SOME MORE GLIMPSES OF LONDON

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 571.

SIGHTSEEING

-- Is it possible to see anything of London in one or two days?

-- Well, yes, but, of course, not half enough.

-- What do you think I ought to see first?

-- Well, if you are interested in churches and historic places you should go to Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament, St. Paul's and the Tower. Do you like art galleries?

-- Rather!

-- Then why not go to the National Gallery and the Tate?

-- I'm told one ought to see the British Museum. Do you think I shall have time for that?

-- Well, you might, but if I were you, I should leave that for some other day. You could spend a whole day there. It's much too big to be seen in an hour or so.

-- I suppose it is. What about going to the Zoo?

-- That's not a bad idea. You could spend a couple of hours there comfortably, or even a whole afternoon, watch­ing the wild animals, birds and reptiles. You could have tea there too.

-- I'll do that, then. How do I get there?

-- Let me see. I think your best way from here is to walk across Regent's park.

-- Is it much of a walk?

-- Oh, no, a quarter of an hour or so, but, if you are in a hurry, why not take a taxi?

-- I think I will. Ah, here's one coming. Taxi! The Zoo, please.

London is one of the biggest and most interesting cities in the world.

London is a city of great contrasts. Its western part is the richest part of the town with its cosy mansions, beautiful avenues, shops, restaurants and hotels. The East End is the district inhabited by the workers and the poor. Quite an army of people live from hand to mouth in its slums and miserable houses lining dreary narrow streets. Industry is chiefly found in that part of the city, gray with soot and smoke.

The heart of London is the City — its commercial and business centre. Here is situated the Tower of London that comes first among the historic buildings of the city . If you want to get some glimpses of London it's just from here that you had better start sightseeing.

The Tower of London was founded by Julius Caesar and in 1066 rebuilt by William the Conqueror. It was used as a fortress, a royal residence and a prison. Now it is a museum of armour and also the place where Crown Jewels are kept. In present days, just as many centuries ago, the Ceremony of the Keys takes place at its gates. Every night when the guard is changed at each gate there is the cry: ‘Halt! Who goes there?' Then the guard replies: ‘The Keys.' ‘Whose Keys?' ‘Queen Elizabeth's Keys!' ‘Pass, Queen Elizabeth's Keys! All's well.' And so the Tower of London is safely closed for the night.

A twenty minutes' walk from the Tower will take you to another historic building – St. Paul's Cathedral, the greatest of English churches. It was built by a famous English architect, Sir Christopher Wren (1632-1723). St. Paul's Cathedral with its huge dome and rows of columns is consid­ered to be a fine specimen of Renaissance architecture. In one of its towers hangs one of the largest bells in the 'world, Great Paul, weighing about 17.5 tons. Wellington, Nelson and other great men of England are buried in the Cathedral.

Not far away, in Westminster, where most of the Govern­ment buildings are situated, is Westminster Abbey. Many English sovereigns, outstanding statesmen, painters and poets (Newton, Darwin, and Tennyson among them) are buried here.

Across the road from Westminster Abbey is Westminster Palace, the seat of the British Parliament. Its two graceful towers stand high above the city. The higher of the two contains the largest clock in the country and the famous bell Big Ben that strikes every quarter of the hour.

If now we walk along Whitehall, we shall soon come to Trafalgar Square. It was so named in memory of the victory in the battle of Trafalgar, where on October 21, 1805 the English fleet under Nelson's command defeated the combined fleet of France and Spain. The victory was won at the cost of Nelson's life. In the middle of Trafalgar Square stands Nelson's monument — a tall column with the figure of Nelson at its top. The column is guarded by four bronze lions.

The fine building facing the square is the National Gallery and adjoining it (but just round the corner) is the Portrait Gallery.

Not far away is the British Museum — the biggest Mu­seum in London. It contains a priceless collection of different things (ancient manuscripts, coins, sculptures, etc.). The British Museum is famous for its library — one of the richest in the world.

And now, even if you have almost no time left for further sightseeing, you cannot leave the city without visiting Hyde Park or ‘the Park' as Londoners call it. When you are walking along its shady avenues, sitting on the grass, admiring its beautiful flower-beds or watching swans and ducks floating on the ponds, it seems almost unbelievable that all around there is a large city with its heavy traffic and smoke.