Read and learn some interesting facts about icons of London.
(Lasi un mācies par Londonas ikonām!)
- The red double-decker bus
A double-decker bus is a bus that has two storeys or decks. Double-decker buses are used for public transport in the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia, the most iconic example being the red London bus.
Buses have been used on the streets of London since 1829, when George Shillibeer started operating his horse-drawn omnibus service from Paddington to the city. In 1850 Thomas Tilling started horse bus services, and in 1855 the London General Omnibus Company (LGOC) was founded to regulate the horse-drawn omnibus services in London.
LGOC began using motor omnibuses in 1902, and manufactured them itself from 1909. In 1904 Thomas Tilling started its first motor bus service. The last LGOC horse-drawn bus ran on 25 October 1911. Since then the big red motor bus has been London's "king of the road".
the red double-decker — [ˌdʌb.əlˈdek.ər] — sarkanais divstāvu autobuss
the red double-decker bus — [ˌdʌb.əlˈdek.ər.bʌs] — sarkanais divstāvu autobuss
the horse-drawn omnibus — [ˈhɔːs.drɔːnˈɒm.nɪ.bəs] — zirgu omnibuss
- The red telephone box
The red telephone box, a telephone kiosk for a public telephone designed by Sir Giles Gilbert Scott, is a familiar sight on the streets of the United Kingdom, Malta, Bermuda and Gibraltar. The red colour was chosen to make them easy to spot.
The red telephone box was the result of a competition in 1924 to design a kiosk that would be acceptable in London. From 1926 the top of the kiosks were emblazoned with a prominent crown representing the British government. The red phone box is often seen as a British cultural icon throughout the world.
Despite a reduction in their numbers in recent years, the traditional British red telephone kiosk can still be seen in many places throughout the UK.
the red telephone box (formal) — [ˈtel.ɪ.fəʊn ˌbɒks] — sarkanā telefona kabīne
phone box (informal) — [ˈfəʊn ˌbɒks] — telefona būdiņa
- The red postbox
A postbox also known as a pillar box, collection box, mailbox, letter box or drop box (American English) is a metal container in the street or other public place in which you can put letters to be sent to someone else.
In the British Isles, the first red pillar post boxes were appeared in Guernsey in 1852. In 1856, Richard Redgrave of the Department of Science and Art designed an ornate pillar box for use in London and other large cities.
the red postbox — [ˈpəʊst.bɒks] — sarkanā pastkastīte
- The black cab (also known as London taxi)
The first motorized cab for hire appeared on streets of London in 1897. They gradually replaced the horse-drawn carriages. In 1910 the number of motor cabs on London streets outnumbered horse-drawn ones.
Motorised hackney cabs in the United Kingdom were usually painted black in the past and are known as black cabs, although they are now produced in a variety of colours.
the black cab — [ˈblæk.kæb] — melnais taksometrs
London taxi — [ˈlʌn.dənˈtæk.si] — Londonas taksometrs