'The Story of London'
(Various / 3-DVD / NR / 2015 / BFS Entertainment)
Overview: Embracing both its modernity and its remarkable history, London, England’s vibrant capital, is a huge city with a massive story to tell as a preeminent trade centre and cultural hub.
DVD Verdict: This fascinating six-part series, 'The Story of London: A Modern City With A Remarkable Part' explores the stories of some of the greatest institutions of London life; including the imposing royal fortresses and palaces, the iconic Underground, the all-important River Thames and the impressive royal parks and gardens.
Told through the Episodes: The London Underground / The River Thames / Castles / Palaces / Parks / Royal London, this 3-Disc collection is about all you'll ever need to totally embrace a city that you thought you knew - and yet come the end are amazed that you managed to learn so much new information.
Delving into each topic, in The London Underground (or The Tube, as it's known locally) we learn such things as said Tube is actually an engineering marvel! 150 years in the making, with 253 miles of passageway snaking under the capital, carrying millions of people every day. It's crowded, uncomfortable and expensive - but it defined London. The River Thames informs us that it is some 215 miles long and has been an important trade route throughout its history. Some people believe that the Romans may have been influenced by the Thames when they were choosing where to build London. According to the Museum in Docklands, the river was probably only tidal to where the City of London now sits when the Romans were choosing a site. Indeed, there are 44 locks on the non-tidal Thames, which begins nears Cirencester and ends at Teddington Lock.
With regard the Castles section, well, for starters, Dover Castle in England is good place to start, being the gateway to England. But we're shown other incredible Castles such as Goodrich Castle; which is easily one of the most beautiful sites, nestling in the green valleys alongside the River Wye. An intriguing choice would be Pontefract Castle. It was once one of the largest and most feared castles in England - but today it's reduced to ruins. And, speaking of ruins, lest we forget the spectacular Kenilworth Castle - the largest castle ruin in the whole of England.
In Parks, well, it's more of a show-and-tell re: vast rolling heathered moors, rugged cliff tops and wild hills and mountains, to enchanting villages and charming towns that are rich in history. It truly is no wonder that the national parks of England are such a popular attraction for millions of visitors a year. Containing some of the most remote and unspoilt countryside in Britain, the National Parks offer a wide variety of activities, from simple walking and exploring the rich heritage and culture throughout the landscapes and villages, to the more active pursuits such as cycling, abseiling, and rock climbing, the national parks of the UK offer something for everyone.
And finally, in Royal London we learn more about the Heads that we see in all the Royal photo calls, but what's more interesting to learn are facts such as anything labelled ‘by appointment’ means that certain members of the Royal Family eat, drink or use it. Companies that have supplied goods or services to the The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh or The Prince of Wales for a minimum of five consecutive years are granted a Royal warrant as a mark of recognition. This allows the company to use the legend ‘By Appointment’ and the Royal Coat of arms on their product. [312 mins]. This is a Widescreen Presentation (1.85:1) enhanced for 16x9 TVs.
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