La grande London boasts as many as 32 boroughs, the boroughs, which add to the City, the heart and original core of the city, born on the left bank of the Thames, about seventy kilometers from the mouth.
Westminster
Among the thousands of attractions, those absolutely not to be missed are: Westminster and Whitehall, the center of political and religious power for about a millennium, with the largest abbey in England, the seat of Parliament, and Downing Street, where at no.10 the prime minister has resided since 1732. The ‘Westminster Abbey is considered the greatest example of English Gothic architecture, the site of sovereign coronations since 1066. Here, besides kings and queens, illustrious characters such as Shakespeare and Dickens are buried. The cathedral boasts numerous tombs and commemorative monuments of British nobles and bourgeoisie. The visit, paid, sees about five million people each year.
Piccadilly
A Piccadilly and St. James, Buckingham Palace stands out, the official residence of Queen Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Philip. Purchased by George III in 1762, the palace became a royal residence only after 1826, following the remodeling by the architect Nash. Queen Victoria was the first to live there starting in 1837.
At Buckingham Palace, about 300 employees work, including officials of the Royal Household, who organize the public life of the sovereign. In front of its gates stand the unmistakable royal guards, with their red coats and bearskin hats: in summer, the guard is changed every day, with a picturesque ceremony that has become a must for tourists.
Among the many beautiful rooms, the palace also houses the Queen’s Gallery, the old private chapel where exhibitions of artwork from the royal collections are periodically held. Piccadilly is very lively (the name comes from a type of collar, the pickdale, designed in the 1600s by one of the historic tailors that still survive in Saville Row), an area of prestigious hotels and shops. At Piccadilly Circus, characterized by large advertising signs, stands the statue of Eros, created by Alfred Gilbert in 1892.
Trafalgar Square
North of London opens the area of Trafalgar Square, the temple of London entertainment, with theaters, restaurants, and trendy nightclubs. The nineteenth-century square can hold up to 50,000 people and is the classic meeting place for demonstrations, marches, and New Year’s celebrations.
To admire is the column topped with the statue of Admiral Nelson, who died in 1805 in the Battle of Cape Trafalgar against Napoleon. In Trafalgar is also the prestigious National Gallery, which in an area of almost 50,000 sqm houses about 2300 paintings, ranging from 1260 to 1920.
St. Paul’s Cathedral
To the northeast of the square rises another London must-see: St. Paul’s Cathedral, rebuilt between the late 1600s and the first decade of the 1700s and the seat of the city’s bishopric. Famous figures such as Nelson and Fleming are buried at St. Paul’s, and here, by tradition, official celebrations have always been held, such as Churchill’s funeral or the wedding between Lady Diana Spencer and Prince Charles. Not to be missed, south of the Cathedral and also Westminster, is the famous Tower of London, whose construction began in 1078 and which over the centuries has been a fortress, royal residence, mint, armory, and above all, a state prison, a place of torture and executions.
South Kensington
Unmissable, west of Piccadilly, is also the South Kensington area, the green lung of the capital, with an area of about 250 hectares, occupied by lush parks (Kensington Gardens and Hyde Park), embassies and consulates, elegant shops and buildings, majestic buildings housing colleges, museums, and galleries. Here are located the Natural History Museum, the Science Museum and the Victoria and Albert Museum. South Kensington is one of the most sought-after and expensive residential neighborhoods.
