By Anastasia
Presentation of London
London
• London is the capital and largest city of England and the United
Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million.
• It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a
50-mile (80 km) estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a major
settlement for two millennia.
Interesting facts about cities in London
1. Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace was commissioned by King George IV in the late 1700s,
though its history goes much further back. As far back, in fact, as the Middle Ages,
when the site formed part of the Manor of Ebury. We haven't heard of it either.
The site went was used for different buildings by different people, including Henry
VIII back in the 16th Century. However, once King George IV's planned work was
completed, he never even had the chance to call it home.
Its first official resident was Queen Victoria, who moved in a few years later in
1837. It was only then that the palace became the official royal residence. Since
then, many monarchs have come and gone. And to this day, it remains Queen
Elizabeth's home.
Interesting facts about cities in London
• 2. Palace of Westminster
• The original Palace of Westminster was commissioned by Edward the
Confessor in 1045 to be a royal residence. But today's palace was built
specifically for Parliament and modern democracy, and completed in 1870 by
architects Charles Barry and his gothic-obsessed assistant, Augustus Welby
Northmore Pugin.
• Inside the palace, you'll finda hair salon, pub, rooftop hideaway, gym and this
cutesy post office.
• Built in 1099, Westminster Hall survived ahuge fire that destroyed two-thirds
of the original Palace of Westminster on October 16, 1834. It's the oldest part
of palace andis home to the largest medieval wooden roofin northern Europe.
Interesting facts about cities in London
• 3. St. Paul's Cathedral
• Joining the likes of the Roman Pantheon, St Paul's Cathedral boasts one of the biggest
domes in the world at 366 feet high. Scale hundreds of steps to the top and bask in the
architecture - don't forget to spend some time in its famous Whispering Gallery on the way
up.
• In 1964,Martin Luther King was invited to speak by Canon John Collins. The congregation
totalled over three thousand, all packed into the Cathedral. Aside from being an activist,
Martin Luther King was also a Baptist minister and he spoke about three different
approaches to life in a sermon now known asThe Three Dimensions to a Complete Life.
• Interred in 1723, the prolific British architect was laid to rest in his own masterpiece. He
was the first of numerous key figures to have the honour.The epitaph inscribed on his crypt
reads:Lector, si monumentum requiris- which is Latin for 'If you seek his monument, look
around'.
Interesting facts about cities in London
• 4. London Eye
• The London Eye was first built in 1999 in celebration of the new millennium. It was
formally opened on 31st December 1999 by then Prime Minister, Tony Blair. The idea was
chosen from a host of entries into a competition held back in 1993 to suggest a new
landmark to signify the turning of the century.
• The London Eye has been called a lot of different names since it was first opened, most of
which are linked to who was sponsoring the wheel at the time. It has previously been
referred to as the British Airways London Eye, the Merlin Entertainments London Eye and
the Coca-Cola London Eye. However, it is most commonly called TheLondon Eyeor
TheMillennium Wheel.
• If you are visiting the city then a visit to The London Eye is well worth doing, especially if
you are travelling with children or those who enjoy seeing the sights from a great height.
Interesting facts about Queen Elizabeth II
• The Queen was given her first horse, a Shetland pony called Peggy, by her
grandfather King George V, and has been riding them ever since.
• The Queen was the only person in the UK who does not need to have a driver's
license in order to drive on public roads.
• After her father became King in 1936, Princess Elizabeth began studying
constitutional history and law. Her Majesty also studied French, German and
music when she was educated at home.
• Before she became Queen Elizabeth, Princess Elizabeth volunteered as a truck
driver and mechanic during World War II. This made her the first female
member of the royal family to serve in the military.
• The Queen carried out more than 21,000 engagements over her 70-reign
Thank you for watching my presentation
about London!
