London

London is the capital of both England and the United Kingdom. It lies on the river Thames and covers
an area of 1,580 square kilometres. About 8 million people live there and about 12 million in its
conurbation. London is the seat of the Monarch, the Parliament, the Government and the Supreme
Court. It also contains many important museums, galleries, theatres and many historical buildings
and parks.

History
The Celts settled the territory of today´s London as early as 800 B.C. In 43 A.D. the Romans
established Roman Londonium here (the name probably comes from the old Celtic word Llyndum
which means „a walled place situated high“). London has been the capital since the reign of Norman
kings in 12th century. The 17th century brought much suffering to London. In 1665 more than 75,000
people died from a plague epidemic and in 1666 the Great Fire of London destroyed four fifth of the
city. The whole town was rebuilt. Sir Christopher Wren was appointed the main architect and he
constructed about 50 churches, including his masterpiece St. Paul´s Cathedral, and some other public
buildings.
The port had always been important for the existence of Britain. In the early 19 th century it
became the biggest port in Britain. The laying down of the network of railways (1836) and
undergound lines (1863) resulted in the construction of a wide belt of suburbs built in the typical
Victorian style of red bricks.
German bombing during World War II caused serious damage especially in the City.

Industry and Commerce

London is an industrial centre. There are many traditional industries, i.e. wood-working, furniture-
making, chemical and food industries, clothing, printing, engineering, paper-making and car
industries.
Modern London is a financial and commercial centre. The London Stock Exchange (founded in 1773)
is one of the biggest in the world. London is also an important centre of the gold, silver and platium
trade. There are also recording, broadcasting, television and film studios, publishing houses and press
services.

Transport
The river Thames has been a highway since prehistoric times. The Port of London is one of the
best in the world but its importance has been falling.
The latest means of London transport are riverbuses.
There are five airports in the London area, Heathrow and Gatwick are the largest.
London is also the most significant highway and railway junction. The quickest and cheapest way
to get around central London is by underground, often called „tube“. By Channel Tunnel London is
connected with Europe.
Buses play a very important role, too. Famous red double deckers are used by tourists to go
sightseeing. Roads are also full of black taxis.

Places of interest
Central London is where most of the famous sights are. The City is the oldest part of London and
now is the centre of the financial life. The East End is where many new immigrants and working
people live. In the West End there are theatres, residential areas, great parks and the famous
Trafalgar Square. Westminster, where Buckingham Palace, Parliament and the Government of
England are located, is near the West End.
 The City of London
The Tower of London is the top tourist attraction. William the Conqueror began to build the
fortress there - the White Tower in 1066. Further kings extended it and it served as a royal home, a
prison, an execution side, a royal mint and an observatory. Now it is a museum. The Crown Jewels
guarded by the Beefeaters in their traditional Tudor uniforms are kept there. Six ravens are kept in
the Tower to protect the whole Kingdom.
The Tower Bridge stands next to the Tower. It is one of the most famous symbols of London.
It was built only in 1894. It can open in the middle and let large ships go through.
St. Paul´s Cathedral is the second largest church in the world after St. Peter´s Church in
Rome. It was completed in 1711 on the site of the previous cathedral which was damaged by the
Great Fire. It is built in the Baroque style, the main nave is 170 metres long and its central dome rises
111 metres. The Cathedral is known for its Whispering Gallery. Standing on this gallery you can
clearly hear what is whispered against the wall on the opposite side.
Today the cathedral is surrounded by modern concrete and glass buildings. The City is the
heart of London´s financial and commercial life represented by the Bank of England and the Stock
Exchange.

The City of Westminster

The Houses of Parliament are the political centre of the United Kingdom, the home of the
British Parliament. They were rebuilt in the Neo-Gothic style after 1840 on the site of the Old Palace
of Westminster which had burnt down. The only part of the old building, dating from 1097, which
escaped the fire, was Westminster Hall. 97.5 metres above the Parliament the clock tower called Big
Ben rises (it is said it was named after one rather fat and round MP called Benjamin).
Next to the Houses of Parliament there is the Westminster Abbey, where monarchs are
crowned, heroes are buried and royal weddings take place. It was founded in 11th century although
many parts were added later. Many British kings and queens are buried in the Abbey. In the Poet´s
Corner there are the tombstones and monuments to famous poets, artists and statesmen, but not all
of them are really buried there.
Whitehall is the street where the government offices are. There is the Headquarters of Royal
Horse Guards. Close to this complex there is 10 Downing Street which has been the home of the
Prime Minister since 1735.
Buckingham Palace is the London home of the kings and queens. Outside of the Buckingham
Palace the Changing of the Guard takes place. In front of the palace there is the Queen Victoria
Monument.
Trafalgar Square is said to be the centre of London. It is a place of political demonstrations
and busy traffic. It originated in 19th century and commemorates the naval victory of Admiral Nelson
over the French fleet at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. There´s Nelson´s Column (about 50 metres
high) with a five-metre tall statue of Nelson at the top in the middle of the square.
The famous National Gallery forms one side of Trafalgar Square. It houses one of the
greatest collections of Western painting from 13th to 20th centuries. Next to it there´s the National
Portrait Gallery which houses portraits and photographs of famous people.
Piccadilly Circus is not far away from Trafalgar Square. Four streets join there and three
underground lines cross under this square. This makes it the busiest and noisiest place in London. In
the centre at the top of the Fountain Eros, the Greek God of love, stands. Piccadilly is the centre of
entertainment in the West End with its night clubs, theatres, cinemas and restaurants.

Parks
London is renowned for its parks and gardens. All major parks were once royal gardens.
While St. James´s Park is the oldest, Hyde Park is probably the most popular among tourists.
It consists of trees and grass intersected by paths. The main entrance to Hyde Park is at Hyde Park
Corner. In the opposite corner of the park there is the Marble Arch, formerly the execution place.
This corner is best known for its Speaker´s Corner, the place where everybody can speak publicly
without fear of being arrested for his opinions.
 In the West Hyde Park continues with Kensington Gardens. Here the Albert Memorial and
Kensington Palace stand.
Regent´s Park is perhaps London´s most elegant park with attractive gardens, lakes and a zoo
which with its 6,000 species belongs to the most comprehensive collections of animals in the world.

Shopping
Oxford Street is probably London´s most well-known shopping street renowned for large
department stores such as Mark and Spencer, John Lewis and Selfridges.
The Mall is one of the most exclusive street with expensive shops and best-known gentlemen
´s clubs.
Piccadilly is the place where you can buy sportswear or elegant ladies´and men´s wear.
Covent Garden, once the famous fruit and vegetable market, has been restored as an elegant
covered shopping area and it has become a favourite place of street performers.
Harrods is the largest and the busiest department store in London.

Museums
London is rich in museums and galleries whose exhibitions are usually free of charge. The
most famous is the British Museum which was founded in 1753. It includes the Museum and the
British Library. It contains outstanding displays of antiquities from Egypt, South and South-East Asia,
China, Greece, Rome.
Madam Tussaud´s contains wax figures of famous people.

Sports
Many exciting sports events take place in London. Football draws crowds into the stadiums
such as Wembley. Wimbledon is the scene of the famous Wimbledon Tennis Championships.
Famous rawing race between Oxford and Cambridge Univesities´ students is held on the river
Thames every year.

Greenwich is the seat of the National Maritime Museum. You can see Cutty Sark close there,
the fastest merchant ship on the see which carried tea from China. Then you can visit the Old Royal
Observatory – here is a brass strip which marks the Prime Meridian.
Vocabulary

conurbation městská aglomerace establish ustanovit, založit

walled obezděný reign vládnout
suffering utrpení plague mor
rebuild přestavět appoint jmenovat, stanovit
port přístav lie ležet
suburb předměstí cause příčina, důvod
furniture nábytek broadcasting vysílání
press tisk significant významný, důležitý
addition dodatek residential obytný, domovní
extend rozšířit mint mincovní
previous předchozí nave hlavní loď (chrámu)
whisper šeptat against proti
concrete beton buried pohřbený; zahrabaný
tombstone náhrobní kámen statement sdělení, prohlášení
traffic doprava, dopravní ruch naval námořní
fleet flotilla statue socha
major přední, hlavní intersect protínat, křížit
entrance vstup comprehensive souhrnný
department oddělení cover krýt, pokrýt
comprise zahrnovat sculptural sochařský
antiquity starobylost draw táhnout, kreslit
brass mosaz

Comprehensive questions

1. Characterize London in terms of its location, population and status within England and Great
Britain.
2. What are the most important events from London’s history (43 AD, 1066, 1665, 1666)?
3. Transport.
4. Name 4 main parts of London (the City of London, Westminster, the West End, the East End), give
their short characteristics.
5. What are the top places of tourists´ interest? (Tower of London, Tower Bridge, St. Paul´s Cathedral,
London´s Eye, Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square,
National Gallery, Piccadilly Circus, Covent Garden, St. James´s Park, Hyde Park, British Museum,
Madam Tussaud´s).