module 2 England: London and the South Flower: a rose Unit Patron Saint: St. George (23 rd April) BEFORE READING Answer these questions. a. Have you ever been to England? b. Apart from London, what other cities do you know? c. Who is considered the greatest of all writers in the English language? d. Do you know why England is called Albion? England at first glance England is separated from France by the English Channel, which is only 29 km (18 miles) at its narrowest point. Much of England is flat or low-lying. In the north there are limestone hills, known as the Pennines; in the west there are the Cumbrian Mountains and the Lake District; to the south of the Pennines there is the heavily populated area of the Midlands, and in the southwest peninsula, known as the West Country, there is a plateau with granite moorland, rural areas and an indented coastline. The rest of the country is known as the English Lowlands; they consist of farmland, low hills, an industrial belt and the big city of London. England s national parks cover about 7% of the country and include Dartmoor, Exmoor, the Lake District, the Peak District, the Yorkshire Dales, the North York Moors, the New Forest, the Broads and Northumberland. England, bounded by Scotland to the north and Wales to the west, is the largest of the three political divisions within the island of Great Britain. The most densely populated area in England is the so-called commuter land, in the southeast. Every day thousands of its inhabitants travel into London to work. Some travel more than 100 miles each way. They want to live in the country, where houses are cheaper and bigger and often have a garden, but their jobs are in London, in particular in the City. Cockington (Devon). London The City of London is the ancient London (the square mile) of Roman and medieval times around which the metropolis has grown. The administrative area of Greater London covers the large conurbation which comprises the City of London, the City of Westminster and 31 other London boroughs, individually run by councils. Central London encompasses most of London s main attractions, theatres and restaurants, and most places in this area are within walking distance of each other. The River Thames divides the city into northern and southern halves, with Central London loosely described as being within the loop of the Underground s Circle Line to the north bank of the river. London s public transport is organised into zones (central London is Zone 1). www.tfl.gov.uk/tube The City Founded by the Romans with the name of Londinium, it is today the heart of commerce and finance. Here are the Guildhall, the Mansion House official home of the Mayor the Bank of England, the Royal Mint, Lloyd s Insurance Company and the Stock Exchange. www.londonstockexchange.com/en-gb