Description of London. London, the capital of England and Great Britain
Initially, it was a small settlement with an area of about 0.8 km2. By the year 100, London had become the capital of Britain and reached its peak in the 2nd century. After the departure of the Romans, London was abandoned and fell into disrepair. In the 6th century, the Saxons began to settle around and by the end of the 9th century, the old center of London began to recover. In subsequent centuries, under changing rulers, London was the center of the territory that transformed into Great Britain.
London grew a lot during the 19th century. During the Second World War, the city was seriously damaged, after which many historical areas were replaced by new ones. Currently, London is one of the economic and legal centers of the world; the headquarters of leading international companies are located on its territory.
Encyclopedic YouTube
1 / 5
✪ London. Biography of the city - 1 episode
✪ London. Biography of the city - 2 series
✪ Great cities: London
✪ Tim Marlow: "The history of London's Royal Academy of Arts in faces"
✪ Londinium - how London began
Subtitles
Etymology
Name etymology London not determined. There are many different theories about the origin of the name: most of them are implausible and unfounded, and some seem to be plausible. But none of the versions has sufficient evidence.
Under the Romans, the city was called Londinium. The name is believed to be pre-Roman (and possibly pre-Celtic), but there are no confirmed theories about its meaning. The Romans very often adopted the names of cities and territories adopted from the indigenous peoples. The generally accepted theory is that the name comes from a Celtic place-name Londinion from the word London meaning "wild".
The Anglo-Saxons founded their settlement of Lundenvik not far from the city abandoned by the Romans. The first part of the word was taken from the old name, and the suffix vic in Old English meant "trading town", so Lundenwyck meant "London trading town".
In 886 Alfred occupied the territory of London and again turned it into a populated place. For the defense of the kingdom, he began to build fortified settlements, which in the Anglo-Saxon language were called "burh". London became one of these settlements under the name of Ludenburg (Ludenburh). Later, this name was transformed by cutting off the second root into the modern name of the city. After the Norman Conquest, the city was called for some time in French-language sources Lundres, in Latin - Lundonia .
Among the unofficial names of the city: The Big Smoke And The Great Wen. The British once called London The Big Smoke(or The Great Smog). This name can be literally translated as "Big Smoke". This definition is connected, of course, with the famous London smog of the XIX-XX centuries. Another unofficial name for the city is The Great Wen. Wen is an old English word that translates literally as "boil", which in this context means "overcrowded city". As for neighborhood nicknames, the City is often also referred to as the "square mile" because the area is just over a square mile in area. These two trails are also used to generically refer to the financial sector of the British economy, since most financial companies and banks have traditionally been concentrated in the City for several centuries.
Early history
Founding legend
According to the legend from The History of the Kings of Britain by Geoffrey of Monmouth, London was founded by Brutus of Troy after his victory over the giants Gog and Magog and was named Caer Troia, Troia Nova(from Latin New Troy), which, according to pseudo-etymology, was renamed Trinovantum. The Trinovantes were a tribe that inhabited the area before the arrival of the Romans.
However, despite intensive excavations, archaeologists have not found any signs of a powerful prehistoric tribe in this area. There were found prehistoric finds, evidence of agriculture, burials and traces of habitation, but nothing more significant. It is currently considered unlikely that a pre-Roman city existed, but Roman settlements have not been fully explored, and accurate data have not yet been obtained.
Londinium
At the end of the 3rd century, Londinium was raided several times by Saxon pirates. Because of this, around the year 250, several additional walls were built along the river. The wall stood for 1600 years and defined the modern perimeter of London. 6 of the 7 traditional gates of London were built by the Romans, namely: Ludgate, Newgate, Aldersgate, Cripplegate, Bishopsgate and Aldgate. At the end of the 4th century, Britain was divided anew, and Londinium became the capital of the province of Maximus Caesarensis. In the 5th century, the Romans left Londinium, and the city began to be gradually settled by the Britons. After that, the city was practically abandoned.
London in the Middle Ages
Anglo-Saxon London
Until recently, it was believed that Anglo-Saxon settlements were not built near Londinium. However, the Anglo-Saxon cemetery in Covent Garden, opened in 2008, showed that newcomers began to settle there from the beginning of the 6th century. The main part of the settlement is located outside the city walls. It was known as Lundenvik, the suffix -vik here meaning a trading post. Recent excavations have also revealed the population density and relatively complex urban organization of early Anglo-Saxon London.
Early Anglo-Saxon London was inhabited by a people known as the Middle Saxons. However, at the beginning of the 7th century, the territory of the London area was included in the kingdom of Essex. In 604 King Sabert was baptized and Mellitus, the first bishop after the Romans, arrived in London. At this time, Ethelbert of Kent ruled in Essex, and under his patronage Mellitus founded the Cathedral of St. Paul. It is believed that the cathedral was built on the site of an old Roman temple to Diana (although Christopher Wren found no evidence of this). It was only a modest church, and it may have been destroyed after the expulsion of Mellitus by the sons of Sabert, who were pagans. The establishment of Christianity in the east of the Saxon kingdom took place during the reign of Sigebert II in the 650s. During the 8th century, the royal house of Mercia expanded its dominion over southeastern England. Mercian domination of London was established in the 730s.
London began to develop its own self-government. After Æthelred's death in 911, it became part of Wessex. Although it faced competition from the politically superior West Saxon center of Winchester, London's size and wealth made it an increasingly important center of political power. King Æthelstan held many meetings of the Witenagemoth in London and issued his laws from there, while King Æthelred the Fool issued the laws of London in 978.
During the reign of Eltered, Viking attacks on London resumed. In 994, London was unsuccessfully attacked by an army led by King Sven Forkbeard of Denmark. In 1013, the Danish attack ended in failure for the British. London repulsed the Danish attacks, however, the rest of the country surrendered to Sven, but by the end of the year London capitulated and Æthelred fled abroad. Sven ruled for only five weeks, after which he died, Eltered again became king. But Sven's son Canute returned with an army in 1015. After Æthelred's death in 1016, his son Edmund Ironside was proclaimed king and left to gather strength in Wessex. London was besieged by Canute, but was liberated by the army of King Edmund. When Edmund returned to Essex, Canute attacked again, but without success. However, Cnut defeated Edmund at the Battle of Ashdown and conquered all of England north of the Thames, including London. After the death of Edmund Canute gained control over the whole country.
The Norwegian sagas tell of a battle that took place when King Ethelred returned to attack the Danish troops occupying London. According to the saga, the Danes lined up on London Bridge and showered the attackers with spears. Not afraid, the attackers removed the roofs from the nearby houses and, being on the ships, took cover with them. Protected, they were able to get close enough to the bridge to attach ropes to the bridge, throw off the Vikings, and liberate London from occupation. This story supposedly took place during the return of Eltered after the death of Sven in 1014, but there is no conclusive evidence for this.
After the suppression of the Canute dynasty in 1042, Anglo-Saxon rule was restored by Edward the Confessor. He founded Westminster Abbey and spent most of his time in Westminster, which from that time became the center of government. Edward's death led to a succession dispute and the conquest of England by the Normans. Earl Harold Godwinson was elected by the people's assembly and crowned in Westminster Abbey, but was soon defeated and killed by the Norman Duke William at the Battle of Hastings. The surviving members of the Witan met in London and elected the young Edgar Ætheling as the new king. The Normans advanced along the south bank of the Thames and stood opposite London. They defeated the English army and burned Southwark, but failed to take the bridge by storm. They moved upstream and crossed the river to attack London from the northwest. The resolve of the English collapsed, and representatives of the city, along with aristocrats and priests, came out to meet William to see him off to Berkhamsted. According to some reports, there were several skirmishes when the Normans reached the city. William was crowned in Westminster Abbey.
London in the High and Late Middle Ages
Under the Norman regime, new fortresses were built in the cities to subjugate the local population. The most important of these was the Tower in the east of the city, where the first stone castle in England appeared on the site of early wooden fortifications. King William issued a charter in 1067, establishing the rights, privileges and laws of the city.
In 1176, construction began on one of the most famous incarnations of London's Bridge (completed in 1209), which was built on the site of earlier wooden bridges. This bridge stood for 600 years, and remained the only bridge across the Thames until 1739.
Over the following centuries, Norman politics were actively implanted in England. The Norman Conquest introduced a feudal culture of chivalry into England based on its French models. The Old English language was ousted from the sphere of administration, and the Norman dialect of French became the language of administration and communication of the ruling social strata. For about three hundred years, the Anglo-Norman dialect dominated the country and had a great influence on the formation of modern English. In everyday life, however, French cultural and linguistic influence quickly dwindled to an indistinguishably small level. .
During a peasant uprising in 1381, London was captured by rebels led by Wat Tyler. The peasants seized the Tower of London and executed the Lord Chancellor, Archbishop Simon Sudbury and the Lord High Treasurer. The peasants plundered the city and set fire to many buildings. Tyler was killed during negotiations and the uprising subsided.
In 1100 the population of London was somewhat more than 15,000. In 1300 it had grown to 80,000. London lost at least half of its population during a plague in the mid-14th century, but its economic and political importance spurred a rapid recovery despite further plagues.
Medieval London had many narrow and winding streets, and most of the buildings were built from combustible materials such as wood and straw, making them a fire hazard. Sanitation in the city was poor.
New story
London under the Tudors (1485-1603)
| Panorama of London in 1543 | ||
|---|---|---|
By 1592 there were already three theaters in London. All of them were located outside the city: the city council, in which the positions of fanatical puritans, considered theaters to be breeding grounds for the plague, in addition, they were a gathering place for a large number of people, who were not always well-disposed. But the queen herself loved the theater and the city authorities had to put up with it. Performances were given in public theaters under the pretext that the actors had to rehearse plays before being called to the royal court. Performances at the court were prestigious, but it was public theaters that brought the main income. The theater was a popular entertainment not only for aristocrats, but also for the lower strata of society. The success of the drama as a spectacle is explained by the form borrowed from folk performances, appeal to the feeling of patriotism of the public, topicality: the events that worried the audience more than once became the plot of the performance. In schools and universities, plays were written and acted out by students and teachers. The first plays of the Elizabethan theater were created by amateurs - pupils of the schools of barristers (Judicial Inn) in London. Drama became a way of earning money for people with a university education who, for one reason or another, could not make a secular or ecclesiastical career. So the pamphleteers Green, Nash, Peel, Kid, who wrote folk dramas, became the first English playwrights. In contrast, John Lily created elegant, sophisticated comedies, which were staged mainly at court. For the entertainment of the audience, he was the first of the Elizabethan playwrights to insert into plays written in rhymed verse, small prose interludes, which were witty dialogues. Thanks to Lily's novel "Euphues", the artsy language that was spoken by the court aristocracy came into fashion. The dramas of the Elizabethan theater were written in the same complex language. The great playwright of this time was William Shakespeare. London under the Stuarts (1603-1714)London's expansion beyond the city was finally established in the 17th century. It was believed that rural life was not conducive to health, but some aristocrats lived in country residences in Westminster. Immediately to the north of London was Moorfields, only recently begun to be settled and visited mainly by travelers who crossed it to get to London. Next to it were Finsburgh Fields, a favored practice site for archery. Immediately after the great plague came another catastrophe. On Sunday, September 2, 1666, the Great Fire of London broke out at 1:00 am in a bakery on Pudding Lane in the south of the city. The east wind increased the spread of fire, they could not stop it in time. The wind gusts eased Tuesday night and the fire eased on Wednesday. On Thursday it was extinguished, but in the evening of the same day the flame flared up again. A monument was erected in memory of the tragedy. The fire destroyed about 60% of the city, including the old St. Paul's Cathedral, 87 parish churches and the royal exchange. However, the death toll was surprisingly low, estimated at no more than 16. A few days after the fire, three plans for rebuilding the city were presented to the king. The authors were Christopher Wren, John Evelyn, and Robert Hooke. Wren proposed to build two main highways from north to south, and from east to west. All churches were to be in a conspicuous place. He wanted to build a dock on the river bank. Evelyn's plan differed from Wren's mainly in the absence of a promenade or terrace along the river. These plans were not carried out and the rebuilders largely followed the old plans, so that the layout of modern London is very similar to the old one. However, the new city is different from the old one. Many aristocratic residents did not return, preferring to build new homes in the West End, a trendy new neighborhood next to the royal residence. In rural areas such as Piccadilly, many mansions were built. Thus, the distance between the middle class and the aristocratic world decreased. In the city itself, there was a transition from wooden buildings to buildings made of stone and brick to reduce the risk of fire. Parliament was of the opinion: "brick buildings are not only more beautiful and durable, but also safer against future fires". From then on, only doors, window frames and shop windows were allowed to be made from wood. Christopher Wren's plan was not accepted, but the architect was appointed to oversee the restoration of the destroyed parish churches and St. Paul's Cathedral. The baroque cathedral became the main symbol of London for at least a century and a half. Meanwhile, Robert Hooke was busy renovating the city's houses in areas immediately east of the city walls (such as the East End), which had become heavily populated after the Great Fire. The London Docks began to grow downstream, attracting many working people who worked on the docks. These people lived in areas like Whitechapel, usually in slum conditions. Many merchants from different countries came to London to buy and sell goods. Due to the influx of immigrants, the population of the city has grown by an order of magnitude. More and more people moved to London in search of work. The victory of England in the Seven Years' War increased the international prestige of the country and opened up new large markets for English merchants, which led to an increase in the welfare of the population. During the Georgian era, London grew at an accelerated pace. New areas were built for wealthy West Enders, such as Mayfair, new bridges over the Thames helped accelerate the development of the southern and eastern regions. In the 18th century, cafes became popular in London as a place to meet, exchange news and discuss various ideas. Growing literacy and widespread use of the printing press increased the dissemination of information among the people. Fleet Street was the center of emerging newspapers for a century. In the 18th century, the fight against crime intensified in London, and in 1750 a professional police force was created. Punishments were severe, the death penalty was relied upon even for minor crimes. One of the most popular spectacles among the people was the public hanging. 19th centuryIn the 19th century, London became one of the largest cities in the world and the capital of the British Empire. The population grew from 1 million in 1800 to 6.7 million at the end of the century. During this period, London became the political, financial and commercial capital of the world. From this point of view, it was the strongest city until the middle of the century, when Paris and New York began to threaten its power. While the city grew and Britain grew rich, 19th-century London was a city of poverty, with millions of people living in overcrowded and unsanitary slums. The life of the poor is shown by Charles Dickens in the novel The Adventures of Oliver Twist. In the 19th century, rail transport appeared in London. The Metropolitan Railroad network allowed suburban development. Although outwardly this stimulated the development of the city, its growth led to a class gap, because the rich emigrated to the suburbs, leaving the poor to live in urban areas. On October 16, 1834, another fire broke out in London. Part of the Palace of Westminster burned down, but it was rebuilt according to the neo-Gothic design of C. Barry and O. W. N. Pugin. The Westminster Reception Hall (1097) and the Tower of Jewels (built to store the treasury of Edward III) survived from the medieval palace. The first railway, opened in 1836, was the line from London Bridge to Greenwich. Soon lines began to open connecting London with all corners of Britain. Stations such as Easton railway station (1837), Paddington (1838), Waterloo (1848), King's Cross (1850) and St Pancras (1863) were built. In 1840-1843, Nelson's Column was erected in the pre-existing Trafalgar Square. The process of urbanization has affected areas such as Islington, Paddington, Belgravia, Holborn, Finsbury, Southwark and Lambeth. In the middle of the century, the outdated system of government and the problems of the city became very big. In 1855, a special council was set up to deal with these problems. One of the first problems to be solved was London sanitation. At that time, sewage was discharged directly into the Thames. This led to a great stench in 1858. Parliament agreed to the construction of a huge sewer system. The engineer for the new system was Joseph Bazeljet. It was one of the largest building engineering projects in the 19th century. More than 2,100 kilometers of pipes and tunnels were laid under London, designed to drain wastewater and supply the population with drinking water. When construction was completed, the number of deaths in London quickly declined, and epidemics of cholera and other diseases ceased. The Balzaghette system is still in effect today. One of the most famous events in London in the 19th century is the World's Fair (1851). Held in a purpose-built crystal palace, the exhibition attracted visitors from all over the world. The exhibition was so successful that two more London attractions were built after it - the Albert Hall and the Victoria and Albert Museum. The capital of a vast empire, London attracted immigrants from the colonies and the poorer parts of Europe. Most of the Irish settlers moved to London during the Victorian period. Many of them moved during the famine in Ireland (1845-1849) . Irish emigrants made up about 20% of the total population of London. Jewish communities and small communities of Chinese and South Asians formed in the city. In 1858, one of the most famous symbols of London appeared - Big Ben. The tower was built according to the project of the English architect Augustus Pugin, the tower clock was put into operation on May 31, 1859. The official name until September 2012 was "Westminster Palace Clock Tower" (sometimes referred to as "St. Stephen's Tower"). The height of the tower is 96.3 meters (with a spire); the lower part of the clock mechanism is located at a height of 55 m from the ground. With a dial diameter of 7 meters and an arrow length of 2.7 and 4.2 meters, the watch has long been considered the largest in the world. In the second half of the 19th century, due to the increased intensity of horse and foot traffic in the port area in the East End, the question arose of building a new crossing east of London Bridge. In 1876, a committee was set up to work out a solution to the problem. A competition was organized for which more than 50 projects were submitted. Only in 1884 the winner was announced and a decision was made to build a bridge according to the project of jury member G. Jones. After his death in 1887, construction was led by John Wolfe-Berry. Construction work began on June 21, 1886 and continued for 8 years. On June 30, 1894, Tower Bridge was inaugurated by Edward the Prince of Wales and his wife, Princess Alexandra. In 1888, the boundaries of the County of London, governed by the London County Council, were established. In 1900 the county was divided into 28 London boroughs. 20th centuryFrom 1900 to World War IILondon entered the 20th century at the height of its development, as the capital of a huge empire, but it had many problems to solve. In the first decades of the century, London's population continued to grow at a rapid pace and public transport expanded as well. A large tram network was built in London. The first buses began operating in the 1900s. Improvements were made to railways and metro lines. During World War I, London experienced the first bombing by a German airship. About 700 people died then. London experienced many more horrors during both world wars. During the First World War, there was a powerful explosion: 50 tons of trinitrotoluene exploded at a military plant. 73 people died, 400 were injured. Like the rest of the country, London suffered from unemployment during the Great Depression of the 1930s. Parties on the extreme right and left flourished in the East End. The Communist Party of Great Britain (1920) won seats in Parliament, and the British Fascist Alliance gained supporters. Clashes between right and left came to an end after the Battle of Cable Street in 1936. The population of the city reached its peak in its history in 1939, when it was 8.6 million. A large number of Jewish emigrants fleeing persecution from the Third Reich moved to London in the 1930s. The Second World WarOne of the raids in December 1940 caused, as it is called, the second Great Fire of London, which destroyed many historic buildings. However, St. Paul's Cathedral remained unscathed; the photograph of the cathedral shrouded in smoke has become a kind of symbol of the war. 1945-2000Three years after the war, Wembley Stadium hosted the 1948 Summer Olympic Games, the first Olympic Games after the war. London was recovering from the war years. In the early post-war years, housing was a serious problem in London, due to the large number of houses destroyed during the war. The government's response to the housing shortage was the construction of apartment buildings. In the 1950s and 1960s, the skyline of London changed dramatically due to their construction. Subsequently, these houses became very unpopular. In the 19th and first half of the 20th century, Londoners used fossil coal to heat their houses, which produced a lot of smoke. Combined with climatic conditions, the characteristic smog often results from this, and London has often been referred to as "London Fog" or "Pea Soupers". In 1952, this culminated in the disastrous Great Smog of 1952, which lasted 4 days and killed 4,000 people. Beginning in the mid-1960s, partly as a result of the success of the rock bands The Beatles, The Rolling Stones and other popular British musicians, London became the world's center of youth cultures. The phenomenon of swinging London has gained great fame, making Carnaby Street a household name for young people around the world. London's role as a trendsetter for young people was revived in the 1980s during the New Wave and punk rock. Since the 1950s, London has been home to a large number of immigrants, mostly from Commonwealth nations such as Jamaica, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan. This dramatically changed London, making it one of the most multinational cities in Europe. However, the flow of new immigrants was not always easily controlled. Often racial tensions turned into riots. London's population declined steadily in the decades following World War II, from an estimated peak of 8.6 million in 1939 to 6.8 million in the 1980s. However, it began to rise again in the late 1980s. London's established status as a major port declined in the post-war decades as the old Docklands was unable to accommodate large container ships. The main ports in London were the ports at Felikstvovo and Tilbury. The docks area was largely abandoned in the 1980s, but has been redeveloped since the mid-1980s into an area of apartments and offices. XXI CenturyAt the turn of the 21st century, the Millennium Dome in Greenwich was built in London, which turned out to be criticized. He was not popular with the people of London. Other projects that marked the end of the millennium were more successful. One of them was one of the largest Ferris wheels London Eye, which was built as a temporary structure, but eventually became an integral part of the city. The London Plan, published by the Mayor of London in 2004, assumed that the population would grow to 8.1 million by 2016 and continue to grow thereafter. This has been reflected in a move towards denser urban development, an increase in the number of high-rise buildings, and improved public transport systems. On July 6, 2005, London won the bid to host the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. However, the celebrations were interrupted the next day when, on July 7, 2005, London was rocked by a series of terrorist attacks. More than 50 people died and 750 were injured due to three explosions in the London Underground. A bus near King's Cross Station was also blown up. In 2012, the Olympiad still took place. Notes
| ||
After the departure of the Romans, the Celtic tribes of the Britons settled in the city. The proximity of a navigable river affected the rapid increase in the number of inhabitants. The Vikings, Saxons, in different years, ruled London, and from 1066 it became English. By the 17th century, London was the largest city in the world. England unites with Scotland. In the 18th century, the construction of Buckingham Palace and Westminster Bridge across the Thames was completed. The population has exceeded 1 million people. The 19th century brought some polarity to London. On the one hand, the prosperous capital of a large maritime state, banks, industry, fleet. On the other - terrible slums, tens of thousands of poor people.
With the growth of industry, industrial areas appear. Among them, the most famous is the East End. In the last century, London has become a city of industrial victories and achievements. In general, the capital has experienced a lot in its history. There were fires and wars, ups and downs.
By the beginning of the last century, the city became the largest in the world in terms of population, today it is the second in Europe. The leader in the number of passengers who used the services of the airport is London Heathrow. Since 1863, the metro has been operating in the city. Moreover, there were no interruptions in his work. The Olympic Games have been held in the capital three times. The last time was in the summer of 2012. The number of tourists is slightly less than in Paris. This speaks of the people's interest in England.
Airports of the city are always ready to provide services related to tourism: clarification of routes and flights, arrival and departure times, the possibility of buying an air ticket. The airline constantly operates flights to and from London. Almost all tourists know the Tower, Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar.
Among the new, the London Eye is recognizable. This is a Ferris wheel with a diameter of 135 meters. It stands on the banks of the Thames. A Ferris wheel was built in honor of the onset of the 21st century. There are many museums in London. There are about 240 of them. Museums are different in subject matter and are designed for all tastes. For example, there is a fan museum. And the most famous are the London National Gallery, the British Museum, the Wax Museum, the museum of the famous detective Sherlock Holmes. The Houses of Parliament or the Tower are not considered museums, but they can also be viewed with a guide.
The cultural life of the capital is simply huge. It becomes the source of various youth movements, which then cover all countries of the world. So it was in the 60s, when London became Swinging, the hippie movement, Britpop in the early 90s, which created an interest in the cultural life of Britain.
City of London with 8 million inhabitants. Capital of the United Kingdom. Situated along the River Thames. Maritime climate. Summers are warm, but with showers and thunderstorms, fogs are not uncommon. Winter is not cold. January is considered the coldest. More than half of the city's population professes Christianity, then Muslims, Hindus, Jews go in descending order. It has been known as the capital for 2,000 years. The city was founded by the Roman emperor Claudius in 43. A few years later, London becomes the capital of Roman Britain. After the departure of the Romans, the Celtic tribes of the Britons settled in the city. The proximity of a navigable river affected the rapid increase in the number of inhabitants. The Vikings, Saxons, in different years, ruled London, and from 1066 it became English. By the 17th century, London was the largest city in Europe. England unites with Scotland. In the 18th century, the construction of Buckingham Palace and Westminster Bridge across the Thames was completed. The population has exceeded 1 million people. The 19th century brought some polarity to London. On the one hand, the prosperous capital of a large maritime state, banks, industry, fleet. On the other - terrible slums, tens of thousands of poor people. With the growth of industry, industrial areas appear. Among them, the most famous is the East End. In the last century, London has become a city of industrial victories and achievements. In general, the capital has experienced a lot in its history. There were fires and wars, ups and downs. By the beginning of the last century, the city became the largest in the world in terms of population, today it is the second in Europe. The leader in the number of passengers who used the services of the airport is London Heathrow. Since 1863, the metro has been operating in the city. Moreover, there were no interruptions in his work. The Olympic Games have been held in the capital three times. The last time was in the summer of 2012. The number of tourists is slightly less than in Paris. This speaks of the people's interest in England. Airports of the city are always ready to provide services related to tourism: booking air tickets, specifying routes and flights, arrival and departure times, the possibility of buying an air ticket. Ryanair operates regular flights to and from London. Almost all tourists know the Tower, Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar. Among the new, the London Eye is recognizable. This is a Ferris wheel with a diameter of 135 meters. It stands on the banks of the Thames. A Ferris wheel was built in honor of the onset of the 21st century. There are many museums in London. There are about 240 of them. Museums are different in subject matter and are designed for all tastes. For example, there is a fan museum. And the most famous are the London National Gallery, the British Museum, the Wax Museum, the museum of the famous detective Sherlock Holmes. The Houses of Parliament or the Tower are not considered museums, but they can also be viewed with a guide. The cultural life of the capital is simply huge. It becomes the source of various youth movements, which then cover all countries of the world. So it was in the 60s, when London became Swinging, the hippie movement, Britpop in the early 90s, which created an interest in the cultural life of Britain. var addthis_product = "jlp-2.0"; var addthis_config = ( pubid:"Your+Profile+ID", data_track_clickback:true, ui_language:"en", data_ga_property:"UA-10312200-2" )
London- the city of double-decker red buses and the famous Big Ben, only here you can see a skyscraper with the funny name "Cucumber" and the unusual Dali Universe. However, first things first.
Foundation of London
This city appeared in 43 AD, Emperor Claudius appropriated it to himself during one of the many campaigns. The name of the city comes from the Latin "londinium", but no one knows what this word means. There is an assumption that it denotes an area - a lake or just some kind of wild place. However, this will remain a mystery of the universe.
Numerous wars almost completely destroyed the city, only in the Middle Ages they began to actively restore it, and as a result, it becomes the richest city, and it remains so to this day.
Population London makes up over eight million people, of which only about 44% are native white Britons. But all the rest are migrants from the countries of the Middle East, Poland, India, France, Italy and other countries. They moved to the country for centuries, gradually diluting the population of London.
The religion professed by the majority of Londoners is Christianity, which is followed by approximately 48% of the total population, 12% are Muslims. There are also representatives of other religions in London, but in smaller numbers.
London is also famous for its huge number of streets - more than 25 thousand. If we look at the districts, then London consists of 32 districts, as well as the City - a county in the center of Greater London, from which the whole history of London began.
If you need to call London, then you first need to dial the country code +44, and then the area code, for London it is 20. After that, the direct number of the subscriber is dialed.
London Attractions
Among the most striking sights are the famous tower clock with a bell. Moreover, it is the bell that is called Big Ben, and not the tower itself, as many tourists mistakenly believe. Quite often it is recommended to visit "" - this is the name of the Ferris wheel, whose height is 135 meters. It is from this height that you can ideally view the whole city at a glance, and at the same time notice the most beautiful places that you can visit in the future.
The cucumber skyscraper mentioned at the beginning of the article also has every right to be considered a highlight of London. Its real name is Mary-Ex 30, this creation has an oblong shape and is decorated with green glass, which is why the locals jokingly call the skyscraper "cucumber". This skyscraper is unique in that its shape consumes half as much electricity as its other skyscraper brothers of the same height.
For art lovers, the best place to visit is Dali's Universe, a creative exhibition of Dali's work with over 500 exhibits.
London It is famous for a large number of luxurious palaces of various eras, as well as all kinds of museums, which are simply not possible to visit at a time. First of all, it is worth paying attention to the famous Madame Tussauds and. They perfectly reflect the true essence of London and all its beauty.
Inhabitants of London
Naturally, any person who plans to go to London will be interested in the question - what are the local Londoners like? These people are very positive, they sacredly honor all their traditions, prefer not to quarrel and know how to absolutely calmly stand in lines. Their main tradition is tea drinking, they drink tea always and everywhere, if you are visiting, you must definitely drink at least a couple of cups of tea, otherwise the owners will think that you did not like them.
The majority of the population of London are believers, therefore they observe fasts and necessarily celebrate religious holidays - Easter, Christmas. Also, Londoners are avid conservatives, they don’t really like all sorts of innovations. They are very punctual and never late. All their plans are thought out for the week ahead, so they must be warned about important events in advance.
The majority of the population speaks English, so there are usually no problems in communication. But in London there are also many dialects, the most striking of them is Cockney, the language of the lower strata of society, where many words are pronounced incorrectly, as if deliberately distorted.
The weather in London usually does not cause inconvenience, because there are no sharp drops here. Summer temperatures here range from 14 to 25 degrees, while London winters are usually damp, with temperatures ranging from 2 to 8 degrees. But in London it rains quite often, weak, but annoying. But you can’t wait for snow in London - it comes only a couple of times a year.
In addition to an overview of local beauties, you can safely go shopping in London - this is how there are entire streets of boutiques, for example Oxford street or Regent street, stores are located from the most expensive to the cheapest, so everyone can find the most suitable option for themselves. Twice a year, grand sales are held, when the price can even be up to 90% lower than the original one. Usually sales are held in January and June, however, some stores may choose their own time for sales.
Naturally, London, like any other city in the world, has its own prohibitions, open and unspoken. You should know about them in advance so as not to get into an awkward situation. Surely any tourist will take a lot of photos, so it’s worth remembering - it’s better not to photograph other people’s children in London, their parents will more than likely turn to the nearest policeman with a request to reprimand you. Also, do not try to deceive people in the queues, trying to get ahead under a plausible pretext, and even more so, do not squeeze into the impudent one - the calm British will give you such contemptuous looks that you will immediately want to immediately leave this queue to hell.
Locals are usually always polite and friendly, so it is recommended to reciprocate - say hello to the sellers, always thank the people who provided even a trifling help. In addition, all kinds of pets are very fond of in London, so do not show your dislike for animals openly.
It should be remembered that vehicular traffic in capital of Great Britain left-sided. So, when crossing the road, you should first look to the right, and then to the left. For this reason, tourists from countries with right-hand traffic are not recommended to rent cars in London - quite often it is difficult for the driver to change from the usual way of driving, and therefore tourists often become an obstacle on the road or even get into accidents. It is better to rent a bike - it will be much cheaper and more practical.
In general, in addition to car rental, you can use public transport: the metro, famous ones, a ticket for them is bought before the trip, and not on the bus itself. It is worth remembering that the vending machine that sells tickets at bus stops does not give change. Public transport operates around the clock, closes around midnight and opens at half past five in the morning on weekdays, on weekends at seven in the morning. You can always catch a taxi, but the trip in it will cost much more, in addition, the cost will increase if you are not traveling alone or with large luggage that you have to put in the cab.
Another thing worth mentioning is the local cuisine. Arriving in London, you should definitely try the pudding from Yorkshire - this is the name of the local county. An interesting dish is the "shepherd's pie" stuffed with minced meat and vegetables.
But if the dishes can still be missed, then visiting at least one of them is a must! Only here it is possible to taste a huge number of all kinds of beer, which is considered to be the signature drink of Great Britain. All other alcoholic drinks are also available here, in the pubs you can try dishes of various cuisines. In addition to drinking strong drinks, in the pub you can play billiards, watch live football broadcasts or take part in traditional quizzes for which you can win prizes. If earlier pubs were a place exclusively for men, now you can come to the pub with the whole family and children will also find suitable entertainment.
As seen, London is not only a gray city of constant rains, as many mistakenly believe. It is a city of bright colors, friendly people and unique beauty of sights. Therefore, it is worth visiting the capital of Great Britain at least once in your life, dispelling all your myths and ideas about it.
One of the most popular and visited by tourists from all over the world is the city of London. The capital of Great Britain attracts several million tourists every year who seek to see great historical buildings and places, monuments and sights, galleries with great expositions and purely London museums, cultural and religious sites, royal lands with magnificent palaces, luxurious parks, the famous red double-decker buses - double deckers and many other things known to the whole world.
History of London
The founding of the city in this area dates back to 43 AD, when the Romans led by Claudius invaded Britain. They founded the settlement of Londinium, which was very small in area. It is believed that there was already a large settlement on this site, but this data is not confirmed by anything.
The settlement is developing rapidly and already in the year 100 London becomes the capital of Britain. The Romans built walls around London to strengthen the city, which largely determined its boundaries. For several centuries, the rapid development of the city, then its decline, was observed, and by the 5th century the Romans left these places. The city gradually began to be settled by the Britons, but was almost abandoned.
In the Middle Ages, London was under the rule of the Saxons and was constantly attacked by the Vikings. During the reign of Edward the Confessor, London begins to be divided into the city itself - the City and the seat of the king, and later the parliament - Westminster, where the abbey was restored by Edward.
When the Normans won the Battle of Hastings, William the Conqueror was crowned on the site of the erected Westminster Abbey. It was at this time that the Tower and other defensive fortifications appeared in case of a popular uprising.
After the Tudor dynasty came to power in England, the country became an absolute monarchy. At the same time, the capital of England, London, began to grow richer and develop even faster: the first luxurious royal palaces and parks appeared.
During the Reformation, many areas of London were religious lands, and most of the population were monks. When Henry VIII declared the supremacy of the king over the church, the situation changed: life became more secular, and many territories belonging to churches were confiscated by the king.
London quickly became the largest European trading city: businesses opened, new people arrived. But it also had its downsides. In many large cities of that time there was no sewerage, and medicine did not allow to cope with the constantly emerging epidemics and diseases.
In London, epidemics constantly broke out, claiming the lives of thousands of people.
The most terrible occurred in 1665-1666 and was called the Great Plague: almost a fifth of the population fell victim to this terrible disease.
After the end of the epidemic, London suffered another catastrophe - the Great Fire of London, in which there were practically no casualties, but serious material damage was caused.
After the restoration of the city, London becomes the financial capital of the world. At this time, new technologies are being developed, banks are opening, literature is developing, the press is appearing, cultural facilities are being built - the city is developing in all directions.
In the XIX century, London acquires the first railway, the world's first subway, Tower Bridge and Big Ben. At the same time, a sewer appeared in the capital, which had to be built after the Great Stench that happened in 1858.
The development of London was interrupted during the First World War, when it was attacked from the air. Between the world wars, London developed and grew in area. During the Great Depression, many people were left without work, the standard of living in the city worsened.
During World War II, London was repeatedly bombed, residents were evacuated, and underground stations were used as bomb shelters.
In 1952, the Great Smog descended on London, the victims of which were several thousand people. Then the authorities became concerned about the environmental situation in the city and adopted the necessary laws.
In the 60s of the XX century, the city became the center of the youth subculture Swinging London. The main icons of this style were the musical groups TheBeatles and Rolling Stones, James Bond, and optimism, hedonism and the rejection of old values are considered the main principles of the subculture.
After Swinging London, hippie culture became popular, spreading from the United States around the world.
At the end of the 20th century, London, like other major cities in the world, becomes a target for terrorists. In the 70s, the attacks of the Irish Republican Army were carried out, after which they were replaced by Islamic fundamentalists.
In 2012, London hosted the Olympic Games and became the first city to receive this honor three times in its history.
London Attractions
London has always attracted people with its architectural structures, historical and cultural monuments, cultural and sporting events. So, from sporting events, matches of London football teams that are part of the elite of world football, cricket and rugby matches, a tennis tournament in the suburbs of the capital Wimbledon, boat regattas, the London Marathon annually attract tourists and local residents.
Among the cultural festivals stand out film festival, book fair, music festivals and concerts. Traditional ceremonies are very popular: the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, the Ceremony of Keys in the Tower, fireworks in honor of special events in the royal family.
Many of London's landmarks have become household names, the squares are recognizable, and some of the historic and royal buildings have become some of the most popular attractions in the world.
Some objects are included in the UNESCO heritage list. Among them: the Palace of Westminster, the Tower, Westminster Abbey, an ensemble of buildings in Greenwich, the royal gardens of Kew, the Church of St. Margaret.
One of the sights of London, which is familiar to many even by outlines alone, is the famous Big Ben tower, built in combination with the Parliament building in the center of the capital.
Along with it, everyone tends to visit the infamous gloomy Tower, which has become the place of imprisonment and execution of many prominent political and historical figures in England. Next to the Tower is the majestic Neo-Gothic Tower Bridge over the Thames, next to which is the museum ship Belfast.
In the center of London, Trafalgar Square is especially popular with its famous Nelson's Column, which is used for mass celebrations and social events, and during the Christmas holidays it becomes the place of the country's main Christmas tree.
Of the interesting museums in the capital of England, one can single out the London National Gallery, the British Museum, the Science Museum, the Natural History Museum, the Tate Gallery, the collection of decorative art and the design collection at the Victoria and Albert Museum, Madame Tussauds Wax Museum, Pollock Toy Museum, Sherlock Holmes Museum at a well-known address.
The famous Shakespeare's Globe Theater still attracts tourists, including interesting performances and educational programs held there.
In addition to this theater, Broadway-type theaters, the Theater at the Royal Court, the Elizabeth II Theater, the Royal Opera House, located in Covent Garden, Albert Hall, are popular.
London's parks are famous for their special flair, providing much-needed relaxation for busy Londoners. The most interesting parks in the capital of Great Britain: Green Park, Hyde Park, Lee Valley, Kensington Gardens, St. James Park, Greenwich Park, Regent's Park, Richmond Park, Kew Royal Gardens, Bushy Park.
Almost every park has rare species of plants or animals, interesting fountains and monuments. Many parks provide entertainment for children and numerous cafes for outdoor recreation.
Of the religious buildings of interest are Westminster Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's Cathedral, Southwark Cathedral, the Central Mosque and other objects.
The royal residence in London is the chic Buckingham Palace, which is open to the public for two months a year when the Queen is away.
In honor of the new millennium, a huge Ferris wheel 135 meters high, called the London Eye, was built on the banks of the Thames. From the attraction you can see the city from a bird's eye view. This Ferris wheel attracts large crowds of tourists, but is not very popular with the stiff English.
In London, everyone can find entertainment and interesting activities for themselves. If time permits, you can visit all the iconic places associated with the history of England and in many ways determined its fate.
The city is located near the North Sea on the banks of the Thames. is considered one of the leading financial centers of the world, as well as the cultural and economic center of the country.
The history of London is long and very interesting. The founders of the settlement called Londinium were the Romans, who came to the local lands in 43. By the beginning of the third century, the city was protected by a high fortress wall around the entire perimeter. In 410, the Romans left Britain. In the next couple of centuries, the Saxons lived in Britain, who laid the foundation of St. Paul's Cathedral in Londinium. By the middle of the eleventh century, the city was divided into two parts: the island of Thorney (Westminster), where the construction of the abbey and the royal palace began, as well as the city itself (City).
In the twelfth century, William the Conqueror was crowned in Westminster Abbey, during which the construction of the Tower began. The thirteenth century is a period of rapid economic and social development in London. During this period, the city was actively built up, London turned into the capital. The coming to power of the Tudors was extremely favorable for the development of the city, when city parks were laid out in London, hospitals and municipal institutions were opened. By the early sixteenth century, London had become a successful European trading city, where both small and large businesses flourished. In one century, the population of London increased by more than 4 times, which led to cultural development: theaters and libraries were opened.
In the middle of the seventeenth century, two great misfortunes struck London at once: the plague, which claimed the lives of 60 thousand people, and the fire of 1666, in which more than 13 thousand buildings, including almost 90 churches, perished. Despite the terrible events, London quickly rose to its feet and by the beginning of the eighteenth century became the largest European city. In 1707, after the unification of England and London became the capital of Great Britain.
The construction boom came in the nineteenth century. Then factories, factories, a railway, industrial areas appeared in the city, the Tower Bridge, Albert Hall were built. In 1863, the world's first subway began operating in London.
In the sixties of the twentieth century, London conquered the whole world thanks to the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, which were very popular among music lovers and young people.
London is now one of the most important economic and cultural metropolitan areas in the world. The city is one of the ten most interesting tourist capitals - a large number of attractions, museums, concert halls and various galleries are concentrated here.
