外国人最想和你聊的文化话题：玩转伦敦

　Realize London　认识伦敦

     1　伦敦面面观
     London is the capital of England and the United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures.London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its founding by the Romans, who called it Londinium. London's ancient core, the City of London, largely retains its square-mile mediaeval boundaries. Since at least the 17th century, the name London has also referred to the metropolis developed around this core. The bulk of this conurbation forms the London region and the Greater London administrative area, governed by the elected Mayor of London and the London Assembly.
     London is a leading global city, with strengths in the arts, commerce, education, entertainment, fashion, finance, healthcare, media, professional services, research and development, tourism and transport all contributing to its prominence. It is the world's largest financial centre alongside New York, has the largest city GDP in Europe and is home to the headquarters of more than 100 of Europe's 500 largest companies. It has the most international visitors of any city in the world. London Heathrow is the world's busiest airport by number of international passengers. London's 43 universities form the largest concentration of higher education institutions in Europe. In 2012 London will become the first city to host the Summer Olympic Games three times.
     London has a diverse range of peoples, cultures and religions, and more than 300 languages are spoken within its boundaries. In July 2007 it had an official population of 7,556,900 within the boundaries of Greater London, making it the most populous municipality in the European Union. The Greater London Urban Area is the second largest in the EU with a population of 8,278,251, while London's metropolitan area is the largest in the EU with an estimated total population of between 12 million and 14 million.
     London is home to numerous museums, galleries, libraries, sporting events and other cultural institutions including the British Museum, National Gallery, British Library, Wimbledon and 40 theatres. London's Chinatown is the largest in Europe.The London Underground network is the oldest underground railway network in the world and the most extensive after the Shanghai Metro.
     2　伦敦旅游景点的表达方式
     Buckingham Palace　白金汉宫
     Buckingham Palace may charge exorbitant entry fees but, as the London home of the Queen, it draws millions of tourists each year. They flock to witness royal pageantry dating back centuries at the Changing of the Guard ceremony at 1130 daily from April to July (alternate days at other times of the year), and for the rare chance to see inside a royal residence.
     British Museum　大英博物馆
     After the completion of a lengthy refurbishment programme - the centrepiece of which being the construction of Lord Foster's ambitious glass-roofed Great Court - the British Museum is back in place as one of the world's finest museums.
     Hyde Park　海德公园
     Humongous Hyde Park used to be a royal hunting ground, was once a venue for duels, executions and horse racing, and even became a giant potato field during WWII. It is now a place of fresh air, spring colour, lazy sunbathers and boaters on the Serpentine.
     British Airways London Eye　英航伦敦眼
     Towering 135m (444ft) into the heavens, right in the heart of London, the BA London Eye is literally an unmissable attraction.
     the Tower of London　伦敦塔
     The Tower of London is one of Britain's most visited tourist attractions and it's crammed with so many sites of historical interest that it can take all day to get around it and make the most of it.
     伦敦旅行可说是十分便利，一张地铁券便可跑遍全城，游览城内的风景名胜。白天，你可以参观具有文化气息的博物馆、塔桥、古迹与王宫，累了可随处找个公园小憩一下，或是喝个悠闲的英式下午茶。到了夜晚，不管是音乐歌舞秀、各式剧场、音乐会、酒馆或是夜总会，都能将你的夜晚带入最高潮。此外，绝不能错过的购物就是周末的市集，有别于豪华百货公司与精雕细琢的购物橱窗，这里更多了民间地方色彩。