London is the capital of the United Kingdom. It is the nine’s largest city in the world – its population is about 10 million. London is situated on the river Thames in south-east England. It was founded as a Roman settlement.

• Downing Street 10 is the official home of British Prime Ministers since 1731.

• The Tower of London was built in the 11th century. The most famous places of the Tower are White Tower /the oldest part/ and Jewel House, where the Crown Jewels are kept. You can meet beefeaters there. They are former afficers and their job is to be guide, they help tourists. The tower was a prison. Now, it is a museum. Now you can find there collection of arms and armour.

• Buckingham Palace is the place where the Queen lives. Crowds of tourists watch the ceremony – changing of the guards, which take place there. The guards march in uniforms, which consist of black helmet (it is called bearskin) and red coat. In front of the Palace there is the stature of the Queen Victoria.

• The National Gallery is in the Trafalgar Square. It houses paintings by nearly all the great European artists of the past and a large collection of British painting and sculptures.

• The Trafalgar Square was named after Admiral Nelson’s victory over Napoleon the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. Nelson’s statue is situated on a high column. The square with its fountains and the sea of pigeons is a very\ popular place for various meeting.

• Greenwich is the seat of the National Maritime Museum. It used to be hospital for sailors. Now you can see old merchant ships which brought tea from China.