London – The Houses of Parliament, symbol of London, parks..
London
The Houses of Parliament are situated on the left bank of the Thames river. The oldest part is Westminster Hall (it was built in 1097). The English Parliament is a very old institution. It consists of the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
The symbol of London is Big Ben. It is the name given to the clock and bell of the clock of the Houses of Parliament. Big Ben was named after one minister who was very tall and stout and so people called him Big Ben. When the clock was made in 1858 the question of its name was discussed in the Parliament. One member suggested to call it after the minister – Big Ben.
The most famous shopping centres in London are Piccadilly Circus (the centre of London’s theatres, cinemas, restaurants and night clubs), Regent Street and Oxford Street.
There are many parks in London, e.g. St. James’s Park, Green Park, Regent’s Park. The largest of them is Hyde Park. It is also known for its Speaker’s Corner where anybody can have a speech. You can sit on the grass, relax or admire the flowers and old trees, you can do many sports activities such as rowing, tennis, swimming and horseriding.
Baker Street – there is Madame Tussaud’s Museum with figures in wax.
There is much to see in London and still is true, what an English writer Samuel Johnson said two hundred years ago: “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life.”