LONDON

SARA GÓMEZ, ALMA TISAIRE, LAURA COLOMER I MERITXELL PADRÓS

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 PuginThe 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.

Big Ben

The River Thames was London's main highway in times gone by. In those days the roads were rough, the horses slow, the highwaymen and footpads dangerous. Best go by sea! 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 river

Buckingham palace

Buckingham Palace has been the main home of the sovereign since Queen Victoria. It was originally built in 1703 for the Duke of Buckingham (hence its name)It was later re-modeled by Nash for George IV, but did not finally get its present classical facade until 1913.

The crowds gather for the daily changing of the guard at 11.30 am in the summer.There is another guard change at Horseguards at 11 am

Science museumThe Science Museum is one of the three major museums on Exhibition Road, South Kensington, London in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. It is part of the National Museum of Science and Industry. The museum is a major London tourist attraction.