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Early history:

Already in the 11th century London was the main town of Great Britain. It was called " Ludenevic" by the Celts and the Romans. It has always been one of the most famous business cities in Europe. However, the residence of the ruler wasn't situated in London, it was in Westminster.

In 1665 London was devasted by a terrible plaque and a great fire. The restoration of the residential area was moved to the west. The City district was moved to the western edge. Great places were built like Brosenor, Cavendish, Berkeley and Hanover. Many bridges were rebuilt across the Thames. Water supply systems and waste water systems were installed and new pavements were built, too.

Modern times:

In the 19th century the number of inhabitants had grown to about 6 times the population of 1700. The reason was, that immigrants to the British islands, who came from the colonies and from the European continent, immigrated. That brought advantages and disadvantages. In fact, that was the reason for the Industrial Revolution that many people got a place to work, but still it wasn't enough. The first World War didn't have big effects on London, of course, it was influenced. There were marches of hunger and rebellions.
But the Second World War was very bad! By a German air raid (1940/41) 10000 human lives were demanded and 17000 people were seriously hurt. Because of the raids London became a very different city. The ports of the harbour were completly destroyed and a reconstruction was senseless. On the other hand, London could keep its the economic power. Finally, London was rebuilt. People planned very beautiful designs for skyscrapers which were higher than the others.

Houses of Parliament

Suddenly in the 19th century, London had grown so fast, that the town was split in 1888. And so was the county of London which was ruled by the County Council. In 1965 the goverment decided that the surburb should be used as residential areas. So Greater London was created.

Unfortunatelly, the advice assembly was dissolved in 1986. Every 4 years a member of advice was voted by the people from the nation. Mainly, the advice was dealed with public places, exeptions were the police, the fire station and the puplic transportation. Just 5000 inhabitants work directly in London, but more than 300.000 other people travel to work there only day.

Museums and theatres:

One of the most important and biggest museums is the "British Museum" in Bloomsbury. It owns 6 million visitors pieces and the British City Library.

The Victoria and Albert Museum in South Kensington owns a collection of "art of treasure" from the whole world.There are precious porcelain and glas vessels, sculptures, clothes and costumes, furniture and musical instruments.

There is also the Museum of London, which shows the development of the main town from the beginning till today. One of the most special picture collections in the world belongs to the National Gallery onTrafalgar Square. Not so far away is the National-Portrait-Gallery. There are exhibits of 9000 portraits.

Trafalgar Square

Somebody who is interested in professional theatre dramas is right at the National Theatre Company on the South Bank or the Barbican Arts Center of the Royal Shakespeare Company. The two most famous Opera Houses of London are the "Royal Opera House" in Covent Garden and the Coliseumwhich accomodates the "English National Opera". The most popular concert hall is situated in Wigmore Hall behind Oxford Street.

For people who are interested in this area, the museums are naturally comparable with heaven. But for amateurs a look "behind the scenes" is wonderful, too.

Seeing the sights:

Canary Wharf

Today, when you look at London, you wouldn't believe that so many terrible events have happened there. London was a field of ruins. Historical churches were carefully reconstructed. In addition there were built new residential areas, new schools, shopping centers and the art center, there is the "Royal Shakespeare Company". The contrast of the town was changed by the National Westminster Bank Building (183 m) and the highest building of Great Britain, the Canary Wharf Tower (244m).

When you take with a boat 80 km along the River Thames, you practically travel through the whole of London.

However, the biggest part of the city lies on the northern side of the river. In our map you can see that the St. Paul's Cathedral lies on the west end of the town. The Tower of London which was used by the Normans as a fortress, is situated in the south directly on the edge of London. The East End, where the residential area is situated, lies in the east and the north-east. There the immigrants lived.. You can find the Docklands on the northern bank of the Thames where you can see Canary Wharf, too.

St. Paul's looking down from the Whispering Gallery

St. James's Park and Whitehall

For the people who are interested in history, the old west or north-west are very exciting. In the 20th century Bloomsbury, for example, was the most popular place for literary specialists. In the southside of London lies the administrative district with White Hall, the Palace of Westminster, the Saint James's Palace and Buckingham Palace.

The biggest park of London is Hyde Park which lies in the west. Knightsbridge and Kensington are two very elegant residential areas with many tourist attractions (the department store of Harrods, the Royal Albert Hall and the South-Kensington Museum). South of the West End, across the Thames, lies the South Bank Arts Complex. The National Theatre, the Royal Festival Hall and the Hayward-Gallery belong to the South Bank Arts Complex, too. Behind the South Bank Arts Complex lies Greenwich ( Greenwich is one of the towns which is very important for history) Dulwich, Clapham and Wimblendon, where the famous tennis matches take place, are the oldest settlements of London.

east west Greenwich divides the world

Mine & Steffi

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Vocabulary:

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