London began life as a Roman fortification at a place where the Thames was narrow enough and it was possible to build the bridge. A wall was built.around the town for defence, but during the long period of peace which followed the Nor- man Conquest, people built outside the walls. This building continued, especially to the west of the c In 1665 there was a terrible plague in London, so many people left the cityand escaped to the villakes in the Eurroundimu ouuntayside. 166 Great Fire of London ended the plaguur but it aiso destroyed mueb of the city. Although people ruturnul to live the rebuilt city after the plague and the Great Fire thera were never again so many Londoners Jiving in the city centru These days not many people live in the city centre Today the metropolis of Greater Londonewsers some 610 square milus(1680 square kilometres) and the suburbs of London continuu even beyond this area. The gradual growth of the city halpa explain the fact that London dnes nnt have just one centre, it has a number centres, each with a distinct character the financial and business contre ealled the City, the shopping and entertainment centre in the West End, and the government centra in WestminsterThe City of London is one of the major hanking centres of the world and you can find hanke of many nations in the famoti Thread needle Bureet and the surrounding area. Here yau will find the Bank of England. Nearby id the Stock Exchange which ia like a busy market, except that here no food hut shares in commercial companiee are bought Bnd sold The East End covers a wide area to the east of City There the are many ducks and warehouses there. It is also time of those areas of London where people from abroad bave enme to find work. The East End is also famous as the centre of the elothin industry un London. The West End is the name given to the area central London north frem the Mall to Oxford Street. includes Erafalearsquare the main areas and the entertainment cen tres of Soho, Piccadilly Cir. eus and Shaftsbury Avenue. Its name ia asenointed with glamour and bright lights.