Brief History of London.
London sights
SHHI.02.007 British Studies
Evi Saluveer
Did you know that…
• London is the sixth richest city in the world.
• It is biggest city in Europe.
• It has two cities: Westminster and the City of
London.
• It is its own county called Greater London.
• It is believed to be a rainy city, but it is one of the
driest capitals in Europe.
• If London were a country it would be the 35th
biggest in Europe.
• Over 50 countries in the world are smaller than
London.
From: The Bumper Book of London by B. Jones & C. Lewis
https://linguae.weebly.com/londinium.html
In 49 AD The Romans founded the town under the name
of Londinium. The cite was chosen for their new
provincial capital.
1
https://allthatsinteresting.com/queen-boudica
In 61 London was burnt down by Queen Boudicca
and her tribe – the Iceni. Listen
https://www.visitlondon.com/things-to-do/sightseeing/london-attraction/historic/roman-london
The Romans eventually rebuilt London and built a wall
around the city to protect it from further invasion. The
area inside the wall today is known as a city.
Westminster Abbey
became the burial place of
kings and the stage for
coronations. Since 1066
every sovereign, except
Edward V and Edward VIII
has been crowned here.
Watch
The facade of London’s Westminster Abbey glows in sunshine.
(photo: Rick Steves)
2
https://www.goliveyoung.com/10-top-tips-visiting-tower-london/
In the 11th century the Normans built the
Tower of London. Watch
https://www.pinterest.com/pin/463870830359445318/ https://freetoursbyfoot.com/visiting-london-tower-bridge/
http://nurseryrhymesmg.com/rhymes/london_bridge_is_falling_down.htm
London Bridge was completed in 1209 and remained the
only stone bridge over the Thames for five and a half
centuries. Listen
3
In the early 13th century, King John granted the city the right
to elect a Lord Mayor every year.
London became the centre of trade and government under the
Tudor monarchs 1485–1603.
The Globe theatre was built at the end of the 16th century.
Watch
https://www.pilotguides.com/articles/shakespeares-globe-theatre/
A small fire, accidentally started in Pudding Lane in
1666, was the cause of an enormous fire.
St Paul’s Cathedral
– the fourth to
occupy this site –
was designed by the
court architect Sir
Christopher Wren
and built between
1675 and 1710 after
its predecessor was
destroyed in the
Great Fire of
https://www.list.co.uk/place/59708-st-pauls-cathedral-london-ec4m/
London.
4
The Great Fire of London
Find answers to the questions
• When and how did the fire start?
• Why did it spread so quickly?
• How did the fire stop ?
• What were the consequences of the fire?
https://www.timeout.com/london/attractions/houses-of-parliament
The Houses of Parliament
https://www.railjournal.com/in_depth/cooling-the-tube
Watch
5
Map
The Millenium Wheel (“London Eye”) was built to mark
the end of the century and millenium.
https://mydecorative.com/londons-magnificent-30-st-mary-axe/
The Gherkin opened in April 2004
6
https://unsplash.com/s/photos/the-shard
The tallest building in London and EU - The Shard
(310 m) - was opened in 2012.
Webliography
• Boudicca - http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p025lxd5
• I Didn't Know That: The London Tube -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrenBOD0eX0
• London, England: Westminster Abbey -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afzg6fvI55c
• London Bridge is falling down -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHE4dPr9cWY
• The Globe: Shakespeare's Theatre -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-EuwVgM2ts
• The Tower of London -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h6iUU9wbM3k
• The ravens at the Tower of London: the guardians of the Tower -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4GkR4XBHkRo&feature=relmfu
