Houses of Parliament

The Houses of Parliament are located in the city of Westminster alongside the River Thames. Both the House of Commons and the House of Lords hold their meetings in the palace. Big Ben, the clock tower’s famous bell, has been chiming since the middle of the 19th century.

Parks in London

The city of London is well known for its large and beautiful parks. Hyde Park is the largest of London’s royal parks. It is about 2km long and over 1 km wide. Hyde Park is a popular area for free time activities, including jogging, running and horse riding. Speaker’s Corner, near the north-eastern entrance of Hyde Park is a place where Londoners gather and listen to people who talk about all kinds of things. The Serpentine is a large artificial lake where people can go swimming or rowing. London has many other parks, including St. James’s Park, with a great view of Buckingham Palace, and Green Park.

Greenwich

Greenwich is a famous district in the eastern part of London. Tourists either take a Thames boat ride there or go by the Docklands Light Railway. Greenwich is famous for British naval history. The National Maritime Museum shows exhibits from a time when Britain was the world’s biggest sea power.

The Royal Observatory has a planetarium and a museum with a display of astronomical and navigational instruments. The prime meridian of the world goes through the observatory. It divides the world into an eastern and western hemisphere.

Other Sights

London Eye

A giant Ferris wheel rises 135 m high on the south bank of the River Thames. It was built as a part of London’s millennium celebrations. Each egg-shaped cabin can take up to 25 passengers. A complete turn of the wheel takes 30 minutes.

Madame Tussaud’s

The most famous museum of wax figures was opened in 1835. Thousands of famous people, artists, writers, politicians and other celebrities have been created in wax. During the tourist season waiting lines can be very long.

Trafalgar Square

The largest square in London has been a central meeting place since the Middle Ages. In the centre is Nelson’s Column, built in honour of Admiral Nelson, who defeated the French fleet at Trafalgar in 1805.

Piccadilly Circus

A busy plaza in the heart of London lies at the junction of five major streets. The place is famous for its colourful billboards, a fountain and a statue of Eros.

Covent Garden

The former fruit and vegetable market is always a crowded place, especially during weekends and in the summertime. Today it is known for its open-air cafes, restaurants, pubs and street performers.

Kensington Gardens

The gardens east of Hyde Park cover an area of over 100 ha. Their most famous attraction is Kensington Palace, the former home of Princess Diana. One of the park’s playgrounds has a statue of Peter Pan.

Globe Theatre

London’s most famous theatre, originally built at the end of the 16th century, was reconstructed in 1997. It is only about 200 metres from its original site.

Windsor Castle

One of the royal family’s official residences is the largest inhabited castle in the world. It lies about 30 km west of London. In the course of history it has been changed several times.

Задание 2. Ответьте на вопросы. Составьте пересказ текста.

1. Where does the Royal family live?

2. Why was St. Paul’s Cathedral rebuilt in the 17th century?

3. Where have all of the county’s kings and queens been crowned?

4. What is Greenwich famous for?

5. What was built as a part of millennium celebrations?

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