United Kingdom

In the United Kingdom, you will rarely find a city or even a small town that would not be something remarkable, did not leave its mark on the history of the country, and even in world history. Nevertheless, a few cities need to be told first.

London

London is rightfully considered not only the capital of the United Kingdom, but also one of the capitals of the world — political, economic, cultural. It is the largest city and port in the world. In the 1st century BC, on the site of a Celtic settlement, the Romans created a city called Londinium. In 884, Alfred the Great made London the capital of his state, from 976 — the time of Anglo-Saxon domination — the city became the seat of royal power. Now 6.8 million people live in London. Every year, millions of tourists are added to their number, who are attracted by monuments, museums, theaters, concert halls of the city.

The oldest part of London is the so-called inner city, or City of London. This area suffered the most from fires. Here are the Bank of England, the Stock Exchange, the residence of the burgomaster, the town hall, the Central Criminal Court (Old Bailey), St. Paul’s Cathedral and many other churches. In place of the destroyed buildings, modern structures of glass and concrete now rise. The mixture of old and new not only contrasts, but also emphasizes that the City is still a vibrant business center of the world. In the eastern part of the City, on the banks of the Thames, is the famous Tower of London, founded in the 11th century by William the Conqueror as a fortress. Subsequently, the building was repeatedly rebuilt as a royal residence, and then a prison. Now the Tower is a museum where, among other things, the British crown jewels are kept. Near the fortress, the Tower Bridge spanned across the Thames — probably the most beautiful bridge in London. Moving from the Tower to the other, south bank of the Thames along the London Bridge, you see the Gothic cathedral (Southwark Cathedral), built back in 1206. On the same bank of the Thames, there is a modern South Bank arts center, large concert halls (the Royal Hall of Festivals and the Queen Elizabeth Hall), Lambeth Palace — the residence of the head of the Anglican Church, the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Stretching west of the City along the Thames, the elegant Strand leads to the famous Trafalgar Square. The area was planned in 1829-1841, in its center a 60-meter Nelson’s column was installed in honor of the victory over the Franco-Spanish fleet in the battle of Trafalgar (1805). On the square is a modest church (St. Martin-in-the-Field) in the Gothic style, it regularly hosts concerts of early music. The National Gallery, built in 1834-1837 in the classical style, is located in the northern part of Trafalgar Square. It keeps one of the richest collections of European painting in the world, which includes the most valuable collections of masters of the Flemish, Italian and Dutch schools. Nearby is the National Portrait Gallery, which displays over 4,500 drawings, paintings, sculptures depicting famous people of Great Britain — from kings to scientists and poets.

From Trafalgar Square through the Admiralty Arch, along St. James Park, The Mall stretches. On the other side of it, closer to Pall Mall, is the Palace of St. James (built in the 16th century), where the executed Charles I spent his last days, and now the Duke and Duchess of Kent live. The mall leads to the main royal residence — Buckingham Palace, the last royal palace in London (first half of the 19th century). On the square in front of the palace there is a monument to Queen Victoria made of white marble with gilding. In summer, part of the halls of Buckingham Palace is open to tourists, but only to the extent that this does not interfere with its main functional purpose — the home and office of the British monarchy. To the east of Buckingham Palace is Westminster Abbey, one of London’s top architectural treasures. It arose on the site of a Benedictine abbey and since the time of William the Conqueror (1066) has remained the coronation church of the English kings. Until the middle of the 18th century, the abbey was repeatedly rebuilt and completed, it successfully combines examples (often the best) of various architectural styles. Westminster Abbey is the tomb of English kings, statesmen and church leaders, famous people (C. Dickens, I. Newton, C. Darwin, etc.). Not far from the abbey, on the banks of the Thames, is the Houses of Parliament — the Palace of Westminster. It was built over several centuries, starting in 1042, when the first palace for King Edward the Confessor was laid. The Parliament acquired its modern look in 1840-1888, when the famous New Gothic building was erected with a 97-meter Clock Tower (Clock Tower), on which the Big Ben bell is placed, and a 102-meter powerful Victoria Tower.

If you walk south from Parliament along the Thames, you will find yourself at the Tate Gallery, famous for its brilliant collection of impressionists — both French and English — and 20th-century painting — from cubists to surrealists. From Parliament along Whitehall Street (looking along the road to Downing Street, where the Prime Minister’s residence is located at 10) you can return to Trafalgar Square. Having rounded the National Gallery and passing through a square (Leicester Square) convenient for daytime recreation and several small streets to the northwest, you will find yourself in the Soho area, famous for its numerous restaurants where you can taste dishes of almost any cuisine in the world, mainly Chinese, Indian, Thai. In Soho, various evening and night entertainment establishments of a not too high category are concentrated. Night walks in Soho, when the London “bottom” is gathering on its streets, are not safe. Nearby is a small, but attractive for Londoners and tourists, Piccadilly Circus, where every evening you can listen and watch performances by amateur and professional musicians, artists of all genres or relax in one of the many cafes.

To the east of Soho is the Covent Garden quarter with numerous shops, theaters, including the famous Royal Opera House, where the brilliant actor Edmund Keane performed in 1803. A little further north, in the “University Quarter”, is the British Museum. Its extensive collections include the best examples of ancient art from Greece and Rome, Egypt, Oriental art taken from India, China and other countries during the British colonial rule. There are also collections of coins and stamps, a rich library, a collection of autographs of famous people and much more. Entrance to the British Museum, like the National Gallery, is free. Tickets to most other art museums and symphonic music concerts are not too expensive, but for “entertainment” like Madame Tussauds Wax Museum or visits to musicals, rock concerts will have to fork out a lot. London parks are also an attraction and an integral part of the city. There are many small cozy squares in London, but the main so-called royal parks are St. James, Hyde Park, Kensington Gardens, Regent’s Park, Green Park. Each of them has its own appearance, its own “zest”. London Zoo is located in Regent’s Park, and the famous Speakers’ Corner is located in Hyde Park, where people gather weekly, obsessed with the desire to practice oratory, convey some ideas to fellow citizens, or just have fun, ornate on any, the most unexpected and ridiculous topic. In Kensington Gardens at the Royal Palace, there is now a fine exhibition of historical costumes.

London is a city of theaters and concert halls. Every day, on dozens of stages of the Haymarket and Drury Lane, Mermaid and Royal Court theaters, there are drama performances, operas, musicals for every taste. For many of them, tickets must be bought a week in advance — there are many who want to. Of the concert halls, the most famous is the Albert Hall.

An acquaintance with London would be incomplete without at least a short trip around its environs. Windsor is located on the banks of the Thames, 34 km from London, and is best known for Windsor Castle, built in the 11th-16th centuries, one of the most richly decorated and richly decorated buildings, the oldest of residential castles: it is a royal summer residence. The St. George’s Chapel (1474–1528) erected here is a masterpiece of late Gothic.

Greenwich is located in the east of Greater London, where you need to visit the Royal Naval Academy (its construction began in the 15th century by Charles II, and completed in the 18th century by the architect K. Wren). The National Maritime Museum (part of its buildings were built in the Renaissance style according to the project of another outstanding architect, Inigo Jones) and, finally, the observatory founded in 1673, through which the zero (Greenwich) meridian is conditionally drawn, dividing the western and eastern hemispheres.

After visiting the museums and walking through the streets and parks, it is good to relax in one of the many pubs. This is one of the favorite vacation spots of the Londoners themselves. Pubs tend to be lovingly furnished, each in its own way. The visitor will always be offered a variety of excellent beers or, if desired, stronger drinks. You can sit at the bar and start a conversation with the bartender and regulars, or you can take a table by the window and be sure that no one will disturb your peace. Irish pubs always have excellent Irish dark Guinness, and on Fridays and weekends, Irish musicians gather and perform folk songs.

There are many hotels in London, they are designed for every taste, any requirements for comfort and, accordingly, for any income. The most luxurious and expensive hotels (where a suite can cost more than 1,000 pounds) are located on Park Lane and Mayfair. However, most tourists prefer more modest and relatively inexpensive hotels in the areas of South Kensington or Bloomsbury. You can find inexpensive hotels in the very center of the city, but the level of comfort here will undoubtedly be lower. Youth hostels are even cheaper. You can also stay in a private house with full board.

Wherever the hotel is located, it is easy to reach thanks to well-developed public transport. The London Underground is the oldest in the world, it has existed since 1863 (Londoners call it a “tube”). Omnibuses are convenient, especially for sightseeing tours of the city, some of them are specially designed for this purpose.

London shops offer the widest selection of goods. The most prestigious store not only in England, but throughout the world is Harrods in the Knightsbridge quarter, where you can buy everything from a piano to a fountain pen. But the prices here are such that most visitors come only for a tour (with the exception of sales days), the main buyers of Harrods are “stars”, major businessmen and, of course, members of the royal family. Most Londoners shop on Oxford Street, a street devoted entirely to commerce. There are also quite expensive elegant clothing stores, such as Selfridges, Debenham, Marks and Spencer, moderately priced stores (for example, the store of the well-known European company C&A) and very cheap shops. Shops in the Covent Garden area are also popular.

Oxford and Cambridge

Oxford and Cambridge are world-famous university centers: in the first, the university was founded in the 12th century, in the second, it arose a century later, when the citizens of Oxford quarreled with students, so that 68 students died in street riots, and some of the frightened young people fled to Cambridge to continue their studies. Since then, there has been a traditional rivalry between two universities and two cities.

Oxford has been mentioned in chronicles since 912, when Edward I took over the city. Now there are 40 colleges, most of which were built in the 13th-14th centuries. Magdalen College (1458) is especially beautiful, the bell tower of which has become a symbol of the whole city. Also famous are Trinity College (1555), Christ Church College with a Cathedral (1529). Queen’s College was founded in 1340, rebuilt in 1672-1760 by C. Wren and N. Hawksmoor. Oxford is home to England’s oldest botanical garden. The city is also famous for its rich library, museum, which stores works of art of Ancient Greece, Egypt, Assyria. Cambridge is located 90 km from London, on the River Kem, and is famous not only for its architecture, but also for its excellent leisure facilities — theaters, sports facilities, etc. It is best to visit here during the “May week”, when regattas, theater premieres, concerts are held , points. The famous Queen’s College (founded in the 15th century) is very beautiful, in which the greatest humanist of the Renaissance, philologist, writer Erasmus of Rotterdam taught. The King’s College was founded in 1441 and is one of the finest examples of late Gothic. The largest is Trinity College (established in 1546). Of interest are the Church of the Holy Sepulcher (XII century), the oldest college in Cambridge — Peterhouse (founded in 1284). From Cambridge it is easy to drive to the city of Ely with its wonderful, oldest cathedral in England.

York

A small city (a little over 100 thousand inhabitants), located in the central part of England, not far from the east coast, has been the center of Western European civilization for centuries. With its superbly preserved medieval fortifications and city gates, a beautiful cathedral and charming narrow streets, York is considered one of the most beautiful medieval cities in Europe. York was the most important military stronghold, and then the capital of the Roman province of Britain, the residence of several Roman emperors, then the capital of the kingdom of Northumbria and an important economic center. The Normans fortified the city and contributed to its further development.

The main attraction of the city is one of the largest cathedrals in England, York Minster. The first wooden church in its place was erected in 627, and the cathedral that has come down to us was built in 1070-1472. Its early Gothic crossroads appeared in 1265, the Gothic nave and columned hall — at the end of the 13th century, the choirs and towers in the “perpendicular” Gothic style — in the 14th-15th centuries. The western façade with a high stained-glass window (1338) and a richly stuccoed central portal is considered one of the most beautiful of its kind.

Next to the cathedral is the former residence of its treasurer, which now houses a museum of antique decorations and paintings. The old city gates (standing on the site of the ancient Roman ones), ancient narrow streets with merchants’ houses and churches, as well as Clifford’s Tower — the only surviving fragment of the fortress founded by William the Conqueror.

Manchester

One of the largest cities in the UK (about 500 thousand inhabitants), an industrial center (engineering, light industry, chemical industry). The textile industry originated here in the 14th century. This is the world center of trade in cotton fabrics, world prices for yarn and fabrics are set here. Manchester is connected by a canal to Liverpool, which serves as its port. The city is known not so much for its architectural monuments (although the cathedral of the 15th-16th centuries, the chapel, the exchange building attract great attention), but as a center for leisure activities, especially for youth, thanks to the abundance of clubs, theaters (Opera, City Drama, Apollo Theater, Palace Theater, etc. .). Manchester is the birthplace of the famous contemporary composer Andrew Lloyd Webber, the author of the musicals Jesus Christ Superstar, Cats, The Phantom of the Opera and many others. Classical music lovers can visit the Air Force Philharmonic, chamber concert halls. Here is the largest shopping center in Europe, Arndale.

Liverpool

The city has been known since the 12th century, although few ancient buildings have survived. Since ancient times, Liverpool has been the largest port in Great Britain (the second after London), it was from here that ships with settlers once departed for the New World (the exposition at the Merseyside Maritime Museum tells about this), it serves the whole of Great Britain for the import of cotton, grain, wool, rubber, has huge floating docks. In the southern part of the city, the neo-Gothic Anglican cathedral with a more than 100-meter bell tower, as well as the Metropolitan Roman Catholic Cathedral, combining elements of neo-Byzantine and futuristic styles (completed in 1967), attract attention. The city is home to a branch of London’s Tate Gallery, the Walker Art Gallery. And, of course, Liverpool is the birthplace of the legendary “Liverpool Four” — members of the Beatles ensemble.

Edinburgh

The heart and ancient capital of Scotland (the modern administrative center is Glasgow) with almost half a million inhabitants. It is rightfully considered one of the most beautiful and most colorful cities in the United Kingdom. The city has been known since the 6th century, before the conquest of Scotland by the British, it was the most important center of this state, for some time the residence of kings. The royal regalia of Scotland are still kept in Edinburgh Castle, now the attributes of the British crown.

Edinburgh Castle, towering on a 133-meter cliff (the remnant of a long-extinct volcano), leaves an indelible impression. According to historical evidence, the castle has existed since the 11th century, but the first buildings on this site appeared almost 1400 years ago. The most ancient buildings that have survived to this day (for example, the Chapel of St. Margaret — Queen, wife of King Malcolm III of Scotland, who died in Edinburgh Castle in 1093) were erected in the 12th century. The castle was constantly completed and expanded — until 1927, when the War Memorial was erected, dedicated to the Scots who fell in the First World War (now also the victims of the Second World War). The most remarkable building is the royal palace with an octagonal tower crowned with a jagged crown (1368). In 1566, Mary Stuart gave birth to King James I here. A significant part of the buildings and exposition of the museum is associated with the name of Mary Stuart. Edinburgh Castle is not only a royal residence, but primarily a fortification. This is constantly reminded by bastions, fortress walls, devoid of ornamentation and other architectural excesses, but striking in their power, ancient weapons installed on them, including the famous colossal cannon (more precisely, the bombard) Mons Meg, cast in 1457. One of the cannons, but much more modern, is regularly used for traditional volleys at noon. A part of the exposition in the premises of the barracks, hospital, casemates also tells about the military history of the castle. Edinburgh Castle is guarded by a company of the Scottish Guards.

At the gates of the castle there is an esplanade — a small area intended for parades. Every year, at the end of August, the main action of the colorful Tatu takes place here — a festival of military bands from all over the world, which traditionally opens with a performance of Scottish bagpipers and drummers.

At the northern foot of the cliff there is a picturesque park that separates the castle from the so-called New City — a vast business and shopping area where the monument to Walter Scott is located (there is another monument to the writer in the city, along with Burns and Stevenson, he is deservedly honored as the pride of Scottish literature), the building of the Royal Bank of Scotland on St. Andrew’s Square (the patron saint of Scotland) and Charlotte Square with the most beautiful buildings of the 18th century.

To the east of the castle is the old town (most of the buildings were built in the 16th-17th centuries) surrounding Calton Hill, on which the National Monument, the Nelson Monument and the observatory are located. On the Royal Mile (Royal Mile) you can see the unusual architecture of St. Giles Cathedral, built in 1829 using elements of older buildings, the majestic City Chambers building, numerous monuments and old houses. The street leads to the Palace of Holyroodhouse (House of the Holy Cross). Its construction began in 1498 by James IV next to the abbey of the XII century (its ruins are still preserved). Mary Stuart lived in this palace most of her life, and in 1745 the English prince Charlie gave a ball in honor of his capture of Edinburgh. The museum, now housed in the palace, has fine collections of antique furniture, jewelery and portraits of over 100 Scottish kings. The palace is placed exactly on the line connecting Calton Hill with the Throne of Arthur (Arthur Seat) — the top of the highest (250 m) of the seven hills on which Edinburgh is located.