To begin with, I will explain the name of the article chosen by me. In my perception, the Buckingham Palace, Tower and Westminster Abbey are the main architectural symbols of London - "High Flight" symbols. And in general, they are very spectacular, as is likely to diamonds. And the diadem is a crown characteristic of the ancient Anglo-Saxon kings. I will not describe these three diamond details - for this there is a lot of special articles on the Internet, which can answer all the questions of those who are deeply interested in the most different historical and architectural details. We will tell about those parties that seemed interesting to me personally, remembered, made a special impression.

Buckingham Palace and surroundings

Admiralty Arch and Admiralty

Buckingham Palace is the official modern London residence of British monarchs. It was built in the XVIII century, when the kings and aristocrats changed their former locks with a predominantly military function on spacious palaces, which were more concerned about the luxury demonstration. The palace became the royal residence at the Board of Victoria. Inside, I was not, as the palace is open to public visits only in August - September, and I was in London in March.

An excursion toward the Buckingham Palace began from Trafalgar Square, which I consider the central point of London. Along the Thames from Trafalgar Square, Whitehall Street is located, on which several remarkable objects. And in the direction of the Buckingham Palace from the square leads the ceremonial street MELL. At the junction of Whiteholl and MELL stands the Admiralty arch:

Outside the Arch of Admiralty, there is a statue of the famous English traveler Captain James Cook. And nearby - a huge complex of five buildings of British Admiralty. Here is his only small fragment:

Royal guard

Not far from these triumphs, the building is located at Downing Street, 10, serving the residence of prime ministers. By the way, the building is quite inexpressive. Tourists more attracts the house of the Royal Equestrian Guard:

His appearance at the end of the XIX century:

At the guard standing hastily (exactly hurried, and not actually infantrymen) and the horse Guardsmen. I advise you to visit the area of \u200b\u200bthe Buckingham Palace at about 11 am, since at this time the ceremonial shifts of Karaul takes place. The old watch is built on the big sand site in front of the house of the Admiralty House (the Guard house is right):

In red form - a division of the Palace Cavalry, which is called the Life Guards regiment. This is the oldest regular military unit of the UK, counting the story since 1660, when it was formed to protect the new King of Charles II Stewart (it was shortly after the restoration of the monarchy after the revolutionary events, the civil war, the execution of the previous king of Charles I and the republican regime).

A new watch goes to change - in the dark blue form of the BLUES AND ROYALS regiment:

This part arose for a year later "Life Guards" and represents the result of the merge "Royal Horse Guards" (they are nicknamed blue) and "1st Royal Dragoons" (the royal nickname).

The ceremony goes well, without a special pump. Attention to the small growth of cavalryrs. There is no reason for ridicule. The fact is that these horse guardsmen belong to armored troops, where, of course, a high growth is inappropriate. And, by the way, they are not tin soldiers, suitable only for places. The Royal Guard has always actually participated in hostilities, including in Afghanistan.

Green Park and Saint James Park

Next, Mellel street passes between two parks - Green Park and St. James Park. Green Park is known for the fact that before it was a favorite place for the duel of the British aristocrats. And its name is allegedly explained by the next event. One day, Karl II narrowed here a lot of colors, made a lot of bouquets and presented many favorites (in Western Europe it was a gallant era with all the consequences arising from here). His spouse was angry and ordered the roots and bulbs of all colors over the night. And there are no more there, but there is only a green grass and trees. So it is or not, I do not know because I did not go to the Green Park. But at St. James Park looked gladly:

And even look at the pond away from the Buckingham Palace (the ferris wheel called "London Eye") is visible:

Changing of the Guard

We continue to slowly move along MELL and see the Buckingham Palace, to which the flow of tourists flows:

In parallel, we are marching the guards orchestra:

and the replaceable watch of the infantry regiment moves (in total in the royal guard of their five - Koldstustrian, Grenadier, Scottish, Irish and Welsh; I was particularly pleased to see the regiment from Wales: they have a plume on the hat white-green and buttons on the uniform arranged according to the scheme "Five - the gap - five") in the famous hats from the bear skins:

Unfortunately, while the British Ministry of Defense has not found an alternative to bear hide skins for these caps. The only thing that consults is - serve these caps almost for a hundred years. Along the way, I note that they are made from the Grizzlyley skins (for officers - from the more luxurious and gluable skins of males, for ordinary - from the more modest skins of females). Weigh caps of more than 3 kg, and we have to wear them at any time of the year and in any weather. Bear caps of the British took over the French Grenadiers after the victory at Waterloo.

The ceremony takes place in the measure solemnly, without any game on the nerves characteristic of shifts of Karaulov in some other countries. Musicians, by the way, performed the March of the Preobrazhensky regiment.

At the facade of the Buckingham Palace. Monument to Queen Victoria

And now, finally, the Buckingham Palace himself:

On the lanterns you can mark the boats, which, of course, display the sea power of Britain. And on the excited lamps, the royal crowns are put on:

Why the word "Australia" is written on the column to the left, I did not understand. It seems to me that the names of various British possessions or dominions are written on different columns, which could reflect the huge dominant status of this country.

Well, most of all rushes in the eyes of the Monument Memorial Queen Victoria:

With the worship of Victoria in England, in my opinion, some bust, well, yes this is their business. The face of the statue of Victoria is drawn in the northeast direction, to the street Mall. From the other three sides of the pedestal are the statues of the Angel of Justice, the Angel of Truth and the Angel of Mercy, standing in front of the Buckingham Palace. At the top costs the gilded victory. Mighty people with lions cost a little bit of the main monument. I had a perplexity of the figure of a strong physique in simple (peasant?) Clothes and sickle in hand. Probably, this is the peasant (I suppose these figures symbolize different social groups of the population) - just what has the lion? Not very convenient to work with a sickle in the field and the other hand to keep this beast.

The memorial also has marine topics: it can see the sculptures and bas-reliefs of mermaids and water. They allegedly symbolize the domination of Britain on the sea (in my opinion, unsuccessful symbolism).

And there are images of hippogriffs (unfortunately, because of the crowd, I could not take a picture). Hippogrifs are mythical creatures: a semi-thief, semi-aphony (while the griffin itself is a mix of lion and eagle). Jorge Louis Bruheses in his "book of fictional creatures" indicated that the creature came up with and first described Ludochiko Ariosto in the poem "frantic Roland" (1532 year). In those days, there was a saying "to cross the horse with a griffin", which is obliged to the origin of verse and meaning the impossibility or injectability of something (synonymous for the expression "to cross the horns and hedgehog"). Funny curiosity - it is curious that the creators of the monument in the figure of the Hippogrif?

Incident with Michael Phagan

Complete the story about the Buckingham Palace is another curiosity. Surely most are confident that the residence of British monarchs is guarded as a holy shrine. This is not quite so. In 1982, the 31-year-old unemployed (part-time father of four children) named Michael Fahan twice (!!!) penetrated the palace. The first time he climbed there on the drain pipe. He was noticed by the maid and caused security, but the Fahan disappeared, and securities decided that the servant was mistaken. Then Fahan returned through the unclosed window on the roof and spent half an hour behind eating cheese and cookies and walks on the palace. He came out for several alarm detectors, but they were all faulty. Fahan examined the royal portraits and sat on the throne of the United Kingdom (!!!). Then he went into the room where Diana Wales kept gifts for the son of William. Fagan still drank the shelter white wine, then tired and left the palace.

For the second time, when the Faigan got to the palace, the alarm detector found him, but Secondly decided that the device worked mistakenly. When Fagan entered the queen, she woke up. According to legend, ten minutes, the head of Great Britain talked to the unemployed, sitting on the edge of her bed; However, in an interview with 2012, Fahan reported that in fact she immediately came out in search of guards - and unsuccessfully. Subsequently, it turned out that during the incident, the police officer removed to the door of the royal bedroom left the post to walk away the favorite Elizabeth dogs of Corge. The queen called the police twice, but no one appeared (I suppose, they decided that this is a draw). And the alarm button did not work.

The most ridiculous thing is that the Fagan was charged not in violation of the security of the queen, but only in the stealing half the contents of the bottle (it, of course, quickly removed). Michael Fahan spent half a year in a psychiatric hospital. The essence of the legal conflict is that in England a precedent justice, and the precedent for the penetration into the queen's bedroom in British law was not established. Although in the XIX century, a certain teenager-maniac Edward Jones lived in London, who brought three times in the Buckingham Palace and even pulled the objects of the lingerie (whether the bottom, or the bed) Queen Victoria and her regimental sword. He was not judged, but sent to some kind of establishment of the psyche correction.

In general, a lot of funny and absurd connected in my perception with the Buckingham Palace, and in general I noted for myself that the works of Lewis Carroll could be written only in England. For what I sympathize with this country.

Fortress Tower

Outdoor inspection of the Tower Fortress

Tower in my perception is not just a castle, namely the fortress, citadel. And the fortress in some sense is unique, such a lot of functions had to be executed. In addition to the main military protective function, the Tower contained and the royal treasury (it remains to this day), and the prison, and the place of executions, and the observatory, and even the Lennets. By the way, executions were held even relatively recently - the last time in 1941. In general, it is believed that in the cellars of Tower in the XVI-XVII centuries, at least a half thousand decapitated bodies was hidden. I will not say that some kind of negative aura is felt in the fortress, but I think that it is not worthwhile to lead myself too emotionally.

At first, the general appearance of the Tower, made from the site near the RVA:

I look back and see the church of all saints with a golden rooster on the weathering, against the background of architectural monsters City:

Next, several tower fragments are not far from the entrance to it. Interestingly, there is a full-scale catapult model nearby (seeing her, I firmly associated in my mind Tower with the word "fortress"):

Entrance to the fortress and first beast layouts (there will be more):

The royal nails originated in the XIII century Heinrich III as a gift from his son-in-law, three leopards, a polar bear and an elephant. Over time, the beast replenished with a large number of exotic animals and when Elizabeth I was open to visitors, having existed until the 1830s.

Behind the external walls of the Tower. Copy of coronation throne

After the entrance, the excursion group went on some chambers. Some parts of the Tower look really archaic:

In one of the chambers I remember a copy of the throne of the beginning of the XIV century, intended only for the coronation rite:

I will tell about this throne in the story about Westminster Abbey, for it is there its original.

You can familiarize yourself with the design features of Tower walls: for example, with a form of laying of stones or bricks (it is interesting that the bricks lie in parallel to the floor, but at the angles, interconnecting with wooden beams). And I also remember that something like the idea that man led in medieval clothes was held in the same Chamber. I did not understand his meaning, but it was possible to touch the weight of a real mail. I think no less than 6 kilograms.

Then we went outside and walked along the opposition, considering numerous attractions:

The seagull over the White Tower is a sign of the proximity of the Thames (to her hundred meters).

Another beast (i.e. layout), this time an elephant:

I really liked a luxurious gun with a symbols of the Maltese Order:

Tower Monkeys (fortunately, layouts, for such monkeys in a living condition I would be seriously afraid of):

Bifirates

Next, I will talk about an important element of the Tower Fortress, which was devoted a lot of time in research after returning. These are the staff of the Tower, whose members are called the Yomen's Guardians (also lovers), or unofficially "bifirates". Yomentri is a special estate in old England; Along with Gentry, they were landowners, only, unlike the nobles, they themselves worked on Earth, and did not use the work of rumbers or tenants. Yomenov had the right to their weapons, so they made an extremely strong part of the royal army for a long time. The Jomen's Guardian of Tower leads its history since 1485, the beginning of the board of the tudor dynasty, which put the end of the bloodshed internecine war between the scarlet (Lancaster) and White (York) roses. The Barde of the Jomen's Guardian depicts a rose of Tudors (red-white, as a reconciliation sign), the royal crown, thistle (Sign of Scotland), a shader (Ireland sign), the motto with the British coat of arms "God and my right" (translated from French) and monogram Now the royal monarch (now it is Elizabeth Regina):

The bifiratims were called for the fact that in the diet of the guards there was always a lot of beef meat and broth (Beef-Eaters), which is atypically for old times. So the construction of the joy of the guards is very decent (they are not thick, and dense, doodle):

In Guards, there is a special parade form, which is put on holidays and for solemn processions (image of the late XIX century):

Intern

And there is also a special gatekeeper called Ravenmaster (Ravenmaster). It is responsible for the content of the interns. And this is a special interesting story - by itself, with a great legend.

The beginning of the legend dates back to the ancient times of the mythical king of Britt Brana blessed. His name means "crow", but then merged with in the foreground. Bran bequeathed to bury his head under the hill, at which Tower was later built. It was a magical means of protecting Britain from enemies. Then the King of Arthur decided that for protection there would be enough power to the swords of his own and knights of the round table, and ordered to dig the brand's head. The head dug up - afterwards Arthur was killed by his own son Mordered, and the round table collapsed.

In the later times of the legend began to consider Tower ravens enemies of opponents of the crown. In the XVI century, several such opponents (real and imaginary) were executed in Tower, which attracted the attention of the feathers of the pantoshchikov (it is unpleasant to write about it, but those of the epoch). By that time, belief that crows are symbols of the strength of the monarchy, already strengthened.

Further (seemingly more truthful) The history of Tower's raven rises by the XVII century, when they were the most common bird in London. In 1666, the Great London Fire happened, during which most of the city burned out. Crows left London, and when they returned, it turned out that their former nests were preserved mainly only in Tower. Black crows literally besieged the castle, attacked people and fiercely fought with each other. These endless Vorony Batlia led to the fact that the Tower's authorities decided to destroy them. At that time, King Carl II from the Stuart dynasty was only recently restored on the throne. Some of the courtesy reminded him of legend. Whether Karl II was a superstitious man, whether his position seemed to him unstable (after all, his father was executed on the instructions of Cromvelev Tribunal), but he ordered to preserve at least six ravens in Tower for the sake of security of the monarchy.

In fact, Voronov now lives more than six (usually eight, just in case), and during World War II, the Tower and the monarchy protected only one raven named the hypertension (name means "grip", "power"), and his magical efforts It was enough. Ravenmaster takes care of the feeding of raven (about £ 120 leaves for it) and even a little clipping the hoof wings to them so that they do not flush. Some of the most violent raven attacked tourists were sent to a non-retractable resignation. By the way, Ravenmaster assures that one of the crows does not just know how to speak in the form of repeating human words, but as if he understands the meaning. For example, when a person feeding food, tells the crow "it's you," he answers "this to me"!

Treasury

The last part of the excursion was devoted to the inspection of the royal treasury. It is impossible to photograph there, so I have nothing to illustrate, and I will not tell a lot. There are stored crowns, swords and other important regalia of British monarchs. The most valuable exhibits (crowns) are placed on a special stand, along both sides of which are driving with a small speed of conveyor belts. Very convenient - no one creates congestion. There you can see the largest faceted diamond in the world - Kullinan-I, decorating the Scepter of the King Eduard VII.

I am poorly distinguished by jewels, and for me, for example, a piece of blue glass is externally practically identical to sapphire. But the story of some stones is interesting to me. For example, the history of Sapphira of St. Eduard (in the center of the Upper Cross, crowning the Crown of the British Empire). According to legend, the English king Edward confessor wore this sapphire in Pisnt. One day, a beggar appeared to him with a request for alms; Since the king has already distributed all the money they have, he took the ring from his finger and gave it to him. Many years later, two pilgrims from the Holy Land were returned to the king's ring, told such a story: in the Holy Land they met the old man who claimed that he was Holy John theologian, that he long wanders on earth in the appearance of the beggar for a long time, and that one day the king handed him this Run. He blessed the king for his generosity and promised that they would soon meet in paradise. In 1066, the king died and was buried along with sapphire perrsta. When two hundred years later, his coffin was discovered, the body of Edward confessor was found perfectly preserved. The abbot of Westminster Abbey removed the ring with the hands of the king and handed over to the royal treasury.

When I found out this story, the attitude towards the Tower was not only respectful, but also warmer.

Westminster Abbey

The difference between Westminster Abbey and Westminster Cathedral

Finally, the third extremely important object in London, which is worth a visit for exploring the history of England and its monarchy - Westminster Abbey (name means "Western Monastery").

I will start with the mention of another place. The fact is that in London there is not only Westminster Abbey, but also the Westminster Cathedral. I am writing about this just in case to prevent possible confusion. These are different buildings, and they are not nearby. Therefore, if you search in London Abbey, and ask the passers-by or taxi drivers - "Westminster Cathedral", then you will be sent or will not be taken to where you need. This is what the cathedral looks like:

This is the main Catholic Temple of England and Wales, built in a completely unusual non-agitantine style for this country, with a high campaign. By the way, who likes mosaics, he can find something interesting there - especially considering the fact that in England this type of art is much common.

Exterior of Westminster Abbey

Return to the abbey. It is officially called the Cathedral Church of St. Peter in Westminster (but I suspect that in London itself, everyone knows this complete name, so I will not use it anymore). Abbey is a masterpiece of gothic architecture, asked a certain image of a cult facility for all England.

We mention about one small detail (it is really small, but under certain circumstances can deliver those who want to get into the abbey of trouble). In the abbey almost always a big queue - I was half an hour, and this is considered short. But the item is not in this, but in the fact that there are really two queues, and here you need to immediately penetrate. One queue goes through the cashier, where only credit cards are accepted, the other is only cash. If you do not have a complete set of payment facilities, see where to get. By the way, the entrance ticket costs £ 18. It is impossible to photograph inside. It grows a little, because I would like to capture interesting personally to me, and not to acquire the proposed books and booklets compiled by someone else to taste.

Tomb

Abbey is the traditional place of coronation of the British monarchs (since the XI century) and their burials (in the XIII-XVIII centuries). In addition, here 16 Persons of royal blood were crowned here (including the marriage of 2011 Prince William and Miss Catherine Middleton - Duke and Duchess of Cambridge). Here, very many great people of this country are buried here (however, they were buried not only the great, but also rich, who just bought themselves the honor of being buried in the main temple of London). I will not give them list, because in full, he would take too much space, and I do not want to allocate someone. Let us only lead the image of the Tomb of the Holy King Edward Confessor:

This monumental tomb is made commissioned by Heinrich III Italian masters in the XIII century. The tomb of the tomb is dressed with a mosaic of Smalt (the very rarest for England an example of a mosaics), and the upper part, once former gold, contains sarcophagus.

Interiors

Someone in the abbey still secretly photographs, so I will show a couple of interior images taken on the Internet:

Interestingly, there are two big icons near the altar near the altar (Jesus Christ and Our Lady), written by the modern Russian artist-icon painter Sergey Fedorov.

Coronation throne Eduard i

About everything that is in Westminster Abbey, it is impossible to tell. I will pay special attention to the coronation wooden throne of Eduard I (1308). Let me remind you that his copy (and moreantly improved noticeable) can be seen in Tower. I will quote the brand of twee ("Prince and Beggar"):

We are also visible to the big platform, eliminated by rich fabrics. In the middle of it, on the elevation, to which four steps lead, the throne is placed. In the seat of the throne, a rough flat stone was done - the Skonsky Stone, on which many generations of the Scottish Kings were crowned; Custom and time so sanctified him that now he is worthy of serve and English kings.

What is this stone? Externally, this is a rectangular slice of sandstone size of 66x41x27 cm and weighing about 152 kilograms. According to the legend, this is the same stone on which, according to the Book of Genesis, I was sleeping Jacob: "... and came to one place, and stayed there to spend the night, because the sun went. And he took one of the stones of the place, and put himself headboard, and lay down at that place "(Genesis, 28:11). In a dream, the Lord appeared to him, who grateful the future of Jacob and his offspring, "And Jacob got up early in the morning, and took the stone, which he put herself, and put him a monument, and delivering the fir on his top" (Genesis, 28:18).

Having left the Holy Earth, the stone came in the Owl ways to Ireland, where he became with the blessing of St. Patrick to be used with the coronation of the Irish kings. Then he was called "a stone of fate" - they say that he moaned with a loudly, if a legal representative of the royal genius was sat down at him. If it was an illegal candidate, the stone was silent.

What happened to him next is definitely unknown. According to one of the versions, in the middle of the 9th century Kenneth I Mac-Alpine, the legendary King of Scotland, transported a stone from Ireland to Northern Scotland. They say, however, that stone was transported several times from place to place several times, but in the end he donkey in the scone (near the Scottish city of Perth), in the monastery, after which he got his nick - the Skonsky stone.

Several hundred years on it were crowned Kings of Scotland. In 1296, English King Edward I Plantagenets on nicknamed Long-legged, demanding from the king of Scotland vassal obedience, invaded the lands of the Northern neighbor, suppressed the rising uprising, and the sacred Sconian stone ordered to transport to London. There he was done in the seat of the "Throne King Edward".

Is the current stone at the base of the throne really Skonsky - is already unknown now. There is reason to doubt it, but I think that you should not get into the authenticity or nearby stone. Unfortunately, the throne of Edward was strongly spoiled in the XVIII-XIX centuries with some stupid visitors of the abbey, who drew and cut off their names (shameful practice "here N" appeared for a long time). And at the Christmas 1950, four Scottish students kidnapped by the Skonsky Stone to return it to their country. At the same time, the stone broke up into two parts. Only in April of the next year, the stone was found and returned to the throne, but was this a real Skonsky stone? .. In 1953, Elizabeth II was crowned here, and whether there will be no coronation.

Chapel Henry VII.

And I also want to pay attention to the chapel of Heinrich VII in the northern wing of the apse of Westminster Abbey. This is one of the best samples of late Gothic in England.

Since 1725, the chapel has been submitted to the cavalier of the kavallers of the awarded order of Bani - one of the highest state awards of England. The name of the Order comes from an ancient rite when applicants were at night-awake with post, prayer and bathing on the eve of chivalry. Great Master is Prince Wales. In the chapel, the banners of the capitula are stored:

It looks like the chapel of Henry VII from the outside:

Outside on the walls of abbey many sculptures, and including the group of figures of the XX century martyrs. Among them, Russian Great Princess Elizaveta Fedorovna (by the way, the granddaughter of Queen Victoria), killed by the Bolsheviks under the Urals city of Alapaevsky.

Viciousness of Westminster Abbey

And in conclusion, several views on the sides of Westminster Abbey. Building with a large round dome - House of Methodists:

There is a good fast-service dining room (sometimes it is essential for organizing the pastime).

Palace of Beige Color - Sanctuary (Value Storage) of Westminster Abbey:

And I also remember the building of the Supreme Court. There are many interesting sculptures and bas-reliefs on it:

I even photographed a larger plan, since I like epic scenes:

Big Ben, Westminster Palace and Westminster Abbey - are considered one of London's business cards. A huge number of tourists flock here to just capture these beautiful and majestic attractions of the capital of Great Britain, as well as themselves on their background. In order for at least one eye to see everything that was written in the articles that had to be memorable in school lessons at school.

The topic of Big Ben, the Westminster Palace and Westminster Abbey written many articles and to be honest, I don't want to tritely repeat already and so all well-known information. If you want - open Wikipedia, other articles from the search and forward for dry statistics.

I want to tell you that not so well known to the wide mass of tourists. In this article, I will operate with historical facts, I will surprise and intrigue, and I will try to reveal the secrets of Big Ben, Palace of Westminster and Westminster Abbey in London.

It will be interesting, I promise. Go!

BIG BEN (BigBen.)

1. Immediately I want to graze you. Big Ben is not the Tower of the Westminster Palace. And not even a four-sided watch. This is a bell that is located behind the clock of hours and which on August 21, 2017, exactly at noon sounded the last time, and the Small for four years. He was disconnected to restore and clock, and the tower.

Such a long term of the silence of Big Ben caused cognitive dissonance from the public and in the House of Commons. The latter even stated that the silence of the bell would be revised.

And as long as Big Ben laid tiled. No, not all 96 meters of this giant, but only the bottom.

We managed to capture this exciting and important important moment for London.

As for me, the restoration will go Starin Bane only benefit. Moreover, the tower promise elevators, new bathrooms, kitchen and other tourist joy in the tower.

And it will be possible to finally make a rise to the very top of the tower (only the favorites only enjoy this right).

Teachers in English will be delighted. About Big Beans can be told something new. New topics for bunning will arrive!

2. Why is it called Big Ben?! There are two legends on this score.

For one of them, the name of the clock was given by Parliament. It so happened that when this burning question was discussed, the curator on the construction of Benjamin Hall, who had a funny nickname "Big Ben", was discussed.

Nobody listened to him, but after another not a particularly smart replica Hall, someone from the audience could not support and suggested: "Sir, let's call the bell to big benom and disperse at home!"

In the hall, first laughed, but then firmly thought.

On another legend, Big Ben was named after the Benjamin Count popular at the time at the time.

2. The bell in the tower weighs 13.5 tons. To raise it it took 18 hours.

3. The clock in the tower is one of the most accurate and large in the world. At the same time, which is noteworthy, the accuracy of their stroke is adjustable with ... an ordinary coin in 1 Penny (if necessary, the coin is put on the pendulum and its movement slows down 0.4 seconds per day).

4. At the base of each of the 7 meter clock clocks of the tower, there is an inscription "Domine Salvam Fac Reginam Nostram Victoriam Primam", which is translated from Latin as: "God, I keep our queen Victoria first."

On the perimeter of the tower, on the right and left of the clock, there is another phrase on Latin - "Laus Deo" ("Thank God" or "Praise the Lord").

5. Almost all Great Britain News Programs begin with a tower photo.

6. The official name of the Tower is the Westminster Palace Clock Tower, and it is also called the Tower of St. Stephen.

7. A long time ago in Big Bene there was a prison for parliamentarians who behaved inappropriately at meetings. What is noteworthy, for the entire short history of its existence, only one person sat in the tower. Emmelin Pankherst, which Zano defended women's rights. In her honor at the Parliamentary Square, where Big Ben stands, a monument is established.

8. Big Ben was designed by three people: the watchmaker Edmund Beckett Deniison, lawyer George Iry, as well as an astronomer of Her Majesty.

But I was collecting the mechanism of the pros - watchmaker Edward John Dent. In 1854, the work was completed.

9. Since 1912, the clock was lit by gas horns, which were later replaced by electric lamps.

10. Very often near the tower you can see our Ukrainian tourist machine.

11. Next to Big Ben is a monument to Winston Churchill. Starina Cherchil thoughtfully looks at the tower and recalls the long time of his youth.

12. View on Big Ben from London Eye Ferris Wheel is beautiful!

Although I still do not recommend visiting London's eye. Why - already told in this article.

If you get around the monument, and look in the face of Winston, in his view, you can clearly read: "Do not lose time, gentlemen!".

12. Big Ben is one of the steensions of the Westminster Palace (Westminster Palace).

WestminsterPALACE (Palace of Westminster)

The palace itself is very beautiful.

He rebuilt in a neo-neutic style in 1840 after a terrible fire, almost completely destroyed the building in 1834.

I will tell you all these patterns, jumpers, arches and stained glass - just stunned.

What is noteworthy, immediately after the fire, King Wilhelm IV offered a parliament almost completed Buckingham Palace, but the servants of the sovereign refused a gift and decided to stay in the Westminster Palace.

It is here that today the meetings of the British Parliament are held.

In the palace of 1100 premises, 100 stairs and 5 kilometers of corridors. From the palace towers the most famous is Big Ben (or the Elizabeth's hour tower).

Another interesting, next to the Westminster Palace there is a small three-story building, which is called the "Jewel Tower". As you probably guessed, the building was specifically built (in 1365-66) for storing the jewelry of Eduard III.

Moreover, for security purposes, the turret was surrounded by a moat with water.

But time went. Jewels became less and then, and then, after a fire in 1512, they were removed from there.

At the end of the XVI century, the tower began to be used to store the archives of the House of Lords, thanks to which these archives survived in the fire of 1834, unlike the archives of the House of Commons.

After World War II, the building was renovated and became open for tourists.

WESTMINSTER ABBEY (Westminster.Abbey)

Westminster Abbey is located across the road from the Westminster Palace and Big Ben. And if you are accurate - the Cathedral Church of St. Peter in Westminster.

According to the legend, at the beginning of the VII century, the local fisherman named Aldrich was the Holy Peter (the patron saint of fishermen) and handed the place where the church was laid soon and was laid. The church was named West Minster (from the English West - West and Minster - Monastery Church).

Interestingly, in the Middle Ages, fishermen from nearby villages paid by the abbey of the tax salmon, and it is possible that the legend was invented just with the goal to justify the defeats.

But the history of the appearance of Westminster Abbey is associated with Edward Confessor, who rules from 1042 to 1065 years. He walked a very pious man. So it is not surprising that he began the widespread restructuring of the old West Minster church in a grand architectural structure in order to use it as a royal tomb.

By order of Eduard, the community of Benedictine received the status of abbey (Catholic monastery) and good land. Also thanks to his submission, the royal palace was built next to the abbey.

Later, the abbey was rebuilt several times. But at the same time it always remained very rich inhabitants. For example, in 1535, its annual income amounted to 2,800 pounds, which is equivalent to the amount of 1.5 million pounds of sterling.

It is not surprising that in Westminster Abbey regularly hosts concerts of spiritual and secular music. Here are suitable as memorial events (on September 6, 1997, the funeral ceremony of Princess Diana was held. Moreover, ISAAK Newton, Charles Darwin, Lord Charles Dickens and others) and celebrations (April 29, 2011, the wedding ceremony of Prince William and Kate Middleton took place in the abbey. ).

But the most, perhaps amazing, is that in Westminster Abbey is a very interesting exhibit. Wooden throne made for Eduard i back in 1300. In this throne there is a legendary sking stone, or as it is also called the "Stone of Fate".

According to legends, this stone has protective properties, and also gives long youth and rich life with its owners.

May really.

During the Second World War, no shell noise Westminster Abbey, while the Westminster Palace fell pretty.

With abbey there is a small museum dedicated to the history of Westminster, cute gardens and beautiful church of St. Margaret.

As for me, that Big Ben is that the Westminster Palace, that Westminster Abbey is worthy of visits on the very first day of your stay in London. It is beautiful, majestically and monumental. Yes, and there are these three attractions next to each other.

Additional information about Big Ben, Westminster Palace and Vestminster Abbey: Where are you going to get

Location: London, Parliament Square (Parlament Square)
Address: Palace of Westminster, Old Palace Yard, London SW1
Nearest metro station: Westminster On The Circle, District and Jubilee Lines
How to get by bus: Before the parliamentary square or before the Street of Whiteholla Street (Trafalgar Square).

Be sure to useOyster Card. To pay for your trips (operates in London on all types of public transport).

You can also get on buses

The question of which part of London is considered its geographical center, is worried not only those who like to study the native planet on the cards. Many tourists falling into the capital of Great Britain, with difficulty oriented in this metropolis. Fortunately, most of the most interesting attractions are quite easy to find. In addition, you can order excursions with a guide.

Buckingham Palace

It is unlikely that there is a person who would never hear about her majesty Elizabeth second. So, her official residence - the Buckingham Royal Palace - is located in the area of \u200b\u200bPall Mall and Green Park. If the building is fluttered above the building, then this means that the monarchy is in his beloved capital.

The royal palace acquired his status at the prepabanks of the Prababki Elizabeth Second - Victoria - in 1837. Today, the statue of this monarchyn is the first to meet everyone who comes up to the fence of the residence to inspect the Cead Dwelling of the Windsor Dynasty.

The Buckingham Palace consists of 775 rooms. 52 of them are the rest of the royal family and guest. There are also about 20 public premises. In the 92nd of them are offices, and 188 are used for technical needs and recreation staff. In addition, in the royal residence there are 72 bathrooms and bathrooms. The total territory of the Palace is 20 hectares, and at 17 hectares there is the largest private garden with an artificial lake in London.

Ceremony of changing Karaula

Guardsmen in bright red uniforms and in high fur hats are the same attractions as palaces and temples adorning the center of London.

Karaul's change ceremony is held at the Buckingham Palace daily at 11:30 in the summer, and every other day - the remaining seasons. The duration of the ceremony is 45 minutes. Sometimes a military parade for a solemn shift of Karaul is canceled due to bad weather.

Tradition originates in 1660. In the Buckingham Palace, it began to spend it from 1837, when Queen Victoria moved there.

Colorful action is accompanied by orchestral music. Part of the parade passes outside the fence of the Buckingham Palace, and the rest of the ceremony, tourists and Londoners usually observe through his fence.

Tower of London

This fortress is one of the main attractions of the British capital. It is believed that the modern London was formed around him. The city center without it is impossible today. The castle covers an area of \u200b\u200b1170 square meters. m and is a square. From the outside of the London Tower (Tower of London) is surrounded by two rings of walls with lots of towers. 13 towers come out on the inner defensive turning line. As for the outer ring, it is much longer than the first. For its protection from the water at one time, 6 towers located along the shores of the Thames were erected, offering a beautiful view of the magnificent in the center of London.

In the south-western corner of the space that is between two belts of the walls is a meadow with a plan, at which many prominent representatives of the English nobility were executed during the centuries, including the three killed in Heinrich eighth. The last beading at the Tower meadow took place in 1747.

Today, this fortress in the center of London is open to visiting tourists. They are invited to get acquainted with the exhibits exposed to the Tower Museum and in the Armory Chamber. Among them, the treasures of the British crown are of particular interest.

On the territory of the castle there is an ancient Christian temple of the capital of Great Britain - the chapel of St. Peter, which is almost 1000 years old.

Tower Bridge in the center of London

Although this building, many consider medieval, it was built only in 1894. Tower Bridge, decorating the center of London, is a recruiting bridge with two towers put on intermediate supports. The total length of the structure is 244 m, and its height is 65 m. Pedestrian galleries of the bridge since 1982 are used as a museum.

The management of the Tauer Bridge is still carried out in the old manner: he has a captain and a team consisting of military sailors. They beat the flasks and put the watch.

Initially, the bridge was divorced daily, but at the moment this ritual only takes place several times a week and the crowds of tourists are going to him.

Palace of Westminster

Talking about the main sights of London, it is impossible to go around the majestic building in the neo-neothic style, built in the mid-19th century, where the English Parliament is sitting today. The palace has 3 towers. The highest of them reaches a height of 98.5 m. It is named after Queen of Great Britain Victoria. At the time of construction, the tower was considered the highest in the world among the structures of secular purpose.

At the base of the building there is a sovereign input, which is an army with a height of 15 m, surrounded by statues. The cast-iron pyramid roof of the building is crowned with a 22-meter flagpole. The parliamentary archives are stored in more than 500 years. They occupy 12 floors and contain almost 3 million state importance documents.

In the northern part of the Palace, it is more known as big-Ben (see detailed information below).

Another interesting building of the palace is the central tower. It is octagonal and has a height of 91 m. The tower is in the middle of the building of the palace and towers above the central hall. Initially, the construction was designed as a chimney for 400 fireplaces placed in different premises of the palace. However, it turned out that architects were mistaken in the calculations and today the structure performs a decorative function.

In the middle of the western facade of the Westminster Palace is the Tower of St. Stephen. Two more such structures are at the ends of the facade, which is located on the part of the Thames. This is the Towers of the Speaker and Chancellor.

Big Ben

When the main and most recognizable sights of London are described, their list often opens the most famous Tower of Great Britain.

It was built as part of the new Royal Palace, erected after a fire in 1834, and is a majestic construction in neo-style. The author of the project of the construction was Augustus Padzhin. The height of the Big Ben tower with a spire is 96.3 meters. In its foundation there is a 15-meter concrete foundation 3 meter thick.

At the top of the tower at an altitude of 55 meters there are hours with four dials with a diameter of 7 m from the smoky glass. At night, they are highlighted from the inside. Over the clock there is a bell tower with 5 bells. The largest of them was called Big Ben. According to one of the legends, he was so dubbed in honor of the head of the construction of Sir Benjamin Hall.

Although Big Ben is one of the most recognizable attractions of our planet, access to her tourists is closed. This is done for security reasons. In addition, there are no lifts in the tower, so the few who are allowed to rise to the hourly mechanism have to overcome 334 not the most comfortable steps.

Trafalgar Squae

In response to the question of which area is located in the center of London, any person who at least once visited the British capital, without a doubt the Trafalgar will call.

This famous attraction is at the intersection of Whitehall streets, Strend and Mellel. Up to 19th century, the square was the name of Wilhelm Fourth and received its modern name in 1805 after the famous sea battle, which was worthwhile to the best Admiral of Great Britain.

In the center of Trafalgar Square, it rises constructed from dark gray granite, has a height of 44 m and is a kind of pedestal for the statue of the famous admiral. The column is decorated with bulk images made from Napoleonic cannons.

Other famous facilities located on Trafalgar Square

If the Tower is the historic center of London, then Trafalgar Square is geographical. At its perimeter, the London National Gallery, the Church of St. Martin in the fields, the Admiraltey arch, and the buildings of several embassies are located.

Since the 1840s, the area decorate 3 monuments installed at its corners. They are statues of Georgu Fourth, as well as generals Charles James drink and Henry Hayivlok. Simultaneously with them, the fourth pedestal was built on the traffaligar. He was empty until 2005, when it was installed a sculpture depicting an artist-disabled Eliason Lapper. After 4 years, the glass installation "Hotel model" appeared in her place. Today, at the fourth pedestal of Trafalgar Square, you can see a huge bottle, inside which the layout of the ship "Victoria" is placed. It was on board that the admiral was a fatal injury, which died at the age of 47.

"London Eye"

This one of the largest cooles of Ferris in Europe was built from 1998 to 2004. It is located on the southern bank of the Thames. The authors of the project - David Marx and Julia Barfield. The total weight of a huge wheel with all the mechanisms is 1700 tons.

London Eye has 32 cabins in the form of huge eggs. In each of them, comfort is located up to 25 passengers, which can be viewed from a height for half an hour of the historic center of London, its outskirts and some suburbs.

The speed of rotation of the wheel is about 0.9 kilometers per hour. It does not stop to land the passengers and "take on board" the following, and these operations have to be carried out on the go. With good weather, visibility from the cab is up to 40 kilometers.

Ride on the feroument wheel Tourists and Londoners can daily. From September to March, the landing of passengers is carried out from 10:00 and until 20:30, and from April to August to the working time attraction is added another half hour.

Hyde Park.

Royal or Guide Park in the center of London (Rangers Lodge, W2 2Uh, open from 5:00 to 24:00) is one of the most famous in Britain and covers an area of \u200b\u200b1.4 square meters. km. It was founded even before the conquest of the British Isles with Normanons. However, he was taken open to Londoners walking only in the 17th century by order of King Charles second.

In addition, the Park is Lake Serpentine, where you can swim, and the gallery of the same name. By the way, on this reservoir during the London Olympics passed swims in open water.

Gallery serpentine

As already mentioned, this attraction is located on the territory of Hyde Park. It was opened in 1970 in a classic tea pavilion, built in the mid-30s of the last century. At one time, the patrones of the gallery was Princess Diana. Today at the entrance to the building where the permanent exhibition is located, you can see the work of Peter Cautus and Jan Hamilton Finles dedicated to it.

Gallery Serpentine annually orders the creation of new temporary pavilions by world-name architects. They are pleased to design unique structures within which conferences are underway on the subject of art, special filmmakers, and also have a cafe.

In different years, such world-famous artists and sculptors such as Manry Ray, Andy Warhol, Henry Moore, Alan McCallum, Paula, Bridget Riley, and others, were exhibited in the Serpentine gallery.

Westminster Abbey

This majestic temple has been a traditional place of coronation, marriage and burial of the Kings of Great Britain. Westminster Abbey (address: 20 Deans Yard London SW1P 3 PA), or rather the collegial church of St. Peter began to be built in 1245, and the final appearance has acquired only 5 centuries after numerous rebuildings.

The main building of the temple has a cross shape. The greatest length, from the western door to the outer wall of the chapel of Our Lady, is 161.5 m, and the highest height of Western towers is 68 m. The total area of \u200b\u200bthe room is about 3000 sq. M. M. At the same time, the abbey can accommodate up to 2 thousand people.

At the very beginning of the Central Gallery of the Abbey, you can see the images of the Allistant saints of the Icon painter Sergey Fedorov. In addition, the abbey is the place of pilgrimage of lovers of English literature - a corner of poets, in which the graves of such famous writers of past centuries, like Choseer, Samuel Johnson, Tennison and Browning.

Few people know that in 1998, the statues of the 20th century martyrs were established over the portion of the Western entrance to the temple. Among them, the wrestler with the discrimination Martin Luther King, the priest Dietrich Bonheffer, executed by the Nazis in the Flexsenbürg concentration camp, the great Princess Elizaveta Fedorovna, who was discarded by the Bolsheviks in the mine near Alapaevsk in 1918, etc.

Globus theatre"

Many of those who buys tours to London, be sure to visit the Globus Theater, located on the southern bank of the Thames. The building where the premieres of many Pieces of Shakespeare was built in 1599. Unfortunately, it burned 14 years later.

The modern Globe building (address: New Globe Walk, SE1), erected in 1997, is an accurate copy of the historic theater. Part of the places in his visual hall are located right under the open sky, so you can visit Shakespeare's troupes from mid-May to 20 September.

To visit the Globus, it is best to use the subway and get to Cannon St or Mansion House.

Covent Garden

The Royal Theater in the London region of the same name was founded in 1732 and enjoyed great popularity among the inhabitants of the British capital.

The current building (address: Bow Street WC2E 9DD) is already the third. He was erected in 1858. Covent Gardena Theater The Spectator Hall seats 2,268 people.

Covent Garden is also called the Royal Opera and the stars of the first magnitude shine on his scene.

Against the background of the rest of London attractions, the building seems not so impressive, but its interior design produces an indelible impression on the audience.

Picadillilie Square

Piccadilly Circus is located in Westminster. The area is constructed in 1819. For its construction, she had to demolish the house with a garden, belonged to Lady Hatton and preventing the connection of the Regient Street with an important shopping street Piccadilly.

The main attraction of Square is a Memorial Fountain of Shaftsbari. The construction is located in the southwestern part. It is devoted to the famous patron of Lord Shaftsbari. At the top of the sculptural composition there is a winged figure of a naked arrow, symbolizing anteros, which is the "God of disinterested love."

The area of \u200b\u200bthe underground criterion-theater founded in 1874, and the Music Hall of London-Pavilion, built in 1859, are also located on the square.

At the beginning of the century, the building was connected to a trocader center.

Gallery Teit

In the building located at Millbank SW1B 3DG, not far from the Westminster Palace, tourists can get acquainted with the famous national collection of British art. It is the world's largest meeting of painting, sculptures and graphs of English authors of the 16-20 centuries. He founded the collection of manufacturer Sir Henry Tate. The gallery was opened to the public in 1897.

After 30 years, the wing was attached to the building, which placed the works of foreign painters. In 1987, the Klory Gallery began to operate, in which one of the most extensive assemblies of Turner's webs.

Now you know what interesting architectural attractions are decorated with the center of London. In addition, every year the capital of Great Britain is becoming a venue for various cultural, sports and other entertainment events of the world and European scale. They, like monuments of history and architecture, are one of the reasons for the popularity of tours to London.

We all still know with school bench that the most famous Bridge of London is the Tauer Bridge. An unusual appearance makes it easily recognizable: on the impressive river supports there are two tower in the Gothic style, which are connected by divorce spans and pedestrian galleries.

Its main difference from the rest of the bridges is that it is the divorce and lowestmost above the Thame. He received its name thanks to the neighborhood with the Tower, which is from the North side.

Short story

For a long time, Tzu crossed one bridge London Bridge. However, the sharp economic rise and population growth began in the 19th century, showed all the need for the construction of additional bridges, which should have helped solve the transport problem of the capital.

For several years, not one bridge was built, but the problems with the transport flow did not decrease. Soon, a committee was created, which studied dozens of projects, and only in 1884 the project of John Walf Take and Gorasan Gorasan was approved.

Over the construction of the bridge worked more than 400 workers for 8 years. The discovery took place on June 30, 1894, the Prince of Wales Eduard and his wife Princess Alexander was present at this event.

The bridge was performed in the Gothic style, but using a number of innovative developments. Due to the presence of a hydraulic system, just a couple of minutes to ensure the free passage of the ship. Until 1974, the bridge was raised due to the work of steam machines, in the fireboxes of which coal was burned, leading to work the pumps. They pumped water into tanks, stocking energy. But progress did not stand in place, and the entire mechanism was replaced with an electro-hydraulic system that significantly saved time and costs. Now the bridge was not divorced by schedule, but if necessary.

Over the years, the Tower Bridge together with Big Ben has become real symbols and one of the main attractions of London.

To date, the Tower Bridge is one of the most visited attractions of England. Many tourists, coming here, consider the honor of making a walk on the legendary building, especially since many London hotels send to very informative and integrated city tours.

Information for visitors

Address: Tower Bridge Road, London SE1 2UP, United Kingdom

You can walk through the Tower Bridge:

• in the summer season (from April 1 to September 30) - from 10:00 to 18:30 (last entrance at 17:30);
• in the winter season (from October 1 to March 31) - from 09:30 to 18:00 (the last entrance at 17:00).

Ticket price:

You can buy tickets on

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Big Ben It is the largest of the six bells of the Westminster Palace, located in, on the banks of the River Thames, in the Westminster area. In the world, these famous clocks are usually associated with the "Elizabeth Tower", renamed the Single Tower of the Senius of 2012, while the mechanism itself and the parliament building itself have separate names. According to the most common versions, the Great Bell may be called both in honor of Sir Benjamin Holla, who managed the works on his casting and in honor of the famous Boxer-heavyweight - Benjamin Count, who brought in the ring in those days when the tower was erected.

It was built in a neo-style style, in 1858, and the clock began his countdown a year later. The total height of the building together with the spire is more than 96 meters, the diameter of the dial is 7 meters, and the length of the arrows respectively reaches 2.7 and 4.2 meters. For a long time, Big Ben was considered the largest clockwork in the world, and the Tower of the Westminster Palace to this day is a symbol of London. In different years, many famous films were filmed here, and the construction was shown in all sorts of angles and species. At one time, the tower was even a prison for specially active parliamentarians, and in honor of the famous British Emmeline Pankherst, famous for his public acts for the rights of women, in the territory of the Westminster Palace there is a memorable monument.

On all four dials of the tower, installed on each side, latin inscriptions are made in Latin, meaning "God, keep our Queen - Victoria I". On the right and to the left of the mechanism, with a detailed examination, another inscription is seen - "Praise the Lord". It is known that London Big Ben is famous for its accuracy, but at the same time, the work of the mechanism is always adjusted only by a simple coin in 1 penny, capable of accelerating the movement of the pendulum by 0.4 seconds per day. At the very top of the clock there are many such coins. When some important events occur in the country, Big-Ben's battle is heard in different areas, and the tower at this moment is shown close-up on central television.

Today, the hour tower is considered to be one of the symbols of the city, perfectly fit into the city landscapes and stand out against the background of the Thames. Few people in the world of tourists who visited the British capital and not photographed against the background of the legendary Big Ben. Meanwhile, direct access to the tower is allowed only by citizens of Great Britain, and even then only by special permission to get that is very difficult. However, the popularity of attractions from this does not fall at all, but only gives it even more mysteriousness.