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The structure of local Government in the UK

Britain‘s local government is a system of providing vital public services in a wide range of activities including social welfare, commerce, health, leisure or crime prevention. Local government in the UK comprises 467 major councils and 9.000 town/parish councils and employs one of the largest workforce in the UK.

All local authorities derive their powers from Parliament and the central government. Parliament can expand or abolish any particular authority. But local authorities have a considerable freedom to make arrangements for carrying out their duties. The main policies are decided by the full council, other matters concerning the various services are the responsibility of committees composed of the members of the council. The council can delegate to the committee or officer any functions except those concerned with finance. The public (including the press) is admitted to the council, committee and sub- committee meetings, and has a right of access to agendas, reports and minutes. Local authorities may exclude the public from the meetings and withhold their papers only under the limited circumstances.

Traditionally the most important local area is the country. It is the oldest local unit of government. England has been divided into counties for more than 1.000 years, there are fifty-three counties in England and Wales.

Within the counties the oldest units are the parishes. There are the local communities or villages, which were originally centred on the churches. The parish councils have a significant role in representing the interests of their residents to the larger councils in the area.

The districts are more modern local units of government, they are modern amalgamation of parishes.

In Greater London the local government authorities are the councils of thirty-two London boroughs and the Corporation of the City of London. In Scotland there are nine regions, divided into fifty-three districts. Northern Ireland is administered by twenty-six district councils.

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London was first mentioned in 61 A.D. It was called Londinium then. The first settlements were built on two hills on the North bank of the River Thames to avoid the danger of flooding. Today these two areas are Westminster and St.Paul's. They are linked by the Strand.

The Romans made Londinium a large city and built walls around it. We learn where some gates of the city walls stood from such names as Bishopsgate, Ludgate, etc.

One of the most interesting ways to see London is to go down the Thames from Westminster Bridge to the Tower of London or even to Greenwich. From the River Thames much of the city's history can be seen through its buildings.

For over 1000 years the Thames was the busiest road of London, the narrow streets being inconvenient for traffic. Hundreds of boats sailed the river. All and everything was transported by water, even the prisoners were taken to the Tower by boat.

The Tower of London is its most interesting link with history, dating back to the 11th century. It was built by William the Conqueror to impress the Saxons and to guard the river approaches to London. It was once a citadel, a royal palace, a state prison, a mint, now it is a museum.

In 1666 a great fire hit the city destroying most of the buildings. To commemorate the Fire a tall column 202 ft high was erected not far from St.Paul's cathedral. Both of these were built by the famous architect Sir Christopher Wren.

After the Fire houses were built of stone and brick instead of wood and plaster, the streets were made much wider, London healed its wounds and became one of the biggest cities of the world.

London is the largest city in Western Europe. More than 7 million people live there. It lies on both banks of the Thames.

Parts of London



London is traditionally divided into several parts: the City of London, which is the financial center of the United Kingdom, the West End, which is the area of museums, art galleries, largest department stores, cinemas, and hotels. West End and is associated with wealth and luxury; and the East End, which is the industrial part of London and is very important for the commerce.

The Tower of London

Most of London sights, such as the Tower, the Houses of Parliament, Westminster Abbey, Trafalgar Square, and others are famous all over the world.

The Tower of London was founded in the 11 th century by William the Conqueror. The Tower in the past was a fortress, a palace, and a prison, Though the kings were born, lived and were married there, it happened also that kings and queens were murdered in the Tower. It was said that whoever held the keys to the Tower, held the keys to the kingdom.


The Tower of London

The Tower has several towers: the Jewel Tower, where the Royal precious jewels are kept, the White Tower, in which the Kings of England held their Court, and others. One of the towers is called the Bloody Tower where the king Edward V and his brother were murdered. The Duke оfYork. Queen Anne Boleyn, the Princess (afterwards Queen) Elisabeth and many other people were in prison in the Tower.

Now the Tower is a museum and the Crown jewels and other treasures are kept there. The Guard, known as "beefeaters" still keep watch. The Ceremony of the Key, that is centuries old takes place every night.

Now the only inhabitants of the Tower are ravens There is a legend that the Tower will fall if it loses its ravens. Therefore the birds with clipped wings are carefully The Beefeater guarded.

The Houses of Parliament



The Houses of Parliament and the Clock tower "Big Ben" The Houses of Parliament are the most beautiful buildings not only in London, but in the whole Europe. The Houses of Parliament are also called the Palace of Westminster. The Queen enters the Palace of West- minster only on the day of the opening of Parliament at the beginning of the session. She wears a crown and many jewels when she makes her speech from the Throne in the House of Lords.

A fire destroyed the old Houses of Parliament. The new Houses of Parliament were built in 1857. The famous 320 foot (97.5 meters) clock Tower is called "Big Ben" after Sir Benjamin Hall under whose direction the construction of the clock was conducted.


St. Paul's Cathedral

It took the architect Christopher Wren 35 years to build the Cathedral. It is one of the most beautiful pieces of architecture in Europe. It has ahuge dome with a golden ball on the top. The interior of the Cathedral is very beautiful too.

The British Museum

There are many museums and art galleries in London. The British Museum is famous for its rich library (about 7 000 000 books). It is also the Museum of History, Archaeology, Art and Ethnogra The British Museum con the most important collec in Britain.



The Buckingham Palace

The Buckingham Palace the place where the Queen England lives.



Trafalgar Square

Trafalgar Square is the geo centre of London. It was named in the memory of Admiral Nelson's victory in the battle of Trafalgar in 1805

The tall Nelson's Column stands in the middle of the square. Oppo the Nelson monument is the National Gallery and the National Portrait Gallery. They contain the finest art collections of the world.



Westminster Abbey

Westminster Abbey is the place where the coronation of nearly all kings and queens has taken place since the time of the Conquest. Many of them are bur here as well as some other famous people of the country. Westminster Abbey is famous for its architecture and history. There are the graves of some of the world's famous writers, poets and scientists: Chaucer, Charles Dickens, Tennyson, Thomas Hardy, Kipling and others are buried here. There in the Poet's Corner the

London is the capital of Great Britain, its political,
economic and commercial centre. It is one of the largest
cities in the world and the largest city in Europe. Its
population is about 8 million.
London is situated on the river Thames. The city is
very old. It has more than 20 centuries old history. Traditionally
it is divided into several parts, the City, Westminster,
the West End and the East. End. They are very
different from each other.
The City is the oldest part of London, it s financial
and business centre. Numerous banks, offices and firms are concentrated here. Few people live in the City but
over a million come to work here. There are two places
of interest in the City: St. Paul's Cathedral and the Tower
of London. St. Paul's Cathedral was built in the 17th
century by the architect Christopher Wren. The Tower
of London was built in the 15th century. It was used as a
fortress, a palace and a prison. Now it's a museum.
Westminster is the aristocratic official part of London.
There are Buckingham Palace where the Queen lives
and the Houses of Parliament along the north bank of
the Thames.
The clock tower of the Houses of Parliament is famous
for its big hour bell known as «Big Ben». Westminster
Abbey is the place where the coronation of nearly all
kings and queens has taken place. Many of them are buried
here as well as some other famous people of the country.
The West End is the richest and most beautiful part
of London. The best hotels, restaurants, shops, clubs,
parks and houses are situated there. There-are many
tourists there from different countries of the world.
Trafalgar Square is the geographical centre of London,
it was named in the memory of Admiral Nelson's
victory in the battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The tall Nelson's
Column stands in the middle of the square.
The East End is an industrial district of London. There
are many factories there. The region is densely populated
by working class families.

London
London is the capital of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It is situated on the Thames. It is a large industrial and cultural center. It is one of the largest cities in the world. It's population is more than 8 million people.
The Thames divides London into parts: the West End and the East End.
The West End is the distract of the rich. In the West End there are many Famous museums and theatres, palaces and parks.
The City is the commercial center of the country. Whitehall is the political center.
The East End is the district of factories and of the poor.
There are very many places of interest: the Houses of Parliament , the Tower, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, the British Museum .
The Houses of Parliament is the place where the English Government and Parliament sit.
The Tower of London was a fortress, a palace and a prison many years ago. Now it’s a museum.
Trafalgar Square is named is memory of Nelson’s great victory. In the middle of the square stands the famous Nelson Column with a statue of Nelson on the top of it.
Piccadilly Circus with its famous central fountain on the top of which stands a statue of Eros, the Greek god of love, is the heart of the West End.
The British Museum is really a history museum. It is one of the most famous museum of the world.
In Westminster Abbey English kings and queens are crowned and many famous men are buried there: Charles Dickens, Kipling, Shakespeare, Burns, Byron, Scott and other.
Buckingham Palace is know all over the world to be the home of Britain’s Kings and queens. The House was bought by George III in 1762 from the Duke of Buckingham, from whom it takes its name. Queen Victoria was the first to make the Palace her official residence.
St. Paul’s Cathedral is the masterpiece of the well – known English architect Christopher Wren.