London post. Description of London. London, the capital of England and Great Britain A brief history of London

Despite the fact that 60 years ago, after the Great London Smog, the city was given an unusual nickname "The Big Smoke", today quite humid, fresh and clean air of a huge metropolis pleases its residents and tourists. Of course, fog, which was the main cause of the famous tragedy in 1952, is not uncommon for the city today, but after a high-profile incident, the city authorities carefully monitor the ecology of the capital and the state. In addition, everyone who wants to visit London should take an umbrella with them, which will immediately become a necessity, because it drizzles here almost every day.

Despite the dull weather and cloudy skies, the residents of hospitable London are very friendly, smiling and never seem to be sad. The warm atmosphere of the city is literally saturated with joyful mood and creative spirit. On a Friday night, all places of recreation (especially pubs) are so crowded that you can see a lot of people just standing in the street, talking and treating each other to wine or beer. Another thing is Sunday evening - the city seems to freeze and it is rare to meet a passer-by along the street.

Of course, compared to New York, where life takes place in an eternal rush, London is not such a "fast and active" city, although there is hardly enough time for measured gourmet breakfasts. But to sit somewhere in a park on the grass, surrounded by nature and city dwellers with coffee, a warm bun or a sandwich - very English. During the day, such London parks are always very crowded, however, everyone around feels free and comfortable.

English restraint and patience are inherent not only in high-ranking titled persons, but also in ordinary London policemen, who will always tell the tourist the way and friendly talk about local rules and laws. The patience and courtesy of law-abiding residents of the capital of Great Britain is noticeably reflected on the roads, where drivers, even at night on an empty highway, try not to exceed the speed limit, and during the day they let each other through, thereby preventing endless traffic jams.

A bit of history

The history of London is multifaceted and interesting. The oldest city in Europe was founded in 43 AD. The metropolis, which today occupies 1706.8 km 2, grew from a settlement about 1.6 km long and 0.8 km wide. From the beginning of its inception, London was a significant trading center and an important port, and by 100 AD. became the capital of Britain. Another 100 years later, when Britain was divided into several parts, the Romans erected a protective wall around the city, and today tourists who go to London can see its remains.

For several centuries in a row, London passed from hand to hand, was destroyed and rebuilt more than once, but at the same time did not stop developing and building. In 1066, the power of the city passed to William the Conqueror, who began the construction of the famous Tower, about which legends have been circulating for many centuries, attracting the interest of tourists.

Significant in the history of London was the beginning of the 18th century, when, after the Great Plague and the Great Fire of London, the city was completely restored and began to bear the proud title of the capital of Scotland and England.

By the way, a lot of interesting things about London can be found here:

Transport in London

Transport for London is not just a means of transportation, but one of the main symbols of the city, especially when it comes to double-decker buses, the world's oldest subway and the busiest Heathrow Airport.

Despite the impressive scale of the city subway, divided into 6 zones, it does not cause any particular difficulties. In the first zone, i.e. in the center, concentrated all the sights of London. For those who plan to travel frequently around the city by metro, it will be cheaper and more convenient to buy a ticket that is valid for one or more days.

There are a lot of buses in the city, and in the center you can see their schedule, as well as maps of routes of interest. The fare is paid to the driver or cashier at the entrance. But it is worth remembering that during the day, when the streets are crowded, it is very difficult to get to the place on time by bus, so it is better to take the metro. But buses run around the clock, so you can freely walk until the morning.

Security in London

Like any metropolis, city ​​of london not devoid of crime, but effective police work allows all visiting tourists to feel confident in a foreign city. Even in the evening, do not be afraid to walk along the street, especially in the Soho area, where a lot of people gather in the evening. However, outlying areas of the city, such as Williston, are not worth visiting, and as a rule, tourists do not get there. In any case, even in the center of the capital there is no need to lose vigilance, for example, it is better not to "catch" an illegal taxi on the street.

sights of London

The Tower and Tower Bridge are the most popular sights of the city and its symbols. They are the best way to tell about the history of London. The oldest fortress Tower today is the historical center of the capital.

It is unlikely that there will be at least one tourist who has not heard about Big Ben - the third highest clock tower in the world. "Big Ben" is the name of the largest bell on the huge clock in the Palace of Westminster, which weighs 13 tons.

Surprisingly beautiful and captivating with its grandeur, the cathedral church of Westminster Abbey was built in the Gothic style and is located in the London area called Westminster. In the temple you can see the tombs of the most famous people in England: kings, military leaders, cultural figures.

In the same area is Buckingham Palace - the residence of British monarchs. The most important receptions, official ceremonies and banquets are held here. Every year, the residence is visited by approximately 50,000 guests invited to royal ceremonies and receptions. Buckingham Palace is surrounded by the largest private garden in London.

The main museum of Great Britain and one of the largest museums in the world is the British Museum. Here is stored the main treasure of England - the Library of the British Museum.

And for dessert - an interesting video about "toy" London:

The history of the capital of Great Britain is almost a 2,000-year span of time filled with great and dark events, flourishing and almost complete destruction, cultural ups and downs, which are today the heritage of all mankind, and epochs of stagnation. The difficult and ambiguous fate of London, reflected in both past centuries and modern times, is what attracts a huge number of tourists from all over the world.

Start

The expansion of the Roman Empire to the British Isles caused the emergence of many settlements in this territory. And London is no exception. Having landed on the British Isles in 43, the Roman legionnaires, moving inland, encountered a water barrier - the River Thames. To force it, it was necessary to build a bridge, which required some time. On the north coast of the Thames, a camp was set up, called Londinium, which later became the trading center of the time.

Interesting. In general, many legends are associated with the birth of London. One of them says that the settlement, on the territory of which the city subsequently grew, was founded by Brutus of Troy and named Troia Nova (New Troy). However, this statement cannot boast of any archaeological finds.

At the end of the III century, the city was surrounded by a fortress wall, which marked its borders for a long millennium. A fragment of it can be seen in modern London. With the fall of the Roman Empire, the prosperous city also declined - the buildings were destroyed, and the population was significantly reduced. And only with the onset of the 7th century the revival of the city takes place. At the same time, the first cathedral in honor of St. Paul was built.

Once again becoming a center of trade in the 9th century, London began to be subjected to barbarian attacks by the Vikings. Until the middle of the 11th century, power in the city was in a permanent state, passing from the Vikings to the Normans and vice versa. This was put to an end by King Edward, nicknamed the Confessor, who established Anglo-Saxon supremacy in London.

Middle Ages

With the coronation of William the Conqueror in 1066, which took place in Westminster Abbey, which was built in the same period, the history of London entered the Middle Ages. The skillful rule of William makes the city the largest and richest in all his possessions. Erected in 1176, the first stone bridge across the Thames - London Bridge was the only one in the city for almost 600 years.

Fact. The British until recently, and some still called their city The Big Smoke or The Great Wan. The first phrase translates as “Big Smoke” and was attached outside the city due to the famous London smog that occurred at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, which claimed many lives. The second phrase means "Great Boil". This nickname, from the point of view of the British, speaks of the overpopulation of the city.

Richard I also contributed to the development of the city. During his reign, London received the right to self-government, and already in 1191 the first mayor was elected. Under the reign of Elizabeth I, the population of the city in just 40 years has increased significantly and by 1600 it is 200 thousand people, which by those standards turns London into a real metropolis.

In the XVI-XVII centuries, a number of buildings were built that influenced the economic and cultural development of the city, as well as transformed it:

• The Royal Exchange was founded in 1560.
• The Globe Theater was built and opened in 1559. This is where all of Shakespeare's plays were staged.
• In 1631, Covent Garden Piazza was built - the first London quarter according to a special project of the talented architect of that time, Inigo Jones.

Unfortunately, in 1666, a fire destroyed almost all the buildings in London.

Victorian era

The beginning of the 19th century was marked by the strengthening of the position of Great Britain in the world. And the capital of the British Empire became the most powerful city in terms of politics, finance and trade until Paris and New York, about the middle of the century, began to threaten this position. Victorian London is a very multifaceted city. Luxurious estates of industrial tycoons gave way to imposing slum quarters where the urban poor lived.

Be that as it may, many objects were built at that time, in which the genius of engineering was manifested:

• In 1836, the first urban railway appeared, laid from London Bridge to Greenwich.
• For 13 years - from 1837 to 1850, a number of stations were built. Among them are Euston, Paddington, Fenchurch Street, Waterloo King's Cross.
• In 1863, the first line of the London Underground was built, and the project was so successful that further development went very quickly.
• In 1830, the old buildings of Buckingham Palace were demolished, and Trafalgar Square was created on the vacant territory. Two years later, the National Gallery was built on the square.

And this is only a small part of what was created in this rapidly developing time. However, the main structure of the city, which was not visible to the eye, was the sewage system, which had more than 2,100 kilometers of pipes and tunnels intended to remove sewage from the city. Its functioning reduced mortality within the boundaries of London, and such a common disease at that time as cholera disappeared altogether.

Fact. The unsanitary conditions of London have always troubled its authorities. And the “great stench” that occurred in 1858 due to the discharge of sewage directly into the Thames overflowed the cup of patience. It was decided to lay the sewer according to the project of Joseph Baseljet. By the way, it still works today.

Unfortunately, many Victorian buildings have been irretrievably lost. They were mercilessly destroyed by the Nazi Luftwaffe during the bloodiest war not only of the 20th century, but of the entire history of human civilization.

new time

After the Second World War, London underwent a wave of emigration. Moreover, the flow of people from the former colonies of the British Empire was huge - Chinese, Sikhs, and so on. In 1946, the first passenger plane flight was made from the brand new Heathrow Airport. The visiting card of the English capital - double-decker red buses entered their routes in 1956. In order to avoid floods caused by the flood of the Thames, the Barrier was built in 10 years - from 1972 to 1982.

Fact. Emigrants who poured into London after the war settled according to their nationality. For example, immigrants from the Caribbean "occupied", Cypriots settled in Finsbury, Chinese from Hong Kong - in and so on.

Londoners met the beginning of the new millennium with the discovery of "" and "", which rightfully became a new symbol of the city. Arriving here, you can closely get acquainted with these and other sights of the capital of Foggy Albion.

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The first mention of London and its foundation

Even modern history cannot name the exact date of the appearance of the first settlements in the current territory of London. This is due to the fact that the first mention of the city is found only in the annals of 43 AD. It was at this time that the Roman legionaries of Emperor Claudius invaded England (at that time, Britain). To cross the River Thames, they needed to build a bridge, and it was around this place that the city of London began to grow. At that time, it was called Londinium, and was built similar in architecture and style to Roman cities.

One wall was erected around Londinium, then an earth embankment, and in the 4th century a stone wall appears. In terms of area, this fenced area almost completely repeats the outlines of the modern center of London - the City area. Proper placement of Londinium (on the banks of the River Thames), the availability of good roads determined its development as a major shopping center. The city grew rapidly, starting at Corn Hill and moving west to St. Paul's Hill. Already in the year 51, there are mentions of Londinium in history as a trading center for all of Britain.

During these years, the center of Londinium was built up with brick and stone houses of the London aristocracy. In the light of recent excavations, we can talk about the high well-being of people living in the center. The houses also had bathrooms, and even heating and air conditioning. There were various paintings and mosaics on the walls.

Londinium receives its further strengthening and development in connection with the decline of the Roman Empire. In the 2nd century AD, the construction of a global wall around the city begins. It was built of limestone and had a thickness of more than 3 meters. But by the 4th century, Londinium was losing its great commercial importance. This happens due to the frequent raids of barbarians from Northern Europe. The city falls into decay, the population leaves it. In 410, the Roman emperor Honorius recalls his legionaries from Londinium and the city remains abandoned for many years.

In the 7th century, England begins its economic development, and somewhere in 604, the first St. Paul's Cathedral is built in Londinium. The city again begins to earn its status as the trading center of England, and by the 9th century it returns to its former importance. In the 9th-11th centuries, there was an ongoing struggle for Londinium between the Normans, Vikings and Anglo-Saxons. And only in the middle of the 11th century, King Edward completely brings the city under the possession of the Anglo-Saxons.

medieval period

In 1066, the so-called medieval period in the history of London begins. At this time, William the Conqueror becomes King of England. He was crowned in the built Westminster Abbey. It was this ruler of the country who was able to make London the largest and richest city in Britain. Duke Wilhelm was a very interesting man. He was loyal, devoted and moderately noble. But in wars and when trying to conquer his territory, he was ruthless and went to the most extreme measures. Such a policy of his led to the resurrection and strengthening of England in general, and London in particular.

In 1176, the first stone bridge across the Thames was built. The quality and solidity of the building is evidenced by the fact that this bridge was the only one across the river until 1739.

In 1191, London gains the right to self-government. A judge and a sheriff are to be elected. London becomes an isolated city, and its leaders play a large political and economic role throughout England. The city does not expand its borders, the center remains hidden behind a stone wall, and other settlements appear behind the fence. In the future, the city has nowhere to go, the population is growing, and it is necessary to take the city out of the City. Then the management functions are transferred to Westminster, where the supreme court, the royal treasury, and parliament are located.

During the reign of Elizabeth I, the population of London doubles in 40 years and reaches 200,000 by 1600. The Royal Exchange was founded in 1560, and the Globe Theater was built in 1599, where most of Shakespeare's plays were staged. In 1631, the architect Inigo Jones created the Covent Garden piazza, the first quarter created according to a special plan. Of his works, it is necessary to mention Queen\"s House (Greenwich), Banqueting Hall (Whitehall) and Queen\"s Chapel.

By the middle of the 16th century, London in terms of population had already surpassed the largest, at that time, on this basis, Paris, and continues to expand. The most interesting thing is that in connection with the law on the prohibition of construction in London, almost all houses are 4-5 storey wooden buildings that form one continuous street, without gaps between the houses.

In 1666, the Great Fire takes place in London. This truly terrible tragedy has firmly entered the history of the city. The fire started at night, at about 2 o'clock, on September 2, in one of the bakeries. Due to the type of building in the city and the large number of wooden houses with thatched roofs, the fire engulfed London instantly, and they could not put it out for more than 3 days. During these days, half of the city burned out, more than 13 thousand houses were destroyed by flames, the center of the city - the City, was almost completely "died" in the fire, and more than 200 thousand people were left without a roof over their heads, which at that time amounted to almost half of the population of London. An interesting fact: 6 people died in the Great Fire, which clearly indicates the restraint and organization of the British. After the fire was extinguished, it became clear that nothing could be restored in London and the whole city had to be rebuilt. Thus began the history of the new city.

London after the Great Fire

By 1801, the population of London reached the figure of a million people. Most live in the City, West End and Westminster. But gradually, trading floors, shops and industrial buildings “squeeze out” residential buildings from these areas. And by 1841, less than a quarter of the population lives in these 3 parts of the city.

In general, in the 19th century the population of London rose to 6 million. Naturally, such a city needs a developed transport network and living conditions. At this time, one of the indispensable structures appears - sewerage. It passed through the whole of London, its length was more than 2 thousand kilometers. This reduced the number of outbreaks of plague and cholera and reduced the death rate in London.

In 1836, the first railway was laid in London - from London Bridge to Greenwich. Within 12 years, 5 stations were built. Already in 1844, it was possible to travel by rail not only in London, but also in other major cities of England. And in 1863, the London Underground appears. Everyone quickly appreciated the convenience and importance of this mode of transport, and the subway network expanded rapidly. In 1906, the first electric trains were launched on the London Underground. And buses began to run around London in 1904.

In 1830, the old buildings at Buckingham Palace were demolished and Trafalgar Square was created, on which the National Gallery was built two years later. In 1834, a fire destroyed the Houses of Parliament and the Palace of Westminster. In their place was built the modern Houses of Parliament designed by Charles Barry and A.W. Pugin. The famous clock tower, known as Big Ben, was built in 1859. The origin of the name is not known, but in fact Big Ben is not a tower or a clock, but a clock bell. At the beginning of the 20th century, many new large stores, theaters, luxury hotels were built, most of which were in the West End. The Ritz opened in 1906, the new Knightsbridge store in 1905, and Selfridges in 1907.

So London became not only the trading center of England, but a major financial center of the whole world. World War II left behind many destroyed buildings in the city. But this prompted the government to pass a law banning construction in the city center, and draw up a new project for London. In 1951, it was approved and within 20 years the city was reconstructed in accordance with the tasks and problems facing it.

The post-war period was marked by a huge influx of immigrants from different countries of the former British Empire (British Empire). Immigrants from Hong Kong settled in Soho, immigrants from the Caribbean - in Notting Hill (Notting Hill), Sikhs - in Southall (Southall), Cypriots - in Finsbury (Finsbury). In 1946, the first flight was made from the new Heathrow Airport. The first double-decker red buses (double-decker) hit the streets of London in 1956. For 10 years from 1972 to 1982, the Thames Barrier was built on the banks of the Thames, protecting the city from the flood of the river. The last major project of the 20th century and the second millennium was the Millennium Dome, an exhibition center opened on January 1, 2000.

At the moment, London retains both medieval architecture and the styles of French and Italian architecture, and at the same time is a modern city with majestic buildings and huge squares.

To restore the city, it was decided to find an architect who would draw up a plan for the new city in accordance with the wishes of the government and build it entirely in the same style. Several projects were considered and as a result one was chosen - the architect Christopher Wren. The personality of this person is very interesting. Christopher Wren was a versatile scientist, he successfully combined the professions of an artist, astronomer, and mathematician. But his clear talent was architecture. In the spring of that ill-fated 1666 for London, he prepared a project for the reconstruction of St. Paul's Cathedral, and then, after the fire, he had the opportunity not only to restore, but to fully implement his plan and build a new cathedral, because. the old one was completely burned out. Simultaneously with this construction, he is engaged in the restoration of most of London. The government approved the project, which brought together the best of Italian and French architecture. London, as conceived by Christopher Wren, was supposed to have a radial type of street structure with large areas and large stone and brick buildings. This is how the modern city of London was born.

Ah, it's nice to be back at work. Yes, this blog is really my work, dearly loved and carefully stored on a separate hard drive)))

So, after a 3-month break, we begin a new chapter with an article about no less beloved London.

Origin of the name of the city of London.

London(English) London) is the capital of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, as well as England.

ancient london

Like everything that belongs to antiquity and causes disputes among scientists about its origin, the origin of the name "London" has several versions:

• The modern name of the city - London - goes back to its Latin the name "Londinium" (lat. Londinium ) is "a place belonging to a man named Londinos," presumably a Celtic name meaning "wild."
• Name - Latin origin, and comes from the word lond, which means "Wild (i.e. wooded) place".
• Name - Celtic origin, and consists of two words: Llyn(lake) and Dun("dun", fortification): in the Celtic period, the city was called Llyndid.

The city of London was founded by the Romans in the first century AD on the site of already existing native settlements. Roots London - and lundin- are the most common in the names used by the Romans at that time with regards to new lands.

One of the researchers of the etymology of the name London explains the modern pronunciation through "O" (lOndOn) by the medieval custom of skipping before the letters n,m,i.

Informal names for London

The British often call London The Big Smoke (or The Great smog). This name can be literally translated as "Big Smoke". This definition is connected with the famous London smog of the XIX-XX centuries.

Another unofficial name for the city is The Great Wen. Wen is an old English word that translates literally as "boil", which in this context means "overcrowded city"

During the British Empire, London was often informally called the capital of the world, and in the 1960s the city was nicknamed "Swinging London".

By the way, there is also Canadian London - a city in the southeast of Canada, Prov. Ontario, a kind of provincial London with a population of just over 400 thousand inhabitants

Veronica

After the departure of the Romans, the Celtic tribes of the Britons settled in the city. The proximity of a navigable river affected the rapid increase in the number of inhabitants. The Vikings, Saxons, in different years, ruled London, and from 1066 it became English. By the 17th century, London was the largest city in the world. England unites with Scotland. In the 18th century, the construction of Buckingham Palace and Westminster Bridge across the Thames was completed. The population has exceeded 1 million people. The 19th century brought some polarity to London. On the one hand, the prosperous capital of a large maritime state, banks, industry, fleet. On the other - terrible slums, tens of thousands of poor people.

With the growth of industry, industrial areas appear. Among them, the most famous is the East End. In the last century, London has become a city of industrial victories and achievements. In general, the capital has experienced a lot in its history. There were fires and wars, ups and downs.

By the beginning of the last century, the city became the largest in the world in terms of population, today it is the second in Europe. The leader in the number of passengers who used the services of the airport is London Heathrow. Since 1863, the metro has been operating in the city. Moreover, there were no interruptions in his work. The Olympic Games have been held in the capital three times. The last time was in the summer of 2012. The number of tourists is slightly less than in Paris. This speaks of the people's interest in England.

Airports of the city are always ready to provide services related to tourism: clarification of routes and flights, arrival and departure times, the possibility of buying an air ticket. The airline constantly operates flights to and from London. Almost all tourists know the Tower, Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar.

Among the new, the London Eye is recognizable. This is a Ferris wheel with a diameter of 135 meters. It stands on the banks of the Thames. A Ferris wheel was built in honor of the onset of the 21st century. There are many museums in London. There are about 240 of them. Museums are different in subject matter and are designed for all tastes. For example, there is a fan museum. And the most famous are the London National Gallery, the British Museum, the Wax Museum, the museum of the famous detective Sherlock Holmes. The Houses of Parliament or the Tower are not considered museums, but they can also be viewed with a guide.

The cultural life of the capital is simply huge. It becomes the source of various youth movements, which then cover all countries of the world. So it was in the 60s, when London became Swinging, the hippie movement, Britpop in the early 90s, which gave rise to interest in the cultural life of Britain.

City of London with 8 million inhabitants. Capital of the United Kingdom. Situated along the River Thames. Maritime climate. Summers are warm, but with showers and thunderstorms, fogs are not uncommon. Winter is not cold. January is considered the coldest. More than half of the city's population professes Christianity, then Muslims, Hindus, Jews go in descending order. It has been known as the capital for 2,000 years. The city was founded by the Roman emperor Claudius in 43. A few years later, London becomes the capital of Roman Britain. After the departure of the Romans, the Celtic tribes of the Britons settled in the city. The proximity of a navigable river affected the rapid increase in the number of inhabitants. The Vikings, Saxons, in different years, ruled London, and from 1066 it became English. By the 17th century, London was the largest city in Europe. England unites with Scotland. In the 18th century, the construction of Buckingham Palace and Westminster Bridge across the Thames was completed. The population has exceeded 1 million people. The 19th century brought some polarity to London. On the one hand, the prosperous capital of a large maritime state, banks, industry, fleet. On the other - terrible slums, tens of thousands of poor people. With the growth of industry, industrial areas appear. Among them, the most famous is the East End. In the last century, London has become a city of industrial victories and achievements. In general, the capital has experienced a lot in its history. There were fires and wars, ups and downs. By the beginning of the last century, the city became the largest in the world in terms of population, today it is the second in Europe. The leader in the number of passengers who used the services of the airport is London Heathrow. Since 1863, the metro has been operating in the city. Moreover, there were no interruptions in his work. The Olympic Games have been held in the capital three times. The last time was in the summer of 2012. The number of tourists is slightly less than in Paris. This speaks of the people's interest in England. Airports of the city are always ready to provide services related to tourism: booking air tickets, specifying routes and flights, arrival and departure times, the possibility of buying an air ticket. Ryanair operates regular flights to and from London. Almost all tourists know the Tower, Piccadilly Circus and Trafalgar. Among the new, the London Eye is recognizable. This is a Ferris wheel with a diameter of 135 meters. It stands on the banks of the Thames. A Ferris wheel was built in honor of the onset of the 21st century. There are many museums in London. There are about 240 of them. Museums are different in subject matter and are designed for all tastes. For example, there is a fan museum. And the most famous are the London National Gallery, the British Museum, the Wax Museum, the museum of the famous detective Sherlock Holmes. The Houses of Parliament or the Tower are not considered museums, but they can also be viewed with a guide. The cultural life of the capital is simply huge. It becomes the source of various youth movements, which then cover all countries of the world. So it was in the 60s, when London became Swinging, the hippie movement, Britpop in the early 90s, which gave rise to interest in the cultural life of Britain. var addthis_product = "jlp-2.0"; var addthis_config = ( pubid:"Your+Profile+ID", data_track_clickback:true, ui_language:"en", data_ga_property:"UA-10312200-2" )