Sights of Great Britain

1. Let’s talk about the sights of Great Britain. What do you know about them?

Great Britain is the country with a long and exciting history and a rich cultural heritage. People from different corners of our planet go there to see Stonehenge, a relic of an ancient civilization, Loch Hess and its legendary monster, the Royal residence and numerous castles. The cities and towns of Great Britain — London, Glasgow, Edinburgh, Oxford and Cambridge and many others — present a lot of interest to foreigners.

Stratford-upon-Avon, where Shakespeare was born, is now one of the most popular tourist centres. People from all over the world come to see Shakespeare's birthplace. There are a lot of relics in the town associated with Shakespeare and his immortal works: the Grammar School where he studied, the church where he was buried, the Royal Shakespeare Theatre. The town is famous for its great Shakespeare festivals which are held annually from April to September. No other part of the country is so unmistakably English.

Only eight miles away from Stratford-upon-Avon there is another place which attracts a lot of visitors — the ancient town of Warwick dominated by one of the finest medieval castles in Great Britain. It contains an excellent collection of arms, armour and paintings.

Another popular tourist centre is the city of York. It has the largest cathedral in Northern Europe which is 800 years old. The Viking Centre in York brings the visitors face to face with real characters from the city's Viking past. The National Railway Museum provides a vast collection of engines and Royal carriages.

Tourism is one of the most important industries in Scotland. Tourists from all over the world come to enjoy the beauty of Scottish scenery, to walk among heather-covered hills, to visit ancient historic castles, to eat Scottish salmon, to see Scotsmen in kilts playing bagpipes although only a few Scots wear kilts these days.

2. Would you like to visit Britain? Why (not)?

Great Britain is a country of strong attraction for tourists. The charm of it lies in its variety of scenery and marvelous sights. I have always been interested in the history of Great Britain, its world famous literature and music, rock music in particular I hope that one day I'll be able to visit this country and see its sights with my own eyes.

3. What would you ask a person who works at Buckingham Palace about the Royal Family? (Ask 3 questions.)

1) What do the Royal Family usually eat for breakfast?

2) How do they usually spend their free time?

3) Is it possible to visit them?

4. Give me a piece of advice on what sights to see in London? (Topic 10 “London” Question 1)

5. What is Downing Street known for?

The British Prime Minister lives at number 10, Downing Street.

London

1. Let’s talk about London. What places of interest are there in London?

In my view there are three things that make London the place of the greatest attraction to visitors: its architecture, its famous museums and galleries and, finally, the Royal traditions. The most important parts of London are the City, the East End, the West End and Westminster. They are very different from each other. The City, the oldest part of London, is the commercial and financial centre of the country. Here you can find the Bank of England and some of the richest companies. Two masterpieces - St. Paul's Cathedral and the Tower of London - are situated in the City. St. Paul's Cathedral, the greatest church of England, was built in the 17th century by Sir Christopher Wren. There are a lot of memorials in the cathedral including those to Wellington and Admiral Nelson. The Tower of London is associated with many important events in English history. It used to be a royal palace and a political prison now it's a museum. The most popular sight in the Tower is the Jewel House in which the Crown jewels are on the display. The West End is considered to be the most beautiful part of London. Trafalgar Square is the geographical centre of London. It was named in memory of Admiral Nelson's victory at Trafalgar in 1805. There are usually a lot of visitors walking about the square and looking at Nelson's column and the fountains. The National Gallery which adjoins Trafalgar Square contains an outstanding collection of paintings. Not far from the National Gallery is the British Museum - the biggest museum in London. It's famous for its library and its priceless collections of ancient manuscripts, coins, sculptures and so on. Westminster is the historic and official part of London. Buckingham Palace, the Queen's official London residence, is situated in Westminster. There one can see one of the most colourful ceremonies - the Changing of the Guard. The Houses of Parliament, called officially the Palace of Westminster, spread on the north bank of the Thames. The Clock Tower of the Houses of Parliament is famous for its big hour bell, known as “Big Ben”. Opposite the Houses of Parliament there is Westminster Abbey founded in 1050. It is the place where nearly all English kings and queens were crowned. Westminster Abbey is also famous for its Poet's Corner where many of the greatest English writers and poets are buried. If you want to get a good idea of London you should also visit the East End. It used to be the poorer part of London, its industrial district. But over the recent years many parts of the East End have been rebuilt and renovated. The face of the district is changing, much to the regret of the old residents of the East End who are proud to be called «cockneys» which means «londoners». The unique atmosphere, the character and the spirit of the city are created not only by its famous historic places but also by the people who live there.

2. Why does London attract crowds of visitors from home and abroad?

Great Britain is a country of strong attraction for tourists. The charm of it lies in its variety of scenery and marvelous sights. (Topic 10 “London” Question 1)

3. You are going on an excursion to London. What questions would you like to ask you tour guide about this city? (Ask 3 questions.) 1) Which parts of London offer the greatest possibilities for entertainment? 2) What Royal traditions attract tourists in London? 3) What are the chief means of public transport in London?

4. What places will you recommend a friend of yours to visit if he/she is in London for the first time? (Topic 10 “London” Question 1)

5. There is a saying: “When a man is tired of London, he is tired of life”. Do you agree with this?

Great Britain is the country with a long and exciting history and a rich cultural heritage. The most famous historic and cultural places are concentrated in the capital of the country. London is one of the largest and one of the world's most enjoyable cities. It's a city of dream of everybody interested in English history and culture.

Date: 2015-12-11; view: 3032