Topic 2. London, the Capital of Great Britain

2.1. Read and translate the text:

London is the capital of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It is the largest city in Europe and one of the largest cities in the world with the population of 8 million people. About a fifth of the total population of the United Kingdom lives in the Greater London area, that is, in London and its suburbs. London is situated on the North and South banks of the river Thames. It is the economic, political and cultural centre of the United Kingdom and one of the most important seaports in the world.

London was founded in the first century A.D. by the Romans. Once London was a small Roman town on the north bank of the river Thames. Slowly it grew into one of the major cities in the world. In the 11-th century London became the capital of England.

Today the Greater London area covers 625 square miles. Traditionally London is divided into the City, the West End and the East End.

The City is the heart of London, its financial and business centre. It covers only about a square mile lying to the north of the river. But it contains the Bank of England, the Stock Exchange and the headquarters of very many of the wealthiest companies and corporations of the world. During the daytime, nearly a million people work there, but less than 8, 000 people actually live there.

The West End is the centre of London. It is also associated with wealth, luxury and goods of high quality. There are historical palaces, museums, beautiful parks, large department stores, hotels, restaurants, theatres and concert halls in this part of London.

One of the most beautiful palaces is Buckingham Palace (Fig. 2), the official residence of the Queen. The Palace takes its name from Buckingham House which was built in 1703 as the home of the Duke of Buckingham and then bought by George III in 1762.

In the West End there are also the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, the National Gallery and Portrait Gallery, the British Museum.

Fig. 2. Buckingham Palace

In the centre of London there is one of the most beautiful squares – Trafalgar Square (Fig. 3) which was named so to commemorate Nelson’s victory in the naval battle of Trafalgar.

Fig. 3. Trafalgar Square

The monument in its centre is known as Nelson’s Column. In the vicinity of Trafalgar Square is Whitehall which is now a street of government offices. Not far from Whitehall is Downing Street. Number 10 Downing Street is the residence of the Prime Minister of Great Britain. The Cabinet meets there.

The East End is the vast area running eastward from the City. This is an industrial part of London. The East End is poor and crowded. The wor-king people live there. It includes all the main dock areas and is heavily industrialized. The port of London is also in the East End. It is an area of docks, inattractive in appearance but very important in the country’s commerce.