Buckingham
Palace, built in 1703 for the Duke of Buckingham, may be London’s
most famous landmark. King George III later bought the house for himself and
Queen Charlotte. In 1820 King George IV commissioned John Nash to build a state
palace, much of which remains today. In
1837 Queen Victoria was the first sovereign to live in the palace. It has been
the London home of the Royal Family ever since. The British flag always flies, but
the royal flag flies only when the Queen is in residence. August to October is
the only time one can view the state rooms with their many works of fine art.
The changing of the guard, including 40 men and three officers, is a colorful
display of pageantry by the Queen's personal guards. Gardens on each side of the
traffic circle directly in front of the Palace are in the shape of a crown.
Admiralty
Arch
is the entrance to the mall leading to Buckingham Palace. It has three arches;
the center one is for royalty only. The mall road is red macadam to resemble a
red carpet and is the road one always sees on TV. On the left of the mall is a
park; on the right behind trees are several buildings including Clarence House,
home of the Queen Mother.
Leicester Square
was a popular place to live when it was laid out in 1670. A number of music
halls were established here in Victorian times and the area now is the heart of
the West End entertainment district. The legendary theater district is over a
century old.
Trafalgar
Square conceived by John Nash was constructed in the 1830s to commemorate
Admiral Lord Nelson who died at the Battle of Trafalgar. The Corinthian column,
built in 1842, stands 170 feet tall and is capped by a statue of Lord Nelson.
The square is teeming with pigeons and is the site of public gatherings and
celebrations. Victoria Gate Arch leads to Trafalgar Square.
Victoria Station is the hub for fast,
comfortable trains.
#10
Downing Street is the home of the Prime Minister, made famous by Winston
Churchill. However, Prime Minister Tony Blair moved into #11.
St.
Paul’s Cathedral is the fifth cathedral built on this site. Sir Christopher
Wren designed it after the great fire of London in 1666 destroyed its
predecessor. Wren’s son put the last stone in place in 1708. It has been the
scene of many historic and national events and has become a symbol of endurance
especially during WWII when many buildings covering 32 acres around it were
bombed and destroyed. The nave, transepts, and choir are built in the shape of
a cross, as was common in medieval cathedrals, but the majestic interior
reflects a Baroque influence. Christopher Wren designed 52 churches, but St
Paul’s is his master work. By 1939 only 33 of Wren’s churches still existed as
17 were destroyed in bombings.
Tower
of London, built by King William in 1078, after the Battle of Hastings in
1066 has been a fortress, prison, treasury, and palace. It is located just
inside the ancient Roman area and now offers several attractions; perhaps the
most visited one is the Jewel House where the Crown Jewels are on display.
The
Tower Bridge completed in 1894 is a piece of unique Victorian engineering
that has become an international symbol of London. Its pinnacled towers linking
catwalks support the mechanisms for raising the road so large ships can pass
through. The walkways which offer spectacular views are now closed to the
public.
The
Monument is a Doric column, designed by Christopher Wren,
commemorating the Great Fire of London in September 1666. At 202 feet it is the
tallest isolated stone column in the world. It is alleged that the fire started
exactly 202 feet away on Pudding Lane. If one wants to feel like a fly on a
corkscrew he can climb the 311 steps to the top for a spectacular view of
London.
London
Bridge is near where the Romans crossed the Thames. A
wooden bridge was used for 700 years, and the picturesque London Bridge was
used 100 years until it was replaced with a modern day bridge designed to carry
and support modern traffic.
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