A GLIMPSE OF LONDON
London is the capital of Great Britain. The full name of the country is the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Today London is one of the largest cities in the world. Its population is more than seven million. London is situated on both sides of the Thames. There are fourteen bridges across the Thames.
In fact, there are several Londons. There is the ancient City of London. It is the oldest part of London. There are no houses in the City, only large office buildings. The City is the country’s financial and business centre. The Stock Exchange, the Royal Exchange, and the Bank of England are all there. During the day the City has a population of half a million. At night the City is a different place. There’s no traffic and very few people. It’s quiet and empty.
London has many faces’. There is the West End with its famous shops and hotels. It’s the finest part of London.” In the West End there are theatres, cinemas, museums, picture galleries, long streets of fine shops and many big houses. There are beautiful parks, too.
The Houses of Parliament, Whitehall, Downing Street are all in the West End. Whitehall is the street where all the Government offices are. It is the heart of the government of Great Britain.
If the City is the “money” of London, and the West End is the “goods” of London, then the East End is the “hands” of London.
Working-class London is in the East End. It is a district of docks, factories, poor little houses and narrow streets. Housing conditions in this part of London are very bad. Lots of old houses have no modern conveniences, They are damp, dirty and dark.
Every large’city is full of contrasts, but London is the city of contrasts.
(No Ratings Yet)