With around nine million inhabitants, London is by far the largest city in England. About one sixth of the country’s total population lives here. London is a real multicultural city: it is home to people from all continents. London was founded in 43 AD by the Romans under the name of ‘Londinium’. By the 14th century, it had become one of Europe’s largest cities. Despite such events as the plague and the great fire, London finally became a real metropolis.

Today London is one of the most important economic centres in the Western World. It is a major location for various industries, the centre of the British Commonwealth, and a popular tourist attraction which welcomes almost twenty million visitors a year. London was the only region in England that voted to remain in the EU referendum, but the British public as a whole voted for Brexit. That‘s why the United Kingdom withdrew from the European Union on 31 January 2020.

We start our sightseeing tour at one of London‘s famous landmarks, the Palace of Westminster, better known as the Houses of Parliament. The impressive landmark is located on the north bank of the river thames. It was the residence of the English monarchs in the late medieval period. Today it is the seat of the U.K. parliament, which consists of the House of Lords and the House of Commons.

The clock tower of the building is often called Big Ben, but the name in truth belongs to an enormous bell inside the tower. The clock tower was renamed Elizabeth Tower in 2012 to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II. The bell, Big Ben, is named after the man who had it built, Sir Benjamin Hall, and weighs thirteen tons. Directly opposite Big Ben we find Westminster Abbey, a famous Gothic church. This is the place where English kings and queens are crowned and buried.

Trafalgar Square is London’s largest and most famous square. Once it was the site of the royal stables, today it is dominated by two large fountains. Whenever you go to Trafalgar Square it is crowded with people. During the hot summer months some of them enjoy a refreshing bath in one of the fountains. At Trafalgar Square we once again meet the famous English hero, Admiral Nelson. His statue towers far above the square on a sixty metre high column. Close to Trafalgar Square is the National Gallery with works of famous painters such as Rembrandt, Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo. This is a picture by Rubens.

This is the world’s largest observation wheel on the south bank of the Thames. It was built to celebrate the new millennium and is called The London Eye. Up to 135 m above the ground, glass capsules offer breathtaking views of the Thames and of the city itself. Only a few metres from the London Eye we find another structure which was built not long ago: Hungerford Bridge, a modern footbridge, which was opened in spring 2002.

The famous Tower of London is set on the north bank of the Thames, somewhat away from the centre of London. It was built by William the Conqueror and was a Royal Palace until the beginning of the 17 century. Later on, it was used as a prison and as the Royal Mint. Today it is home to the world-famous crown jewels. The guardians of the Tower of London are called Yeoman Warders, their nickname is Beefeaters. Today, their main job is to act as tour guides and to take part in ceremonies.

Tower Bridge is another landmark of the city of London. It is quite close to the Tower of London. The impressive building with its powerful, neo-Gothic style towers was opened in 1894. The two iron arms can be lifted so that large ships can pass. The River Thames divides London into two halves; it flows into the North Sea some 64 km out-side of the city.

Sightseeing can be quite exhausting. Anybody in need of a little rest is welcome in London’s 3,000 parks and green spaces – including famous ones like Hyde Park, Regent’s Park, and Hampstead Heath. These parks offer scenic beauty, recreational areas, lakes, and gardens. They are perfect spots for relaxation, outdoor activities, and enjoying nature in the city.

📝 1. True or False

Read the statements. Are they true or false? Correct the false ones.

1. London was founded by the Normans.

2. The Thames divides London into two halves.

3. Big Ben is the name of the tower.

4. The London Eye was built to celebrate a royal wedding.

5. The Yeoman Warders are also known as Beefeaters.

✍️ 2. Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences with words from the text.

1. London was founded in ______ by the Romans.

2. The Houses of Parliament are also called the ______ of ______.

3. The London Eye offers a great view of the ______.

4. The ______ is home to the Crown Jewels.

5. London has about ______ parks and green spaces.

📌 3. Match the Columns

Match the place with the correct description.

💬 4. Sentence Starters (Open Answers)

Finish the sentences with your own ideas, using full sentences.

1. London is a great place to visit because…

2. I would like to see the London Eye because…

3. One place I find interesting from the text is…

4. Parks in London are good for…

5. I think Trafalgar Square is…

🔠 5. Vocabulary Match

Match each word with its meaning.

📚 6. Chronological Order

Put the events in the correct order as they happened in history.

a) The London Eye was built.
b) William the Conqueror built the Tower of London.
c) London was founded by the Romans.
d) Tower Bridge was opened.
e) The plague and the great fire affected London.

🧠 7. Quiz – Multiple Choice

Choose the correct answer.

1. What is Big Ben actually?
   a) The clock tower
   b) The bell inside the tower
   c) The name of a street

2. How many people live in London?
   a) Around 5 million
   b) Around 9 million
   c) Around 15 million

3. When did the UK leave the EU?
   a) January 2020
   b) January 2021
   c) December 2019

4. Who built the Tower of London?
   a) King Henry VIII
   b) Sir Christopher Wren
   c) William the Conqueror

5. What can you see in the National Gallery?
   a) Paintings
   b) Jewelry
   c) Weapons

✏️ 8. Grammar Focus – Past Tense

Rewrite the sentences in the past tense.

1. London is a multicultural city.
   → London ______ a multicultural city.

2. It is home to the Crown Jewels.
   → It ______ home to the Crown Jewels.

3. The London Eye offers great views.
   → The London Eye ______ great views.

4. The bridge opens for ships.
   → The bridge ______ for ships.

5. The Abbey is a Gothic church.
   → The Abbey ______ a Gothic church.

✍️ 9. Short Writing Task

Write 5–6 sentences about a day of sightseeing in London. Try to use at least 3 words from this list: tower, bridge, gallery, park, river, Parliament.

🧩 10. Word Puzzle – Find the Place

Read the clues and write the correct place.

1. This place has fountains and a tall statue.
   → __________________________

2. You can see all of London from here.
   → __________________________

3. This is the seat of the UK Parliament.
   → __________________________

4. It was once a royal prison and now shows the Crown Jewels.
   → __________________________

5. It is a bridge that opens for ships.
   → __________________________