The facts: the largest urban area

and the capital of the UK

The most populous municipality in the European Union with over 7 mln inhabitants

Consists of 33 districts Over 300 languages

are spoken here Is the largest aviation

hub in the world

BUCKINGHAM PALACE PALACE OF WESTMINSTER

Made the official residence of the British Monarch by Queen Victoria Constructed by Edward Blore and completed in 1850 Visited by 50000 guests each year Is used for banquets, lunches, dinners, receptions and the royal garden parties

The premises of the House of Lords and Commons One of the largest parliament buildings in the world (1200 rooms and 100 staircases) parts of the building date back to the 10th century Both Big Ben and Westminster Abbey are parts of the building

TOWER BRIDGE LONDON BRIDGE

Both bridges are the most important connections between the two banks of the river Thames. The construction of Tower Bridge started in 1886 and took 8 years to finish it. It is an example of bascule bridge and is the iconic symbol of London. London Bridge is often mistakenly referred to as Tower Bridge. Since its opening in 1750 for many years it had been the only bridge over the Thames. A bridge has existed at or near the present site for almost 2000 years with the first one being laid by Romans around 50 AD.

GLOBE THEATRE ROYAL ALBERT HALL

The original Globe was built in 1599 by the playing company to which William Shakespeare belongedWas destroyed in 1613, rebuilt in 1614 and closed in 1642The modern construction has existed since 1997

One of the UK’s most treasured and distinctive buildings opened by Queen Victoria in 1871 Each year hosts 350 performances of different types It is a part of the memorial to Prince Albert – Victoria’s husband It accommodates the second largest pipe organ in the UK

ROYAL OBSERVATORY - GREENWICH ST. PAUL’S CATHEDRAL

Best known for its maritime history Gave its name to the Greenwich Meridian (zero degrees longitude) Greenwich Mean Time

It is the seat of the Bishop of London It is the London’s fifth place of the same name It holds over 200 memorials of famous Britons – soldiers, poets, painters and clergy It honours the names of 28000 Americans who gave their lives for UK during the Second World War It was the place of marriage of Charles, Prince of Wales and Lady Diana Spencer

ENGLAND

Compton Castle - Devon

Cumberland Lodge

Leeds Castle

Hampton Court Royal Pavilion – Brighton

Windsor Castle

UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE

Comprises 39 colleges and 7 religious Permanent Private Halls Dates back to 13th century (1221) Women entered the university for the first time in 1878 A rivarly between colleges is a tradition (athletics, football, rugby) It is the setting for numerous works of fiction (533 Oxford-based novels and 94 films) University buildings appeared in Harry Potter and Sherlock Holmes movies)

Comprises 31 colleges of which 3 are only women Is the second oldest university in the UK (14th century) 82 Nobel Prize winners graduated from that university (science and mathematics mainly) Among the graduates you can find I. Newton, E. Rutheford, Ch. Darwin, S. Hawking etc.

St. Margaret’s church

Canterbury Cathedral

Avebury

Big Ben

Stonehenge

Tower of London

Blenheim Castle

SCOTLAND

Though extensively ruined, it was in its day one of the largest strongholds of medieval Scotland, and remains an impressive structure, splendidly situated on a headland overlooking Loch Ness. It is also near the castle where the majority of Nessie (Loch Ness Monster) sightings occur.

Loch Ness is the second largest Scottish loch, but it’s the deepest. It contains more fresh water than all lakes in England and Wales combined

Drumnadrochit is a village situated by the Loch Ness. Its population is 2000 -4000 inhabitants and its name comes form the Scottish-Gaelic language meaning Ridge of the Bridge. It is very popular with the tourists, because of the Loch Ness Monster legend. The village is very small but it offers tourists 3 exclusive hotels.

Cape Wrath

Smoo Cave

Inverness

Rannoch Moor

Loch Gairloch

Glen Nevis

A famous waterfall depicted in Braveheart, Harry Potter and Rob Roy

Blair CastleIt is said to have been started in 1269 It is situated in a strategic position on the main route through the Central Scottish Highlands

Tay Bridge

WALES

Pistyll Rhaeadr and Wrexham steeple,

Snowdon's mountain without its people,

Overton yew trees, St Winefride wells,

Llangollen bridge and Gresford bells

IRELAND

It is located near the river Boyne and contains a number of ancient monuments. In the middle of one of the circles there is a STANDING STONE which is believed to have been used as a place of coronation of the King. There are also several tombs dating back 2000 years as well as showing the Roman remains from the 1st century.

Tara is believed to have been the island’s political and spiritual capital, however, the real history still remains one big mistery.

It is a World Heritage Site in County Meath, Ireland, and is one of the largest and most important prehistoric megalithic sites in Europe. It is a complex of Neolithic chamber tombs, standing stones, henges and other prehistoric enclosures, some dating from as early as 3500 – 3200 BC. The site predates the Great Pyramids and was built with sophistication and a knowledge of science and astronomy, which is most evident in the passage tomb of Newgrange.

Great Skelling is a steep rocky island about 15 km west off the coast of Ireland. For 600 years the island was an important centre of monastic life for Irish Christian monks. An Irish Celtic monastery, which is situated almost at the summit of the 230-metre-high rock, was built in 588. The site is exceptionally well preserved.

The monks lived in stone 'beehive' huts, perched above nearly vertical cliff walls.

The cemetery of the Monastery

Doubting Thomas

Crucifixion

The Resurrection

MONASTERY OF CLONMACNOISE

Replica of the Cross of Scriptules

Clonmacnoise castle

Temple Finghin

Ha’penny Bridge

Custom House

Garden of Remembrance Dublin Castle