Sights of London

1. The Clock Tower of the Palace of Westminster - officially named Saint Stephen's Tower - is commonly known as the Big Ben. The tower is one of London's most famous landmarks. The clock inside the tower was the world's
largest when it was installed in the middle of the nineteenth century. The name Big Ben actually refers to the clock's hour bell the largest of the clock's fi!e bells. The other four are used as "uarter bells.

Big Ben

Clock face

View from Parliament Square

Big Ben
There were two bells cast as the clock tower's hour bell. # first si$teen ton weighing bell was cast by %ohn Warner and Sons in &'(). Since the *lock Tower was not yet completed the bell was hung temporarily in the Palace +ard. The bell soon cracked so it was recast in &'(' in the Whitechapel Bell ,oundry as a &-.( ton bell. .nfortunately soon after this bell was placed in the belfry in %uly &'(/ it cracked as well. This time instead of yet again recasting the bell the crack was repaired and a lighter hammer was used to pre!ent any more cracks.

The 0ame
The hour bell was probably named after Ben1amin 2all the ,irst *ommissioner of Works. Some sources howe!er claim the bell was named after Ben1amin *aunt a British hea!yweight bo$ing champion.

The *lock
The clock was the largest in the world and is still the largest in 3reat-Britain. The clock faces ha!e a diameter of almost 4(ft 56.(m7. The hour hand is /ft or 4.6m long and the minute hand measures &8ft 58.4(m7 long. The clock is known for its reliability it has rarely failed during its long life span. 9!en after the nearby 2ouse of *ommons was destroyed by bombing during World War :: the clock kept on chiming. The clock's mechanism designed by 9dmund Beckett ;enison has a remarkable accuracy. The clock's rate is ad1usted by simply adding small pennies on the shoulder of the pendulum.

The Tower

The tower was constructed between &'8- and &'(' as the clock tower of the Palace of Westminster. The palace is now better known as the 2ouses of Parliament.The clock tower rises -&)ft high 5/)m7 and consists of a 4<<ft 5)&m7 high brick shaft topped by a cast iron framed spire. The clock faces are &'<ft = ((m abo!e ground le!el.

>iews
.nfortunately the clock tower is not publicly accessible but if you're looking for !iews o!er London the London 9ye and the Shard are currently the best options.

2. The Houses of Parliament , also known as the Palace of Westminster is

the seat of Britain's two parliamentary houses the 2ouse of Lords and the 2ouse of *ommons.

2ouses of Parliament

:n the middle of the &&th century ?ing 9dward the *onfessor had mo!ed his court to the Palace of Westminster situated on a central site near the ri!er Thames .:n &4)( a parliament was created with two houses@ the Lords and the *ommons. The 2ouse of Lords met at the Palace of Westminster while the 2ouse of *ommons did not ha!e a permanent location. #fter ?ing 2enry >::: mo!ed his court to Whitehall Palace in &(-< the 2ouse of Lords continued to meet in Westminster. :n &(86 the 2ouse of *ommons also mo!ed here confirming Westminster as the central seat of go!ernment a position it still holds today.

>iew from the London 9ye

The new Palace of Westminster

:n &'-8 a fire destroyed the Palace of Westminster lea!ing only the %ewel Tower the crypt and cloister of St. Stephens and Westminster 2all intact. #fter the fire a competition was organiAed to create a new building for the two houses of parliament .# design by Sir *harles Barry and his assistant #ugustus Welby Pugin was chosen from /6 entries. They created a large but balanced comple$ in neo 3othic style and incorporated the buildings that sur!i!ed the fire. The whole comple$ was finished in &'6< more than -< years after construction started. :t includes the *lock Tower >ictoria Tower 2ouse of *ommons 2ouse of Lords Westminster 2all and the Lobbies.

Big Ben

Big Ben

The most famous part of *harles Barry's design is the elegant clock tower. Briginally called St. Stephen's Tower it was soon named after the tower's largest bell the Big Ben. # light at the top of the tower is illuminated when Parliament is sitting at night.

*ommons *hamber C Lords *hamber

The *ommons *hamber where the 2ouse of *ommons meets was destroyed during the Second World War but rebuilt in &/(< by Sir 3iles 3ilbert Scott in the same neo 3othic style. The *ommons *hamber's interior 5with green colored benches7 is rather austere compared to the la!ishly decorated Lords *hamber 5with red colored benches7. B!er the centuries the balance of power has mo!ed from the elitist 2ouse of Lords to the more agitated 2ouse of *ommons where the go!erning party and the opposition are seated opposite each other with e$actly two sword lengths and one foot separating the two parties.

*entral Lobby
Bne of se!eral lobbies in the 2ouses of Parliament is the *entral Lobby where people can meet the Dembers of Parliament and persuade them to defend their interests. 2ence the !erb 'to lobby'.

>ictoria Tower

>ictoria Tower

The tower opposite the Big Ben is the >ictoria Tower built in &')<. The tower contains the records of both the 2ouse of Lords and the 2ouse of *ommons since &8/6. ;uring the parliamentary year the .nion ,lag is hoisted on top of the /'m tall tower.

Westminster 2all

The oldest part of the 2ouses of Parliament is Westminster 2all dating back to &</6. The large hammer beam roof was built in the &8th century and replaced the original roof which was supported by two rows of pillars. The hall is one of 9urope's largest unsupported medie!al halls. The 2ouses of Parliament are open to the public for more info see here.

site. Since &<)) e!ery royal coronation with the e$ception of 9dward > and 9dward >::: has taken place in Westminster #bbey.

. Westminster !""e#, located near the 2ouses of Parliament

is more a historical site than a religious

Burial 3round

The abbey also ser!es as the burial ground for numerous politicians so!ereigns and artists. The abbey is stuffed with tombs statues and monuments. Dany coffins e!en stand upright due to the lack of space. :n total appro$imately --<< people are buried in the church and cloisters. Some of the most famous are *harles ;arwin Sir :saac 0ewton and ;a!id Li!ingstone.

Westminster #bbey

2istory

The history of the abbey starts in &<(< when ?ing 9dward The *onfessor decided to build a monastery. Bnly a small part of this 0orman monastery consecrated in &<)( sur!i!ed. The only representation of this original building is shown on the Bayeu$ Tapestry. Dost of the present building dates from &48( to &464 when 2enry ::: decided to rebuild the abbey in the 3othic style. The building was later significantly e$panded@ the *hapel of 2enry >:: was added between &(<- and &(&4 while the two West ,ront Towers date from &68(. The youngest part of the abbey is the 0orth entrance completed in the &/th century.

The Nave
The abbey's nave is England's highest. In the nave you find the Grave of the Unknown Warrior, a World War I soldier who died on the battlefields in France and was buried here in French !" soil. #earby is a $arble $e$orial stone for Winston %hurchill. &is body is not, like $any fellow 'ri$e $inisters, buried in the abbey, but in (ladon.

The Cloister
The %loister was originally built in the )*th century. It was co$'letely rebuilt after it was destroyed by a fire in )+,-. The cloister was used by the (enedictine $onks for $editation and e.ercise.

Chapter House
The beautiful octagonal %ha'ter house fro$ )+/0 and )1th century $urals. is one of the largest of its kind in England. It has an original tile floor dating

Henry VII Chapel

The &enry 2II %ha'el aka 3ady %ha'el", built )/0*4)/)+, is one of the $ost outstanding cha'els of its ti$e, with a $agnificent vault. The cha'el has a large stained glass window, the (attle of (ritain $e$orial window. The window, which dates fro$ ),15 and re'laces an original window that was da$aged during World War II, co$$e$orates fighter 'ilots and crew who died during the (attle of (ritain in ),10.

8. London$s Tower Bridge is one of the most recogniAable bridges in the world. :ts >ictorian 3othic style
stems from a law that forced the designers to create a structure that would be in harmony with the nearby Tower of London.

Tower Bridge

Bridge 2istory

Plans for the Tower Bridge were de!ised around &'6) when the east of London became e$tremely crowded and a bridge across the Thames in that area of the city seemed a necessity. :t would take another eight years - and lots of discussions about the design - before construction of the bridge started. The bridge designed by city architect 2orace %ones in collaboration with %ohn Wolfe Barry would e!entually be completed in &'/8. ,i!e contractors and nearly 8(< workers were in!ol!ed in the construction of the 4)( meter long bridge. :t took && <<< tons of steel to build the framework. #t the time many people disliked its >ictorian 3othic design but o!er time the bridge became one of London's most famous symbols.

Dechanics

Tower bridge raising

Tower Bridge at night

The pro$imity of the harbor and its location in the direction of the sea re"uired for the bridge to allow the passage of large !essels. 2ence the decision to create a mo!eable bridge which can be opened to accommodate boat traffic. The mechanism to open the bridge is hidden in the two towers. .ntil &/6) when the mechanism became electrified steam power was used to pump water into hydraulic accumulators which powered the engines. 9ach deck is more than -< meters wide and can be opened to an angle of '- degrees. When opened the bridge has a clearance of almost 8( meters. :t used to open almost (< times a day but nowadays it is only raised about & <<< times a year. Bridge lifts are pre-scheduled 5for cruise ships etc7 so !isitors can check the bridge's website to find out when it will rise and lower.

>isiting the Bridge

Taking photographs of the Tower bridge is a fa!orite London tourist acti!ity but you can also go inside the bridge where you'll ha!e a magnificent !iew o!er London from the walkway between the two bridge towers. :nside the bridge is the Tower bridge

9$hibition a display area that encompasses the walkway and the two famous towers where you can obser!e the >ictorian engine room. >isitors can learn about the history of the bridge !ia photos films and other media.

%. The Tower of London was built at the beginning of the &&th century by William the con"ueror. The
tower was e$panded during the &-th century into the fortified comple$ that we know today. The Tower's most popular attraction is its famous collection of *rown %ewels.

Tower of London

*onstruction of the Tower of London was initiated in &<6< by William the *on"ueror shortly after his !ictory at 2astings in &<)). The Tower was built to enforce the power of the king o!er the newly con"uered region. The fortress strategically located at the Thames was originally not more than a temporary wooden building which was replaced later by the White Tower. B!er time the comple$ was e$panded into a stronghold with about 4< towers. Today the Tower of London is best known for its *rown %ewels but it used to be notorious for the many political opponents of the kings that were locked tortured and killed in the Tower. The Tower was also a royal residence@ se!eral kings li!ed here especially during turbulent times when the don1on seemed a lot safer than the palace in Westminster.

White Tower

The White Tower

The oldest part of the fortress is the so-called White Tower which was completed in &</6. This keep was long the tallest building in London at 46.8 meters 5/<ft7. :ts walls are 8.) meter wide. The tower was whitewashed during the reign of 2enry ::: which ga!e the tower's facade its white appearance. 9!er since the tower has been known as White Tower. The building has four domed turrets at each corner. Three of them ha!e a s"uare shape the other is round due to its spiral staircase. The round turret was long used as an obser!atory.

Bther Towers
The Tower of London was significantly e$panded in the &-th century during the reign of 2enry ::: when two defensi!e walls were built around the White Tower. The inner wall had thirteen towers and the outer wall another si$. The towers were mostly used to imprison political opponents. Some of the most famous prisoners locked in the Tower were two princes the sons of king 9dward :>. #fter 9dward's dead in &8'- the children were locked in the Bloody Tower by their uncle who would later ascend the throne as king Eichard :::. The princes were ne!er seen again and were probably killed by guards. The St. Thomas Tower is located close to the Bloody Tower. 2ere prisoners were brought into the fortress by boat through the Traitor's gate.

Traitors' 3ate

:mportant prisoners were often locked in the Beauchamp Tower sometimes with their ser!ants. #n inscription on the wall of the tower is belie!ed to refer to Lady %ane 3rey who nine days after she was crowned Fueen was e$ecuted on Tower 3reen an open terrain in the Tower of London.

Byward Tower

Thomas Dore was imprisoned in the Bell Tower until his e$ecution after he refused to accept king 2enry >::: as head of the #nglican church. 9!en Fueen 9lisabeth : was confined here for some time.

+eoman Warders

+eoman Warder

The main entrance of the Tower of London is at the Byward Tower where you'll find the so-called Beefeaters or +eoman Warders. ;ressed in historic clothes they not only guard the tower but also gi!e guided tours of the fortress. Bne of the about 8< +eoman Warders is known as the Ea!enmaster responsible for the ra!ens that ha!e been li!ing here for centuries. Legend has it that the Tower and the kingdom will fall if the ra!ens lea!e. 2ence ?ing *harles :: placed the birds under royal protection and the wings of the ra!ens are clipped to pre!ent them from flying away.

*rown %ewels
The most famous tourist attraction in the Tower of London is the collection of *rown %ewels that has been on display here since the &6th century during the reign of *harles ::. Dost of the 1ewels were created around the year &))< when the monarchy was reinstalled. The ma1ority of the older crown 1ewels were destroyed by Bli!er *romwell. The 1ewels can be found in the %ewel 2ouse which is part of the Waterloo Barracks 1ust north of the White Tower. Some of the highlights of the collection are the (-< carat ,irst Star of #frica which is set in the Scepter of the *rossG the :mperial State *rown with more than 4'<< diamonds and the famous ?oh-:-0oor a &<( carat diamond.

:mperial State *rown

Dore Sights
There's plenty more to see in the Tower of London such as the Eoyal #rmories which includes the personal armory of ?ing 2enry >::: one of the world's largest. The medie!al palace in the Tower of London is also open to !isitors and there are often reenactments of historic e!ents in the fortress.

&. Buckingham Palace

attractions in London.

one of se!eral palaces owned by the British Eoyal family is one of the ma1or tourist

2istory

Buckingham Palace

The original building was constructed as a countryhouse in &6<( by the duke of Buckingham %ohn Sheffield. ?ing 3eorge ::: bought the house in &6)& for his wife and had it altered by William *hambers.:n &'4) ?ing 3eorge :> asked famed architect %ohn 0ash to e$pand the house - then known as Buckingham 2ouse - into a palace. Deanwhile St. %ames's Palace was still the principal palace used by the royals for ceremonies and receptions.

The Palace seen from St. %ames's Park

?ing 3eorge :> as well as his younger brother and successor ?ing William :> both died before the palace was completed. Fueen >ictoria was the first to reside in the palace. :n %uly &'-6 three weeks after her accession to the throne she mo!ed from ?ensington Palace where she grew up to the new Buckingham Palace. The palace was e$panded in &'(< with a new east wing. The wing added a large number of rooms to the palace including an e$pansi!e 8< meter 5&-& ft7 long ballroom. The monumental facade of the east wing was built in &/&- by #ston Webb. :t is this facade facing the Dall and St %ames's Park which is now known by most people.

Eoyal ,amily

# part of the palace is still used by the Eoyal family. # flag is hoisted each time the Fueen is in the Palace. The palace is not only home to the royal family there are also a number of staff members li!ing here. The palace has about )<< rooms including a throne room a ballroom picture gallery and e!en a swimming pool. Some of these rooms can be !isited during a couple of months in the summer - when the Eoyal ,amily is not in the palace - including the la!ishly decorated State Eooms@ the Throne Eoom 3reen ;rawing Eoom Silk Tapestry Eooms Picture 3allery State ;ining Eoom Blue ;rawing Eoom Dusic Eoom and White ;rawing Eoom are all part of the tour around the Buckingham Palace. #nother interesting part of the palace that is open to !isitors is the Fueen's 3allery where works of art from the royal collection are on display. The palace's stables the Eoyal Dews can also be !isited. 2ere you'll find a number of royal horse-drawn carriages.

Fueen >ictoria Demorial

Fueen >ictoria Demorial

Eight in front of the building is the Fueen >ictoria Demorial designed by Sir #ston Webb and built in &/&& in honor of Fueen >ictoria who reigned for almost si$ty-four years.

*hanging of the 3uard

*hanging of the 3uards

The changing of the guard takes place daily at && o'clock in front of Buckingham Palace. # colorfully dressed detachment known as the 0ew 3uard parades along the Dall towards Buckingham Palace and during a ceremony replaces the e$isting Bld 3uard. The ceremony which is accompanied by music played by a military band always attracts throngs of onlookers.

Touted as HLondon's fa!orite tourist attractionH the statues at

been thrilling !isitors since Tussaud opened her first permanent e$hibit in &'-(.

'. (adame Tussauds

Wa$ Duseum ha!e

#bout Dadame Tussaud and 2er Wa$ Duseum

Dadame Tussauds

The Beatles

Darie Tussaud 5&6)&-&'(<7 a nati!e of Strasbourg ,rance learned the fine art of sculpting from her mother's employer a physician skilled in the art of wa$ modeling. The doctor Philippe *urtius was one of the first to display such works of art opening an e$hibition in &66). +oung Darie made her first sculpture at the tender age of &) fashioning a likeness of ,rench enlightenment writer ,ranIois >oltaire. 2er first solo e$hibit appeared on Baker Street in &'-( followed by her famous *hamber of 2orrors collection in &'8( where Dadame Tussaud displayed a collection of death masks that she had made of the !ictims of the guillotine during the

Tiger Woods

2itler

Darylin Donroe

,rench Ee!olution in Paris. :n the meantime she added many likenesses to her collection. :n &''8 se!eral decades after her death Dadame Tussauds Wa$ Duseum mo!ed to its current location on London's Darylebone Eoad where millions ha!e stood on "ueue for hours to get a glimpse at her work and that of her successors. The current museum suffered a fire in &/4( and many statues were lost. 2owe!er the molds remained intact and se!eral of the pieces were recreated. :t is now one of London's busiest attractions and during peak tourist season it is common to encounter long lines that stretch for blocks. The museum started an o!erseas e$pansion in &/6< when it opened a branch location in #msterdam. Today it has e$panded to many more cities including Las >egas 0ew +ork *ity 2ong ?ong Shanghai Washington ;* and 2ollywood.

What +ou'll See

Tussaud and her successors ha!e fashioned literally thousands of replicas of famous people. >isitors can !iew world leaders actors=actresses sports legends famous writers and artists religious figures musicians and a host of other characters. Besides those displays there's also se!eral themed sections in the museum including the *hamber of 2orrors and an ta$i ride for a 1ourney through history. While the London museum has a decidedly British slant !isitors from all o!er the world will recogniAe a ma1ority of the characters.

9stablished in &6(- with the donation of 6& <<< ob1ects from the collection of Sir 2ans Sloane

). the British

(useum "uickly became one of the city's top attractions.

The Duseum Building
Since &6(8 the museum's home has sat at the site of the Dontague 2ouse in Bloomsbury. :t wasn't long before this facility became too small to display and store the museum's large collection and plans were made for additions to the museum. The Townley 3allery for classical sculpture was added first but was later torn down to make way for the Smirke Building which is the core of the building !isitors see today when they !isit the museum.

The Smirke Building

Smirke Building

The idea for the Smirke Building designed by Sir Eobert Smirke in 3reek re!i!al style was concei!ed in &'4- but the addition was not completed until nearly -< years later. :t was originally built to house the personal library of ?ing 3eorge :::. This new building was a "uadrangle situated north of the Dontague 2ouse. The south wing of the Smirke Building e!entually replaced the old house. # domed circular reading room was added in &'(6 and the White Wing designed by architect %ohn Taylor was added -< years later. ?ing 9dward >::'s 3alleries a Beau$ #rts style addition became part of the British Duseum in &/&8.

Parthenon *alleries

The Parthenon 3alleries by #merican %ohn Eussell Pope was built to house the Parthenon sculptures and opened in &/-/. 2owe!er because of e$tensi!e damage suffered during World War :: the structure had to be rebuilt and was reopened in &/)4. #nother new wing opened in &/'< housed public facilities like a restaurant and gift shop.

The *reat Court

3reat *ourt

,inally the Fueen 9liAabeth :: 3reat *ourt opened in 4<<<. This two-acre s"uare 5'<<< s" m7 enclosed by a glass roof creates an indoor courtyard with the museum's famed circular reading room in the center. This design made by 0orman ,oster and Partners makes it easier for !isitors to find their way in the museum thanks to the large open space !ery similar to the way the

9aster :sland Sculpture

entrance area below the Lou!re Pyramid in Paris works.

The Duseum's *ollection

The collection found at the British Duseum is en1oyed by millions each year. Because the museum is so large many !isitors take more than one day to e$plore. 0ot all of the more than 6 million artifacts are on display but much of the collection constantly rotates so you'll see something new with each !isit.

+lgin (ar"les

The 9lgin Darbles the collection of marble sculptures that were taken from the Parthenon in #thens is one of the museum's most famous attractions. They are located in the purpose-built Parthenon 3alleries. The sculptures also known as the Parthenon Darbles were obtained by Thomas Bruce the 6th 9arl of 9lgin and diplomat in *onstantinopal in the Bttoman 9mpire which at that time included 3reece. 9arl 9lgin obtained permission Hto take away any pieces of stone with old inscriptions or figures thereonH to pre!ent any more damage by the Turkish. Lord 9lgin's collection was at first displayed at his own house but in &'&) the 2ouse of *ommons decided to purchase the collection and hand it o!er to the British Duseum
+g#,tian Collection

9lgin Darbles

Bust of Eamesses ::

#nother highlight of the British Duseum is the e$tensi!e 9gyptian collection. Besides many sarcophagi and statues including an enormous one of Pharaoh Eamesses :: the collection is home to the famous Eosetta stone used by %ean-,ranIois *hampollion to decipher the hieroglyphic writing. The te$t on the stone created in &/) B* after the end of the 9gyptian dynasties is written in three different writings@ 3reek hieroglyphic and demotic 5a symplified form of hieroglyphic7. The British Duseum is also known for its !ery large and popular collection of 9gyptian mummies and coffins. +ou can e!en find animal mummies here.
!ss#rian collection

Eosetta Stone

#ssyrian winged bull

The #ssyrian collection features relief car!ings from the palaces of the #ssyrian kings at 0imrud ?horsabad and 0ine!eh. The enormous winged bulls from the palace of Sargon :: are especially impressi!e.
-ther de,artments

The many other departments in the museum include #frica Bceania and the #mericasG SudanG #siaG *oins and DedalsG *onser!ation ;ocumentation and ScienceG 3reek and Eoman #nti"uitiesG the Diddle 9astG Portable #nti"uities and TreasureG Prehistory and 9uropeG and Prints and ;rawings.

# relati!ely recent but already !ery popular tourist attraction is

located in the %ubilee 3ardens on the South Bank. The &-( meter 588-ft7 tall structure was built as part of London's millennium celebrations.

.. the London +#e, a giant obser!ation wheel

# Landmark for the new Dillennium

The structure was designed by the architectural team of ;a!id Darks and %ulia Barfield husband and wife. They submitted their idea for a large obser!ation wheel as part of a competition to design a landmark for the new millennium. 0one of the entrants won the competition but the couple pressed on and e!entually got the backing of British #irways who sponsored the pro1ect.

London 9ye

*onstruction
*onstruction of the obser!ation wheel took more than a year and a half to complete. :n the process o!er &6<< tonnes of steel were used for the structure and more than -<<< tonnes of concrete were used for the foundations. The futuristic looking capsules accommodating up to 4( passengers were transported all the way from ,rance by train through the chunnel. 9ach eggshaped capsule is ' meters long and weighs (<<kg. The 4( meter 5'4 ft7 long spindle was built in the *Aech Eepublic. The rim has a diameter of &44m 58<<ft7 about 4<< times the siAe of a bicycle wheel. '< Spokes connect the rim with the spindle.

The Bbser!ation Wheel

London seen from the London 9ye

*apsule

The obser!ation wheel turns slow enough for people to embark while it is mo!ing. # complete turn takes about -< minutes. Thanks to the construction of the glass capsules on the outer side of the rim the passengers ha!e a great -)<J !iew o!er London.

Dany famous landmarks are clearly !isible includingBuckingham Palace St. Paul's *athedral and the 2ouses of Parliament. Bn a clear day you can see as far as 8< km 54( miles7. Dake sure you get your tickets in ad!ance lines can be !ery long both the lines for embarking and for ticket purchases. :t's less crowded at night when the !iews are e!en more spectacular.

The ma1estic

9urope's largest cathedrals and its dome is only e$ceeded in siAe by that of the St. Peter's Basilica in Eome.

1/. St. Paul$s Cathedral was built by *hristopher Wren between &)6( and &6&&. :t is one of

9arly 2istory

St. Paul's *athedral

St. Paul's *athedral has had an e!entful history. ,i!e different churches were built at this site. The first church dedicated to the apostle Paul dates back to )<8 #; when ?ing 9thelbert of ?ent built a wooden church on the summit of one of London's hills for Dellitus Bishop of the 9ast Sa$ons. #t the end of the 6th century the church was built in stone by 9rkenwald Bishop of London. :n /)4 and again in &<'6 the cathedral was destroyed by fire but each time it was rebuilt and e$panded. By that time it had become one of the largest cathedrals in 9urope. Eeno!ations and e$tensions in the &-th and &8th century enlarged the cathedral e!en more.

The 3reat ,ire

Scale model of the old St. Paul's *athedral

:n &))( *hristopher Wren designed a plan for the reno!ation of the St. Paul's *athedral which was starting to fall into decay. But disaster struck again on the night of September 4 &))) when the 3reat ,ire of London destroyed 8=(th of all of London wiping &- 4<< houses and '/ churches including the St. Paul's *athedral off the map.

*hristopher Wren's Dasterpiece

South ,aIade

:n &))/ three years after the fire *hristopher Wren was appointed 'Sur!eyor of Works' and was tasked with the construction of a new church to replace the destroyed 3othic cathedral. 2is first design was deemed too modest. :n his second design known as the '3reat Dodel' the cathedral was shaped like a 3reek cross with a portico *orinthian columns and a striking large dome which would be the world's largest after Dichelangelo's dome at the St. Peter's Basilica in Eome. This design was re1ected as wellG the Bishop considered it unsuitable for large processions. Wren suggested a third design this time with a larger na!e and smaller dome which was accepted in &)6(. #fter the appro!al howe!er Wren enlarged the dome and made se!eral other ad1ustments so that the built cathedral now resembles the '3reat Dodel' and not the appro!ed design. The cathedral was built in a relati!e short time span@ its first stone was laid on %une 4& &)6( and the building was completed in &6&&.

The ;ome

*athedral ;ome

The dome reaches a height of &&& meters 5-)) ft7 and weights about )) <<< ton. 9ight arches support the dome. Bn top of the dome is a large lantern with a weight of '(< ton. ()< Steps lead !isitors along three galleries all the way to the top of the dome. The first gallery the Whispering 3allery 1ust inside the dome is renowned for its acoustics. The second gallery the Stone 3allery is situated at a height of (- meter 5&68 ft7 on the outside of the dome right abo!e the colonnade. Bn top of the dome at a height of '( meter 546/ ft7 is the narrow 3olden 3allery which encircles the lantern's base. ,rom here you ha!e a magnificent !iew o!er the *ity.

:nterior

The Baro"ue interior is 1ust as imposing as the e$terior of the church. The mosaics on the ceiling were added in &'/< by William Eichmond after Fueen >ictoria complained that there was not enough color in the cathedral. The baldachin abo!e the altar was rebuilt in &/(' after it was damaged by bombardments during World War ::. The design is based on a sketch created by Wren. The only monument in the church that sur!i!ed the fire of &))) is the tomb of %ohn ;onne from &)-&. Se!eral famous people are entombed in the cathedral's crypt. Dost notable are the tomb of the ;uke of Wellington - who defeated 0apoleon at Waterloo - and the tomb of #dmiral 0elson who died at the Battle of Trafalgar. There is also a tomb of *hristopher Wren himself and a number of important artists are buried here as well.

The West ,acade

The West ,acade

The impressi!e facade at the west side of the church consists of a large portico and pediment. # relief on the tympanum depicts the con!ersion of Paul and was created in &6<). The portico is flanked by two towers which weren't part of the original plan. Wren added them at the last minute in &6<6.

:mportant 9!ents
The church was the site of a number of important historic e!ents such as the funeral of #dmiral 0elson in &'<) and the funeral of Winston *hurchill in &/)(. Prince *harles and Lady ;iana Spencer married here in &/'&.

11. Trafalgar S0uare, the largest s"uare in London

is often considered the heart of the city. 9!er since

the Diddle #ges Trafalgar S"uare has been a central meeting place. #t the middle of the s"uare stands a tall column honoring admiral 0elson. The s"uare was originally called *haring. Later it became known as *haring *ross after a memorial cross on the s"uare. The nearby underground station 5the 'tube'7 is still named *haring *ross.

2istory

Trafalgar S"uare

,rom the thirteenth century on the area was the site of the ?ing's Eoyal 2awks and later the Eoyal Dews. :n &'&4 the Prince Eegent - who would later become ?ing 3eorge :> - asked architect %ohn 0ash to rede!elop the area. #fter much delay work finally started in &'-<. 0ash had the terrain cleared but he died before his plans were realiAed and works were halted. The completion of the 0ational 3allery in &'-' on the north side of the s"uare reignited interest in its rede!elopment. # new design by architect *harles Barry 5best known for his 2ouses of Parliament7 which consisted of two le!els separated by a monumental flight of stairs was appro!ed and construction started in &'8<. ,i!e years later the s"uare was finally completed.

0elson's *olumn

0elson's *olumn

Landseer Lion

The name of the s"uare commemorates the !ictory of #dmiral 2oratio Lord 0elson o!er the ,rench fleet at the Battle of Trafalgar on the 4&st of Bctober &'<(. :nitially there were no plans for a statue in honor of the admiral. :nstead a statue of ?ing William :> was planned. 9!entually in &'-' it was decided that Trafalgar S"uare was the ideal place for a monument to Britain's most famous admiral and a competition was organiAed to select a design for the '0elson Testimonial'.

The winner of the competition was William Eailton who proposed a &6<ft = (4 meter tall *orinthian column and statue. The column was built between &'8& and &'8-. Bn top of the column stands an &'ft 5(.( meter7 tall statue of Lord 0elson created by 9dward 2odges. #t the base of the column are four huge lions modeled by Sir 9dwin Landseer. They were added later in &')'.

Statues

?ing 3eorge :>

%ames 0apier

?ing *harles :

:n the four corners of the lower le!el of Trafalgar S"uare stand four plinths. The plinth in the north-east carries the e"uestrian statue of 3eorge > installed here in &'8-. The statue of the king was created by ,rancis *hantrey for the Darble #rch but was instead placed here. :n the south-west corner stands a statue of *harles 0apier a military leader best known for his time as commander-in-chief in :ndia. The statue by 3eorge 3amon #dams was installed in &'(). Bn the western side is the statue of 2enry 2a!elock another military leader who spent much of his career in :ndia. 2is statue was created in &')& by William Behnes. ,or o!er &(< years the plinth in the north-west corner of Trafalgar S"uare commonly known as the ',ourth Plinth' remained empty. :t was intended to hold an e"uestrian statue of ?ing William :>. # failure to gather sufficient funds for its construction meant it was ne!er realiAed. :n &/// it was decided to use the plinth for the temporary display of modern sculpture. There are se!eral more statues in and around Trafalgar S"uare. The most interesting is the e"uestrian statue of ?ing *harles : which occupies the middle of a small traffic circle 1ust south of 0elson's *olumn. :t is the oldest e"uestrian statue in London created in &)-- by the ,rench sculptor 2ubert Le Sueur. #fter the e$ecution of *harles : in &)8/ the Parliament ordered the statue to be melted down. The braAier assigned with this task instead hid the statue and sold it back to ?ing *harles :: after the 9nglish monarchy was restored.

,ountains

Trafalgar S"uare ,ountain

The first fountains at Trafalgar S"uare were installed as part of its de!elopment in the nineteenth century. They were replaced by the two current fountains created in &/-/ as a memorial to ;a!id Beatty and %ohn Eushworth %ellicoe admirals of the Eoyal 0a!y. The fountains were designed by architect 9dwin Lutyens and are decorated with sculpture of dolphins mermaids and small sharks.

0ational 3allery

0ational 3allery

Bn the north side the neoclassical0ational 3allery built between &'-8 and &'-' o!erlooks Trafalgar S"uare from its ele!ated position. The museum is home to an impressi!e collection of paintings spanning si$ centuries. +ou can admire works from some of the world's most famous painters including Eubens >ermeer !an 3ogh Titian Leonardo da >inci Dichelangelo Eenoir and *laude Donet.

St. Dartin-in-the-,ields

St. Dartin-in-the-,ields

#t the north-east corner is the St. Dartin-in-the-,ields parish church. :t is one of the most famous churches in London partly thanks to its prominent location at one of the busiest areas in the city. The church with a large white steeple neoclassical portico was built in &64& by %ames 3ibbs and was used as a model for many churches particularly in the .nited States. :t is the fourth church at this siteG the first was built in the thirteenth century. #t the time this area was still rural hence its name.

12. H#de Park,

which opened to the public in &)-6 is the largest of se!eral royal parks in London that are

connected to each other forming one large green lung in the center of the city. The park is famous for its Speakers' *orner. The other parks are the neighboring ?ensington 3ardens 3reen Park and St. %ames's Park. 2yde Park co!ers more than -)< acres 5&84 hectares7 and hosts many large e!ents including celebrations and concerts. :t is also a popular place for 1ogging swimming rowing picnicking and e!en horse riding.

2yde Park

2istory
:n &(-) ?ing 2enry >::: confiscated 2yde Park from the monks ofWestminster #bbey. :t was used primarily for hunting. ?ing *harles : opened the park to the public in &)-6. The current park layout was planned by architect ;ecimus Burton in &'4(.

Serpentine

The Serpentine

The Serpentine a large artificial lake is located at the south end of the park and e$tends northwards into the neighboring ?ensington 3ardens where it is called Long Water. Fueen *aroline wife of ?ing 3eorge :: had the lake constructed in &6-<. :t is popular for boating and swimming.

;iana Princess of Wales Demorial ,ountain

;iana Demorial ,ountain

%ust southwest of the Serpentine is a memorial installed in honor of princess ;iana. The modern fountain which more resembles an artificial stream rather than a fountain was inaugurated in 4<<8 by Fueen 9lisabeth ::. The memorial was designed by the #merican landscape architect ?athryn 3ustafson using computer modeling techni"ues. The circular fountain consists of (8( pieces of *ornish granite. Water flows from two sides at the top into a small pool at the bottom.

Eotten Eow

Eotten Eow

#t the south end of 2yde park is Eotten Eow a famous bridle path. The road is almost four miles long 5) 8 km7 and is now used as a horse riding and 1ogging route. :n the &6th century the road was often used by William :::. The king found the walk from ?ensington Palace to St. %ames's Palace too dangerous so he had oil lamps installed along the route thus creating the first lit public road in 9ngland. The term 'Eotten Eow' is deri!ed from the ,rench 'route du roi' or ?ing's road.

Speakers' *orner

Speakers' *orner

:n the &/th century 2yde Park had become a popular place for meetings. :n &'64 in response to riots that erupted after police tried to disband a political meeting Speakers' *orner was established to create a !enue where people would be allowed to speak freely. 2ere e!ery Sunday people stand on a soap bo$ and proclaim their !iews on political religious or other items sometimes interrupted and challenged by their audience.

Darble #rch

Darble #rch

#t the north-east corner of 2yde Park is the Darble #rch. :t was originally built in &'46 as a gateway to Buckingham Palace but it was mo!ed to its present location in &'(&. The design by %ohn 0ash was based on the #rch of *onstantine in Eome. The upper part of the arch was once in use as a tiny police station.

Still Water and 3enghis ?han

3enghis ?han 5left7and Still Water 5right7

9ast of the Darble arch is a series of fountains installed here in &/)&. Between the fountains and the arch are two large modern statues. Bne called Still Water shows a huge head of a horse o!er ten meters tall 5about -( ft7. The bronAe statue created by the British sculptor 0ic ,iddian-3reen was un!eiled here in 4<</. Eight near the horse's head is another modern bronAe statue erected in 4<&4. The e"uestrian statue honors 3enghis ?han a legendary Dongolian warrior and is a creation of the Eussian sculptor ;ashi 0amdako!.

#chilles Statue

#chilles Statue

The largest statue in 2yde Park is the #chilles Statue installed here in &'44 to honor the ;uke of Wellington the !ictor o!er 0apoleon's army at Waterloo. The bronAe statue was cast from cannons that were captured from the ,rench. The statue was created by Eichard Westmacott who based its design on the statues of *astor and Pollu$ at the PiaAAa del Fuirinale in Eome. The statue was - like the ones in Eome - nude but true to their reputation the prudish Londoners were shocked and Westmacott was force to add a fig leaf hence the "uite ridiculous appearance of the statue.

Dore Statues and Donuments

Eeformers' Tree

There are se!eral more memorials and statues in 2yde Park. Bne of the most notable is the 6=6 Demorial which commemorates the !ictims of the terrorist attack of %uly 6 4<<(. The monument consists of (4 stainless steel columnsG each one represents one of the !ictims of the bombings. # !ery different memorial is the Eeformers' Tree a circular black and white mosaic laid out in 4<<&. The mosaic marks the spot of an oak that was burned down during the riots of &')). The charred stump was used as a notice board for political manifestations organiAed by the Eeform League. The manifestations would lead to the creation of the nearby Speakers' *orner. # more con!entional memorial honors William 2enry 2udson a writer and naturalist. The monument a relief created by %acob 9pstein was "uite contro!ersial when it was un!eiled in &/4( but today it's hard to see why. +et another Demorial featuring St. 3eorge and a dragon was un!eiled in &/48 and commemorates the *a!alry regiments that ser!ed in the World Wars.

:sis

# more modern monument is ':sis' a three meter tall statue of an ibis created by British sculptor Simon 3udgeon. The statue was installed in 4<</ near the Serpentine. :t is named after the 9gyptian goddess of motherhood and patroness of nature and magic.

The Eose 3arden

The Boy and ;olphin ,ountain

There's more than 1ust statues and memorials in 2yde Park though. Dost of the park consists of open grassy areas dotted with large trees. There are !ery few flowerbeds or shrubs but an e$ception is the beautiful rose garden in the southeast corner of 2yde Park. 2ere you find plenty of flowers a long winding pergola and two fine fountains. The oldest of the two is the #rtemis ,ountain which shows the greek goddess of the 2unt #rtemis 5who is better known by her Eoman name ;iana7. The fountain was

created in &'44 by Eichard Westmacott the sculptor of the nearby #chilles Statue. The other fountain is known as the Boy and ;olphin ,ountain. :t was created in &')4 by #le$ander Dunro and was originally placed in a sunken >ictorian garden. :n &//( the statue was mo!ed to its current location.

%oy of Life ,ountain

%oy of Life ,ountain

The largest fountain in 2yde Park is the %oy of Life ,ountain. The fountain is decorated with bronAe sculptures that float o!er a large circular basin. #t the center are two adults seemingly dancing and holding each others' arms. #round them are four statues of children who seem to ho!er o!er the water. The fountain a work of sculptor Thomas Bayliss 2u$ley-%ones was created in &/)-. :t is sometimes also called the ,our Winds ,ountain.

1 . Co1ent *arden is one of the London's biggest tourist magnets. The area around the glass-co!ered building a former fruit and !egetable market - is always crowded especially during weekends and in summertime.

*o!ent 3arden

*o!ent 3arden is known for its many open-air cafKs restaurants pubs market stalls and shops. ,amous are the many street performers who entertain the !isitors on the pedestrianiAed piaAAa. # former floral market now houses the London Transport Duseum. The *o!ent 3arden district is also home to se!eral theaters and the Eoyal Bpera 2ouse.

London's ,irst Public S"uare

:n the Diddle #ges the current s"uare was a !egetable field known as the con!ent garden@ it supplied food to the monks of the nearby con!ent of St. Peter Westminster. :n &(8< ?ing 2enry >::: confiscated the lands of the monasteries and the land was gi!en to %ohn Baron Eussell the first 9arl of Bedford. :n &)-4 the 8th 9arl of Bedford ,rancis Eussell commissioned the renowned architect :nigo %ones to de!elop the area into a lu$ury neighborhood. 2ea!ily influenced by :talian piaAAas %ones created London's first public s"uare surrounded by arcaded buildings and dominated by the church of St. Paul.

2istory

*entral Darket

The now high-class neighborhood soon started to decline. ;uring the ci!il war which started in &)84 many houses around the s"uare were empty. Some of them were now used as shops.

When the 3reat ,ire of London destroyed the markets in the city many businesses mo!ed to the co!ent garden. The market kept e$panding until it occupied the whole s"uare. :n &'-< a central market building was constructed in the center of the s"uare. The glass roofs o!er the aisles were added later the first in &'6( and the other in &''/. The ,lower Darket building was added in &'6< and in &/<8 the %ubilee Darket was completed.

Shopping C Leisure *enter

London TransportDuseum

#lready in &/4& the go!ernment decided the location in a crowded central section of London was unsuited for the market. :t would take until &/6- before the market finally mo!ed out to 0ine 9lms. Eeal estate de!elopers planned to tear down most of the now emptied houses and markets at co!ent garden. # new district with hotels and office blocks would replace the old buildings but campaigns by local residents and opposition by the general public pre!ented the demolition of the markets. The plans were changed and the buildings were restored. The transformation into the current shopping and leisure center was remarkably successful@ *o!ent 3arden now attracts some thirty million !isitors each year.

12. Piccadill# Circus is a busy s"uare in the heart of London. :t is famous for the fountain that was installed

here at the end of the &/th century and for the neon ad!ertising that turned the s"uare into a miniature !ersion of Times S"uare. The *ircus was created by %ohn 0ash as part of the future ?ing 3eorge :>'s plan to connect *arlton 2ouse - where the Prince Eegent resided - with Eegent's Park

Billboards

Piccadilly *ircus

The creation of Shaftesbury #!enue in &''( turned the plaAa into a busy traffic 1unction. This made Piccadilly *ircus attracti!e for ad!ertisers who installed London's first illuminated billboards here in &'/(. ,or some time the plaAa was surrounded by billboards creating London's !ersion of Times S"uare but currently only one building still carries large 5mostly electronic7 displays.

9ros Statue

Shaftesbury Demorial ,ountain

#t the center of the *ircus stands the Shaftesbury Demorial ,ountain. :t was built in &'/- to commemorate Lord Shaftesbury a philanthropist known for his support of the poor. The seminude statue on top of the fountain depicts the #ngel of *hristian *harity but was later renamed 9ros after the 3reek god of lo!e and beauty. The fountain was made in bronAe but the statue is made of aluminum at the time a no!el and rare material.

Piccadilly

The *ircus at night

The name 'Piccadilly' originates from a &6th century frilled collar named piccadil. Eoger Baker a tailor who became rich making piccadils li!ed in the area. The word '*ircus' refers to the roundabout around which the traffic circulated.

Piccadilly *ircus Today

Piccadilly *ircus is now partly pedestrianiAed and a fa!orite place for people to congregate before going to the nearby shopping and entertainment areas. Soho *hinatown Leicester S"uare andTrafalgar S"uare are all within walking distance.

1%. Harrods is London's most famous department store. The lu$urious store is on many tourists' itineraries
2istory

who

come to admire the magnificent interior and enormous selection. They often lea!e the store with a signature green bagG foreign !isitors account for a significant part of the store's sales.

2arrods

The history of this famous lu$ury store goes back to &'8/ when *harles 2enry 2arrod opened a grocery at Brompton Eoad in ?nightsbridge at the time a small !illage 1ust outside London. %ust two years later the 3reat 9$hibition of &'(& which took place at *rystal Palace in nearby 2yde Park brought many !isitors to the area. ?nightsbridge and 2arrod's new store boomed. *harles 2arrod's son 5also named *harles7 took o!er and "uickly e$panded the store at the time known as '2arrods Stores'. The department store became well known for its high "uality products and e$cellent personaliAed ser!ice. :n &'/8 2arrods was taken o!er by Eichard Burbridge who had the store completely rebuilt. 2e also installed London's first escalator in &'/'. The current building was also commissioned by Burbridge. The impressi!e domed structure was built between &/<& and &/<( after a design by local architects *. W. Stephens and 9. %. Dunt.

The ;epartment Store

Bmna Bmnibus .bi"ue

2arrods is one of the world's most famous stores and one of London's tourist attractions thanks to the wide assortment of lu$ury goods that are on display in a magnificently decorated building. The enormous array of products is particularly impressi!e. The company's motto - engra!ed on the building's pediment - is Bmnia Bmnibus .bi"ue 59!erything for e!eryone e!erywhere7.

2arrods used to be known as the store where anything you could think of was for sale. While this may not be the case any more the assortment is still enormous. +ou can purchase anything from historic &'th century dinner plates or giant teddy bears to e$"uisite ca!iar.

9gyptian ;ecorations

:t is best to take your time for a !isit to the large store which co!ers an area of about '< <<< s" m spread out o!er se!en floors. ,loor plans are a!ailable near the entrances. Bne of the most beautiful departments of the store is the magnificent ,ood 2all on the lower floor decorated with tiles created by artist Williams %ames 0eatby. Bther impressi!e departments include the 9gyptian 2alls and the *rystal Eooms. #lso of note is the central escalator decorated with 9gyptian moti!es. #nd don't forget to !isit the toy department - the city's best - where you'll find enormous stuffed animals.

?nightsbridge
The success of 2arrods attracted a number of other entrepreneurs to ?nightsbridge resulting in an upscale shopping district. 0earby are lu$ury stores such as 2ar!ey 0ichols and Burberry. Sloane street one of the most famous shopping streets in London is 1ust around the corner.

1&. The 3ational *aller# is one of London's most important museums. :t has an impressi!e collection of
paintings co!ering the period between &4)< and &/<< with works from !irtually all renowned artists of the era.

2istory

0ational 3allery

#t the beginning of the &/th century king 3eorge :> realiAed that many 9uropean cities had opened impressi!e art museums to the public such as the Lou!re in Paris the >atican Duseums in Eome and the .ffiAi in ,lorence. 3eorge :> did not want Britain to be left behind so in &'48 he pushed a reluctant go!ernment into purchasing the house of the 1ust deceased %ohn %ulius #ngerste in a rich Eussian banker and art collector. The purchase included a !aluable collection of -8 paintings with works from renowned artists such as Eembrandt and Eubens. The works were initially displayed in the banker's residence at Pall Dall. B!er the years the collection e$panded to one of the most prestigious in 9urope. B!er 4-<< paintings are now on display in the monumental building at Trafalgar S"uare.

The Building

0ational 3allery

The neoclassical building that now houses the museum was completed in &'-' after a much-criticiAed design by 9nglish architect William Wilkins. :t was built at the then still to be de!eloped Trafalgar S"uare which had 1ust been cleared. Plans to replace the building were ne!er realiAed and in &'6) the museum was e$panded with a new east wing. :n the mid &/'<s plans for a new e$pansion were launched but the modern design faced so much opposition - most notably from the Prince of Wales - that it was shel!ed and replaced with a more con!entional building known as the Sainsbury wing.

The *ollection
The 0ational 3allery's collection includes 9uropean paintings from the &-th to the &/th century. The works are arranged in a more or less chronological order.

Samson and ;elilah Eubens

The museum's main entrance is at the Sainsbury wing where you'll find the oldest paintings such as works by 3iotto and %an !an 9yck. Late Eenaissance works from Titian Dichelangelo and others can be found in the West wing. &6th *entury paintings from :taly ,landers Spain and the 0etherlands are displayed in the 0orth wing and features works from masters such as Eubens >an ;yck Eembrandt and *ara!aggio. Paintings from the &'th and &/th century are on display in the 9ast wing. 2ere you'll find impressionist works as well as paintings by !an 3ogh Seurat and Eenoir.

(ore *alleries

Fueen's 3allery

London boasts many more interesting galleries. Dodern art can be found in Tate Dodern and Tate Britain features paintings from British #rtists. #d1acent to the 0ational 3allery is the0ational Portrait 3allery which presents paintings portraying prominent 9nglish persons such as Sir *hristopher Wren and *hurchill. :t is the most important museum of its kind. #nother noteworthy gallery in London is the ;ulwich Picture 3allery with works by masters such as >an ;yck Eubens Eembrandt and 3ainsborough. The Fueen's 3allery which has its home at Buckingham Palace e$hibits paintings from the royal collection.