1-Do this London Quiz
2-PHRASAL VERBS
Here are some typical phrasal verbs you will use in England. Place them in the sentences below.
pick up – set off – get to – get off – check in – hurry up -try on – write down – go out – hang on – put on – take off
1. You have to ………………………………. ………………… at the next stop.
2. What time do we ……………………………….. ………………….. the pick-up point?
3. When you arrive at the airport you have to …………………………. …………………… .
4. I like this jumper, can I …………………………………… it …………………… ?
5. Your plane ……………………………… ……………….. in one hour.
6. You have to …………………………………. ………………………… the answers in your worksheet.
7. We will ………………………….. ……………………… for excursion at 9.00 a.m.
8. Can you …………………………. ………………………. a minute? I’m speaking to somebody else.
9. ………………………………. ………………………… your coat. It’s raining outside.
10. ……………………………….. …………………………..! We’ll be late for dinner.
11. We can’t ………………………………………… ……………………….. in the evening.
12. We will ………………………………… you ………………….. at 20.00 outside the bowling centre.
3-RULES, REGULATIONS & PERMISSION
Underline the correct expression in bold you would use in the following situations.
1. I want / would like a glass of water, please.
2. Would you mind / Could you helping me?
3. Could I have / Give me some more, please?
4. You must / needn’t look left when you cross the road.
5. You should / must be on time for meals.
6. You are not allowed to / shouldn’t drink alcohol.
7. You don’t have to / mustn’t smoke.
8. You must / may speak in English.
9. You have to / are allowed to ask when you can have a shower.
10. If you don’t understand you should / could ask the person to repeat.
11. You are not allowed to / shouldn’t eat chewing gum on the coach or train.
12. You have to / may pay attention to your guides.
4-GENERAL VOCABULARY
Look at the words and see if you can explain the difference
PACK-UNPACK HAND LUGGAGE-SUITCASE PLATFORM-BUS STOP
PILLOW-BLANKET DESSERT-MAIN COURSE FORK-KNIFE
SALT-PEPPER CHANGE-RECEIPT TOWEL-SHOWER
CAN OF-BOTTLE OF CRISPS-CHIPS ROUNDABOUT-BRIDGE
LANE-ROAD AVENUE-STREET PICK UP-DROP OFF
STOMACHACHE-TOOTHACHE HURT-PAIN JOURNEY-TRIP
GROUND FLOOR-LIFT BROWN BREAD-WHITE BREAD MUG-CUP
COIN-NOTE COACH-BUS SOUVENIR-PRESENT
5-TRUE OR FALSE
Look at the sentences about the U.K. Write a (T) if you think they are true and a (F) if you think they are false.
1. London is in the centre of England. ………….
2. Shops close at 20.00 in the evening. …
3. People in London normally live in flats. ..
4. People normally live in the centre of town.
5. London is built around a river called the Thames. …
6. London has only one football team. ……
7. Wimbledon is in London. ………….
8. The London Eye is a large clock. ………….
9. Big Ben is a famous statue. ………….
10. Oxford Street is famous for its shops. ………….
11. You need an adaptor for electrical things. ………….
12. There are many different cultures and nationalities living in London. ………….
13. Taxis are yellow.………….
14. England and the United Kingdom are the same. ………….
15. People usually have dinner between 17.00 and 18.30. ………….
16. In Wales and Scotland they don’t speak English. ………….
17. People normally have a sandwich at lunchtime. ………….
6-MY TRAVEL PHRASES
Here are some typical expressions you will need to know in England. Translate them into your own language and try to learn them.
1. Do you have any hand luggage? ……………………………………………………………….
2. Board at 12.50h on gate number 11….………………………………………………….
3. Can I see your passport please? …………………………………………………………….
4. Sorry, could you repeat that please? ……………………………………….
5. You’re welcome.……………………….………………
6. Can I change 20 euros? ……………………………………………….……………..
7. How do I get to John Street, please? …..……………………………………………………………
8. How much is that? ………………………………………………………………………………………..
9. There aren’t any towels………………………………………………………………………………….
10. Could I have a/some ________, please? ………………………………………………
11. I’d like some orange juice, please…….……………………………………………
12. Can you show me on the map, please? …………………………………………
13. How far is it? ………………………………………………………………………………………….
14. Does this bus go to 120 Baker St., please? ………………………………………………..………
15. Can you tell me where to get off, please? ………………………………………
16. Excuse me, I’m lost. Can you help me, please? …………………………………………..
17. Can I try this on, please? ……………………………………………………………………………….
18. Have you got them in a larger/smaller size? ……………………………………………
19. What’s the matter? My stomach hurts.……………………………………………
20. Excuse me, the shower doesn’t work.…………………………………………………
21. Where do we meet? ………………………………………………………………………………
22. Where do I put my dirty washing? ……………………………………………………
23. When can I have a shower? ………………………………………………………………
24. What time is dinner? ………………………………………………..………………………………
25. My _________ is broken.………………………………………..…………………………………
26. Take the first turning on the right.………………………………………………………………..
27. I don’t feel well.…………………………………………………………………..
28. I don’t understand.…………………………………………………………………
29. See you on Monday.……………………………………………………………………………..
30. Would you like a coffee? ……………
7- LONDON QUEST
City of Westminster.Located in the heart of London, it contains many of the most famous sites. Some of the popular tourist sites are Buckingham Palace, Victoria Memorial, Palace of Westminster (Houses of Parliament), London Eye, 10 Downing Street, St. James’s Park, Green Park, Big Ben and nearby Westminster Abbey.
Green Park is one of the Royal Parks of London. It is a peaceful refuge for people living, working or visiting central London, and is particularly popular for sunbathing and picnics in fine weather.
| 1-What was the park used for before it became a park? / What is the most common spring flower of the park? |
Buckingham Palace is the London home and official residence of the monarch. The 1st palace was built in 1705 for the Duke of Buckingham. The palace is a world-famous setting for state occasions and royal hospitality. In front of the Palace is the Victoria Memorial built in the memory of Queen Victoria.
| 2-What is the significance of the flag above the palace? / How many rooms and toilets are in the palace? / What is Victoria Memorial? |
St. James’s Park has long been the home of many exotic animals. Under the reign of Henry VIII the park was used to keep camels, crocodiles and elephants among others.
| 3-What exotic animals can you see in the park today? |
Westminster Abbey. As you walk around Parliament Square look out for some statues of famous people from around the world including Abraham Lincoln and Nelson Mandela. On the south side of the square is Westminster Abbey, the site of many royal weddings, coronations and funerals since the 16th Century.
| 4-Who is buried inside Westminster Abbey? /Who has been wed in the Abbey? / What colour is the floor inside? / What are the Houses of Parliament? |
Big Ben. The tower is one of London’s most famous landmarks. The clock inside the tower was the world’s largest when it was installed in the middle of the 19th century. The tower was completed in 1858 and has become one of the most prominent symbols of both London and England, often in the establishing shot of films set in the city.
| 5-What is the official name of the Big Ben? / How many bells does the Big Ben have? / How many stars do you have to climb to get to the top of the tower? / Who can visit the tower? |
10 Downing Street. Probably the most famous address in the world, “Number 10” has been the official residence of the Prime Minister since 1735. The house contains over 100 private rooms consisting of office space and a private residence on the third floor for the Prime Minister and his/her family.
| 6-Who is the current Prime Minister? / Who is the Prime Minister’s neighbour? / Do any pets live in the house? |
London Eye. It is the biggest wheel in the Europe. It is situated on the banks of the River Thames. The designers submitted their idea for a large observation wheel as part of a competition to design a landmark for the new millennium.
| 7-How long does a complete turn take? / What is the biggest wheel in the world? |
Holborn is the traditional home of the legal profession. The Royal Courts of Justice are imposing enough to terrify even the completely innocent. Legend has it that the courts contain 1,000 rooms and three and a half miles of corridors.
| 8-What used to be Holborn Bar? / What is the symbol of the city? / Which famous English writer lived here? |
Great Queen Street. Walking along this road you can’t help but notice the enormous Art Deco building on the south side of the road. This is Freemason’s Hall.
| 9-What is the Freemason’s Arms? And why is it famous for? |
Home of The Royal Opera, The Royal Ballet, and the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, this impressive building was constructed in 1732. Since then, several new buildings have been added following a series of devastating fires. As you walk around the building you’ll notice a variety of architectural styles and periods right up to the modern age.
| 10-How many seats are there? / How many theaters were built? |
Covent Garden is the heart of the UK’s the most exciting place. From 1654 until recent times, the market was famous for selling fruit and vegetables. Today Covent Garden is more widely associated with designer shops
| 11-What museum can you visit in Covent Garden? |
Drury Lane. Remarkably, in the 18th Century, Drury Lane was one of the worst slums in London famous for prostitution and gin places. Today Drury Lane is the best know for the Theater Royal.
| 12-What is the popular nursery rhyme? / Why is the museum known as one of the world’s most haunted theatres? |
The British Museum. This unique museum houses over 7 million objects from all around the world and charts human culture and progress from the beginning of time until present-day. It is the largest such museum in the world and is best known for its collection of Egyptian artefacts and mummies. This controversial museum was constructed in the 18th Century and had an impressive modern.
| 13-What is the Round Reading Room? / How many columns are in the façade? / What is the oldest object? |
Russell Square is a large garden square in Bloomsbury. It is near the University of London’s main buildings. The square contained large terraced houses aimed mainly at upper-middle-class families.
| 14-What can you see in the center of the square? / What is Cabman’s shelter? / Why are there flowers laid down at a spot of the square? |
Oxford Street is a major thoroughfare in the City of Westminster in the West End of London. It is Europe’s busiest shopping street. It runs for approximately one and a half miles (two and a half kilometres).
Oxford Street is home to a number of major department stores and numerous flagship stores, as well as hundreds of smaller shops. It is the biggest shopping street within Inner London, and though not necessarily the most expensive or fashionable, is considered to be the most important, and forms part of a larger shopping district with Regent Street, Bond Street and a number of other smaller nearby streets.
15-How many shops are in the street? What can you find in the West End of the street? |
Regent Street is one of the major shopping streets in London‘s West End, well known to tourists and Londoners alike, and famous for its Christmas illuminations.
16-Who is it named after? / When was the street completed? |
Carnaby Street is a cheerful pedestrianised shopping street, located in the Soho district. It is home to numerous fashion and lifestyle retailers, including a large number of independent fashion boutiques. Carnaby Street proved popular for followers of both the Mod and hippie styles.The area has seen a lot of changes in the last few years, especially at the southern end of Carnaby Street, where in addition to a number of new stores, there is now a passage through to Kingly Court with three floors of one-off ‘concept’ shops and studios where it is possible to find items not sold anywhere else in London.
Soho. For much of its history, Soho has been known for its bars, sex shops and gambling venues. Today the district is home to the Gay Village and many of London’s most popular nightclubs. Soho was a former hunting-ground and was first developed in the 17th Century. Soho quickly became London’s red light district. Soho was the scene of the first implementation of “germtheory” on disease control when the Broad Street water pump was closed after a Cholera outbreak in 1854.
| 17-Who are some of the famous people who lived in Soho? / Which famous bands performed at the Marquee Club? |
China Town. Many of London’s Chinese community have settled on Gerrard Street and the surrounding side roads. After World War II a large number of Chinese migrants moved from Honk Kong (a former British colony) and chose London as their new home. China Town is home to a vast array of Chinese restaurants and other businesses. The area features a number of pagodas, traditional gates and street signs written in both English and Chinese.
Piccadilly Circus. Known around the world for its large video display and neon signs, Piccadilly Circus is a major crossroads between several London roads. The centre of Piccadilly Circus is the statue of Eros, built in 1892.
| 18-Who was Eros? / Why is it called “circus”? |
In the Science Museum you can make great gymnastics of the brain and have fun with provocative games. It is one of the three major museums on Exhibition Road. The Science Museum was founded in 1857 as part of the South Kensington Museum, and gained independence in 1909. Today the Museum is world renowned for its historic collections, awe-inspiring galleries and inspirational exhibitions.
| 19-How many visitors come visit the museum every year? / What can you find inside apart from the permanent exhibition? / How many floors does the Museum have? |
Natural History Museum. It all started when physician and collector of natural curiosities, Sir Hans Sloane, left his extensive collection to the nation in 1753. Originally Sloane’s specimens formed part of the British Museum, but as other collections were added, including specimens collected by botanist Joseph Banks on his voyage with Captain James Cook, the natural history elements started to need their own home and the Museum was born.
| 20-When did the Museum open its doors? / What is the Darwin Center? |
The Victoria and Albert Museum is the world’s largest museum of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 4.5 million objects. Its collection spans 5,000 years of art, from ancient times to the present day, in virtually every medium, from the cultures of Europe, North America, Asia and North Africa. The holdings of ceramics, glass, textiles, costumes, silver, ironwork, jewellery, furniture, medieval objects, sculpture, prints and printmaking, drawings and photographs are among the largest, important and most comprehensive in the world.
| 21-Who is it named after? / What is “Albertopolis”? |
Encompassing seven floors of exquisite collections across 4.5 acres, Harrods welcomes over 15 million customers through its doors each year. The shop’s 330 departments offer a wide range of products and services. Products on offer include clothing for women, men, children and infants, electronics, jewellery, sporting gear, bridal trousseau, pets and pet accessories, toys, food and drink, health and beauty items, packaged gifts, stationery, housewares, home appliances, furniture, and much more.
| 22-Where else in the world can you shop in Harrods? / What is Harrods motto? / Whose memorial can you visit in Harrods? |
Owing to the popularity of the Hugh Grant film of the same name, Notting Hill needs little introduction, situated as it is in an affluent and fashionable area of London, famous for its annual Carnival, its attractive Victoria terraces and its lively weekly Portobello Market.
Every year over 2 million people attend the carnival, making it the largest street festival in the world. Notting Hill is also the place to buy antiques – Portobello Market is the Uk’s largest antiques market.
23-What country is the carnival traditional associated with? / Where else in the world is there a suburb called Notting Hill? / Why is a blue door so famous? |
The heart of the film is Notting Hill’s Portobello Road street market, in the top ten of London‘s tourist attractions. Begun in the 1860s, it’s been busy ever since, becoming – along with Carnaby Street and the King’s Road, Chelsea, one of the centres of the Swinging London phenomenon in the 60s. Sometimes on Portobello it feels like the 60s never went away.
But there is no ‘Travel Book Company’ or Notting Hill Bookshop on Portobello Road. the down-at-heel shop owned by William Thacker.
| 24-What is the bookshop nowadays? / Where is the real Travel Bookshoop based? / What can you see in 280 Westbourne Park? |
Holland Park takes its name from Sir Henry, earl of Holland who was formerly resident at Holland House. The wooded park is one of London’s smallest public parks. Holland House itself was bombed during the Second World War- destroying all but the ground floor remaining. The East wing has been restored and currently houses a youth hostel.
The ‘Belvedere’ restaurant occupies the former summer ball room of Holland House and temporary exhibitions are held in the other surviving rooms.
During the summer months outdoor opera and dramatic performances are staged at the open-air theatre. Holland Park is considered by many to be the most romantic park in London- due to the wooded walks and beautiful views.
| 25When was Holland park open? /What is the Kyoto Japanese Garden? /What animals live in the park? |
St. Paul’s Cathedral. Inspired by St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, St. Paul’s Cathedral was rebuilt in 1697 after the previous cathedral was destroyed in the Great Fire of London. The architect for the new cathedral was Sir Christopher Wren who had previously designed many churches in the City of London.
| 26-Which Prime Minister had their funeral in St. Paul’s? / When was this site first dedicated to Paul The Apostle? |
Millennium Bridge. Officially known as the London Millennium Footbridge, is a steel suspension bridge for pedestrians crossing the River Thames. The bridge is owned and maintained by the Bridge House Estates, a charitable trust overseen by the City of London Corporation. Construction of the bridge began in 1998, with the opening on 10 June 2000. The southern end of the bridge is near Globe Theatre, the Bankside Gallery and Tate Modern, the north end next to the City of London School below St Paul’s Cathedral.
| 27-What is the nearest London underground station? / Why is it nicknamed “Wobbly Bridge”? / In which famous movie can you see the bridge? |
Every year 4.7 million people visit the Tate Modern, making it the world’s most popular modern art gallery. The gallery. It displays work from 1900 to present day in an enormous former power station.
| 28-Which famous Pop Artist has work exhibited in the Tate? |
Shakespeare’s Globe. Built very near the site of the original Globe Theatre, this modern replica opened in 1997. It houses a popular museum and shows many Shakepearean plays thoroughout the year.
London Bridge. There has been a bridge on this site since the year 50 AD. The “Medieval Bridge” on the same site was a bustling business district with over 200 shops and businesses lining the road that linked the two sides of the Thames. The current bridge was built in 1973 replacing the previous bridge which was sold and reconstructed in Arizona, USA. London Bridge should not be confused with the more impressive Tower Bridge further downstream.
| 29-Why was beer and ale never sold on London Bridge? |
HMS Belfast. Launched in 1938, served in World War II, D-Day, the Arctic Convoys, the Korean War and many other tours around the world for the Royal Navy. HMS Belfast has been a museum-ship since 1971 and gives a fascinating insight into life on a battle-ship.
| 30-When did it launch? What can you see inside? |
City Hall is home to the Mayor of London, the London Assembly and the 600 or so permanent staff who work for the GLA. City Hall is part of the More London development located between London Bridge and Tower Bridge, on the south bank of the Thames. The GLA is leasing City Hall for 25 years. This striking rounded glass building also has many features that make it environmentally friendly, including solar panels on the roof.
| 31-What is the Scoop? / How many people work for the GLA? / Why is it environmentally friendly? |
Tower Bridge. London Bridge was originally the only crossing for the Thames. As London grew, so more bridges were added, although these were all built to the west of London Bridge, since the area east of London Bridge had become a busy port.
In the 19th century, the East End of London became so densely populated that public need mounted for a new bridge to the east of London Bridge, as journeys for pedestrians and vehicles were being delayed by hours. Finally in 1876, the City of London Corporation, responsible for that part of the Thames, decided the problem could be delayed no longer.
The view today from the high level Walkways has changed dramatically, although there are still signs of the area’s amazing history. With the aid of
photographs and interactive kiosks, visitors to Tower Bridge Exhibition can gain a greater understanding of how life would have been when the idea of a new bridge was originally conceived.
| 32-What was the “Special Bridge or Subway Committee”? /How long did it take to built it? /Why was it all painted red, white and blue in 1977? |
Tower of London. In the early 1080s, William the Conqueror began to build a massive stone tower at the centre of his London fortress. Nothing like it had ever been seen before. Through the centuries that followed, successive monarchs added to the fortifications. There have been different stages of its construction. It has been a fortress, palace and prison.
| 33-What was the tower used for during World Wars? / What does the legend say about the ravens? / Who are the Yeoman Warders? / What is the Wall Walk? |
Camden Town is a bohemian neighbourhood known for its market and the colourful nightlife. A canal runs straight through the middle of the area, puntuated by Camden Lock right under the Market.In addition, Camden is home to three of the most important railway stations in London: King’s cross, St. Pancras and Euston.
| 34-What is written in the entrance sign of the market? / What kind of things can you buy in the shop? / What kind of restaurants can you find in here? |
8-THE TOWER OF LONDON
Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space known as Tower Hill.
It was founded towards the end of 1066 as part of the Norman Conquest of England. The White Tower, which gives the entire castle its name, was built by William the Conqueror in 1078, and was a resented symbol of oppression, inflicted upon London by the new ruling elite. The castle was used as a prison since at least 1100, although that was not its primary purpose.
A grand palace early in its history, it served as a royal residence. As a whole, the Tower is a complex of several buildings set within two concentric rings of defensive walls and a moat. There were several phases of expansion, mainly under Kings Richard the Lionheart, Henry III, and Edward I in the 12th and 13th centuries. The general layout established by the late 13th century remains despite later activity on the site.
The Tower of London has played a prominent role in English history. It was besieged several times and controlling it has been important to controlling the country. The Tower has served variously as an armoury, a treasury, a menagerie, the home of the Royal Mint, a public records office, and the home of the Crown Jewels of the United Kingdom. From the early 14th century until the reign of Charles II, a procession would be led from the Tower to Westminster Abbey on the coronation of a monarch. In the absence of the monarch, the Constable of the Tower is in charge of the castle. This was a powerful and trusted position in the medieval period. In the late 15th century the castle was the prison of the Princes in the Tower. Under the Tudors, the Tower became used less as a royal residence, and despite attempts to refortify and repair the castle its defences lagged behind developments to deal with artillery.
The peak period of the castle’s use as a prison was the 16th and 17th centuries, when many figures fallen into disgrace, such as Elizabeth I before she became queen, were held within its walls. This use has led to the phrase “sent to the Tower”. Despite its enduring reputation as a place of torture and death, popularised by 16th-century religious propagandists and 19th-century writers, only seven people were executed within the Tower before the World Wars of the 20th century. Executions were more commonly held on the notorious Tower Hill to the north of the castle, with 112 occurring there over a 400-year period.
In the latter half of the 19th century, institutions such as the Royal Mint moved out of the castle to other locations, leaving many buildings empty. Anthony Salvin and John Taylor took the opportunity to restore the Tower to what was felt to be its medieval appearance, clearing out many of the vacant post-medieval structures. In the First and Second World Wars, the Tower was again used as a prison, and witnessed the executions of 12 men for espionage. After the Second World War, damage caused during the Blitz was repaired and the castle reopened to the public. Today the Tower of London is one of the country’s most popular tourist attractions. It is cared for by the charity Historic Royal Palaces and is protected as a World Heritage Site.
1. The Tower of London was founded before the Norman Conquest.
True.
False.
We don’t know.
2. The White Tower was built by William the Conqueror.
True.
False.
We don’t know.
3. The Tower was used for the coronation of monarchs.
True.
False.
We don’t know.
4. The Tower was used as a prison.
True.
False.
We don’t know.
5. There were ___ executions inside the Tower.
112.
12.
7.
9-SAINT PAUL’S CATHEDRAL
St Paul’s Cathedral, London, is an Anglican cathedral, the seat of the Bishop of London and the mother church of the Diocese of London. It sits at the top of Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London. Its dedication to Paul the Apostle dates back to the original church on this site, founded in AD 604. The present church, dating from the late 17th century, was designed in the English Baroque style by Sir Christopher Wren. Its construction, completed within Wren’s lifetime, was part of a major rebuilding programme which took place in the city after the Great Fire of London.
The cathedral is one of the most famous and most recognisable sights of London, with its dome, framed by the spires of Wren’s City churches, dominating the skyline for 300 years. At 365 feet (111 m) high, it was the tallest building in London from 1710 to 1962, and its dome is also among the highest in the world. In terms of area, St Paul’s is the second largest church building in the United Kingdom after Liverpool Cathedral.
St Paul’s Cathedral occupies a significant place in the national identity of the English population. It is the central subject of much promotional material, as well as postcard images of the dome standing tall, surrounded by the smoke and fire of the Blitz. Important services held at St Paul’s have included the funerals of Lord Nelson, the Duke of Wellington, Sir Winston Churchill and Margaret Thatcher; Jubilee celebrations for Queen Victoria; peace services marking the end of the First and Second World Wars; the wedding of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana Spencer, the launch of the Festival of Britain and the thanksgiving services for the Golden Jubilee, the 80th Birthday and the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II. St Paul’s Cathedral is a busy working church, with hourly prayer and daily services.
1. St Paul’s Cathedral is the mother church of the Diocese of London.
True.
False.
We don’t know.
2. The original church was founded in
1710.
the late 17th century.
604.
3. At present it’s the highest building in London.
True.
False.
We don’t know.
4. St Paul’s is larger than Liverpool Cathedral.
True.
False.
We don’t know.
5. The wedding of Lady Di and Prince Charles was held here.
True.
False.
We don’t know.
10-GREAT FIRE OF LONDON
The Great Fire of London was a major conflagration that swept through the central parts of the English city of London, from Sunday, 2 September to Wednesday, 5 September 1666.
The fire gutted the medieval City of London inside the old Roman city wall. It threatened, but did not reach, the aristocratic district of Westminster, Charles II’s Palace of Whitehall, and most of the suburban slums. It consumed 13,200 houses, 87 parish churches, St Paul’s Cathedral and most of the buildings of the City authorities. It is estimated to have destroyed the homes of 70,000 of the City’s 80,000 inhabitants.
The death toll is unknown but traditionally thought to have been small, as only six verified deaths were recorded. This reasoning has recently been challenged on the grounds that the deaths of poor and middle-class people were not recorded, while the heat of the fire may have cremated many victims leaving no recognisable remains. A melted piece of pottery on display at the Museum of London found by archaeologists in Pudding Lane, where the fire started, shows that the temperature reached 1700 °C.
The Great Fire started at the bakery of Thomas Farriner (or Farynor) on Pudding Lane, shortly after midnight on Sunday, 2 September, and spread rapidly west across the City of London. The use of the major firefighting technique of the time, the creation of firebreaks by means of demolition, was critically delayed owing to the indecisiveness of the Lord Mayor of London, Sir Thomas Bloodworth. By the time large-scale demolitions were ordered on Sunday night, the wind had already fanned the bakery fire into a firestorm which defeated such measures.
The fire pushed north on Monday into the heart of the City. Order in the streets broke down as rumours arose of suspicious foreigners setting fires. The fears of the homeless focused on the French and Dutch, England’s enemies in the ongoing Second Anglo-Dutch War; these substantial immigrant groups became victims of lynchings and street violence. On Tuesday, the fire spread over most of the City, destroying St Paul’s Cathedral and leaping the River Fleet to threaten Charles II’s court at Whitehall, while coordinated firefighting efforts were simultaneously mobilising. The battle to quench the fire is considered to have been won by two factors: the strong east winds died down, and the Tower of London garrison used gunpowder to create effective firebreaks to halt further spread eastward.
The social and economic problems created by the disaster were overwhelming. Evacuation from London and resettlement elsewhere were strongly encouraged by Charles II, who feared a London rebellion amongst the dispossessed refugees. Despite numerous radical proposals, London was reconstructed on essentially the same street plan used before the fire.
1. Many suburban slums were burnt down.
True.
False.
We don’t know.
2. How many inhabitants had their homes destroyed?
13,200.
70,000.
80,000.
3. There were many deaths recorded.
True.
False.
We don’t know.
4. The Lord Mayor of London decided to demolish the burnt buildings to control the fire.
True.
False.
We don’t know.
5. The city was rebuilt following a new street design.
True.
False.
We don’t know.
11-COVENT GARDEN
Covent Garden is a district in London on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St. Martin’s Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit and vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and the Royal Opera House, which is also known as “Covent Garden”.
The district is divided by the main thoroughfare of Long Acre, north of which is given over to independent shops centred on Neal’s Yard and Seven Dials, while the south contains the central square with its street performers and most of the elegant buildings, theatres and entertainment facilities, including the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane, and the London Transport Museum.
Though mainly fields until the 16th century, the area was briefly settled when it became the heart of the Anglo-Saxon trading town of Lundenwic. After the town was abandoned, part of the area was walled off by 1200 for use as arable land and orchards by Westminster Abbey, and was referred to as “the garden of the Abbey and Convent”.
The land, now called “the Covent Garden”, was seized by Henry VIII, and granted to the Earls of Bedford in 1552. The 4th Earl commissioned Inigo Jones to build some fine houses to attract wealthy tenants. Jones designed the Italianate arcaded square along with the church of St Paul’s. The design of the square was new to London, and had a significant influence on modern town planning, acting as the prototype for the laying-out of new estates as London grew. A small open-air fruit and vegetable market had developed on the south side of the fashionable square by 1654. An Act of Parliament was drawn up to control the area, and Charles Fowler’s neo-classical building was erected in 1830 to cover and help organise the market. The area declined as a pleasure-ground as the market grew and further buildings were added: the Floral Hall, Charter Market, and in 1904 the Jubilee Market.
By the end of the 1960s traffic congestion was causing problems, and in 1974 the market relocated to the New Covent Garden Market about three miles (5 km) south-west at Nine Elms. The central building re-opened as a shopping centre in 1980, and is now a tourist location containing cafes, pubs, small shops, and a craft market called the Apple Market, along with another market held in the Jubilee Hall.
Covent Garden, with the postcode WC2, falls within the London boroughs of Westminster and Camden, and the parliamentary constituencies of Cities of London and Westminster and Holborn and St Pancras. The area has been served by the Piccadilly line at Covent Garden tube station since 1907; the journey from Leicester Square, at 300 yards, is the shortest on the London Underground.
1. There was a fruit and vegetable market in Covent Garden.
True.
False.
We don’t know.
2. Henry VIII took the land and opened a theatre there.
True.
False.
We don’t know.
3. In 1960 the area was closed due to traffic congestion.
True.
False.
We don’t know.
4. Nowadays there is a craft market in the central building.
True.
False.
We don’t know.
5. The area cannot be reached by underground.
True.
False.
We don’t know.
12-LONDON
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