London – maturitní otázka z angličtiny (3)

 

Otázka: London

Jazyk: Angličtina

Přidal(a): Lucie

 

 

General information

–          capital of the UK

–          it is located in the south-east of England on the Thames

–          about 8 million inhabitants

–          the origin of the name is uncertain (nemůžemeurčit)

–          it is divided into: the City of London + 32 other boroughs (čtvrti)

–          it is the seat of: the monarch – Queen, the government – the Cabinet, the Parliament and many other institutions

 

History

–          the area (oblast) has been populated for thousands (s nakonecpřidáváme, pokudnevíme, kolik) of years

–          43 AD – the Romains come

• they called this place Londinium

–          5^th century: Saxons, Romans left forever

–          1066: after the Battle of Hastings – William the Conqueror

–          1665: the Great Plague (=mor) – this epidemic killed about 70000 Londoners (40%)

–          1666: the Great Fire of London

• the fire stated in Pudding Lane at the baker´s
• it destroyed 80% of the city
• only about 10 people died

–          1800: London had 1 mil. inhabitants (the first city with 1 mil. inhabitants in Europe)

–          1851: the Great Exhibition in Crystal Palace (the first world exhibition) in Hyde Park

–          1863: the first underground in the world was opened in London

–          1888: Jack the Ripper → he killed 5-7 prostitutes

–          1900: 6,6 mil. inhabitants

–          1940 – 1945: London was bombed by the Germans

• Londoners hit in the underground
• during the war bombing killed about 30000 inhabitants

–          7^th July 2005: there was a big terrorist attack

• 52 people die

Sights

–          Royal buildings

• The Tower of London
  • it used to be a royal palace, a fortress, a prison and an execution place
  • the oldest part is the White tower built by William the Conqueror
  • the most important part are the Crown jewels
  • two typical symbols:
    • Beefeaters in traditional red uniforms and black hats
    • ravens (havrani)
• Buckingham palace
  • it was built in 1703 but rebuilt in 1820s
  • the first monarch who lived there was queen Victoria
  • now it is the seat of Queen Elizabeth II.
  • 775 rooms
  • it is used for official invents
  • there is a famous ceremony the Guard (it starts at 11:30)
• Victoria memorial
• The Mall – it is a road to Trafalgar square

–          State and government buildings

• The Houses of Parliament
  • they are located by the Thames in the Palace of Westminster
  • it’s the seat of the House of Commons and the House of Lords
  • the buildings were built in 1840- 1852
  • it was partly destroyed during WWII.
  • Victoria tower
    • there is a Hag (103 m)
    • Clock Town (97 m)
      • the nickname „Big Ben”
      • Big Ben is a bell (13,5 t) – 7 m průměr
      • the sound is used by BBC
      • Parliament square
        • a park with statues of politicians
• Whitehall
  • it´s a street between Parliament square and Trafalgar square
  • there are government offices and ministries
  • Horse Guards Parade
    • every year there is a ceremony to celebrate monarch´s official birthday
• Downing Street
  • No. 10 is the seat of the PM

–          Famous squares

• Trafalgar square
  • it is named after the battle in 1805 in which Admiral Nelson died
  • people celebrate the coming of New Year there
  • Nelson´s Column (sloup)
    • 56 m tall
    • there is a statue of Nelson on the top
    • National Gallery
    • Admiralty Arch
• Piccadilly Circus (kulaténáměstí)
  • it´s round
  • it is famous for neon advertisements
  • there is a small fountain with the statue of Anteros
• Leicester square
  • it is a park with famous theatres and cinemas (Odeon)

–          Famous cathedrals and churches

• Westminster Abby
  • originally founded in the 10^th century
  • today´s building comes from the 13^th century
  • it´s a coronation place and 17 monarchs are buried (pohřbeno) there
  • a lot of other famous personalities are buried or commemorated (připomínáni) there (e. g. I. Newton, Ch. Dickens)
• St. Paul´s Cathedral
  • it´s a masterpiece of Cir Christopher Wren
  • it was built after the Great Fire of London (1675 – 1710)
  • there are 3 galleries:
    •  Whispering gallery (indoor)
    • Stone gallery (outdoor)
    • Bolden gallery (outdoor) – beautiful view of London
    • there is a Crypt – tombs of Nelson, Wellington and Sir Christopher Wren

–          Famous bridges

• Tower Bridge
  • it is located next to the Tower of London
  • the Tower´s 65 m tall (244 long)
  • there is a walkway between the towers
  • the bridge can open in the middle (big ship can go throw)
  • 1894
• Westminster Bridge
  • between London Eye and the Parliament
• Millennium Footbridge
  • between St. Paul´s Cathedral and Tate Modern (2000)

–          Famous museums

• the British Museum
  • opened in the 18^th century
  • it was the first national public museum in the world
  • priceless collections from all over the world
    • Rosetta Stone (díkyní se rozluštilyhieroglyfy)
• Natural History Museum
• Imperial War Museum
  • HMS Belfast (válečnáloď)
  • Churchill War Rooms
• Victoria and Albert Museum
• Science Museum
  • Stevenson´s locomotive (the first)
• Madame Tussauds
  • wax figures

–          Famous galleries

• The National Gallery
  • Trafalgar square
• Tate Modern
  • former (bývalá) power station
  • collections of modern contemporary (současné) art

–          Famous cultural centres

• Royal Albert Hall
  • it is located by Hyde Park
  • it is an elliptical dome
  • it is used for concert, exhibitions, sports shows, etc.
• The Royal Opera House
  • it is located in Covent Garden
• The Globe Theatre
  • it is located by the Thames
  • it is a replica of original Shakespeare´s theatre

–          Famous parks

• Hyde Park
  • Albert Memorial
    • dedicated to husband of Queen Victoria (55 m)
    • Princess Diana Memorial Fountain
      • it looks like a necklace with flowing water (2004)
      • the 7^thJuly Memorial
        • dedicated to the victims (oběti) of the terrorist attack in 2005
        • there are 52 steel pillars (3,5 m each of them)
        • Holocaust Memorial Garden
          • Speakers´ Corner – it is a place where everyone is free to say what they want
          • Marble Arch (mramorovýoblouk)

• other parks
  • Regent´s Park (ZOO)
  • St. James´ Park
  • Green Park
  • Greenwich Park – the Royal Observatory + Prime Meridian (nultýpoledník)

–          The City

• the oldest part of London founded by the Romains in the first century AD
• nowadays one of the world financial centres
  • St. Paul´s Cathedral
  • The Monument
    • column which commemorated the Great Fire of London in 1666
      • it has 61,5 metres
      • the Bank of England (1694)
      • Lloyd´s – one of the biggest insurance
      • the Stock Exchange

–          Other Major Atractions

• London Eye
  • it´s a giant observation wheel by the Thames (32 capsules, 0,9 km/hod)
• Wellington Arch (oblouk)
  • dedicated to the Duke (vévoda) of Wellington who defeated Napoleon at Waterloo
• Cleopatra´s Needle (=jehla – obelisk)
  • it is an Egyptian obelisk by the Thames
  • it´s 3500 years old and 21 m tall
• „The Gherkin” (=30st Mary Axe)
  • it is a skyscraper 180 m tall
  • it is from glace and steel
• Canary Wharf (=přístaviště)
  • it is and office and shopping area with the tallest building in the UK called One Canada Square (235 m)
• The Shard´s Building
  • will be finished this year
  • opposite the Tower by the Thames
• Baker Street
  • there is the Sherlock Holmes museum
• The Royal Courts of Justice (královskýsoud)

–          Famous sports grounds

• Wembley – football and concerts
• Wimbledon – lawn tennis

–          Shopping

• Harrods
• Selfridges – Oxford Street
• Regent Sheet
• Bond St
• Notting Hill
• Covent Garden