LONDON SIGHTS
Trafalgar Square, a popular tourist attraction, is in central London; its trademarks are
Nelson’s Column, which stands in the centre, the four lion statues that guard the Column, and
the large number of pigeons that live in the square.
Buckingham Palace is the official London residence of the British monarch.
Buckingham Palace became the principal royal residence in 1837, on the accession of Queen
Victoria. The palace is technically the monarch’s property; both Windsor Castle and
Buckingham Palace and their art collections are held in trust for the Queen’s successors and
the nation.
Westminster Abbey is a Gothic church, just to the west of the Palace of Westminster.
It has been the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English monarchs since the
11th century.
The Tower of London was built on the Thames by William the Conqueror. It is a
magnificent example of Norman military architecture that has become a symbol of the nation.
Enlarged and modified by successive sovereigns, turned into a fortress, a prison or a place of
execution, today the Tower of London is one of the world’s most famous and spectacular
fortresses and home to the Crown Jewels.
London Eye dominates the river skyline opposite Parliament. It has the shape of a
huge wheel, provided with capsules from which you can see great sights which are not visible
from the ground.
The Houses of Parliament, also known as the Palace of Westminster, is where the
two Houses of Parliament of the United Kingdom, the House of Lords and the House of
Commons, meet. It also includes the Victoria Tower and the Clock Tower.
The Clock Tower, 96.3 metres tall, is situated at the north-eastern end of the Palace of
Westminster. It houses a large, four-faced clock – The Great Clock of Westminster. It also
houses one large bell and four smaller bells.. the large bell, officially known as the Great Bell,
is nicknamed Big Ben. It tolls the hour while the other bells, Westminster Quarters, strike
every quarter hour.
Madame Tussaud’s is the most famous wax museum in the world. It houses life-size
wax statues of Queen Elisabeth II, Prince Charles, Princess Diana, but also those of famous
Hollywood actors and actresses, world leaders, footballers, tennis players, rock and pop stars
like: Elvis Presley, Madonna, George Bush, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt, David Beckham, Tiger
Woods.
Tower Bridge is a suspension bridge over the River Thames. It is close to the Tower
of London, which gives it its name. it has become an iconic symbol of London. The bridge
consists of two towers which are tied together at the upper level by means of two horizontal
walkways which are designed to withstand the horizontal forces exerted by the suspended
sections of the bridge to the left and the right.
Piccadilly Circus is a famous road junction and public space of London’s West End,
built in 1819 to connect Regent Street with the major shopping street of Piccadilly. In this
context a circus, from the Latin word meaning a circle, is a circular open space at a street
junction. It now links the theatres to the major shopping and entertainment areas.
