Generally. However, the capital of Great Britain is so juicy in terms of historical and cultural attractions that it is simply unrealistic to fit everything in one article. In principle, just like seeing the main “goodies” of the city in one day.
If you, my dear reader, on the first day of your stay in London, probably ran to look, the second day was simply created in order to go to the iconic fortress.
For 900 years of its history, the Tower of London has managed to visit a palace, a prison, a treasure store, an observatory, and even a zoo. Since then, the appearance of the fortress has remained practically unchanged. Today, the Tower houses a museum and treasury of the British crown. There are also private apartments in the building, in which high-ranking guests are received, and the staff also live here.
It is better to visit the fortress sutra if you plan to have time to see a lot in the Tower itself and in the vicinity. Entrance to the Tower is paid, adult ticket - £ 25 at the box office (£ 23 online, on the official website), children (5-15 years old) - £ 12 (10.75).
Another iconic object of London is located next to the Tower of Fortress. Designers in the 19th century had to work hard on the project so that the new bridge across the river would become not just an overpass for the rapidly increasing traffic flow, but also a structure that would harmoniously fit into architectural style capital Cities. It's hard to believe now, but at the end of the 19th century, Tower Bridge turned out to be the only place in the city center where you could get from one bank of the Thames to the other.
It took 8 years to build the bridge, and in 1894, the 265 meter long bridge was finally completed. Many Londoners initially disliked the bridge for its Victorian Gothic design, but gradually got used to it, and over time it became one of the main symbols of London.
The Tower Bridge area has an excellent waterfront with modern residential buildings and office buildings, on the ground floors of which there are many restaurants and cafes with a summer terrace. Rumor has it that this part of London is the most expensive real estate in the city per square meter.
On the other side of the Thames I met this unusual monument... According to unconfirmed information, the idea of this creation was embodied by a local architect, impressed by the masterpiece he heard Igor Nikolaev - "Dolphin and Mermaid".
If you want to see where the British queen lives, you are in. A significant part of the official royal ceremonies are held here, such as receptions of foreign heads of state or appointed foreign ambassadors. More than 50 thousand people every year are honored with invitations to state banquets, lunches, dinners and official receptions, including the royal one. The Queen also holds weekly meetings with the Prime Minister here.
One of my favorite places in London is Trafalgar Square. Local architecture cannot but please the eye. There are always a lot of tourists here. Locals also like to make appointments here. In the middle of the square is the 56-meter Column of Nelson with a statue of Admiral Nelson at the top.
Here, there is a pretty cute fountain nearby, and in the background on the right you can already see Big Ben, which is about five minutes walk from here.
Trafalgar Square is also home to the London National Gallery- the third most visited Art Museum in the world. More than 2,000 paintings are displayed here, including works by Rubens, Titian, Van Dyck and other great artists.
Monument to some general. Even if I knew which one, it is unlikely that this information would have survived for you longer than a second after reading these lines.
Walking around London, one gets the impression that this city is endless. Monuments, ancient buildings, parks. You turn right - beauty, left - beauty, backward, forward - the same. And so, kilometer by kilometer, until the moon changes the sun. It even becomes somehow boring. No garbage, no dull five-story Khrushchev houses, no boorish sellers. No, well, I'll still find the weak points of this city, you can't get off so easily, London!
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Big Ben is the largest of the six bells of Westminster Palace, located on the banks of the River Thames, in the Westminster area. In the world, this famous clock is usually associated with the "Elizabeth Tower", renamed from the "Clock Tower" in the fall of 2012, while the mechanism itself and the parliament building have separate names. According to the most common versions, the great bell can be named both in honor of Sir Benjamin Hall, who supervised the work on its casting, and in honor of the famous heavyweight boxer - Benjamin Count, who shone in the ring at the time the tower was being erected.
It was built in the neo-Gothic style, in 1858, and the clock began its countdown a year later. The total height of the building together with the spire is more than 96 meters, the diameter of the dial is 7 meters, and the length of the hands, respectively, reaches 2.7 and 4.2 meters. For a long time, Big Ben was considered the largest clock mechanism in the world, and the tower of Westminster Palace is still a symbol of London to this day. V different years many famous films were filmed here, and the structure was shown in all sorts of angles and types. At one time, the tower was even a prison for especially active parliamentarians, and in honor of the famous British woman Emmeline Pankhurst, famous for her social deeds for women's rights, a memorial monument flaunts on the territory of Westminster Palace.
On all four dials of the tower, installed on each side, there are inscriptions in Latin, meaning “God save our queen - Victoria I”. To the right and to the left of the mechanism, upon closer examination, one can see another inscription - "Praise the Lord". It is known that London's Big Ben is famous for its accuracy, but at the same time, the operation of the mechanism is always corrected only with a simple 1 penny coin, capable of accelerating the movement of the pendulum by 0.4 seconds per day. There are many such coins at the very top of the watch. When some important events take place in the country, the battle of Big Ben is heard in different areas, and at that moment the tower is shown in close-up on central television.
Today, the clock tower is rightfully considered one of the symbols of the city, ideally blending into the city's landscapes and standing out against the background of the Thames. There are few tourists in the world who have visited the English capital and have not photographed against the backdrop of the legendary Big Ben. Meanwhile, only British citizens are allowed direct access to the tower, and even then only by special permission, which can be difficult to obtain. However, this does not decrease the popularity of the attraction, but only makes it even more mysterious.
Let's start with the most famous ones, such as Big Ben and Palace of Westminster. Even those who have never been to London have heard about them, but not everyone knows that Parliament is located in the Palace of Westminster, about the history of this palace, about the changes that it has endured over the centuries.
Tours are held even when Parliament is in session, both for British citizens and foreigners. Some traditions have been preserved here, which are already many centuries old. After the election of a new speaker of the House of Commons, other members of parliament literally pull him to the speaker's chair by force. In the old days, the Speaker of the House of Commons who did not find mutual language with the House of Lords, he was deprived not only of his job, but also of his life. Once, in one day, the heads of two speakers were chopped off. Heads are no longer chopped off, and in parliament, with its bicameral system of checks and balances, disputes are resolved through debate.
Big Ben was added to the building after the fire of 1834, and after the first bell cracked during the inspection, the second was raised to the bell tower, which was first sounded in July 1859. Soon it also cracked, so it was turned to the hammer of another side, instead of changing the bell itself.
Another well-known building is Buckingham Palace, which should be seen by everyone who has visited London. Buckingham Palace has been the official residence of the English queen and royal family since the late 18th century. It's in Westminster and easy to get there by public transport as it is one of the most visited tourist destinations in London.
Every year in August and September, visitors can see ceremonial hall... It contains priceless paintings by great artists, beautiful sculptures and some of the world's most remarkable pieces of furniture. Many also want to see the changing of the royal guard.
Tower of London in different historical epochs it was a palace, a fortress, and a prison. Perhaps its present purpose - a museum - is the best of all. Its defensive walls and towers were built by various kings who lived here. The moat, which was supplied with water from the Thames, was drained in 1830. William the Conqueror began to build the Tower, but it was never completed during his lifetime.
Many famous captives have been held here for years, so now it is possible to regale tourists with chilling ghost stories. Tower Bridge and each tower have their own story. Here you can also see the treasures of the crown. The Tower also serves as a zoo and arsenal.
St Paul's Cathedral he served his first service back in 1697. This is the fourth cathedral in a row, which stands on this place. The first Cathedral of St. Paul was built in the 7th century. The third was destroyed during the Great Fire of London. This cathedral was built for 35 years according to the project of Christopher Wren. He was obsessed with the idea that London's main church should boggle the imagination, and now every corner of the cathedral, including the organ, lives up to his expectations.
The official name of Westminster Abbey is Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, but in the world it is better known unofficially. From the very Battle of Hastings back in the 11th century. almost all coronations took place here, and is still the site of all important national events. There used to be a Benedictine monastery here, but now it is no longer.
The building at the intersection of Whitehall and Downin Street has been associated with the British Prime Minister since 1730. The house was originally presented as a gift to Prime Minister Robert Walpole, but he refused the gift and insisted that the building be used by the future First Lords of the Treasury. This building is the heart of the British government.
Attempts by contemporaries to contribute to the architecture of London drew a variety of responses. Ferris wheel, which was named London Eye was greeted positively because it offers a magnificent view of the River Thames.
And here Millennium Dome in Greenwich, from an architectural point of view, it was not as well received, but as the largest building in England for exhibitions, shops, restaurants and other entertainment facilities, Londoners liked it.
These are just a few of the huge number of interesting and notable places London. New or old, they all attract tourists who want to independently familiarize themselves with what they previously saw only on TV. Even when you see a small part of the historic buildings and structures in London, you will know that you have not wasted your time and money.
When talking about the symbols of England, the famous landmark of London is immediately presented - the Big Ben tower.
What is Big Ben
Big Ben is the largest of the six bells in Westminster Palace. Many people think that this is the name of the clock tower in London, but in fact this is the name of the 13-ton bell that is located inside it, behind the dial.
Big Ben's official name was "The Clock Tower of the Palace of Westminster." In 2012, by decision of the British Parliament, this landmark of England was renamed the Elizabeth Tower (in honor of the 60th anniversary of the Queen's reign).
Despite other names, the name "Big Ben" remains the most popular and is used generically to refer to the tower, clock, and bells.
All about Big Ben: history and description
The clock tower was built in Westminster in 1288 and at that time had a completely different look.
In 1834, there was a huge fire at Westminster Palace and everything burned down. Its restoration was undertaken by Charles Barry, together with the architect Augustus Welby Pugin, who designed the current neo-Gothic clock tower. In 1859, when Big Ben was built, the clock was launched and to this day they accurately count the time.
There are two popular versions after whom the London watch is named. The first version sounds like this: the tower got its name in honor of Benjamin Hall - the one who built Big Ben, or rather supervised the construction, he was quite large in build and was often called Big Ben. Another version of why the clock tower is called so is in honor of the popular heavyweight boxer Benjamin Count.
Big Ben height
The tower, including the spire, measures 320 feet (96.3 meters). To imagine what Big Ben looks like, imagine the height of a 16-story building.
There are no lifts or lifts in the tower, so it is closed to the public. Sometimes exceptions are made to this rule, and then visitors climb 334 steps to go upstairs.
Watch
The clock on the Big Ben Tower in London is still the largest in the world. The dial diameter is 7 meters. The length of the arrows is 2.7 and 4.2 meters.
The watch movement is considered the standard of reliability, its total weight is 5 tons. It was assembled by the watchmaker Edward John Dent, who completed the work in 1854. A fundamentally new double three-stage movement was created, which allows better separation of the pendulum and the five-ton movement.
The watch is so reliable that even during the Second World War, when German bombing damaged two dials and the roof of the tower, it did not interrupt its course. Thus, this landmark of Great Britain has become a symbol of the accuracy and reliability of all English. At the bottom of each dial is the inscription "God save our Queen Victoria", which is also absolutely in the English spirit.
- 13 tons - that is how much Big Ben weighs (the largest bell in Westminster Palace).
- The London clock is the international time standard and is also considered the largest four-sided striking clock in the world.
- The accuracy of the clock is adjusted using a 1 penny coin (if necessary, the coin is placed on the pendulum and its movement slows down by 0.4 seconds per day).
- In the bell tower, in addition to Big Ben (which sounds every hour), there are four more quarters, which ring every quarter of an hour. A melody is issued, consisting of 20 consecutive Cambridge chimes, for each quarter of an hour - its own composition of chimes.
- To the sounds of Big Ben, the British greet the coming of the New Year, and also mark all the mournful events and minutes of silence.
- News programs in England begin with a photograph of this tower.
- Almost all documentaries and feature films about England use Big Ben in their screensaver.
- Once in Big Ben, there was a prison for parliamentarians who behaved violently at meetings, the last prisoner was Emmeline Pankhurst, she fought for women's rights. In honor of this woman, a monument was erected on Parliament Square, where Big Ben stands.
Information about Big Ben: where it is located, address on the map
Location: London, Parlament Square
Address: Palace of Westminster, Old Palace Yard, London SW1
Nearest metro station: Westminster on the circle
How to get there by bus: to Parliament Square or Whitehall Street stop (Trafalgar Square).
If you are suddenly tired of the imposing architecture of the Kingdom of Great Britain, you can visit one of the very first museums of Madame Tussauds, with a unique collection of wax figures.
We all know from school that the most famous bridge in London is Tower Bridge. Its unusual appearance makes it easily recognizable: on the imposing river pillars, there are two Gothic-style towers, which are connected by drawbridges and pedestrian galleries.
Its main difference from the rest of the bridges is that it is drawbridge and is the lowest over the Thames. It got its name due to the proximity to the Tower, which is located on the north side.
Short story
For a long time, the Thames was crossed by one London Bridge. However, the sharp economic growth and population growth that began in the 19th century showed the need for the construction of additional bridges, which were supposed to help solve the transport problem of the capital.
Over the years, more than one bridge was built, but problems with traffic flow have not decreased. Soon a committee was formed, which studied dozens of projects, and only in 1884 the project of John Wolf Bury and Goras Johnson was approved.
More than 400 workers worked on the construction of the bridge for 8 years. The opening took place on June 30, 1894, and was attended by Prince Edward of Wales and his wife, Princess Alexandra.
The bridge was made in the Gothic style, but with a number of innovative designs. Thanks to the hydraulic system, just a couple of minutes is enough to provide free passage to the sailing vessel. Until 1974, the bridge was raised due to the operation of steam engines, in the furnaces of which coal was burned, which drove the pumps. They pumped water into reservoirs, storing energy. But progress did not stand still, and the entire mechanism was replaced by an electro-hydraulic system, which significantly saved time and costs. Now the bridge was raised not on schedule, but out of necessity.
Over the years, Tower Bridge, along with Big Ben, have become real symbols and one of the main attractions of London.
Today Tower Bridge is one of the most visited attractions in England. Many tourists, coming here, consider it an honor to take a walk through the legendary structure, especially since many hotels in London send them on very informative and complex excursions around the city.
Information for visitors
Address: Tower Bridge Road, London SE1 2UP, United Kingdom
You can walk along Tower Bridge:
- in the summer season (from April 1 to September 30) - from 10:00 to 18:30 (last entry at 17:30);
- in the winter season (from October 1 to March 31) - from 09:30 to 18:00 (last entry at 17:00).
Ticket prices:
You can buy tickets at
