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Vypracovala: Mgr. Silvie ReitharováVypracovala: Mgr. Silvie Reitharová

General General informationinformation

London is the capital and London is the capital and the largest city of England the largest city of England It´s also the capital of It´s also the capital of Great Britain, the United Great Britain, the United Kingdom and the British Kingdom and the British CommonwealthCommonwealthIt is situated on the River It is situated on the River Thames, a few miles from Thames, a few miles from the seathe seaThe population is about The population is about 9 million 9 million ( about 12 million in( about 12 million in conurbation)conurbation)

A bit from the A bit from the historyhistorythe Celts settled the area of today´s the Celts settled the area of today´s London at about 800 B.C.London at about 800 B.C.The Romans occupied the place The Romans occupied the place since 55 B.C. and in since 55 B.C. and in 43 43 A.D. they A.D. they establishedestablished Roman Londonium there Roman Londonium therewhen the Romans left the country it when the Romans left the country it remained remained the capital of the Britons the capital of the Britons the town kept its the town kept its importanceimportance during during the Anglo-Saxon invasion and later the Anglo-Saxon invasion and later during the Viking periodduring the Viking periodthe Norman kings ( first William the the Norman kings ( first William the Conqueror) Conqueror) removedremoved the the royal courtroyal court from Winchester and London from Winchester and London becamebecame the capital city for ever the capital city for ever

The Great Fire of The Great Fire of LondonLondon

In 1666 one of the worst In 1666 one of the worst eventsevents happenedhappenedThe Great Fire, that started at The Great Fire, that started at a baker’s shop, a baker’s shop, destroyeddestroyed four fifth four fifth (4/5) of the town(4/5) of the townHowever it helped to stop a However it helped to stop a plague plague epidemic that killed more than epidemic that killed more than 75,000 people a year before75,000 people a year beforeAfter the fire a great reconstruction After the fire a great reconstruction of the city startedof the city startedSir Christopher Wren was Sir Christopher Wren was appointedappointed the main architect the main architect and he constructed about and he constructed about 50 50 churcheschurches and some other and some other public buildingspublic buildings

Industry and Industry and CommerceCommerce

The prime economic The prime economic importanceimportance of modern London is a financial of modern London is a financial and commercial centreand commercial centre22% of the world´s financial 22% of the world´s financial transactions transactions take placetake place in London in LondonThe London The London Stock ExchangeStock Exchange is is the world´s biggestthe world´s biggestLondon is also an important London is also an important centre of gold, silver and centre of gold, silver and platinum platinum tradetradeLondon is also the centre of art London is also the centre of art and cultureand cultureThere are recording, There are recording, broadcasting, television and film broadcasting, television and film studios and studios and publishing housespublishing housesTourism is of great importance Tourism is of great importance tootoo

TransportTransport

DOUBLEDECKERSDOUBLEDECKERSTypical red buses, in present only used Typical red buses, in present only used byby tourists tourists

LONDON UNDERGROUNDLONDON UNDERGROUNDalso called the “tube” because of the also called the “tube” because of the round shaperound shape of its of its tunnels tunnels Is the world’s oldest, was established in 1863Is the world’s oldest, was established in 1863Nowadays there are 273 stations and it is 420 km longNowadays there are 273 stations and it is 420 km long760 million passengers use the “tube” every year760 million passengers use the “tube” every yearAIRPORTSAIRPORTSThere are five airports in the London area, the largest of There are five airports in the London area, the largest of them are Heathrow and Gatwickthem are Heathrow and GatwickRAILRAILThere is a There is a rail connection rail connection to all parts of the island from 15 to all parts of the island from 15 central stations. The trains are controlled by computers.central stations. The trains are controlled by computers.

CABSCABSVery familiar and Very familiar and reliablereliable kind of transport. kind of transport. London taxi driversLondon taxi drivers belong belong to the best ones. They to the best ones. They are trained and controlled very wellare trained and controlled very well

Interesting and Important Interesting and Important Places and Sights of LondonPlaces and Sights of London

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Trafalgar Square Tower Bridge Harrods’

Westminster Abbey

Buckingham Palace

Do you know the places and sights ?

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St. Paul’s Cathedral

Trafalgar Trafalgar SquareSquare

tthe largest he largest squaresquare in in LondonLondonvery very busybusy centre of the centre of the town, with town, with huge traffichuge trafficthe name the name commemoratescommemorates the the navalnaval battle at Trafalgar battle at Trafalgar (1805), where Admiral (1805), where Admiral Nelson defeated Spanish Nelson defeated Spanish and French and French fleet fleet (led by (led by Napoleon)Napoleon)in the in the middlemiddle of the of the square is Nelson’s square is Nelson’s ColumnColumn (about 50 meters (about 50 meters high) with a five-meter high) with a five-meter tall tall statuestatue of Horatio of Horatio NelsonNelsonthe place is also famous the place is also famous for for plenty ofplenty of pigeonspigeons

Piccadilly CircusPiccadilly Circus a well-known place near a well-known place near

Trafalgar SquareTrafalgar Square famous for the Statue of famous for the Statue of

Eros-a Greek God of loveEros-a Greek God of love it is a very busy placeit is a very busy place

Two famous addresses in Two famous addresses in LondonLondon

10 Downing 10 Downing StreetStreetthe seat of the the seat of the Prime MinisterPrime Minister

always watched always watched by a typical by a typical English policeman English policeman called “bobby”called “bobby”

Buckingham Buckingham PalacePalace

The seat of the The seat of the sovereignsovereign

The Queen and her The Queen and her husband live therehusband live there

Changing of the Changing of the Guards takes place Guards takes place iin front of the n front of the Palace Palace

Queen Victoria Queen Victoria MemorialMemorial

the memorial is situated just the memorial is situated just in front of Buckingham in front of Buckingham PalacePalace

a favourite place for a favourite place for meeting friends …..meeting friends …..

The Houses of The Houses of ParliamentParliament

one of the well-known symbols of the town, on one of the well-known symbols of the town, on the the bankbank of the River Thames of the River Thamesthe political centre of the country- the seat of the political centre of the country- the seat of the House of Lords and the House of the House of Lords and the House of CommonsCommonswere built in New-Gothic style in 19were built in New-Gothic style in 19thth century centurythe most famous part is the the most famous part is the towertower with a with a clockclock called Big Bencalled Big Ben

Westminster Westminster AbbeyAbbey

one of the oldest sights in one of the oldest sights in LondonLondongoes back to 11goes back to 11thth century centurya beautiful and a beautiful and precious precious example of example of purepure Gothic style Gothic stylealmost all almost all coronationscoronations since since William I have been made William I have been made theretheresome English Kings and some English Kings and Queens and some other Queens and some other famous people famous people are buriedare buried there or they have their there or they have their memorial in the Poet’s Cornermemorial in the Poet’s Corner

St. Paul’s St. Paul’s CathedralCathedral

the second largest the second largest churchchurch in the world, in the world, after St. Peter’s in after St. Peter’s in Rome Rome was built in Baroque was built in Baroque style, at the place of style, at the place of previous cathedral previous cathedral which was destroyed which was destroyed by the Great Fireby the Great Fire

Sir Christopher Sir Christopher Wren’s Wren’s masterpiece,masterpiece, was completed after was completed after 35 years in 171135 years in 1711

InsideInside the cupola the cupola there is a very there is a very interesting place, interesting place, called called WhisperingWhispering GalleryGallery

The The TowerTower

a well-known London a well-known London castlecastleWilliam I began building the William I began building the massive massive fortress-fortress-the White the White Tower on 1066Tower on 1066next kings continued and next kings continued and added added other partsother partstill 16till 16thth century it served as century it served as a royal home, a a royal home, a prisonprison, an , an executive siteexecutive site and an and an observatoryobservatorynowadays there is a museum. nowadays there is a museum. You can see the coronation You can see the coronation jewelsjewels there therethere are always kept some there are always kept some ravensravens in the Tower, because in the Tower, because a legend says, that the a legend says, that the Monarchy will Monarchy will lastlast until until ravens live in the Towerravens live in the Tower

Tower Tower BridgeBridge

the most famous bridge in the most famous bridge in LondonLondon

typical by its blue colour and typical by its blue colour and the the abilityability to open in the to open in the middle and middle and enableenable ships to go ships to go throughthrough

a famous a famous roundround concert hall concert hall

was named after Prince Albert-Queen was named after Prince Albert-Queen Victoria’s husbandVictoria’s husband

more than 8000 people can listen to more than 8000 people can listen to music theremusic there

Royal Albert Royal Albert HallHall

British National Museum and British National Museum and National GalleryNational Gallery

the most important cultural institutionsthe most important cultural institutionsall state museums and galleries in Britain are free-you all state museums and galleries in Britain are free-you don’t have to pay for the ticketsdon’t have to pay for the ticketsin National Gallery (in Trafalgar Square) you can see in National Gallery (in Trafalgar Square) you can see the world’s masterpieces of the most famous paintersthe world’s masterpieces of the most famous paintersNational Museum has –National Museum has –amongamong othersothers-the largest -the largest collection of collection of ancientancient Egyptian sights (it’s said there are Egyptian sights (it’s said there are more Egyptian artifacts than in Egypt)more Egyptian artifacts than in Egypt)

Tate Gallery and Tate Gallery and Madam Tussaud’s Madam Tussaud’s

MuseumMuseumthe most visited the most visited privateprivate cultural institutions cultural institutionsTate Gallery is Tate Gallery is dedicateddedicated to world’s modern art to world’s modern artin Madam Tussaud’s Museum you can see in Madam Tussaud’s Museum you can see waxwax figures figures representing famous personalities from history and from representing famous personalities from history and from present – criminals, politicians, actors, singers, present – criminals, politicians, actors, singers, sportsmen and also the members of the Royal familysportsmen and also the members of the Royal family

London parksLondon parks

All major parks used to be Royal gardensAll major parks used to be Royal gardensHyde ParkHyde ParkSt. James’s ParkSt. James’s ParkKensington GardensKensington GardensRegent Park-most elegant and attractive with London ZOORegent Park-most elegant and attractive with London ZOOGreen Park-outside the centre, very largeGreen Park-outside the centre, very large

Shopping in LondonShopping in London

Oxford Street-London’s most famous shopping streetOxford Street-London’s most famous shopping streetRegent Street- Liberty’s and Hamley’s -two popular toy shops, probably the best known Regent Street- Liberty’s and Hamley’s -two popular toy shops, probably the best known in the worldin the worldBond Street- art galleries, antiques, jewelers’ shops and Sotheby’s-one of the most Bond Street- art galleries, antiques, jewelers’ shops and Sotheby’s-one of the most famous auction housefamous auction houseCovent Garden-fruit and vegetable markets, the best place for buying souvenirs and Covent Garden-fruit and vegetable markets, the best place for buying souvenirs and postcardspostcardsSoho-many Chinese, Indian and Italian restaurants, famous theatres, cinemas, cafes Soho-many Chinese, Indian and Italian restaurants, famous theatres, cinemas, cafes and barsand barsHarrod’ s –the prominent, very expensive department storeHarrod’ s –the prominent, very expensive department store

Covent Garden

Harrod’s

Soho