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london is situated in the south east of
england in the thames valley
home to over 8 million people the
capital of the uk has been an important
financial educational and cultural
center for hundreds of years
of the many gifts england has given to
the world
none has been greater than her language
and literature and if ever there's a
city that reads like an epic saga it's
london
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the story of london began in the bronze
age but it didn't really get going until
the romans withdrew in the 5th century
growing into one of the great medieval
trading cities she truly came of age in
the 11th century when william the
conqueror built the tower of london
which was to become one of england's
grimmest prisons
london is very easy to navigate around
and is compact enough to explore on foot
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this world city is filled with iconic
symbols and one of the most easily
recognizable is tower bridge
an impressive reminder of london's rapid
expansion during the industrial
revolution
just up river at the houses of
parliament big bends reassuring chimes
peel across the city every hour on the
hour
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buckingham palace perhaps the most
famous palace in the world is the
official residence of queen elizabeth
it's a popular london attraction
offering tours of state rooms and
gardens
nearby kensington palace is open to the
public year round
the palace and gardens will be
remembered as the home of princess dye
and prince charles and have recently
undergone a multi-million pound
refurbishment
another legacy of england's monarchy are
the royal parks of london
they were once reserved as private
hunting grounds for the royal family but
nowadays they're open for everyone to
enjoy
there are eight royal parks and many of
them are in central london and close to
royal palaces and other historic
monuments
green park and james park are right next
to buckingham palace admiralty arch and
the mao
hyde park is perhaps the most famous
with its man-made lake the serpentine
and on the other side kensington gardens
is a beautiful open expanse that
stretches east towards kensington palace
the albert memorial is at the southern
end of kensington gardens and the
striking bronze statue looks towards the
royal albert hall just across the road
the hall is yet another reminder of
queen victoria's great love for her
husband prince albert
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many of london's greatest stories have
begun inner houses of worship and none
is so impressive and important as
westminster abbey
this is where kings and queens have been
crowned married and even buried
was rebuilt after the great fire in 1666
and saint paul's cathedral is the most
enduring monument to the city's
transformation
it's a great testament to british
strength and resilience
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the west end in central london is a
story in itself here the streets are
lined with ancient buildings but the
throngs of people are out to have fun
by day the charming boutiques and cafes
hum with shoppers and by night the bars
along carnaby street are packed with
patrons enjoying pre-show drinks this is
one of the largest theater districts in
the world
and at times it can feel like you're on
a monopoly board with coventry street
trafalgar square and piccadilly circus
all close by
moving away from the historic center
london's trendy suburbs offer a
different kind of story
the portobello road markets in notting
hill attract thousands of visitors
especially to the antiques market that's
held on saturdays while the edgier
camden town features six popular markets
that are open every day of the week and
operate along her streets the canal and
in her historic stables
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london is a city that honors not only
her own story but also the story of
humankind
british museum is one of the finest in
the world and her treasures cover
thousands of years of history and number
in the millions
the museum is open every day best of all
it's free
from the ancient to the modern the
london eye offers a complete change of
pace and perspective
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the massive wheel is over 400 feet high
and takes 30 minutes to complete one
rotation
from here you can see the london of old
as well as some of the city's newest
additions all in air-conditioned comfort
london will always be a city that looks
towards the past and the future in equal
measure
from rule britannia to cool britannia
the fabric and the skyline of this city
is forever turning over a new page
which is after all what every great
story should
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