London is one of the oldest and most interesting cities in the world. It is the capital of Great Britain, its political, economic and commercial centre. It is one of the largest cities in the world and the largest city in Europe. Its population is about 8 million. London was founded in the first century A.D. by the Romans. By the 8-th century London was a busy trading centre, and in the 11-th century it became the capital of England. Edward the Confessor built a palace and an abbey at Westminster. The Norman period saw the construction of the Tower, old St .Paul’s Cathedral and many churches and monasteries.

Medieval London grew in importance as a trading centre and in 1215 its citizens won the right to elect their own leader, or Lord Mayor. London began to spread over the city walls during the Tudor and Stuart periods. The Great Fire of 1666 destroyed three quarters of the city. Sir Christopher Wren rebuilt St. Paul’s Cathedral and designed 51 churches. The rebuilding of London followed the medieval street plan, but the old wooden houses were replaced by buildings of brick to reduce the future fire risk.

During the 19-th century London spread rapidly onto the suburbs. As a result, new forms of transport were developed, including the underground railway system. Britain was then at the height of its imperial power and this is expressed in such buildings as the Houses of Parliament and St. Pancras Station. Large areas of London were destroyed by bombs during World War II, and the rebuilding that followed was of mixed quality. Today in its full extent Greater London covers 625 square miles and consists of 33 separate boroughs. Traditionally London is divided into several parts: The City, Westminster, the West End and the East End. They are rather different from one another.

The Heart of London is the City, its financial and business centre. Numerous banks, offices and firms are situated there, including the Bank of England, the Stock Exchange and the Old Bailey. The City extends over an area of about 2,6 square kilometers. About half a million people work there, but less than 6000 live there. There are some famous buildings within the City. Perhaps the most striking of them is St. Paul’s Cathedral, the greatest of English churches. It is Sir Christopher Wren’s masterpiece. The construction of the Cathedral started in 1675 and was not finished until 1709. The magnificent classical structure is crowned by the dome. Inside the dome are scenes from the life of St. Paul. There is a famous Whispering Gallery there, too. In the Cathedral there are many memorials, including those to heroes such as Wellington and Nelson. The Tower of London is also situated in the City. It has served as citadel, palace, prison, mint and menagerie. The White Tower was built in 1078 by William the Conqueror to protect the city. The Tower is famous for its illustrious prisoners, such as Sir Thomas More and Guy Fawkes. Many notable people lost their heads on the executioner’s block. The Tower is guarded by the Yeoman Wardens popularly known as Beefeaters. Westminster is the historic centre of government. Until the 11-th century it was a sacred place. King Edward the Confessor decided to build a great abbey church here. It was consecrated in 1065, but a week later the King died and was buried in the abbey. His tomb became a popular place of pilgrimage. William the Conqueror was crowned in the Abbey and since then all the coronations have taken place here. The Abbey contains many royal tombs, memorials to eminent men and women. But the most popular ones are those to writers, actors and musicians in Poet’s corner. Alongside the Abbey Edward the Confessor had a palace built. The Palace of Westminster was the royal residence and also the country’s main court of law. Parliament met here from the 16-th century until the 19-th century. The present Houses of Parliament were built after the old palace was burnt down in 1834. The building contains the House of Commons and the House of Lords, the two chambers of the British Parliament. On the corner next to Westminster Bridge stands Clock Tower with the famous bell Big Ben. Buckingham Palace is the Queen’s official London residence. Built in 1702-1705 for the Duke of Buckingham, it was sold in 1761 to George III. The Palace was little used by royalty until Victoria’s accession to the throne in 1837. London’s most popular spectacle is Changing of the Guard at Buckingham Palace. It takes place in the forecourt and lasts about 30 minutes.

The West End is the richest and the most beautiful part of London. It is the symbol of wealth and luxury. The best hotels, shops, restaurants, clubs and theatres are situated there. There are splendid houses and lovely gardens belonging to wealthy people. Oxford Street is an endless shopping area which attracts visitors from all over the world. Going down Oxford Street you come to Trafalgar Square, which is another symbol of London. This square received its name from Trafalgar, the cape off which Lord Nelson defeated a Franco-Spanish fleet in 1805. Admiral Nelson, cast in bronze, stands on top of a tall column in the middle of the square. On the north side of Trafalgar Square are the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery. Not far away is the British Museum, the biggest museum in London. It contains a priceless collection of ancient manuscripts, coins, sculptures and is famous for its library.

The East End is the poorest district in London. There are factories, workshops and docks here. The streets are narrow, the buildings are unimpressive. The East End is densely populated by working class families.