The capital of Great Britain is one of the most interesting cities in the world. The area of Greater London is about 1,600 square kilometers, and the business center is called the City. The world-famous Westminster is the historical and political center of London. In this part of the city you can see various government buildings and the royal residence – the famous Buckingham Palace. Nearby is Westminster Abbey, as well as the famous Parliament. Trafalgar Square connects via Pall Mall to Buckingham Palace. And the most beautiful and well-maintained part of the city, intended for free living of citizens, is the West End. It is in this part of the city that Piccadilly, Soho, as well as Baker Street and Regent Street are located. The names of these streets are well known even to those who have never traveled to London.
Tourists will be interested to know that the first memories of London date back to the Roman period of history (around the 1st century AD). The emergence of the city is associated with the construction of a fort with a similar name – Londinium – at the mouth of the Thames. But London became the capital of the country only at the end of the 11th century, when William the Conqueror during his reign laid the foundation for the Tower fortress. The terrible plague epidemic that arose in 1665 claimed the lives of almost 80,000 people. But London's troubles did not end there. The following year brought a huge fire that destroyed a significant part of the city. About 80 churches and about 14,000 houses burned down.
It is not surprising that London is attractive for its history, the richest museum collections, royal palaces, parks and much more. The most famous sights of London include St. Paul's Cathedral (1675-1710), which served for a long time as a place for various coronations and ceremonies; Westminster Abbey, the Church of St. Bartholomew the Great, which was built immediately after the Norman conquest of England. It is also impossible not to mention such famous structures as the world-famous Big Ben, the Tower, which for many centuries served not only as a royal residence but also as a prison.
The capital of the United Kingdom has many theaters, parks, squares, and a truly huge number of museums that must be visited. Some of the most popular among tourists are the British Museum, which houses collections of various works of art and books, the National Gallery, and the Madame Tussauds wax museum.
No less interesting will be simple walks around the city. After all, only in London can tourists see the magnificent ceremonies of the Royal Guard. And it will also be pleasant to enjoy the wonderful views of the city on the Thames, over whose architectural ensembles the greatest architects of the world have worked for many centuries.