Streets and Squares

Lesson 3

GREATER LONDON

The West End, the East End

Streets and Squares

The West End is the name given to the area of central London north from the Mall to Oxford Street. The West Endcontains the city’s most famous streets for shopping, theatres and cinemas, as well as many restaurants and other forms of entertainment. It includes such places as Soho Square, Oxford Street, Shaftesbury Avenue, Chinatown, Leicester Square, Regent Street and Piccadilly Circus. The name West End is associated with glamour and bright lights.

Much of West End is laid out around squares. From Buckingham Palace it is a short walk to Trafalgar Square which may be called the main square and the geographical centre of London. It is not as old as some other places of the capital as it was designed in the middle of the 19^th century to commemorate the victory of the British fleet headed by Admiral Nelson over Napoleon’s fleet at Cape Trafalgar in 1805 in the mouth of the Straits of Gibraltar and lasted several hours. Nelson was fatally wounded by a shot which broke his backbone. He died on board his flagship “ the Victory ”, but not before being told that he had won the battle. Nelson lost his life in that battle but brought victory to his country so British people think of him as their national hero.

Nelson’s column,made of granite, in the centre of the square is very tall with a statue of the Admiral on the top. This most impressive monument is 185 feet (about 52 m.) tall. The statue of Nelson itself, placed facing towards the sea he loved, measures 17 feet (more than 5 m.) in height. The four panels on the pedestal show the Battle of St.Vincent, the Battle of the Nile, the Bombardment of Copenhagen and the death of Nelson. They were made of the guns captured at these battles and at Trafalgar.

The fountains were completed in 1845. There are four bronze lions round the base of the column symbolizing the power of the British Empire. They were included in the original designs but were not placed in position until 1867. They were cast from the cannon of battleships.

Other attractions on the square are the National Gallery with a wonderful collection of arts and the National Portrait Gallery.

Quite often the square becomes the location for meetings and in it crowds of Londoners congregate to celebrate political rallies. There are many pigeons in the square and Londoners like to feed them. Everybody knows that the dove is the symbol of peace all over the world. Very large numbers of people gather there every year to celebrate New Year.In December a huge Christmas Tree from Norway stands in Trafalgar Square. Norway sends the Christmas Tree as thanks for wartime help. Ambassador of Norway switches on the lights. Carols are sung and people hear chimes of Big Ben.

Around the Square there are many statues. One shows George IV (1762-1830) on horseback, he is riding in Roman costume and without stirrups. He chose the pose himself and made it very heroic. The Crown lost power and prestige because of his extravagant dissipation.

A statue of Charles I (1600 – 1649) on horseback looks down Whitehall. During the Civil War (1642-1652) it was sold to a brazier to melt down. But he hid it in the garden and produced it again when the monarchy returned.

In a corner of the Square there is an observation post for one policeman. It is the smallest police station in London. The lamp on top of the post is said to be from Nelson’s flagship “Victory’.

Piccadilly Circus – a Shopper’s Paradise

The centre of London is usually regarded as Charing Cross, a small traffic square near the river. It has been for centuries the crowded junction between the City, the Whitehall government area and the West End. Once there was a small village in that place. The villagers were charing wood, making charcoal of it. That’s why the village was named Charing. In 1291 Eleonor the English Queen died outside London. Her husband, King Edward I, wanted her body to be taken to Westminster Abbey and buried there. At every place where the funeral procession stopped a wooden cross was erected (13 crosses were erected). The last place was at Charing and since then the place is called Charing Cross.

Nowadays Charing Cross Road is known by its bookshops where you can buy books in different languages and of new and old editions.

Piccadilly Circus isthe heart of the West End.It is one of the busiest places in London, where famous busy streets come together, including Piccadilly, Regent Street, Bond Street, Oxford Street and Shaftesbury Avenue. It is surrounded by many distinguished 19^th and 20^th century buildings and it forms the centre of London’s largest entertainment area. Red buses, taxis and brightly coloured advertisements are all familiar sights around busy Piccadilly Circus. There is also a large underground station here.

The origin of the name of the street is in the story about a man who is now forgotten. The man was a tailor who grew rich by making high collars called “piccadillies”. He built a grand house which he called Piccadilly Hall, and the name, slightly changed, has lived on.

The focal point of this street is cast aluminum Angel of Christian Charity (1893), popularly called ‘ Eros’. Originally the winged statue was erected as a symbol of charity which had become a much-loved symbol of London. It was made of by Alfred Gilbert to commemorate the philanthropist and statesman Antony Ashley Cooper, 7^th earl of Shaftsbury (1801–1885), champion fighter for better conditions for the insane, factory workers, chimney sweeps and colliery workers and for better housing for the poor.

Now it has become one of the most popular meeting places, probably second only to Trafalgar Square, for young people and punks who make money letting tourists take their pictures.Piccadilly Circusis the centre of night life in the West End. It’s actually quite small, and most people are rather disappointed when they see it for the first time because they had imagined it would be much bigger. Piccadilly Circus is a dynamic and picturesque place with a happy and lively cosmopolitan atmosphere. Here you can see people from the most countries in the world, of all races, dressed in their national clothes.

From Piccadilly Circus you can stroll along the richest streets of London – Regent, Oxford and Bond Streets lined with expensive shops, restaurants and hotels. Serious shopping or just browsing are equally rewarding experiences in London whose range of shops, stores and stalls cater for all tastes – and purses.

Regent Street was designed in 1813 – 1823 by John Nash and named after the Prince Regent (the title of King George IV who ruled Britain from 1811 to 1820 while his father, King George IV, was mentally ill. Regent Street and Regent Park in London are named after him, and the period 1811 – 1820 is known as the Regency.

This street contains several famous shops where you can buy expensive jewellery and restaurants. Oxford Street is a popular shopping street in the West End of London. In Oxford Street, the shops and department stores sell everything from clothes to pots and pans, and prices are moderate.

Knightsbridge is an even more exclusive and expensive shopping area. Its most famous department store is Harrods. It is large, fashionable and expensive. It claims to be able to supply any article and provide any service. It began in 1861 as a small shop selling food, owned by Henry Harrod, and has been owned since 1985 by Mohamed Al-Fayed.

Shopping in the exclusive Harrods store is not necessarily expensive and its ability to supply every possible demand has made it legendary.

The auction rooms of Sotheby’s, Christie’s and others offer excitement and interest in these streets.