London
History
London is the capital city of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Northern Ireland and once the industrial, commercial and political centre of a
vast empire, London lies astride the River Thames in southeastern England 40
miles from its estuary on the North Sea. More than eight million people live in
London. It lies on both banks of the river Thames. It is the largest city in
Europe and one of the largest cities in the world.
London began as a Roman settlement in AD 43 – where the City – London’s
financial district, stands today – and flourished as a market town for the next
350 years. In the classic pattern, at the spot where a road crossed the stream
foreign invaders displaced the natives and built a bridge and a city,
Londinium. In Roman times the river was broader and shallower. Two small
streams, the Walbrook and the Fleet, both of which still flow the Thames but
now through the underground conduits, enabled the Romans to bring boats inside
their fortified city.
After the Romans left in AD 410, the town declined. The Anglo – Saxons
who settled in the region were farmers in small rural communities. But, by AD
800, London was a busy trade centre again.
The town’s strategic and commercial importance grew and it was fought
over by Vikings and warring Saxon factions before falling into the hands of
William the Conqueror in 1066. Under his reign, the Tower of London was built
to protect the city.
During the next five centuries, London became a bustling medieval city
of timber – framed buildings towering over narrow, winding streets, with gothic
churches and cathedrals. It also became a city of slums, squalor and disease.
The Black Death, halving the population of the city in 1348, and the Great
Plague of 1665, claiming 100,000 lives, are only the most extreme examples of
frequent that swept the city. Rich citizens were able to escape the filth and
moved to the greener outskirts, thus expanding the West End.
Under the reign of Elizabeth I (1558 – 1603), the arts flourished and
Bankside became London’s first theatreland; it was here that Shakespeare’s
Globe Theatre stood, and the Bard’s plays were staged. The district was home to
the low – life, who thrived in brothers and taverns. But these establishments
were shut down after the defeat of the monarchy in the English Civil War (1648)
which brought an era of puritanism. Only after the restoration of the monarchy,
in 1660, were theatres tolerated again. The Theatre Royal, Covent Garden, was
built, marking the beginning of the West End as an entertainment district.
Medieval London ceased to exist on 2 September 1666 when a fire which
started in Pudding Lane destroyed three
– quarters of the city. A new law required new structures to be stone, and the
entire character of the City was changed. But there are a few ancient relics
that survived the flames. In the midst of the raging conflagration was the Guildhall,
which was able to withstand the flames because it was partially in stone. Also
protected by stone were the Tower Green Tudor houses, safely within the
fortified walls of the Tower of London.
In the 18th and 19th centuries, London mushroomed
as a commercial centre; docks, bridges and canals were built and, in 1836, the
first railway opened, forming the infrastructure that allowed England’s
industrial revolution to gather pace. Reacting against such progress,
architects south refuge in England’s medieval past and many public buildings were done in gothic style.
By the start of the 20th century, London was a huge metropolis, but depression and wartime
devastations took their toll. Development since then has seen the re –
emergence of the South Bank as a centre for the arts and regeneration of the
Covent Garden into a shopping area with piazzas, street cafes, buskers and
boutiques.
But it’s the former docks which now form the focus for the growth and
may be responsible for turning the capital into a linear city.
London is a city of many faces.
Historically, it can be described as a collection of villages, that have grown
together. Regional variations that were once very noticeable when each village
had a character of its own have not entirely died out. Since the end of World
War II differences between London’s parts considerably reduced due to economic
and social factors. Yet, when Professor Higgins in Shaw’s “Pygmalion” said that
he could detect “phonetically” what part of London a man came from, “sometimes
within two streets”, there was the poetic truth behind the exaggeration. Few
such differences survive, however. Cockney speech still preserves its idioms
and its accent in many parts of London, particularly in the old inner suburbs
and working class districts.
Once again London is changing shape, but visitors continue to come and
many return. As Moore said: “Go where we may, rest where we will, eternal
London haunts us still.”
The most important areas of London are: the City, the West End, the East
End and Westminster.
The City is the heart of the business and financial life of the country.
The City occupies a little more than one square mile, but most of the banks and
offices are found in this part of London.
The West End is the richest area of London. You can see the best shops,
restaurants, theatres, cinemas, museums, fine parks and squares there. Rich people
live in the West End.
The East End is the “hands” of London. Working people live there. These
hands have built the City banks, the palaces, theatres and shops of the West
End. They have built up the wealth of Great Britain. There are few parks in
this part of London. Most of the streets are narrow.
The Palace of Westminster – the correct name for the Houses of
Parliament – is a magnificent building.
Westminster Abbey is very beautiful. Nearly all the kings and queens of
Britain were crowned and buried there. Many great English scientist lie buried
there, among them Newton and Darwin. In the Poet’s Corner some of the famous English poets and writers
are buried.
Travelling in London
London is a city full of sights, history and atmosphere. There are
plenty of places to go. Wherever you are you’ll find a bus and underground
nearby. So you can reach any part of London easily and enjoy the ride. There
are handy leaflets with maps and information to plan your journeys. If you need
further information, 24 – hour personal travel information by telephone is
provided.
The wide choice of public transport includes bus, underground, train and
Docklands Light Railway. Most of South London relies on British Rail overground
services, while the redeveloped Eastern part of the city – known as Docklands –
is served by the DRL.
Getting out of the city is not straightforward because there are more
than a dozen British Rail terminals – usually grandiose Victorian buildings –
which connect the metropolis with the rest of the country, so make sure you
know your station for arrival or departure.
The main London airports are
Heathrow, Gatwick, London City Airport and Stanstead.
Heathrow is 15 miles of London. Central London is a 45 minute
journey on the tube. Alternatively take a licensed Black Cab straight to your
hotel or the Airbus. The Airbus and the tube are much cheaper than a taxi. Tube
trains run every few minutes from early morning to late evening. It is best for
people with light luggage. Airbus is ideal if you have lots of luggage. They
can be boarded near all major hotels, rail and coach stations and all airport
terminals. Airbuses run every 15 to 30 minutes throughout the day and are fast
and comfortable with friendly drivers who offer advice and information.
Disabled travellers are welcome.
Gatwick, 30 miles from
London, is served by the Gatwick Express train, taking 30 minutes to
Victoria and costing £8.60 one way. Some commuter trains go to and from Clapham
Junction and London Bridge. A Greenline Coach service connects Gatwick with
Victoria in Central London, taking about 75 minutes and costing £8.90.
London City Airport is only 6 miles east of the City. The nearest rail
station is Silvertown, which connects with the tube at West Ham. Also, shuttle
buses connect the airport with Canary Wharf DRL and Liverpool Street station in
the City.
Stanstead. A rail service connects this airport, 32 miles NE of
London with the City’s Liverpool Street station, taking about 40 min (£10.80).
There are over 20,000 licensed
Black Cabs in London. Every driver has undergone a stringent test of London’s
geography called The Knowledge. You will find them a wealth of knowledge. Black
cabs can be hailed in the street when their “For Hire” sign is illuminated.
Avoid unlicensed mini – cabs, especially those touting outside stations.
The Underground
The famous London Underground is not only the oldest and the biggest in
the world, it is one of the most modern and efficient. It comprises 11 lines
covering most of London. Some have more than one branch, so it’s better to make
sure to take the correct one. Use a London Underground Journey Planner to plan
your route. Each line has a name and a different colour. The colour code signs point
to where you can find the tube line you need. Make sure you go to the correct
platform for the direction you want to travel.
Tubes begin running about 5.30 am and leave London on their last outward
journey between 12.30 am and 1 am. Some routes start later and finish earlier,
particularly on Sundays. Trains finish earlier, though each line varies and
some suburbs are lucky to be served by all – night services.
Avoid the busiest time on the Underground between 0800 and 0930 and 1700
to 1830.
You can buy your ticket from a machine or
ticket office at any Underground station. The price of your fare depends on the
number of zones you travel through. Don’t forget to buy the right ticket before
you begin your journey or you may be stopped and have to pay a £10 penalty
fare.
You can buy a single ticket for a one – way journey of a return ticket.
Of choose one of Travelcards or LT (London Transport) Cards.
Many Underground stations have automatic ticket gates. Insert your
ticket and take it back as you walk through. If you have a pushchair,
wheelchair or heavy luggage, ask a member of the staff to open one of the
special wide gates. Once your journey is complete or your ticket has expired,
the gate will open but the machine will retain your ticket.
For your safety, do not try to hold back the train door when they are
closing and remember to take care of your personal belongings and take them
with you when you leave the train.
When you use an escalator, keep to the right of the steps so people can
pass you if they are in a hurry. Smoking is not allowed anywhere on the
Underground.
If you need help or guidance, friendly, well – trained staff can assist
you and you can also talk to them from “Help Points” at many stations.
The Buses
The bus is ideal for short hops. The top of a double – decker has been
hailed as one of the best ways to see the city centre. Most London buses are red,
some are in different colours, but they will display the sign: “London
Transport”.
The famous red buses offer extensive services throughout the capital and
there is a frequent and reliable privately – run sightseeing service.
With 17,000 bus stops all over London, you are rarely more than a minute
walk from one. You can board at two types of bus stops:
Compulsory – Buses will
automatically stop, unless they are full.
Request – Buses will only
stop if you put out your arm in good time.
When you board a bus, take a seat if one is available or hold on tight.
When you want to leave the bus ring the bell once, unless a “bus
stopping” sign is lit. Buses offer a friendly, personal and safe service;
nearly all vehicles have video cameras on board. All buses are No Smoking.
Never get on or off an open platform bus except at a bus stop and always wait
until the bus has stopped. Be careful when crossing the road as buses sometimes
travel in special road lanes against the traffic flow.
Special “N” numbered Night Buses run through the night – some follow
daytime routes, others have their own routes. Fares are slightly higher than on
day buses and you cannot use a One Day Travelcard, LT Card or One Day Bus Pass.
There are no child fares on Night Buses. All Night Buses pass through Trafalgar
Square and serve theatres, cinemas and entertainment areas.
Sightseeing
If you are touring London on a budget make note of the following:
Britain’s Number One Sightseeing Company is Evan Evans Tours.
Since its foundation in 1933, millions of visitors have enjoyed the Evan Evans
Experience. It combines the talents of a committed team, 24 hour service,
experienced tour planning and the very best in vehicle availability. The vast
majority of Company’s fleet are Mercedes. All have reclining seats and the very
best in audio systems. The Company’s guides amuse, entertain and enlighten.
History is brought to life by the best in the business.
London Plus Hop – on Hop – off is the original London sightseeing tour. You’ll be
shown the sights of London from a traditional double – decker bus. All London
Plus buses have a guide to provide commentary or you may have taped commentary.
With a London Plus ticket you can hop on and hop off at more than twenty London
Plus bus stops along the tour route for no extra charge. Tickets purchased
after 2 pm are valid for the following day as well. Normal price adult £10.
The Original London Walks is the oldest walking tour company in London with its
more than 30 years in the business. In practice that means an astonishing
variety of routes, utter reliability, and – most important of all – superb
guides. They include the author who is internationally recognizing as the
leading authority on Jack the Ripper; a distinguished BBC broadcaster and
writer; the author of the classic guidebook “London Walks”; a leading London
archeologist and several renowned actors and actresses.
To go for a walk, you’ll meet your guide and fellow walkers just outside
the designated Underground station at the time stated. The walks last about two
hours and take place rain or shine. A walk costs £4. Children under 15 go free
if accompanied by an adult.
You may also be delighted by a guided luncheon cruise on board the
“Silver Bonito” which is quite simply the best ship of its type on the River
Thames today. Elegant and purpose built you can relax in forward racing
armchairs while enjoying your lunch served to your seat. Drinks, tea and coffee
are available from the well stocked bar.
You’ll see London from unique vantage points on the river including the
Tower of London, the Houses of Parliament, Tower Bridge and South Bank as
history is brought to life with amusing anecdotes and commentary from the
Captain, a Thames “Waterman”.
The London Panorama
We begin as London began – with the Thames. Silvery lifeline, main
highway, chief profession route, the Tames is, quite simply, London’s Grand
Canal. Tower Bridge and Westminster Bridge bracket London and to take ship on
this stretch of water is to glissade down the centuries. Here kings and queens
were borne in painted and gilt state barges; on the one shore, Wren’s St.
Paul’s Cathedral engraved against the London sky: on the other Shakespeare
wrought his magic “not of age, but for all time!” The Thames knew great men and
women in death too. These waters bore Elizabeth’s funeral and Nelson’s and
Churchill’s. Ashore we take in Whitehall Westminster Abbey, St. James’s Park,
Buckingham and St. James’s Palaces, the Mall and Trafalgar Square.
If you only have time for walking along Thames, you’ll take in London’s
last remaining galleried coaching inn, its best riverside walkway, its oldest
market, the finest art pub in England, the recently discovered remains of
Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre and its sister playhouse The Rose, the church where
Harvard University’s founder was baptized, the last three – masted schooner to
ply the high seas, and an 18th century pub that brews its own beer –
plus lashing of Shakespeare, a lot of Dickens, lots of pubs and London’s best
skyline panorama.
The City
The central spot in the City is an open space from which eight streets
radiate. On the south side is the Mansion House designed in the mid -18th
century as the Lord Mayor’s residence, office and court and which is still so
employed by each Lord Mayor during his one – year term.
Westward is the Monument by Christopher Wren which was erected in 1677
to commemorate the Great Fire of 1666. It stands close to the site of the house
of the king’s baker in Pudding Lane
where the fire started. It provides an excellent vantage point for a panorama
of the city and, in particular, the river and the Tower Bridge. However, it is
not for the unfit.
St. Paul’s Cathedral, at the top of Ludgate Hill, was built on the site
of the medieval church destroyed in the Great Fire. It’s Christopher Wren’s
masterpiece and one of London’s prime attractions. Wren also designed many
other City churches. Many of these were destroyed or badly damaged by bombing
during the last war. St. Paul’s though it was hit escaped the fires that
destroyed many of the buildings all around it. St. Paul’s Cathedral is the
scene of many great occasions – the funeral of Sir Winston Churchill and the
wedding of Prince Charles to Lady Diana Spencer, in particular. This Wren’s
most famous baroque masterpiece with its mural and carved choir stalls is worth
admiring.
St. Mary – le – Bow is known as Bow Church. It has a magnificent Wren
Tower and steeple and an 11th century crypt with Roman remains.
Badly bomb damaged in 1941, the church has been restored with a new set of the
famous Bow Bells. It is said that only those born within the sound of the Bow
Bells are real “Cockneys” – that is, real Londoners.
Threading your way through the intricate
network of narrow alleys and cobble – stone lanes, you’ll chronicle the 2000
years of London’s rich and tumultuous history. It is illustrated by everything
– from the street names – Aldersgate, Cloth Fair, Charter House, Threadneedle –
to ancient customs, to the frozen music of London’s great buildings among which
are the ruins of the Roman Temple and the ancient Guildhall. The old street
names show the kind of business that used to be done there. Cornhill was, of
course, a corn market. “Cheap” is an old Saxons word meaning “sell”. Cheapside
and Eastcheap were market places, too. The name Threadneedle Street came from
the large threadneedle factory which was situated here from 1620. Here is a
stretch of the Old Roman Wall its bastions and fort. There are venerable livery
halls of City Guilds – the Apothecaries, Goldsmiths, Fishmongers, Spectacle
makers, for example, - which attend to business, as they’ve done for hundreds
of years. Hard by, ancient graveyard weathers the centuries. And everywhere,
the rustle of the shades and the voices – like distant drums – of Shakespeare
and town criers, Dickens and chimneysweeps…
The City is a marvelous mélange
of ancient elegance and modern efficiency, a place where for 1000 years
tradition has been honoured and innovation has been essential. Thus, while the
messengers of the Bank of England are dressed in top hats and pink tail –
coats, the Bank employs computers and other contemporary aids to expedite its
labour.
The City’s institutions are as
varied as they are ancient. Nurses begin to prepare patients for surgery at St.
Bartholomew’s, London’s first hospital (founded in 1123) and the place where,
in the 17th century, William Harvey first demonstrated the circulation
of blood. Closer to St. Paul’s Cathedral, the vans begin to deliver prisoners
whose cases will be heard that day at the Old Baily, as the Central Criminal
Court is known, where most of Britain’s sensational murder trails have been
held.
Barbican is a City redevelopment on World War II bomb crates around the
16th – century church of St. Giles Cripplegate. The modern buildings
accord with the hues of the old church stones and bricks, and the project is
planned to bring inhabitants back to the City. There are private patios and
terraces, an artificial lake, greenery, and subsurface service roads and
parking facilities. In addition to offices, shops and restaurants, there is a
new buildings for the old City of London School for Girls, also at the Barbican
is the Barbican Centre: an art gallery, three cinemas, a library, two
exposition halls, quarters for the famed City – run Guildhall School of Music
and Drama, two theatres for the Royal Shakespeare Company and a 2000 – seat
concert hall, the residence of the London Symphony Orchestra.
Trafalgar Square
Trafalgar Square is square in central London. With its position in the
heart of London, it is a tourist attraction, and one of the most squares in the
United Kingdom and the world. At its centre is Nelson’s Column, which is
guarded by four lion statues at its base. Statues and sculptures are on display
in the square, including a fourth plinth displaying changing pieces of
contemporary art. The square is also used as a location for political
demonstrations and community gatherings, such as the celebration of New Year’s
Eve in London.
The name commemorates the Battle of Trafalgar (1805), a British naval
victory of the Napoleonic Wars. The original name was to have been “King
William the Fourth’s Square”, but eventually the name “Trafalgar Square” was
suggested and adopted.
The northern area of the square had been the site of the King’s Mews
since the time of Edward I, while the southern end was the original Charing
Cross, where the Strand from the City met Whitehall, coming north from
Westminster. As the midpoint between these twin cities, Charing Cross is to
this day considered the heart of London, from which all distance are measured.
In the 1820s the Prince Regent
engage the landscape John Nash to redevelop the area. Nash cleared the square
as part of his Charing Cross Improvement Scheme. The present architecture of
the square is due to Sir Charles Barry and was completed in 1845.
Trafalgar Square is owned by the
Queen in Right of the Crown, and managed
by the Greater London Authority.
Trafalgar Square ranks as the fourth most popular tourist attraction on
Earth with more than fifteen million visitors a year.
The square consists of a large central area surrounded by roadways on
three sides, and stairs leading to the National Gallery on the other. The roads
which cross the square form part of the A4 road, and prior to 2003, the square
was surrounded by a one-way traffic system. Underpasses attached to Charing
Cross tube station allow pedestrians to avoid traffic. Recent works have
reduced the width of the roads and closed the northern side of the square to
traffic.
Nelson's Column is in the centre of the square, surrounded by fountains
designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens in 1939 (replacing two earlier fountains of
Peterhead granite, now at the Wascana Centre and Confederation Park in Canada)
and four huge bronze lions sculpted by Sir Edwin Landseer; the metal used is
said to have been recycled from the cannon of the French fleet. The column is
topped by a statue of Horatio Nelson, the admiral who commanded the British
Fleet at Trafalgar.
The fountains are memorials to Lord Jellicoe (western side) and Lord
Beatty (eastern side), Jellicoe being the Senior Officer.
On the north side of the square is the National Gallery and to its east
St Martin-in-the-Fields church. The square adjoins The Mall via Admiralty Arch
to the southwest. To the south is Whitehall, to the east Strand and South
Africa House, to the north Charing Cross Road and on the west side Canada
House.
At the corners of the square are four plinths; the two northern ones
were intended for equestrian statues, and thus are wider than the two southern.
Three of them hold statues: George IV (northeast, 1840s), Henry Havelock (southeast,
1861, by William Behnes), and Sir Charles James Napier (southwest, 1855).
Former Mayor of London Ken Livingstone controversially expressed a desire to
see the two generals replaced with statues "ordinary Londoners would
know”.
On the lawn in front of the National Gallery are two statues, James II
to the west of the entrance portico and George Washington to the east. The
latter statue, a gift from the state of Virginia, stands on soil imported from
the United States. This was done in order to honour Washington's declaration he
would never again set foot on British soil.
In 1888 the statue of General Charles George Gordon was erected. In 1943
the statue was removed and, in 1953, re-sited on the Victoria Embankment. A
bust of the Second World War First Sea Lord Admiral Cunningham by Franta Belsky
was unveiled in Trafalgar Square on 2 April 1967 by Prince Philip, Duke of
Edinburgh.
The square has become a social and political location for visitors and
Londoners alike, developing over its history from "an esplanade peopled
with figures of national heroes, into the country’s foremost place
politique", as historian Rodney Mace has written. Its symbolic importance
was demonstrated in 1940 when the Nazi SS developed secret plans to transfer
Nelson's Column to Berlin following an expected German invasion.
Picadilly
Circus
Picadilly Circus is one of the busiest traffic junctions in London. It
is surrounded by the many distinguished 19th and 20th
century buildings and garish advertising signs. In the middle of Picadilly
Circus is cast aluminum Angel of Christian Charity. There is also a large
underground station here. Picadilly, one of the five thoroughfares that radiate
from the circus is said to have derived its name, first applied sarcastically
in 1623, from its proximity to the estate of a tailor, who made a fortune out
of selling “pickadils”, or collars.
Buckingham Palace
Buckingham Palace – beyond the highly embellished Queen Victoria
Memorial Monument (1910) – was a red brick country mansion built for the Duke
of Buckingham in 1705 and bought by George III in 1762. When John Nash reshaped
the Hyde Park he enlarged and remodeled the palace and designed Marble Arch,
which served as an enterway until 1851, when it was removed to the northeast
corner of the park. Since 1837, and the reign of Queen Victoria, it has been
the British royal residence in London. When the monarch is in residence, the
Royal Standard flies from the roof. The guard is changed in the forecourt every
morning from April to September and every other morning the rest of the year
whether or not the monarch is in residence.
The Houses of Parliament
The Houses of Parliament (1840 - 1860), known officially as the New
Palace of Westminster were created after most of the old Palace of Westminster
had been destroyed by the fire in 1834. Apart from Westminster Hall, only the
cloister and crypt of St. Stephen’s Chapel survived. At the northern end, by
Westminster Bridge, is the Clock Tower, 97 metres tall, with its huge clock –
each of the four dials in 1858 and so named after Benjamin Hall, the chief
supervisor of the works. Big Ben sounds the hours and quarters.
The House of Commons was destroyed in an air raid in 1941 and rebuilt in
1948 – 1950. The central lobby, where visitors meet members of Parliament,
leads to the House of Lords.
Westminster Abbey
An architectural masterpiece of the thirteenth to sixteenth centuries,
Westminster Abbey also presents a unique pageant of British history – the
Confessor’s Shrine, the tombs of Kings and Queens, and countless memorials to
the famous and the great. It has been the setting for every Coronation since
1066 and for numerous other Royal occasions. Today it is still a church
dedicated to regular worship and to the celebration of great events in the life
of the nation. Neither a Cathedral nor a church, Westminster Abbey is a “royal
peculiar”, subject only to the Sovereign.
Chapel of St. Edward the Confessor. The Abbey was consecrated 28 December 1065. Its
founder, the saintly King Edward, was too ill to be present and died a few days
afterwards. Two hundred years later Henry III began rebuilding the Abbey to house
a shrine worthy of the Saint. Buried near the shrine are five Kings and four
Queens.
Coronation Chair. This oak Chair was made for King Edward I by Master
Walter of Durham. It was designed to hold an ancient stone of Scone seized from
the Scots in 1296. For Coronation the Chair is moved to a position in the
Sanctuary. Since 1308 it has been used at the Coronation of every sovereign.
Only two were never crowned.
Poet’s Corner. The tomb to which Poet’s Corner owes its origin is
that of Geoffrey Chaucer, the first great English poet. He was buried in the
Abbey with a simple memorial in 1400. The present more imposing tomb was
erected in 1556.
The placing here of memorials to
poets began in earnest in the eighteenth century with the full – length statue
of Shakespeare, carved over a century after his death. This still continues;
Eliot, Auden, Dylan Thomas and “Lewis Carroll” are among the most recent.
The Sanctuary. The focal point of the Abbey’s architecture and of
its life today is the High Altar, framed by three thirteenth century tombs,
medieval wall paintings and a masterpiece of Italian renaissance painting.
The Name. The beautiful
Gothic Nave is the tallest in Britain with the grave of the Unknown Warrior and
memorials to many statesman, scientists and servicemen.
The Abbey Life Today. Nine hundred years ago Westminster Abbey was a
Benedictine Monastery, offering the traditional Benedictine hospitality to its
visitors. Today, it has to seek new ways of offering a hospitable welcome to
the 3 ½ million visitors who come to it every year from all parts of the world.
Worship and prayer remain the primary function of the Abbey community. Concern
for society and for individuals has taken on a new importance in the complex
world of the 20th century.
Westminster Abbey receives no financial assistance from the State. Its
every day work depends upon voluntary donations and the feels charged to
visitors.
Parks and Gardens
The special feature that distinguishes London from other capital cities
is its many green parks, which have been enjoyed by its citizens since Hyde
Park became the first public garden (1637). Five of London’s nine royal parks
are in the very heart of the capital. Among the most important parks that bring
fresh life and colour to London are St. James’s Park, Green Park, Hyde Park and
Kensington Gardens that stretch across the West End. Each has its own
character. Laid out in the midst of government buildings and palaces, ST.
JAMES’s PARK is one of the smallest, but with its charming lake enlivened
by water birds, well – maintained flower beds and view of Westminster from the
bridge, is easily the most attractive. To the west, divided by The Mall, is GREEN
PARK, an unpretentious stretch of especially thick, rich grass and
luxuriant stands of trees, the plainest of the Royal Parks.
KENSINGTON GARDENS are separated from Hyde Park by a road, but the
difference in character is at once apparent – it is more formal, more enclosed.
The Gardens share the boating lake with the naighbouring park, but at this
section it is called the Long Water, where depending on the weather there is
boating and ice – skating, or swimming. William III nipped 26 acres off the
western end of Hyde Park in 1689 to make a garden for Kensington Palace.
Kensington Garden were not opened to the general public until the mid – 19th
century and, until recently, still retain some feeling of elevated separates.
Expensive boats are still sailed in the Round pond and magnificent kites are
flown. Another park set apart from the others is REGENT’s Park. It was once a
royal hunting area. The park was laid out for George IV when he was Prince
Regent and was given its present name about 1814. If Primrose Hill is included
in its area, it is the largest of all parks, at 670 areas. Given its look by
John Nash, this “aristocratic garden suburb” is roughly circular in shape and
encircled by a carriage road. Within the park are the 34 – acre Zoological
Gardens, Queen Mary’s Garden and the Open Air Theatre.
HYDE PARK is one of the
largest parks in central London, United Kingdom, and one of the Royal Parks of
London, famous for its Speakers' Corner.
The park was the site of the Great Exhibition of 1851, for which the
Crystal Palace was designed.
The park has become a traditional location for mass demonstrations. The
Chartists, the Reform League, the Suffragettes and the Stop The War Coalition
have all held protests in the park. Many protesters on the Liberty and
Livelihood March in 2002 started their march from Hyde Park.
On 20 July 1982 in the Hyde Park and Regents Park bombings, two bombs
linked to the Provisional Irish Republican Army caused the death of eight
members of the Household Cavalry and the Royal Green Jackets and seven horses.
History
In 1536, Henry VIII acquired the manor of Hyde from the canons of
Westminster Abbey, who had held it since before the Norman Conquest; it was
enclosed as a deer park and remained a private hunting ground until James I
permitted limited access to gentlefolk, appointing a ranger to take charge.
Charles I created the Ring (north of the present Serpentine boathouses), and in
1637 he opened the park to the general public.
In 1689, when William III moved his habitation to Kensington Palace on
the far side of Hyde Park, he had a drive laid out across its south edge,
formerly known as "The King's Private Road", which still exists as a
wide straight gravelled carriage track leading west from Hyde Park Corner
across the south boundary of Hyde Park towards Kensington Palace. The drive is
now known as Rotten Row, possibly a corruption of rotteran (to muster), Ratten
Row (roundabout way), Route du roi or rotten (the soft material with which the
road is covered). Public transport entering London from the west paralleled the
King's private road along Kensington Gore, just outside the park. In the late
1800s, the row was used by the wealthy for horseback rides.
The first coherent landscaping was undertaken by Charles Bridgeman for
Queen Caroline;[8] under the supervision of Charles Withers, the
Surveyor-General of Woods and Forests, who took some credit for it. It was
completed in 1733 at a cost to the public purse of £20,000. Bridgeman's piece
of water called The Serpentine, formed by damming the little Westbourne that
flowed through the park was not truly in the Serpentine "line of
beauty" that William Hogarth described, but merely irregular on a modest
curve. The 2nd Viscount Weymouth was made Ranger of Hyde Park in 1739 and
shortly began digging the Serpentine lakes at Longleat The Serpentine is
divided from the Long Water by a bridge designed by George Rennie (1826).
One of the most important events to take place in the park was the Great
Exhibition of 1851. The Crystal Palace was constructed on the south side of the
park. The public in general did not want the building to remain in the park
after the closure of the exhibition, and the design architect, Joseph Paxton,
raised funds and purchased it. He had it moved to Sydenham Hill in South London.
Grand Entrance
The Grand Entrance to the park, also known as the Victoria Gate, at Hyde
Park Corner next to Apsley House, was erected from the designs of Decimus
Burton in 1824–25. An early description reports:
"It consists of a screen of handsome fluted Ionic columns, with
three carriage entrance archways, two foot entrances, a lodge, etc. The extent
of the whole frontage is about 107 ft (33 m). The central entrance has a bold
projection: the entablature is supported by four columns; and the volutes of
the capitals of the outside column on each side of the gateway are formed in an
angular direction, so as to exhibit two complete faces to view. The two side gateways,
in their elevations, present two insulated Ionic columns, flanked by antae. All
these entrances are finished by a blocking, the sides of the central one being
decorated with a beautiful frieze, representing a naval and military triumphal
procession. This frieze was designed by Mr. Henning, junior, the son of Mr.
Henning who was well known for his models of the Elgin marbles. "The gates
were manufactured by Messrs. Bramah. They are of iron, bronzed, and fixed or
hung to the piers by rings of gun-metal. The design consists of a beautiful
arrangement of the Greek honeysuckle ornament; the parts being well defined,
and the raffles of the leaves brought out in a most extraordinary manner."
Rose garden
A rose garden, designed by Colvin
& Moggridge Landscape Architects, was added in 1994.
Sites of interest
Sites of interest in the park include Speakers' Corner
(located in the northeast corner near Marble Arch), close to the former site of
the Tyburn gallows, and Rotten Row, which is the northern boundary of the site
of the Crystal Palace. South of the Serpentine is the Diana, Princess of Wales
memorial, an oval stone ring fountain opened on 6 July 2004. To the east of the
Serpentine, just beyond the dam, is London's Holocaust Memorial. Another
memorial in the Park commemorates the victims of the 7/7 terrorist attacks, in
the form of 52 steel pillars - one for each of the dead.
A botanical curiosity is the Weeping Beech, Fagus
sylvatica pendula, cherished as "the upside-down tree". Opposite Hyde
Park Corner stands one of the grandest hotels in London, The Lanesborough
(Formerly - until the early 1970s- St George's Hospital). Stanhope Lodge
(Decimus Burton, 1824–25) at Stanhope Gate, demolished to widen Park Lane, was
the home of Samuel Parkes who won the Victoria Cross in the Charge of the Light
Brigade. After leaving the army, Parkes became Inspector of the Park Constables
of the Park and died in the Lodge on 14 November 1864.
In 1867 the policing of the Park was entrusted to the
Metropolitan Police, the only Royal Park so managed, due to the potential for
trouble at Speaker's Corner. A Metropolitan Police Station ('AH') is situated
in the middle of the Park.
The East
End
Beyond the easternmost City gate down to the River Lea is London’s East
End. The neighbouring names persist: Aldgate, Spitalfields, Whitechapel, Mile
End, Bethnal Green , Wapping, Shadwell, Stepney, Limehouse, Poplar, and the
Isle of Dogs, but officially they comprise the borough of Tower Hamlets.
In the Middle Ages, the east End was part of vast Stepney Parish based
on the Saxon church, and, by the early 17th century it was already a
place to which the poor gravitated. With the development of the docks in the 19th
century, offering casual employment, and the growth of the clothing and
furniture industries, the increasing number of poor people completed for
intermittent pittance.
Among the overcrowded houses there was no drainage, and, despite the
early foundation of hospitals and charities, the average age of death in
Bethnal green in 1840 was 16 years, 50 percent of all deaths among the laboring
classes being children under five. Through the latter half of the 19th
century, there were continuing waves of immigrant groups, to whose poverty the
onus of racial, religious, and antiforeign prejudice was added. This was the
London of Jack the Ripper, where life and gin were equally cheap.
The East End was the most savagely bombed and burned part of London in
World War II. The rebuilding reflected far lower population densities, and many
families accepted new homes and jobs in the New Towns started at this period.
Industry as well as population continued the docklands were intended to reverse
this decline in the 1980s.
The housing construction program continues. Spitalfields, which has the
borough’s highest destiny of population, has been a receiving station for
immigrants since the Huguenot silk weavers fled France at the end of the 17th
century. The newest immigrants have been Indian and Pakistani, mingling with an
earlier wave of West Indians and little settlements left over from the turn –
of – the – century Irish and east European Jewish arrivals, spreading down into
Whitechapel. The Stepney – Poplar district, old Cockney territory, is to emerge
as a “New Town”. The new redevelopment of the dock areas has led to the private
purchase and restoration of Georgian buildings by prosperous Londoners of a
kind that inhabited the district 200 years ago. In 1987 a light rapid transit
railway was built that linked the docklands and the City.
The Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the
Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in
central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets,
separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space known
as Tower Hill. It was founded towards the end of 1066 as part of the Norman
Conquest of England. The White Tower, which gives the entire castle its name,
was built by William the Conqueror in 1078, and was a resented symbol of
oppression, inflicted upon London by the new ruling elite. The castle was used
as a prison since at least 1100, although that was not its primary purpose. A
grand palace early in its history, it served as a royal residence. As a whole,
the Tower is a complex of several buildings set within two concentric rings of
defensive walls and a moat. There were several phases of expansion, mainly
under Kings Richard the Lionheart, Henry III, and Edward I in the 12th and 13th
centuries. The general layout established by the late 13th century remains
despite later activity on the site.
The Tower of London has played a prominent role in English history. It
was besieged several times and controlling it has been important to controlling
the country. The Tower has served variously as an armoury, a treasury, a
menagerie, the home of the Royal Mint, a public records office, and the home of
the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom. From the early 14th century until the
reign of Charles II, a procession would be led from the Tower to Westminster
Abbey on the coronation of a monarch. In the absence of the monarch, the
Constable of the Tower is in charge of the castle. This was a powerful and
trusted position in the medieval period. In the late 15th century the castle
was the prison of the Princes in the Tower. Under the Tudors, the Tower became
used less as a royal residence, and despite attempts to refortify and repair
the castle its defences lagged behind developments to deal with artillery.
The peak period of the castle's use as a prison was the 16th and 17th
centuries, when many figures who had fallen into disgrace, such as Elizabeth I
before she became queen, were held within its walls. This use has led to the
phrase "sent to the Tower". Despite its enduring reputation as a
place of torture and death, popularised by 16th-century religious propagandists
and 19th-century writers, only seven people were executed within the Tower
before the World Wars of the 20th century. Executions were more commonly held
on the notorious Tower Hill to the north of the castle, with 112 occurring
there over a 400-year period. In the latter half of the 19th century, institutions
such as the Royal Mint moved out of the castle to other locations, leaving many
buildings empty. Anthony Salvin and John Taylor took the opportunity to restore
the Tower to what was felt to be its medieval appearance, clearing out many of
the vacant post-medieval structures. In the First and Second World Wars, the
Tower was again used as a prison, and witnessed the executions of 12 men for
espionage. After the Second World War, damage caused during the Blitz was
repaired and the castle reopened to the public. Today the Tower of London is
one of the country's most popular tourist attractions. It is cared for by the
charity Historic Royal Palaces and is protected as a World Heritage Site.
Crown Jewels
The tradition of housing the Crown Jewels in the Tower of London
probably dates from the reign of Henry III. The Jewel House was built
specifically to house the royal regalia, including jewels, plate, and symbols
of royalty such as the crown, sceptre, and sword. When money needed to be
raised, the treasure could be pawned by the monarch. The treasure allowed the
monarch independence from the aristocracy, and consequently was closely
guarded. A new position for "keeper of the jewels, armouries and other
things" was created, which was well rewarded; in the reign of Edward III
(1312–1377) the holder was paid 12d a day. The position grew to include other
duties including purchasing royal jewels, gold, and silver, and appointing
royal goldsmiths and jewellers.In 1649, during the English Civil War, the
contents of the Jewel House were disposed of along with other royal properties.
Metal items were sent to the Mint to be melted down and reused, and the crowns
were "totallie broken and defaced". When the monarchy was restored in
1660, the only surviving items of the coronation regalia were a 12th-century
spoon and three ceremonial swords. The rest of the Crown Jewels had to be
recreated. In 1669, the Jewel House was demolished and the Crown Jewels moved
into Martin Tower where they could be viewed by the paying public. This was
exploited two years later when Colonel Thomas Blood attempted to steal them. Blood
and his accomplices bound and gagged the Jewel House keeper. Although they laid
their hands on the Imperial State Crown, Sceptre and Orb, they were foiled when
the keeper's son turned up unexpectedly and raised the alarm. The Crown Jewels
are currently stored in the Waterloo Barracks at the Tower.
Ghosts
The ghost of Anne Boleyn, beheaded in 1536 for treason against Henry
VIII, allegedly haunts the chapel of St Peter ad Vincula, where she is buried,
and has been said to be walking around the White Tower carrying her head under
her arm. Other ghosts include Henry VI, Lady Jane Grey, Margaret Pole, and the
Princes in the Tower. In January 1816, a sentry on guard outside the Jewel
House claimed to have witnessed an apparition of a bear advancing towards him,
and reportedly died of fright a few days later. In October 1817, a tubular,
glowing apparition was claimed to have been seen in the Jewel House by the
Keeper of the Crown Jewels, Edmund Lenthal Swifte. He said that the apparition
hovered over the shoulder of his wife, leading her to exclaim: "Oh,
Christ! It has seized me!" Other nameless and formless terrors have been
reported, more recently, by night staff at the Tower.
Galleries and Museums:
London is rich in art gallery, museums and libraries. Most of them are
conducted by the state or by local authorities.
British Museum
The British Museum is a museum of human history and culture in London.
Its collections, which number more than 13 million objects, are amongst
the largest and most comprehensive in the world and originate from all
continents, illustrating and documenting the story of human culture from its
beginning to the present.
The British Museum was established in 1753, largely based on the
collections of the physician and scientist Sir Hans Sloane. The museum first
opened to the public on 15 January 1759 in Montagu House in Bloomsbury, on the
site of the current museum building. Its expansion over the following two and a
half centuries has resulted in the creation of several branch institutions.
Until 1997, when the current British Library building opened to the
public, replacing the old British Museum Reading Room, the British Museum was
unique in that it housed both a national museum of antiquities and a national
library in the same building.
The museum is a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department
for Culture, Media and Sport.As with all other national museums and art
galleries in the United Kingdom, the Museum charges no admission fee, although
charges are levied for some temporary special exhibitions. Since 2001 the
director of the Museum has been Neil MacGregor.
History
Sir Hans Sloane, founder of the British Museum
Though principally a museum of cultural art objects and antiquities
today, the British Museum was founded as a "universal museum". Its
foundations lie in the will of the physician and naturalist Sir Hans Sloane
(1660–1753). During the course of his lifetime Sloane gathered an enviable
collection of curiosities and, not wishing to see his collection broken up
after death, he bequeathed it to King George II, for the nation, for the
princely sum of £20,000.
At that time, Sloane’s collection consisted of around 71,000 objects of
all kinds including some 40,000 printed books, 7,000 manuscripts, extensive
natural history specimens including 337 volumes of dried plants, prints and
drawings including those by Albrecht Dürer and antiquities from Egypt, Greece,
Rome, the Ancient Near and Far East and the Americas.
Foundation (1753)
The British Museum was the first of a new kind of museum - national,
belonging to neither church nor king, freely open to the public and aiming to
collect everything. Sloane's collection, whilst including a vast miscellany of
objects, tended to reflect his scientific interests. The addition of the Cotton
and Harley manuscripts introduced a literary and antiquarian element and meant
that the British Museum now became both national museum and library.
Cabinet of curiosities (1753-78)
The body of trustees
decided on a converted 17th-century mansion, Montagu House, as a location for
the museum, which it bought from the Montagu family for £20,000. The Trustees
rejected Buckingham House, on the site now occupied by Buckingham Palace, on
the grounds of cost and the unsuitability of its location.
With the acquisition of
Montagu House the first exhibition galleries and reading room for scholars
opened on 15 January 1759. In 1757 King George II gave the Old Royal Library
and with it the right to a copy of every book published in the country, thereby
ensuring that the Museum's library would expand indefinitely. The predominance
of natural history, books and manuscripts began to lessen when in 1772 the
Museum acquired its first antiquities of note; Sir William Hamilton's
collection of Greek vases. During the few years after its foundation the
British Museum received several further gifts, including the Thomason
Collection of Civil War Tracts and David Garrick's library of 1,000 printed
plays, but yet contained few ancient relics recognisable to visitors of the
modern museum.
Until the mid-19th
century, the Museum's collections were relatively circumscribed but, in 1851,
with the appointment to the staff of Augustus Wollaston Franks to curate the
collections, the Museum began for the first time to collect British and
European medieval antiquities, prehistory, branching out into Asia and
diversifying its holdings of ethnography. Overseas excavations continued and
John Turtle Wood discovered the remains of the 4th century BC Temple of Artemis
at Ephesos, another Wonder of the Ancient World.
With the completion of
the White Wing in 1884, more space was available for antiquities and
ethnography and the library could further expand. This was a time of innovation
as electric lighting was introduced in the Reading Room and exhibition
galleries.
By the last years of the
19th century, The British Museum's collections had increased so much that the
Museum building was no longer big enough for them.
The Round Reading Room,
which was designed by the architect Sydney Smirke, opened in 1857. For almost
150 years researchers came here to consult the Museum's vast library. The
Reading Room closed in 1997 when the national library (the British Library)
moved to a new building.
The British Museum houses
the world's largest[h] and most comprehensive collection of Egyptian
antiquities, over 100,000[48] pieces, outside the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. A
collection of immense importance for its range and quality, it includes objects
of all periods from virtually every site of importance in Egypt and the Sudan.
Together they illustrate every aspect of the cultures of the Nile Valley
(including Nubia), from the Predynastic Neolithic period (c. 10,000 BC) through
to the Coptic (Christian) times (12th century AD), a time-span over 11,000
years.
The Department of Greek
and Roman Antiquities of the British Museum has one of the world's largest and
most comprehensive collections of antiquities from the Classical world, with
over 100,000 objects. These mostly range in date from the beginning of the
Greek Bronze Age (about 3200BC) to the reign of the Roman Emperor Constantine I
in the 4th century AD, with some pagan survivals.
With approximately
330,000 objects in the collection, the British Museum has the greatest collection
of Mesopotamian antiquities outside Iraq. The holdings of Assyrian, Babylonian
and Sumerian antiquities are among the most comprehensive in the world.
The Department of Prints
and Drawings holds the national collection of Western Prints and Drawings. It
ranks as one of the largest collections in existence alongside the Albertina in
Vienna, the Paris collections and the Hermitage. The holdings are easily
accessible to the general public unlike many such collections. The Department
also has its own exhibition gallery where the displays and exhibitions change
several times a year.
The National Gallery
The National Gallery bordering the north of Trafalgar Square was built
in 1838. Although the British were late among European governments in forming a
state art collection, this ranks as one of the finest in the world. It contains
a collection of Western European painting from 13th century to the
present day: El Greco, Rubens, Rembrandt rooms … every painting is worth
looking at, perhaps three or four in each gallery are masterpiece. It’s the
whole ten – century agglomeration of what made us. In short, if you want to
look deep into the essence of things, there’s nowhere better.
The Courtauld Gallery
If you only have time to visit one of London galleries, the Courtland is
the one to choose… It’s small, beautifully arranged, and every painting in it
is important.
The Tate Gallery
The Tate was built in 1893 – 97 on the river near Vauxhall Bridge. It is
named after its donor, Sir Henry Tate. It has a large collection of British
paintings, modern foreign works and sculpture.
When winter winds bite and icy rains slant down, the Tate Gallery is
London’s magic carpet. It spirits us away … and in the very best company. Away
to quiet lanes and country green. Away to a storm gathering on a sea cliff or
dew rising from a hill pasture or to any of
the other of the Tate’s incomparable collection. Away to Provencal song,
and life intensified in the works of the 20th century by Picasso, Matisse, Dali and others.
Justly renowned for its British collection, the Tate is also London’s
equivalent of the New York’s Museum of Modern Art.
The National Portrait Gallery
The National Portrait Gallery at the back of the National Gallery in
Charing Cross Road, is a collection formed in 1856. The collection has more
than 4,000 famous faces of Great Britain, including today’s royal family.
Madame Tussauds
Madame Tussauds is a wax museum in London with branches in a number of
major cities. It was founded by wax sculptor Marie Tussaud and was formerly
known as "Madame Tussaud's", but the apostrophe is no longer used. Madame
Tussauds is a major tourist attraction in London, displaying waxworks of
historical and royal figures, film stars, sports stars and infamous murderers.
Marie Tussaud, was born Anna Maria Grosholtz (1761–1850) in Strasbourg,
France. Her mother worked as a housekeeper for Dr. Philippe Curtius in Bern,
Switzerland, who was a physician skilled in wax modelling. Curtius taught
Tussaud the art of wax modelling.
Tussaud created her first wax figure, of Voltaire, in 1777. Other famous
people she modelled at that time include Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Benjamin
Franklin. During the French Revolution she modelled many prominent victims. In
her memoirs she claims that she would search through corpses to find the
decapitated heads of executed citizens, from which she would make death masks.
Her death masks were held up as revolutionary flags and paraded through the
streets of Paris. Following the doctor's death in 1794, she inherited his vast
collection of wax models and spent the next 33 years travelling around Europe.
Her marriage to François Tussaud in 1795 lent a new name to the show: Madame
Tussaud's. In 1802, she went to London having accepted an invitation from Paul
Philidor, a magic lantern and phantasmagoria pioneer, to exhibit her work
alongside his show at the Lyceum Theatre, London. She did not fare particularly
well financially, with Philidor taking half of her profits. As a result of the
Franco-British war, she was unable to return to France, so she travelled
throughout Great Britain and Ireland exhibiting her collection. From 1831 she
took a series of short leases on the upper floor of "Baker Street
Bazaar" (on the west side of Baker Street between Dorset Street and King
Street), which later featured in the Druce-Portland case sequence of trials of
1898-1907. This became Tussaud's first permanent home in 1836.
By 1835 Marie had settled down in Baker Street, London, and opened a
museum.
One of the main attractions of her museum was the Chamber of Horrors.
This part of the exhibition included victims of the French Revolution and newly
created figures of murderers and other criminals. The name is often credited to
a contributor to Punch in 1845, but Marie appears to have originated it
herself, using it in advertising as early as 1843.
Other famous people were added to the exhibition, including Horatio
Nelson, and Sir Walter Scott. Some of the sculptures done by Marie Tussaud
herself still exist. The gallery originally contained some 400 different
figures, but fire damage in 1925, coupled with German bombs in 1941, has
rendered most of these older models defunct. The casts themselves have survived
(allowing the historical waxworks to be remade), and these can be seen in the
museum's history exhibit. The oldest figure on display is that of Madame du
Barry. Other faces from the time of Tussaud include Robespierre, George III and
Benjamin Franklin. In 1842, she made a self portrait which is now on display at
the entrance of her museum. She died in her sleep on 15 April 1850.
In July 2008, Madame Tussauds' Berlin branch became embroiled in
controversy when a 41-year-old German man brushed past two guards and
decapitated a wax figure depicting Adolf Hitler. This was believed to be an act
of protest against showing the ruthless dictator alongside sports heroes, movie
stars, and other historical figures. However, the statue has since been
repaired and the perpetrator has admitted he attacked the statue to win a bet.
The original model of Hitler, unveiled in Madame Tussauds London in April 1933
was frequently vandalised and a replacement in 1936 had to be carefully guarded.
Theaters and Entertainment
Speaking about the entertainment in London, it is necessary to pay
special attention to theatres – the city is famous for its long-lasting
tradition of theatre going, which doesn’t seem to weaken since Shakespearian
times. There are over 40 major venues in the city, most of the houses are
within the easy walk from the Leicester square.
The Globe, the reconstruction of the Shakespearian theatre, won
overwhelming success, and the performances on the conventional stages look pale
by comparison.
The Royal National Theatre and the RSC are famous theatres, staging
mainly classical plays and musicals. Best for new plays are Royal Court,
Ambassadors, Alberry, Duke of Yorks, Southwark Playhouse. Theatres on
Shaftesbury Avenue feature mainstream dramas and classical plays. Many small
extravagant theatres usually referred to as “the fringe” include such amusing
places as Almeida, Donmar Warehouse, Soho Theatre, Hampstead.
The cinemas in London show mostly British films, underscoring European
cinema, with rare exception to festivals, which are not that frequent bliss.
The best cinemas to visit are Curzon Soho, Hoxton Square, and National Film
Theatre.
London is world famous for its orchestras, rivaling with New York and
Vienna. It has 5 symphony orchestras, among which the London Symphony
Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic and the London
Sinfonietta, smaller orchestra, boasting the best contemporary repertoire.
Concert halls have superb acoustics.
The English National Opera and Royal Opera House host breathtaking
performances of the most prominent opera masterpieces. All the librettos are
translated in English, with translation verse often surpassing the original.
Theater In London regularly host international productions, which also
include productions that have triumphantly evolved from New York's Broadway. London
theatre Guide houses are renowned for their quality, big budget productions
which attracts the crème de la crème of British, American and international
actors and actresses.
Watching theatre is an extremely popular past time for the
quintessential Londoner and procuring tickets especially for block buster
productions can be extremely difficult, especially for visitors and tourists
from abroad. It is always advisable to book tickets for big budget productions
well in advance of your visit.
A list of some of London's most popular Theater In London is given below
:
Adelphi Theatre: Located on the Strand, Adelphi Theatre provides
weekly performances, Monday to Thursday.
The Theatre came into prominence when it won a mind boggling six Tony
Awards in the year 1997 for its production of Chicago a musical based on a tale
of deceit and murder. Presently starring Frances Ruffelle as Roxie Hart with
murder on her mind.
Aldwych Theatre: Located at 49 Aldwych, provides weekly performances
Monday to Thursday. Currently showing a lively and vivacious show concerning an
assembly of students, hell-bent on seeking recognition and affluence at the New
York's High School for the Performing Arts.
Apollo Victoria Theatre: Located at 17 Wilton Road, provides weekly
performance, Monday to Thursday. Presently showing Saturday Night Fever, the
archetypal 1977 hit film with a playing sound track and some of the most
revolutionary composition ever witnessed in a musical theatre. The show has
over 30 of UK's most promising young musicians and is an out and out family
show. The show is Disco at its best.
Cambridge Theatre: Located at Earlham Street, provides weekly
performances Monday to Thursday. Currently showing an altered version of cult
TV show - "Jerry Springer The Opera". You will witness victory and
disaster in this path breaking opera. A strict no, no for kids.
Dominion Theatre: Located at Tottenham Court Road with weekly
performances. The theatre showcases the hit songs of Rock band Queen and the
story has been designed to perfection by Ben Elton. Some of the all time great
numbers of Queen has been presented in the most thrilling version due primarily
to the intimate association of the band's lead guitarist - Brian May and
drummer - Roger Taylor at every step of the production process. The show has
been hugely popular with the audience but not so with its detractors.
Globe Theatre: Located at New Globe Walk, Bankside. Currently hosts
Shakespearian plays. The Globe Theatre was set up primarily due to the
pioneering zeal of the late American actor Sam Wannamaker. The present Globe
Theatre has been built as a replica of the original wooden structure, which was
razed to the ground by a devastating fire in 1613. At Globe Theatre, plays are
staged in open air while the audiences watch the proceedings from the courtyard
or from the sheltered balconies.
Her Majesty's Theatre: Located at Haymarket, St. James, showcases the
Phantom of the opera. This blockbuster Andrew Lloyd Webber musical rendition
has entered its fifteenth year and has become a global phenomenon, which has
its productions being showcased in more than 60 countries worldwide. The story
is set on the backdrop of the Paris Opera, which has been an enduring classic.
London Palladium: Located at 8 Argyll Street, currently showing the
musical Chitty Chitty Bang Bang which is a Barbara Broccoli production starring
big guns like Michael Ball, Paul O'Graddy, Anton Rogers, Emma Williams and
Brian Blessed.
Lyceum Theatre: Located at 21 Wellington Street which showcases
"The Lion King" musical, which is an animated Disney movie,
introduced in the theatre arena and popular for its prolific animal costumes
and incredible puppets. The music is by Elton John with lyrics by Tim Rice.
National Theatre: Located in Littleton, Southbank which hosts a wide
range of plays. Check out with the Reception Desk of National Theatre well in
advance of your visit.
New London Theatre: Located at Parker Street, which is currently showing
"Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Democrat". It is a biblical story
about Joseph's colorful coat and has none other than Darren Day playing the
role of Joseph.
Prince Edward Theatre: Located at 28 Old Crompton Street. The 1970's mega
Swedish pop group. "Abba" was a phenomenon in the 70's decade and
anyone who grew up in that era will vouch for Abba's stupendous popularity.
Today even after all these years which has witnessed tremendous changes in the
global music scene, the popularity of some of Abba's hit singles still endures,
courtesy topping the best music charts and countdown shows. The Mamma Mia
musical rendition features 22 most popular songs sung by Abba with the active
co-operation and concurrence of its band members. This show is undoubtedly very
popular and highly admired by London's discerning theatre going crowd.
Queen's Theatre: Located at Shaftesbury Avenue and is renowned for the
altered version of internationally best selling author - Victor Hugo's work of
fiction in revolutionary France. It made its London debut way back in 1985 and
ever since then the show has already been staged in 28 countries across the
globe.
Theatre Royal - Drury Lane: Located at Catherine Street which stages "The
Producers" is a musical rendition of Mel Brook's classic film of the same
name. The show highlights the precarious career of pitiable producer Max
Bialystock and his trusted accountant Leo Bloom forcing them to invent a
fortune making scheme, courtesy, a melodramatic theatre flop - "Springtime
For Hitler”.
London zoo
London Zoo is the world's oldest scientific zoo. It was opened in London
on 27 April 1828, and was originally intended to be used as a collection for
scientific study. It was eventually opened to the public in 1847. Today it
houses a collection of 755 species of animals, with 16,802 individuals, making
it one of the largest collections in the United Kingdom.
It is managed under the aegis of the Zoological Society of London
(established in 1826), and is situated at the northern edge of Regent's Park,
on the boundary line between City of Westminster and Camden (the Regent's Canal
runs through it). The Society also has a more spacious site at ZSL Whipsnade
Zoo in Bedfordshire to which the larger animals such as elephants and rhinos
have been moved. As well as being the first scientific zoo, ZSL London Zoo also
opened the first Reptile house (1849), first public Aquarium (1853), first
insect house (1881) and the first children's zoo (1938).
Aquarium
The first hall contains species involved in various conservation
projects, such as captive-breeding programmes and other ZSL-based initiatives.
These include species such as rudd, European eels, pink sea fans, spiny
starfish and seahorses.
The second hall is a coral reef habitat with tropical species from
across the globe, including copperband butterflyfish and clownfish.
The third hall contains Amazon fish including electric eels, glass
knifefish, lungfish and stingray.
The aquarium also includes the Big Fish Tank which holds fish rescued
from private homes that had insufficient equipment to look after the fish. This
includes catfish, tucunare, tambaqui and pirapitinga. The breeding room is also
visible to the public.
Butterfly Paradise
Species on display include clipper butterfly, great eggfly butterfly,
zebra longwing and postman butterfly.
Like much of the Zoo, the exhibit aims to educate the public on
conservation projects, such as species recovery programmes, habitat protection
initiatives and climate change issues. Alongside the free-flying exhibit there
is a pupae breeding room allowing the public to see the development of new
butterflies.
Gorilla Kingdom
Gorilla
Kingdom is a 6,000-square-metre (65,000 sq ft) exhibit which opened in Easter
2007. It is a 5.3-million pound development that took 18 months to build
(funded from the estate of the late Delene Welch - a zoo volunteer[citation
needed]), was officially opened by HRH Duke of Edinburgh on 29 March 2007, and
opened to the public on 30 March 2007.
The exhibit is also home to Sooty mangabeys, Nile Monitors, a variety of
bird species and Diana monkey. The exhibit was inspired by a conservation
project that is managed by ZSL in Gabon. It has been planted with plants and
herbs that the gorillas can eat while the island itself represents a natural
forest clearing in the Central African rainforest.
Visitors to the exhibit learn about the plight of western lowland
gorillas in the wild and conservation of rainforests, while being separated
from the animals on the island by a moat or a floor to ceiling window.
Bongo Junior, a male silverback known as 'Bobby' to visitors, was found
dead on the morning of 5 December 2008 by a keeper. He was one of the most
popular animals at the Zoo.
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