opened?

Who was Tower Bridge officially opened by?

Who designed Tower Bridge?

7.Tower of London. The White Tower.

The Tower of London is one of the most imposing and popular of London’s historical sites. Now it is a museum. It contains 20 towers. The oldest is the White Tower, dates back to the 11th century and the time of William the Conqueror. Nowadays a lot of tourists visit the Tower of London, because of the Tower’s evil reputation as a prison. The Tower has got Beefeaters, ravens, the Crown Jewels. The royal Crown has got three hundred jewels on it and the celebrated Indian diamond.

Many stories associated with British history come from the Tower in 1483 King Edward IV’s two sons were murdered in the so-called Bloody Tower. Over two centuries later the skeletons of two little boys were found buried beneath steps in the White Tower.

The ravens, huge black birds, are an official part of the Tower. Legend states that it the ravens were to leave the Tower the Crown will fall and Britain with it. Under the special care of the Raven Master, the ravens eat raw meat every day. And there is no danger of them flying away, because their wings are clipped.

Questions:

What is the most imposing and popular historical sites in London?

How many towers does the Tower of London comprise?

When was the Tower of London founded?

What is the Tower of London famous for?

8.Palace of Westminster

The Palace of Westminster also known as the Houses of Parliament is the seat of Britain’s two parliamentary houses, the House of Lords and the House of Commons.

In the middle of the 11th century, King Edward the Confessor had moved his court to the Palace of Westminster, located on a central site near the river Thames.

In 1265 a parliament was created with two houses: the Lords and the Commons. The House of Lords met at the Palace of Westminster while the House of Commons did not have a permanent location. After King Henry VIII moved his court to Whitehall Palace in 1530, the House of Lords continued to meet in Westminster. In 1547, the House of Commons also moved here, confirming Westminster as the central seat of government, a position it still holds today.

The tower opposite Big Ben is the Victoria Tower, built in 1860. The tower contains the records of both the House of Lords and the House of Commons since 1497. During the parliamentary year the Union flag is hoisted on top of the 98m tall tower.

The Queen, who is the Head of State, opens and closes Parliament. All new laws are discussed by MPs in the Commons, then debated in the Lords, and finally signed by the Queen. All three are part of Parliament in Britain.

Where is the seat of Britain’s two parliamentary houses?

What is opposite Big Ben?

When was the Victoria Tower built?

Who is the Head of State?

9. Westminster Bridge

Westminster Bridge is a road and foot traffic bridge over the River Thames. For over 500 years, the nearest bridge to London Bridge was at Kingston. Proposals for a bridge at Westminster had been made as early as 1664. The current bridge was designed by Thomas Page and opened in 1862. The bridge is painted green, the same color as the leather seats in the House of Commons which is on the side of the Palace of Westminster nearest the bridge. This is in contrast to Lambeth Bridge which is red, the same color as the seats in the House of Lords and is on the opposite side of the Houses of Parliament.

It links the Palace of Westminster on the west side of the river with Country Hall and the London Eye on the east and was the finishing point during the early years of the London Marathon.

Questions:

What color is the bridge painted?

What does Westminster Bridge link?

10. The Globe Theater

Similar to the original, the stage of the new Globe Theater extends into a large circular yard, which is surrounded by three tiers of very steep seating. The most expensive seats are covered. All others are exposed, which is why plays are held here only during the summer months. Additional standing room is available at a very low cost for those who don’t mind remaining erect during the production.

With what name is the Globe Theater associated?

Where is the Globe Theater located?

Why are plays held only during the summer months?

11. Westminster Abbey

Questions:

Is Westminster Abbey a church or a palace?

What is Westminster Abbey famous for?

Who is buried in Westminster Abbey?

30 St. Mary Ax Building is a skyscraper in London’s main financial district, the City of London.

Originally known as the Swiss Re Building, it was later renamed to its street address 30 St. Mary Ax after Swiss Re sold the building in 2007. Even before its construction was complete Londoners nicknamed the building the “Gherkin” for its distinctive shape and it is still known by that name.

The skyscraper was built in 2004 after a modern glass and steel design by the architectural firm of Foster and Partners. With 41 floors, the tower is 180 meters (591 ft) tall. The cigar-shaped structure has a steel frame with circular floor plans and a glass façade with diamond-shaped panels.

The top of the tower, where visitors find an open hall covered by a glass conical dome is spectacular. From here you have great views over the city. The building is not open to the public. Its unique and efficient design has won the Gherkin many awards.

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13. St. Paul's Cathedral

The city’s greatest monument, St. Paul's Cathedral was built by Christopher Wren between 1675 and 1710. Unfortunately Christopher Wren died before the completion. He is buried there.

The Cathedral is one of Europe’s largest cathedrals and it is second in size only to St. Peter's in Rome. The famous dome reaches a height of 111 meter (366 ft) and weights about 66,000 tons. On top of the dome is a large lantern with a weight of 850 tons.

560 steps lead visitors along three galleries all the way to the top of the dome. The first gallery, the Whispering Gallery, just inside the dome, is renowned for its acoustics. The second gallery, the Stone Gallery, is located at a height of 53 meter (174ft) on the outside of the dome, right on top of the colonnade. On top of the dome, at a height of 85 meter (279 ft), is the narrow Golden Gallery, encircling the lantern’s base. Here you have a magnificent view over the City.

The church was the site of a number of important historic events such as the funeral of Admiral Nelson in 1806 and the funeral of Winston Churchill in 1965. Prince Charles and Lady Diana Spencer married here in 1981.

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