Get Ready for the exam / History of the UK80

Everybody loves this extraordinary,cosmopolitan and ancient city! Now London isone of the most modern cities in the world. It isa centre of technology, a noisy and chaotic town,but it can also be very peaceful and relaxingwith its many beautiful parks and squares. Basically, you can doanything you want inLondon. So ... are youready? Let’s take a looktogether!

The British people havealways been greatexplorers and theirmuseums are full ofthings from all over theworld. In the BritishMuseum, for example,you can admire theRosetta Stone (whichhelped decipherEgyptian hieroglyphics), mummies from Egypt(including Cleopatra’s), as well as Roman,ancient Greek, Assyrian, Babylonian andSumerian antiquities.

In the east of the city, along the River Thamesand just by the Tower Bridge (which opens tolet big ships pass through) you should visit theTower of London. This is a Norman fortressbuilt by William the Conqueror where manyfamous historical figures were imprisoned (orbeheaded) for all sorts of reasons. At the Tower you can see big black ravens,which are fed by The Beefeaters, the guardiansof the monument. You can also visit the CrownJewels collection, which includes the famousKoh-i-Noor diamond.

One of the most important churches in Londonis Westminster Abbey, where all the Kings andQueens of England were crowned. Many ofthem are buried there as well. In Poets’ Corneryou can also see the tombs of many famousEnglish poets and writers such as GeoffreyChaucer, Charles Dickens and Rudyard Kipling.Next to the Abbey you can admire the Houses

of Parliament, with the Clock Tower housingthe famous Big Ben. This famous clock is one of the symbols of London.

Right in the middle of London is PiccadillyCircus, one of the most exciting squares in

London, with its statue of Eros. Start yourtrip shopping from here and visitOxford Street, Tottenham CourtRoad, Regent Street and Bond Street.

Trafalgar Square takes its namefrom Admiral Nelson’s victory overthe French and Spanish navies in1805 at Trafalgar off the southerncoast of Spain. In the middle of thesquare you can see Nelson’s statue ontop of a tall column. Londonersusually meet here to celebrate the NewYear. On one side of the Square youcan’t miss the National Gallery, whichcontains famous paintings from all overthe world.

Buckingham Palace is where the Queen liveswhen she’s in London. It is a huge building withabout 1,000 rooms. You really must see theChanging of the Guard: this takes place in

Welcome To London!Welcome To London!

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1 Now answer these questions.

1 What can you see in the British Museum?2 Why does the Tower of London have such a unique

place in British history?3 What is a ‘Beefeater’?4 What is the ‘Koh-i-Noor’ and where can you see it?

5 Your friends love shopping: where do you advise themto go and why?

6 Who was Nelson and why is he famous?7 Why is Madame Tussaud’s different from all the other

London museums?8 What is ‘The Changing of the Guard’?

81Get Ready for the exam / History of the UK

front of the gates of thePalace every day at 11.30am. The Guards wearfantastic red uniforms andbig bearskin hats. When theQueen is at home, the RoyalStandard flies over the palace.

Tired of old-style museums? Then it’s time foryou to visit Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum,where you can come face-to-face with famouspeople and shake hands with kings and queens,movie stars like Elizabeth Taylor and HumphreyBogart, and pop singers like Michael Jackson,The Beatles and Elvis Presley. They are not thereal thing, though, they’re figures made of waxand dressed up in the real clothes of the famouspeople they represent!

Kids (and adults!) love riding The London Eye,a giant observation wheel placed on the SouthBank of the River Thames. From the top, 135 metres above the ground, you can enjoy a breathtaking panorama of London includingthe nearby Houses of Parliament.

Finally, there are the London parks, which areattractions in themselves. Hyde Park, GreenPark, St James’s Park (next to BuckinghamPalace) or Regent’s Park canoffer you a relaxing breakfrom the traffic and chaos ofthe City. Have a sandwichand enjoy a boat ride on theSerpentine in Hyde Park,visit London Zoo in Regent’sPark, or watch the Guardwalking along the Mall in St James’s Park ... there arealways plenty of things to doand see!

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