London, England
英國倫敦
London is situated in the southeast of England, in the Thames Valley. Home to over eight million people, the capital of the UK has been an important financial, educational, and cultural center for hundreds of years. Of the many gifts England has given to the world, none has been greater than her language and literature. And if ever there's a city that reads like an epic saga, it's London.
倫敦位處英國東南部，泰晤士流域內。超過八百萬人的家，這座英國首都數百年來一直是重要的金融、教育以及文化中心。英國帶給世人的眾多禮物中，沒有什麼比得過她的語言和文學。如果有哪座城市讀起來就像一篇史詩級長篇故事，那無庸置疑是倫敦。
The story of London began in the Bronze Age, but it didn't really get going until the Romans withdrew in the fifth century. Growing into one of the great medieval trading cities, she truly came of age in the 11th century, when William the Conqueror built the Tower of London, which was to become one of England's grimmest prisons.
倫敦的故事始於青銅時代，不過真正開始是到五世紀時羅馬人撤離。逐漸發展成中世紀重要的貿易城市之一，倫敦在十一世紀時真正臻於成熟，那時征服者威廉建造倫敦塔，倫敦塔後來成為英國最陰鬱的監牢之一。
London is very easy to navigate around and is compact enough to explore on foot. This world city is filled with iconic symbols. And one of the most easily recognizable is Tower Bridge, an impressive reminder of London's rapid expansion during the Industrial Revolution. Just upriver, at the Houses of Parliament, Big Ben's reassuring chimes peal across the city every hour, on the hour.
倫敦逛起來很容易，而且面積夠小可以用雙腳探索。這座世界城市充滿代表性標誌。其中一個最好認的是倫敦塔橋，一座讓人憶起倫敦在工業革命期間快速擴展的傑出建築。就在上游，國會大廈那，大笨鐘撫慰人心的鐘聲每小時準點響徹倫敦城。
Buckingham Palace, perhaps the most famous palace in the world, is the official residence of Queen Elizabeth. It's a popular London attraction, offering tours of State Rooms and gardens. Nearby, Kensington Palace is open to the public year-round. The palace and gardens will be remembered as the home of Princess Di and Prince Charles and have recently undergone a multimillion-pound refurbishment.
白金漢宮，或許是全世界最知名的宮殿，是伊莉莎白女王的官邸。它是熱門倫敦景點，提供國事廳和花園的導覽。不遠處，肯辛頓宮全年開放大眾參觀。肯辛頓宮和花園將被憶為黛安娜王妃與查爾斯王子的家，而且最近剛經歷值數百萬英鎊的翻修。
Another legacy of England's monarchy are the Royal Parks of London. They were once reserved as private hunting grounds for the royal family, but nowadays, they're open for everyone to enjoy. There are eight Royal Parks, and many of them are in central London and close to royal palaces and other historic monuments. Green Park and St. James' Park are right next to Buckingham Palace, Admiralty Arch, and The Mall. Hyde Park is perhaps the most famous, with its man-made lake, the Serpentine. And on the other side, Kensington Gardens is a beautiful, open expanse that stretches east towards Kensington Palace.
英國君主政體留下的另一個遺產是倫敦皇家公園。它們一度被留作皇室家族的私人狩獵場，但現在，它們開放給所有人共享。有八個皇家公園，其中有許多位在倫敦市中心，鄰近皇宮和其它歷史紀念館。綠園和聖詹姆士公園就在白金漢宮、水師提督門和林蔭路旁。海德公園可能是最有名的一個，有著人造湖「九曲湖」。另一邊，肯辛頓花園是座美麗、開放的廣闊園地，向東延伸至肯辛頓宮。
The Albert Memorial is at the southern end of Kensington Gardens, and the striking bronze statue looks towards the Royal Albert Hall just across the road. The hall is yet another reminder of Queen Victoria's great love for her husband, Prince Albert.
阿爾伯特紀念亭位在肯辛頓花園南端，那引人注目的銅像望向道路另一旁的皇家阿爾伯特廳。皇家阿爾伯特廳是另一個讓人想起維多利亞女王對丈夫阿爾伯特親王強烈的愛的象徵。
Many of London's greatest stories have begun in her houses of worship. And none is so impressive and important as Westminster Abbey. This is where kings and queens have been crowned, married, and even buried.
倫敦許多最偉大的故事都在她的教堂內展開。而沒有一個和西敏寺一樣讓人印象深刻且重要。這是國王與皇后加冕、結婚，甚至是埋葬的地方。
London was rebuilt after the Great Fire in 1666, and St. Paul's Cathedral is the most enduring monument to the city's transformation. It's a great testament to British strength and resilience.
倫敦在 1666 年大火後重建，而聖保羅大教堂是這座城市轉變最不朽的紀念碑。那是英國力量和復原力的絕佳證明。
The West End, in central London, is a story in itself. Here, the streets are lined with ancient buildings, but the throngs of people are out to have fun. By day, the charming boutiques and cafes hum with shoppers. And by night, the bars along Carnaby Street are packed with patrons enjoying pre-show drinks. This is one of the largest theater districts in the world. And at times, it can feel like you're on a Monopoly board, with Coventry Street, Trafalgar Square, and Piccadilly Circus all close by.
西區，位在倫敦市中心內，本身就是個故事。在這裡，街道上排列著老舊建築，不過人群是到外頭去享受好時光。白天，迷人的精品店和咖啡館充滿顧客而一片熱鬧。到了夜晚，卡爾納比街沿途的酒吧擠滿正在享受秀前小酌的顧客們。這裡是全世界最大的劇院區之一。有時候，那可能會感覺起來像你身處大富翁遊戲，柯芬特里街、特拉法加廣場和皮卡迪利圓環全都在附近。
Moving away from the historic center, London's trendy suburbs offer a different kind of story. The Portobello Road markets in Notting Hill attract thousands of visitors, especially to the antiques market that's held on Saturdays, while the edgier Camden Town features six popular markets that are open every day of the week and operate along her streets, the canal, and in her historic stables.
離開歷史中心，倫敦的潮流近郊提供不一樣的故事。諾丁丘的波多貝羅路市集吸引數千遊客，特別是週六舉辦的古董市集，而比較前衛的肯頓城有六個每天開放的特色熱門市集，沿著她的街道、運河以及在具歷史性的馬廄內營業。
London is a city that honors not only her own story but also the story of humankind. The British Museum is one of the finest in the world, and her treasures cover thousands of years of history and number in the millions. The museum is open every day, and best of all, it's free.
倫敦是座不僅頌揚她自身故事，也頌揚人類故事的城市。大英博物館是世界上最棒的博物館之一，她的館藏涵蓋數千年歷史且多達數百萬件。大英博物館每天開放，最棒的是，那是免費的。
From the ancient to the modern, the London Eye offers a complete change of pace and perspective. The massive wheel is over 400 feet high and takes 30 minutes to complete one rotation. From here, you can see the London of old as well as some of the city's newest additions, all in air-conditioned comfort.
從古代來到現代，倫敦眼提供截然不同的步調和角度。這座巨大的摩天輪高超過四百呎，而且轉完一圈要花費三十分鐘。從這裡，你可以觀賞倫敦的古老以及一些城市新添樣貌，全在冷氣吹拂的舒適中享受。
London will always be a city that looks towards the past and the future in equal measure. From "Rule, Britannia" to Cool Britannia, the fabric and the skyline of this city is forever turning over a new page—which is, after all, what every great story should do.
倫敦會永遠是座同時看向過去與未來的城市。從「統治吧，不列顛尼亞」到酷不列顛尼亞，這座城市的結構和天際線永遠在翻開嶄新一頁－－畢竟，那是每篇偉大故事都該做的。
- 「開展、開始動身」- Get Going
The story of London began in the Bronze Age, but it didn't really get going until the Romans withdrew in the fifth century.
倫敦的故事始於青銅時代，不過真正開始是到五世紀時羅馬人撤離。 - 「成熟、發達」- Come Of Age
Growing into one of the great medieval trading cities, she truly came of age in the 11th century...
逐漸發展成中世紀重要的貿易城市之一，倫敦在十一世紀時真正臻於成熟... - 「有時、偶爾」- At Times
And at times, it can feel like you're on a Monopoly board...
有時候，那可能會感覺起來像你身處大富翁遊戲... - 「與、以及」- As Well As
From here, you can see the London of old as well as some of the city's newest additions, all in air-conditioned comfort.
從這裡，你可以觀賞倫敦的古老以及一些城市新添樣貌，全在冷氣吹拂的舒適中享受。
