Read and translate the text. St. Paul’s Cathedral. St. Paul’s Cathedral

London is one of the world’s most enjoyable cities. It is on the beautiful river Thames. Visited by tourists in the millions, the city offers them an astonishing variety of scenes. Little damage occurred during World War I, but World War II brought tremendous destruction. Many buildings of great historic value were laid in ruins and today the face of London is changed. London has buildings that express all the different areas of its history. Many places in London are closely connected with the crown. They are: royal palaces, royal parks, roads and streets where beautiful ceremonies are hold.

Buckingham Palace

The most important building is Buckingham Palace; it is the official residence of Queen Elizabeth II. Buckingham Palace opens the doors of its State Rooms to the public every summer. Originally acquired by King George III for his wife Queen Charlotte, Buckingham House was increasingly known as the 'Queen's House' and 14 of George III's children were born there. On his accession to the throne, George IV decided to convert the house into a palace and employed John Nash to help him extend the building. Queen Victoria was the first sovereign to live here (from 1837). The State Rooms are now still used by the Royal Family to receive and entertain guests on State and ceremonial occasions. Visitors can admire some of the more unusual gifts received by the current Queen, including drawings by Salvador Dali, an embroidered silk scarf from Nelson Mandela and a grove of maple trees. Decorated in lavish fashion, the rooms include paintings by Rembrandt, Rubens, Canaletto, Vermeer and some of the finest English and French furniture in the world. The Ball Supper Room, the setting for a host of sparkling events in the history of the palace, 29-acre gardens and annual exhibitions are all also available to visitors.

Houses of Parliament

The centre of Westminster Bridge, one can have a splendid view of the Houses of Parliament which spread magnificently on the north bank of Thames. The Houses of Parliament, called officially the Palace of Westminster, were formerly a palace for kings and queens. This structure is a remarkable example of Gothic architecture.

Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey is a national shrine where kings and queens are crowned and famous people are buried. Founded by Edward the Confessor in 1050, the Abbey was a monastery for a long time. Near the West Door of the Abbey the Unknown Warrior lies in a simple grave commemorating the men who died in the First World War.

St. Paul’s Cathedral

St. Paul’s Cathedral has always dominated the centre of London. Londoners have a particular affection for St. Paul’s, which is the largest Protestant Church in England.

The present structure is the fifth cathedral to be built on the site. The weddings of the Prince and Princess of Wales, the funeral of Sir Winston Churchill and many other occasions have graced this spiritual centre. The largest bell in England is here. After four years obscured by scaffolding the interior of St Paul’s Cathedral was fully revealed on Thursday, 9 June 2008 at 9.30am after a £10.8 million programme of cleaning and repair.

Trafalgar Square

Trafalgar Square is the natural center of London. The square was so named to commemorate Nelson’s victory at the Battle of Trafalgar, and the monument in the centre, known as Nelson’s Column, is surmounted with a Statue of Nelson 16 feet high. On the north side of the square are the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery.

Nelson`s Column

Raised in 1843 and now one of London`s best-loved monuments, commemorates the one-armed, one-eyed admiral who defeated Napoleon at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805, but paid for it with his life. The statue which surmounts the granite column is more than triple life-size but still manages to appear minuscule, and is coated in anti-pigeon gel to try and stem the build-up of guano. The acanthus leaves of the capital are cast from British cannons, while bas-reliefs around the base – depicting three of Nelson`s earlier victories as well as his death aboard HMS Victory – are from captured French armaments. Edwin Landseer`s four gargantuan bronze lions guard the column and provide a climbing frame for kids to clamber over. 14 stonemasons held a dinner on top of Nelson`s Column before the statue was placed there. Every year, London receives as a gift huge Christmas tree from Norwegian city of Oslo.

The Tower of London

The Tower of London was one of the first and most impressive castles after the Norman invasion of England in 1066. Thousands years ago William the Conqueror decided to build a strong fortress to protect the City of London, which he had just conquered. The Tower of London has been used for different aims: as a royal palace, an observatory, an arsenal, a state prison. Now it is a museum. The Clock Tower, which contains the hour-bell called “Big Ben”, is known the world over.

Piccadilly Circus

During the weekend this place is absolutely packed with people. Nightlife is in abundance here, especially with nightclubs like the Hippodrome, MGM Cinema, local pubs and bars, people trying to draw your picture and the Trocadero centre. Inside the Trocadero is Segaworld the world`s largest indoor theme park, spanning seven floors and offering you all kinds of 21st Century games.

Shakespeare`s Globe Theatre

The biggest crowds currently to be found along Bankside are milling around this place, a spectacular reconstruction of the polygonal playhouse where most of the Bard`s later works were first performed. The theatre, which boasts the first thatched roof in London since the Great Fire, uses only natural light and the minimum of scenery, and currently puts on shows from mid-May to mid-September. Also on site are a restaurant, cafe, cinema and, inevitably, a shop selling lots of Bard merchandise.

Covent Garden

What started out in the seventeenth century as London`s first luxury neighbourhood is once more a highly desirable place to live, work and shop. Based around Inigo Jones`s piazza – London`s oldest planned square – the area had for years been a market centre for fruit and vegetables. That was closed in 1974 and for a while it looked as if the developers would move in on this prime central real estate and demolish it all for unwanted new office blocks. These plans collapsed and now it is the elegant old market hall, and shops, restaurants and arts-and-crafts stalls. It has become one of London`s major tourist attractions, which now boast some of the trendiest clothes shops, cafes and restaurants in London.

Downing Street

It is an office for the prime minister, a meeting place for the Cabinet, a venue for state events and a home for the prime minister's family. While in office, prime ministers traditionally live with their families in Downing Street in the private flat on the second floor.

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