Read and translate the text. London is the capital of Great Britain

London is the capital of Great Britain. It stands on the river Thames and stretches for over thirty miles from east to west. London is an ancient city. It was founded more than two thousand years ago.

Its population is over 8 million people. London is the biggest industrial and cultural centre of Great Britain.

London is a great port. Today over 50,000 ships come to London daily.

Traditionally London is divided into several parts: the City, the West End, the East End and the Westminster Abbey.

In London one meets the past and the present, the old and the modem. It is a city of contrasts. It has many wonderful places of interests.

Trafalgar square is the centre of London. The Nelson Column in the middle of the square particularly impresses tourists. It is 185 feet high. From Trafalgar Square you can go down the Whitehall and see the Houses of Parliament which stand in Parliament Square. The Houses of Parliament is a long building that stretches for about 1000 feet. At one end is the famous Big Ben.

Behind it there is the Thames and the Westminster Bridge. Opposite the Houses of Parliament stands the Westminster Abbey, famous for its architecture and history. Nearly all kings and queens have been crowned in the Abbey. G. Chaucer, Ed. Spencer, Lord Tennyson, Ch. Dickens and many other famous men and writers were buried there. In the Poet's corner there are memorials to W. Shakespeare, J. Milton, R. Burns, G. G. Byron and many other poets and writers. The Westminster Abbey is a beautiful chapel. Another place, which can impress you most, is Buckingham Palace. It is the residence of the Queen.

The other parts of London are the rich West End, the poor East End and the City – its financial centre. The City of London is in size very small, it is only one square mile in area but is the most important banking and commercial centre of the country. The Tower of London is situated in the City, and it comes first among the historic buildings of London. St Paul's Cathedral, the greatest of English churches, is situated not far from the Tower. Sir Christopher Wren rebuilt it after the Great Fire of London.

One of London's attractions is its parks. The most famous among them is the Hyde Park.

We can't describe all the places of interest. The best way to know London is to visit it.