Saudi Gazette

LONDON, the capital of the United Kingdom, standing on the River Thames in the island of Great Britain, has been a major settlement for the past 2,000 years.

Today London is a great touristic destination for the lovers of history, culture, shopping, and arts.

For history lovers, London contains several World Heritage Sites and lots of remarkable monuments such as the fascinating Tower of London, Marble Arch, the Kew Gardens, Westminster with all its unique sites, Buckingham Palace, St. Paul's Cathedral, and many more.

For those inclined to view the past in leisure, London has a wide variety of museums including the British Museum, Natural History Museum, the Imperial War Museum, Churchill War Rooms and others.

For art lovers, London provides a magnificent wide range of theaters and art galleries such as the National Gallery in front of the glamorous Trafalgar Square and, in addiiton, the city showcases lots of artistic statues, Gothic sculptures and medieval architecture that can be seen on every chapel and cathedral.

Shopping lovers can visit Piccadilly Circus, Oxford Street and Camden town with all of their unique shops and global brands, where the visitor can find a distinctive variety of shopping outlets.

London has numerous natural breathtaking sites where the visitor can enjoy the fresh air amid the tranquility of nature from the Hyde Park and Regent’s Park to the charming River Thames.

London is also known for its excellent public transportation — the Underground metro is the oldest underground railway network in the world and the public buses of London are iconic as well as efficient. It provides excellent connection to every nook and corner of the city on a relatively low fare.

The history of London is quite a long one, it was established by the Romans, who named it Londinium, then it was conquered by King William of Normandy in the year 1066 who established the first parts of the prominent Tower of London.

Thus London boasts a tremendous amount of historical treasures and sites and one of them is the Shaftesbury Memorial Fountain located at the southeastern side of Piccadilly Circus. Moved after World War II from its original position in the center, it was erected in 1892–1893 to commemorate the philanthropic works of Lord Shaftesbury, who was a famous Victorian politician and philanthropist.

Another historical and a UNESCO World Heritage Site is the Tower of London; a fascinating historic castle that will take the visitor into a journey throughout history.

The castle contains three main sections “The palace” known as the White Tower, “The Fortress” and “The Prison”. The castle will make the visitor experience the true medieval era, with the whole staff wearing medieval clothes and black ravens flying all around the castle until this day.

The castle is located on the north bank of the River Thames in central London. It was founded by King William the conqueror of Normandy, in the year 1066. The castle has survived since that time, even weathering the German bombers from World War II during the battle of Britain blitz.

One of the main attractions at the Tower of London is Her Majesty's Crown Jewels, which is on display for the visitors to see.

One of the most astonishing historic museums in London is the Imperial War Museum, which is full of military weapons, gadgets, tanks, and cannons from the era of the World War I till this day.

Another historical attraction of a great magnitude in central London is the fascinating Marble Arch — a 19th-century white marble faced triumphal arch.

The structure was designed by John Nash in 1827 to be the state entrance to Buckingham Palace, with its remarkable sculptures that are inspired by characters from the Roman mythology representing many values such as virtue and valor.

Marble Arch gives a deeply strong feeling about the historical magnificence of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Like any modern city it has its theaters and idyllic parks, where tourists relax and enjoy. It also has the latest games and amusement parks for the modern day adventurers thus providing an option for all in liesure and entertainment.