London

St. James Park

St. James Park is a huge park in the centre of London. It is the oldest one in the capital. The park has a small lake with two islands: West Island and Duck Island.

 When the King James I came to the throne (17th century) he ordered that the park to have different type of exotic animals. The nobles would go for rides through the park.

Nowadays the park has a resident colony of pelicans which you can feed at 2pm.

 The Mall

The Mall is  road in London, running from Buckingham Palace to Trafalgar Square along side St. James Park. This road is closed to traffic on Sundays and public holidays and on ceremonial ocassions.

 The Queen uses this road as a grand processional route. She rides in her golden carriage waving to the passing crowds.

Covent Garden

Covent Garden is in the West End a district in London. It was once a former fruit and vegetables market.

 Nowadays there is entertainment and shopping where you can buy unusual craft work. It has 13 theatres and over 60 pubs and bars around the main shopping area of the old market. People love to wander around looking at the "buskers" street performers.  

Big Ben  

 Big Ben is the nickname of the Great Bell of the clock. The tower holds the second largest four-faced chiming clock in the world. The Tower was finished in 1858. Also it has become one of the most symbol of the UK.

Tower Bridge

Tower Bridge took 8 years to built and it was finished in 1894. The Bridge crosses the River Thames close to The Tower of London. It is 265 metres long. It's a moveable bridge which can be opened to accommodate boat traffic. If you have time you can go inside the Bridge to have a better view over London.

The Gift Horse

In Trafalgar Square there's always an empty space were they put a new sculpture every year. This year was a horse skeleton which is 15 feet tall twice the size of a real horse. It was designed by Hans Haacke. He wanted to do an idea about power and money. There is a blue ribbon on its left leg acting as a bandge. Also there is an electronic ticker which reflect to the city and the wealth gap between rich and poor.

The Changing of the Guard

The Changing of the Guard is a ceremony that takes place in Buckingham Palace. I think this ceremony is one of the main ceremony for the tourist because it's usually crowded, for example like yesterday when we saw it.

 The ceremony lasts about 45mins. Although we couldn't see all the ceremony. It's usually at 11:30am from April to the end of July. I think it's interesting to see the ceremony if you are in the city.

 This Guard is also called "The Queen's Guard". It is divided in two Detachment: the Buckingham Palace and the St. James's Palace. During this ceremony there is a military band which plays military marches from Abba's best hits or other popular songs.

Houses of Parliament

The Houses of Parliament is the Palace of Westminster. Here the Commons and the Lords meet. It is in the middle of London near the river Thames.

The House of Commons make laws and make sure the Government works correctly and the House of Lords draft the laws and questions now the Government works. It was destroy in 1834 by fire, but they re-built it 1840-1870.