Facts:

- Inhabitants: 11,8 mill.

- Temperature in summer: 18 C.

- Temperature in winter: 4 C.

- Continent: Europe

- Country: United Kingdom

- Region: England

- City: London

 

Founded about 2000 years ago by the Romans, Londinium, now called London has a long history. It was already the largest city in Western Europe since 1700, when 575,000 people lived in London. This was largely due to the Industrial revolution, which started in England. London lived its heyday during the Victorian age, when London was also the capital of the huge British empire.

 

The Story of the United Kingdom and the union flag:

- The Union Flag, popularly know as the *Union Jack, is the national flag of the United Kingdom.

- It is called the Union Flag because it symbolizes the administrative union of the countries of the United Kingdom. It is made up of the individual Flags of three of the Kingdoms four countries all united under one sovereign the countries of England and Wales, of Scotland and of Ireland ( Although since 1921 only Northern Ireland has been part of the United Kingdom)

 

 

Big Ben, symbolizes London.

 

The Story of Big Ben:
At 9'-0" diameter, 7'-6" high and weighing at 13,760 Kg, the hour bell of the Great Clock of Westminster - known worldwide as 'Big Ben' - is the most famous bell ever cast at Whitechapel.

 

Houses of Parliament:

The City of Westminster, at the heart of London is the place where the parliaments have been located for more than 700 years. In the middle of the 11th century, the Edward the Confessor had moved his court to the Palace of Westminster, situated on a central site near the river Thames. It wasn't until 1256 that Henry III moved the Great Parliament to the Palace.

 

St. Paul`s Cathedral:

St. Paul's Cathedral has had an eventful history. The first records date from 604 AD, when Mellitus, Bishop of the East Saxons built the first wooden church on the summit of one of London's hills. At the end of the 7th century, it was built in stone by Erkenwald, Bishop of London.

In 962 and 1087, the Cathedral was destroyed by fires, but each time it was rebuilt. By that time, it was one of the largest cathedrals in Europe. Rebuilding and extensions in the 13th and 14th century enlarged the cathedral even more.

But disaster struck again on the night of the 2nd of September 1666, when a fire destroyed 4/5th of all of London, wiping 13,200 houses and 89 churches, including the St. Paul's Cathedral off the map.

 

 

Tower of London:

The construction of the Tower of London was initiated by William the Conqueror in 1070. It was built to enforce the power of the king over the newly conquered country. The Tower of London houses a collection of Jewellery, displayed for the public. It is a practice introduced by King Charles II who wanted to impress his subjects. Another must-see collection in the Tower of London is the Royal Armories. This museum can claim to be the oldest museum displayed in England. The collection includes the armories of king Hendrik VIII, one of the largest armories in the world. The Royal Armories also include Asian and Islamic weapons, among the an elephant shield, confiscated in 1757 by Clive in India.

 

Tower of London Pictures:

Buckingham Palace:

Buckingham Palace, one of several castles owned by the British Royal family, is one of tourist attractions in London. King George III bought the house in 1761 for his wife and had it altered by William Chambers.

 

In 1826, King George IV started to expand the house into a palace. In 1850 the large east wing was added. It includes a large 40 meter long ballroom. A part of the palace is still used by the Royal family. A flag is hoisted each time the Queen is in the castle. Other parts of the castle can be visited, including the lavishly decorated state rooms.

 

Buckingham Palace is located in Westminster, at the end of the Mall. It is bordered by Green Park in the north and by St. James's Park in the east. The statue in front of the Palace is the Queen Victoria Memorial.