Ready, set, go!

Alright, mates? I’m Freddie, and I’m from London. This cosmopolitan city on the River Thames is the capital of England, and of the UK. It’s also the biggest city there! What I like most about it is its rich history and how that has shaped what the city is today. So let me tell you something about how London came to be!

Even though people were attracted to this area as long ago as the Bronze Age, London first started writing its history within the Roman Empire. The Romans built Londinium, as well as the first bridge across the Thames. The city continued to change and develop, especially after 1066. This was when the Normans made the last successful invasion of Britain. They brought about lots of changes in politics and life in general, and also in English language and architecture. For instance, they built the Tower of London; at first it served as a royal residence and fortress, then a prison, and now it’s a museum. But I’d say the most interesting thing about it is the ravens that live there. The legend says that, if they leave, the Tower will crumble, and the kingdom will fall. Scary, don’t you think? London continued to grow and expand in both size and importance. Did you know that the world’s greatest playwright, William Shakespeare, lived there and wrote for the Globe Theatre? However, the city has seen some hard times, too. In 1665, the Great Plague killed about 100,000 people. Just a year later, in 1666, the Great Fire of London destroyed most of the city’s wooden buildings. The city was rebuilt, and many famous buildings were constructed after the fire. The most popular ones would surely be Buckingham Palace, where the Queen stays when she’s in London, and St. Paul’s Cathedral. Have you ever heard of them?

The city began to take its recognisable shape in the 19^th century, during the reign of Queen Victoria. Many landmarks were completed then, such as the Palace of Westminster, better known as the Houses of Parliament, which includes Big Ben. Did you know that ‘Big Ben’ is the name of the massive bell inside the tower, and not the whole tower? Make sure you catch its chime every hour on the hour! Tower Bridge was completed in the same century. Lots of people confuse it with London Bridge, which is, well, just a regular, plain bridge. The 19^th century is also when the world’s first underground railway was opened! Can you imagine life in London without it? I most certainly can’t! The Tube, as we call it, is a great way to find your way around town, besides the somewhat pricy black taxis and the famous red double-decker buses. 

With so much to see and do in London, it’s difficult to choose. If you’re in a hurry, get a glimpse of London from the London Eye, a huge observation wheel. Or start your day with a large English breakfast, or the Full Monty, to give you energy for a walking tour around London’s historic centre. Even though London is big, it’s easy to explore its attractions on foot: Piccadilly Circus, Hyde Park, and Trafalgar Square – with Nelson’s Column, celebrating victory over Napoleon – are just some of the sights you mustn’t miss!  

History buffs will enjoy the city’s free museums and galleries. My favourite is the British Museum, where you can learn about the history of humankind. But there’s more to London than history and the centre itself. Its trendy districts offer something for everyone’s taste, so make sure you visit Soho, Notting Hill, Little Venice or Camden, where I live. Wherever you choose to go, I’m sure you’ll have a lot of fun discovering London’s past, or guessing what the future might bring.