LONDONLONDON

BY ANN GRACE, DONA & BY ANN GRACE, DONA & JESSICAJESSICA

London is the capital city of England and of the United Kingdom, and is the most populous city in the European Union. An important settlement for nearly two millennia, London is now an international leader in finance, and its involvement in politics, education, entertainment, fashion, media and the arts contribute to its status as a major global city. London has an estimated population of 7. 5 million (as of 2005) and a metropolitan area population of between 12 and 14 million. Its population is very cosmopolitan, drawing from a diverse range of peoples, cultures and religions, speaking over 300 different languages. Residents of London are referred to as Londoners. The city is an international transport hub and a major tourist destination, counting iconic landmarks such as the Houses of Parliament, Tower Bridge and Buckingham Palace amongst its many attractions, along with famous institutions such as the British Museum and the National Gallery. Today, "London" usually refers to the London region of England, which is coterminous with Greater London. At the heart of the conurbation is the small, ancient City of London which was historically the entirety of the city. Londoners generally refer to the City of London simply as "the City" or the "Square Mile". London's metropolitan area grew considerably during the Victorian era and again during the Interwar period with expansion halted in the 1940s by World War II and Green Belt legislation and has been largely static since. The extent of the London postal district, Metropolitan Police District, local government area, London transport area, urban sprawl, coverage of the London telephone area code and metropolitan area have rarely been coterminous and are not currently.

THE TOWER OF THE TOWER OF LONDONLONDON

THE TOWER OF LONDONTHE TOWER OF LONDONThe Tower of London has a very interesting story behind it. It was begun by a man who was not even English, William of Normandy. At the time he was the cousin of England's Kind Edward. It all started because William became outraged when Edward backed down on his promise to give the throne to William and ended up giving the throne to his English brother-in-law, Harold. William sailed his army across the English Channel to conquer England. On October 14, 1066, he met Harold at Hastings and conquered him. On Christmas Day later that year, William - now called William the conqueror - was crowned King of England. Immediately after William took over as king, he built forts everywhere. One stood in the south-eastern corner of London, near an old Roman wall on the north bank of the Thames River. William ordered that this fort be removed in 1078 to be replaced by a huge stone stronghold. This would be the "symbol of his power, a fortress for his defence, and a prison for his enemies". (Fisher, 1987) He named it the Tower of London.

BUCKINGHAM PALACEBUCKINGHAM PALACE

Buckingham Palace was built in 1702 by the Duke of Buckingham as his London home. The house was then later sold to George III in 1761 by the Dukes son. In 1774 it was renamed "Queen's House" as Queen Charlotte resided there.

The Palace has of course seen many renovations and alterations, the first of which was in 1820 when Nash was commissioned by George IV. Nash, one of the foremost architects of the day added a new suite of rooms facing west into the garden, this doubled the size of the building. However the 'front' of the Palace, has remained virtually unchanged from the original design over 300 years ago.

Queen Victoria was the first monarch to take up residence in Buckingham Palace in 1837. Once again extensive changes took place. Today Buckingham Palace is used not only as the home of The Queen and her husband, The Duke of Edinburgh, but also for the administrative work for the monarchy. It is here in the state apartments that Her Majesty receives and entertains guests invited to the Palace.

PICADILLY CIRCUSPICADILLY CIRCUS

Piccadilly Circus was opened 10 March 1906 on the Bakerloo Line; the Piccadilly Line platforms were opened on 15 December 1906. As originally built it had, like other stations, a surface booking hall (designed, like many in central London built at that time, by Leslie Green). The development of traffic before and after World War I meant that the need for improved station facilities was acute. It was decided to construct a sub-surface booking hall and circulating area, which would also provide public pedestrian subways, and work was begun to February 1925 and completed in 1928, the architect was Charles Holden: the whole complex cost more than half-a-million pounds. Eleven escalators were provided in two flights, leading to the two Lines served by the station.The old station building finally closed for traffic on 21 July 1929, it was demolished in the 1980s when the large building on the corner of Piccadilly Circus and Haymarket was constructed.

PICADILLY PICADILLY CIRCUSCIRCUS

OXFORD STREETOXFORD STREET

OXFORD STREETOXFORD STREET

Oxford Street is a major thoroughfare in London, England in the City of Westminster. With over 300 shops, it is probably the world's largest shopping street

It runs for approximately a mile and a half from Marble Arch at the north east corner of Hyde Park, through Oxford Circus to St Giles' Circus, at the intersection with Charing Cross Road and Tottenham Court Road. Eastwards, the road then becomes New Oxford Street until it runs into High Holborn. West of Marble Arch, Oxford Street becomes Bayswater Road or the A40 which continues west towards Oxford. Oxford Street intersects with other London roads including Park Lane, New Bond Street and Regent Street.

HOUSES OF HOUSES OF PALIAMENTPALIAMENT

The Houses of Parliament, otherwise known as The Palace of Westminster, stands on the site where Edward the Confessor had the original palace built in the first half of the eleventh century. In 1547 the royal residence was moved to Whitehall Palace, but the Lords continued to meet at Westminster, while the commons met in St. Stephen's Chapel. Ever since these early times, the Palace of Westminster has been home to the English Parliament.

Palace of Westminster WestminsterLondonGreater LondonSW1A 0AA

In 1834 a fire broke out which destroyed much of the old palace, all that remained was the chapel crypt, The Jewel Tower and Westminster Hall. It was Lord Melbourne, the Prime Minister, who saved the great hall by arranging for the fire engines to be brought right into the hall and personally supervising the fire fighting operation.

HOUSES OF HOUSES OF PARLIAMENTPARLIAMENT

The magnificent Gothic Revival masterpiece you see today was built between 1840 and 1888, this was the work of Charles Barry who designed the buildings to blend with nearby Westminster Abbey. The two imposing towers, well known landmarks in London, are the clock tower, named after it's thirteen ton bell called Big Ben, and Victoria tower, on whose flag pole the Union Jack flies when parliament is sitting. Much of the Victorian detail of the interior was the work of Barry's assistant Augustus Pugin

BIGBIG BENBEN

Ben: This 316ft clock-tower was completed between 1858-59.Big Ben is named, probably, after Sir Benjamin Hall, the

First Commissioner of Works. Big Ben was first broadcast on New Year's Eve in 1923. The light above the clock is lit while the Commons is sitting. Big

Ben weighs over 13 tons. The clock mechanism, alone, weights about 5 tons. The

figures on the clock face are about 2 feet long, the minute spaces are 1 ft. square; and the copper minute hands are14

ft. Long. - Makers of Big Ben and the Liberty Bell. Also hand bells,

tower bells, clock bells, carillons, and turret bells

LONDON EYELONDON EYE

The British Airways London Eye is the world's tallest observation wheel at 135m high. Located on the banks of the River Thames it offers unrivalled

views over London.

Since opening at the turn of the century, the London Eye has become an iconic landmark, with a status that can be compared to Tower Bridge, Big

Ben, Eros and the Tower of London. It has been used as a backdrop in countless films and for innumerable TV programmes. A source of pride for

the whole country as well as the capital, the London Eye is the most distinctive addition this century to the world's greatest city, loved by

Britons and tourists alike.

In fact, in its short life, it has become the most popular paid for UK visitor attraction, visited by over 3.5 million people a year (an average of 10,000 a day). A breathtaking feat of design and engineering, passengers in the London Eye's capsules can see up to 40 kilometres in all directions, in complete comfort and safety.

But there's much, much more to the London Eye than its views and its engineering. It plays an integral role in the community, has become something of a gateway or a symbol for London and offers a unique venue for corporate events and entertainment.

The British Airways London Eye is operated by the London Eye Company Limited, a Tussauds Group Company.

THE ENDTHE END