The sights and attractions in London are famous the world over. Everyone has heard of Big Ben and St. Paul’s Cathedral. These famous buildings are steeped in a long history which shouldn’t be ignored and a trip to London can take visitors back over 2000 years.
The Romans turned ‘Londinium’ into a civilized town. Few Roman sights remain, but the ancient Roman Wall built around the City of London and now known as the London Wall is still in evidence near Moorgate. The ruins of The Temple of Mithras are on Queen Victoria Street and there is an exhibit of the Temple at the Museum of London. The curious London Stone in Cannon Street sits behind iron grating and is said to have been the marker from which all distances were measured in London.
As the Romans left and various invasions took place, Edward the Confessor turned Westminster Abbey into a grand Romanesque building. Henry III took the Abbey and gave it a Gothic face lift and is the building that can be seen today.
The Tower of London was established in Mediaeval London and was first used a royal residence. It is one of London’s most famous buildings and has housed an armoury and even a zoo before it became synonymous with torture and death. It is a must see on any London tour. St. Bartholomew’s Priory in West Smithfield was built in 1123 and is London’s oldest church. Westminster Hall was under construction and formed the basis of the Houses of Parliament.
London prospered under Tudor reign. The parks were established – Richmond Park, Hyde Park, Regent’s Park and St. James’s Park were used as Royal hunting forests. The original Globe Theatre was built but didn’t survive the Great Fire and the modern replica stands in its place.
Inigo Jones changed the landscape of London. Covent Garden Piazza and Queen’s Chapel in central London show the city in the 17th century. The plague and the fire ravaged London including St. Paul’s cathedral. Christopher Wren set to rebuilding the cathedral and many more of London’s churches.
Westminster Bridge, the British Museum and houses such as Syon House and Chiswick House were all born in the Georgian period and George III moved into Buckingham Palace, or Buckingham House as it was then known.
John Nash altered London with Regent’s Street, Piccadilly Circus and Oxford Circus. Big Ben was built as Georgian gave way to the Victorian age.
21st century London is two thousand year mix of styles, architecture and eras and every corner reveals a different face.
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