Speaking. You are a historian who studies the history of London

You are having a meeting with British pupils. Ask them about their capital, its present status and London’s history.

The Tower of London and Tower Bridge St. Paul’s Cathedral

Unit 8 london. The city of London.

The City of London the crest of London

· What is the “Square Mile”?

· Where is the City of London located?

· What famous attractions can be found in the City?

· What kind of centre is the City?

· What important establishments are situated in the City of London?

· What is the Lord Mayor’s Show?

· Why is the City a city within the other city((London)?

The famous “Square Mile” (the other name for the City of London) is the original Londinium, where London began. It contained the 2^nd-century Roman Wall which defined the City for almost 1.000 years on its twin hills by the Thames. Ludgate Hill now is dominated by St. Paul’s Cathedral while in Cornhill there is a modern business, banking and insurance area which includes the Bank of England, The Royal Exchange and the Mansion House which is the official residence of the Lord Mayor.

The City of London is one of the modern world’s oldest capitals. The City’s loyalty to traditions is to be seen in the centuries – once a year, in November, the Lord Mayor’s Show takes place. This is a colourful parade in which the newly elected Lord Mayor travels in a golden coach to swearallegiance to the monarch.

The city of London is a miniature city within a world-class capital. It is a self - governing region with its own police force, crest, flag, cathedral, concert halls and theatres.

In the City the streets and the pavements are very narrow as they preserve the densemedieval street plan. On weekdays the traffic is very heavy, because the City is the commercial centre of London, and London’s most important companies and banks have offices there. About half a million people work in the Square Mile but only less than 6000 people live here and over weekends the City is almost dead.

The City of London is a magnificent permanent open-air exhibition of the history of European architecture, from the Tower of London to Sir Christopher Wren’s masterpieces.