Places of interest in London
The Tower of London is the most famous of all the historical buildings in London. It stands today almost unchanged since first it was built in the 11th centure. In the past the Tower of London served both as a palace and as a state prison, but it is only a museum today. St Paul’s Cathedral is the greatest work of England’s greatest architector Christopher Wren. The cathedral was begun in 1675. It was opened in 1697 but was finished only in 1710, when Wren was almost eighy years old. There are memorials to many famous men of England in the Cathedral. Trafalgar Square is in the centre of the West End of London. On the north side is the National Gallery; in the north-east corner is the National Portrait Gallery, and in the centre is Nelson’s Column with the figure of the great seamen. Trafalgar Square is the place where mass meetings and demonstrations for peace and for working people’s rights take place. «Big Ben» is the name of the great bell which strikes the hour. It is in the clock Tower of the Houses of Parlament. Westminster Abbey is the historic building in London to which every visitor sooner or later goes. The Abbey was founded in the 11th centure. Many of Great Britain’s famous men are buried in Westminster Abbey. Piccadilli Circus is a square in the central part of London. London’s best-known theatres and cinemas and most famous restaurants are on Piccadilly Circus. In the square you can see people of many nationalities and hear a lot of different languages. Hyde Park is the largest park in the West End of London. In the 19th century it became a popular place for public meetings. The British Museum is one of the largest museums in the world. It consists of the National Library and Museum of History, Archaelogy, Art and Ethnography.