This particularly applies to the royal residences, palaces and charming parks.  The great traditional ceremonials and the royal splendour give London an exceptional charm, and it is thrilling to experience all this. The entire city is a pleasure to see, and no wonder!  With 9 million visitors from abroad, and 14 million British tourists yearly, the British metropolis is one of the most popular travel destinations.  Accordingly, the volume of traffic is enormous and even though there is a sophisticated traffic system in special places, such as Piccadilly Circus, and the traffic is at a standstill at times in most of the streets. However, also in this respect London is deeply rooted in traditions and still one can see police on horseback and the well-known double decker buses. 

The history goes back to the first century, when the Romans erected a bridge over the river Thames  and made the place a famous trading centre, giving it the name Londonium, the outlines of which still, even today, correspond with the historic centre of London.  In the 11th century the City of Westminster developed in the west of London, while in the east, with the construction of the White Tower, London's Tower history began. The city of London remained the centre of trade and industry, whereas Westminster became the residence of the monarchy and the church.

The Westminster Palace and Abbey are architectonical masterpieces unique in its beauty and grandeur. Since 1066 Westminster Abbey has been the place for every Coronation  and for numerous other Royal occasions. Westminster Palace is the home of the British Parliament.  During the parliamentary sessions one can watch the debates in the House of Commons as well as in the House of Lords, and the visitors' galleries are free. We had the good fortune to get in, which gave us not only the opportunity of watching the parliamentary sessions, but also to have a look at the marvellous interior of the building.  In the House of Lords we even saw the throne of the Queen. Walking through Westminster we enjoyed heraring and seeing the famous old Big Ben, which adjoins the palace in the east. It is 315 feet high and has been showing the exact time since 1859!

London is such an exciting and beautiful city, but oh so expensive!  The admission fees for the tourist attractions are very high, just as all the other prices, whether it's food, clothing or public transport.  For instance, for the Tower, including the bridge, we paid 16 pounds each.  However, the good thing is that admission to the  museums and galleries is free. We wondered what sort of income people must have who live there.