 London
was first founded by the Romans in the first century A.D. It was built at
the lowest bridgeable point of the Thames River. Rebuilt after the Great
Fire of 1666, London rapidly swallowed up the surrounding villages. It
covers six hundred and twenty five square miles, and is the largest city in
Europe. London’s rich history, striking architecture, diverse culture and over 200 museums offer a unique travel experience. Modern-day London still largely reflects its medieval layout. The city is perfect for walk tours with 30% of it is made up of acres of parkland and green space. It typically gets some rainfall half the days of the year -- especially in winter. Average temperatures range from 40 F/4 C to 64 F/18 C. Its grand and stately homes offer fascinating insights into the lifestyles, past and present, of the British nobility. |
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 London is a major tourist destination - counting iconic landmarks such as
the British Museum, its most visited tourist attraction is home to the weird
Assyrian treasures and Egyptian mummies;
House of Parliament, this brilliant neo-Gothic building also includes the
House of Commons and the House of Lords; Buckingham Palace, built in 1705
and home to the royal family since 1837; Covent Garden, once a vegetable
field, today, the piazza is surrounded by designer gift and clothes shops,
hip bars and restaurants; Hyde Park, once a royal hunting ground, a venue
for duels, executions and horse racing, it is now a place of fresh air,
spring colour, lazy sunbathers and boaters on the Serpentine; Kew Gardens,
is both a beautiful park and an important botanical research centre; Saint
Paul’s Cathedral, the venerable building, complete with famous dome, was
constructed by Christopher Wren between 1675 and 1710; and Westminster Abby,
resting place of the royals, and one of the most visited churches in the
Christian world.
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 London has an
immense choice of shopping opportunities, from major department stores to
designer boutiques and street markets. Almost any item that exists in the world
and is for sale can be found somewhere in London. Notting Hill is London's
prime fashion location and Browns of South Molton Street is perfect for the
more fashionable shoppers. Bond Street is renowned for its art galleries,
antique and jewellery shops as well as boutiques of internationally known
fashion designers, while, West End is home to the grand department stores.
Marks & Spencer is one of Britain's largest chain stores. The increasingly
fashion-conscious Selfridges on Oxford Street offers hard-to-find labels as
well as top designer collections. Harrods, in Knightsbridge, is one of the
best free shows in the city with truly unique products. |
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London’s hip, ever -changing
nightlife is diverse enough to fit any interest. There are huge numbers of
pubs, cinemas, theatres and nightclubs plus live music and comedy venues.
Piccadilly Circus is at the heart of London's entertainment district.For eating, there are about 80 cuisines on offer in London, and delightful ethnic restaurants. There are thousands of Indian restaurants, many of whom serve food until midnight. If you enjoy the arts, London features Shakespearean theatre and Handel oratorios, the roof-rattling Proms concerts, Andrew Lloyd Webber-ish extravaganzas, magnificent opera and contemporary dance theatre. The Royal Ballet performs at the world-renowned Royal Opera House. The Donmar, Almeida, and Royal Court theatres have several shows. And The Place is known for its contemporary dance performances. The Bankside Power Station is home to Architects Herzog and de Meuron’s world-class Tate Modern contemporary art gallery. |
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 On the West End, there is everything from Moulin Rouge-style lounge clubs,
industrial microbreweries, velvet-dripping drum 'n' bass clubs, to lavish
Asian-themed cocktail bars. In East London, communities like Clerkenwell,
Hoxton, and Shoreditch are hubs for artists, indie musicians,
and fashion and media types. The raw culture of racially diverse Brixton
cultivates a heady mix of art, poetry, and music on Coldharbour Lane. With a population of almost seven million that speaks over 300 languages, this vibrant cosmopolitan city embraces the diverse cultures of its population, reflected through myriad of different lifestyles, cuisine, shops, music and colourful festivals. |
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| School Facilities | |||||
 Frances
King Centres:
There are three different study centres. One is located in the Kensington
and Chelsea area, another just 2 minutes from Victoria Station, and the
third in the Marylebone area close to the Bond Street station. The first two centres are located in completely refurbished traditional Victorian
buildings, with a student services office and over 15 classrooms spread
across each building. Also all centres boast a central common area where students can meet during breaks or access, plus a study room with free Internet access and wireless network (WIFI), combined with a range of English materials for self-study including online exercises, cassettes, videos, books, examination practice materials, newspapers and magazines. |
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