Built in the 10th century, Westminster Abbey was undergoing rebuilding and restoration in the 1800s, but was still used for coronations of monarchs. The building is actually no longer an abbey nor a cathedral but has a special status as a church responsible directly to the sovereign. It still hosts royal weddings.The new ‘Assassin’s Creed Syndicate’ video game moves the popular series into more modern times: Victorian-era London. The cinematic game includes many famous London landmarks, including St. Paul’s Cathedral, which was the tallest building in London during the 1860s.Historically, the Southwark neighborhood south of the Thames housed markets, the original Globe Theatre, and the first railway area for London. It also was the site of several major fires.In the 1860s, the Westminster area was home to many historical landmarks and attractions but also abject poverty, making it a hotbed of class strife. Parliament still looms mightily over the Thames today as the Westminster Bridge spans the river.Whitechapel in London’s East End was home to immigrants and the working class. Its claim to infamy rose when the Whitechapel Murders of 11 women occurred between 1888 and 1891 — crimes later attributed to Jack the Ripper.Used as a prison for much of its history, the Tower of London also served as the home of the Crown Jewels of England. The structures remain the ceremonial home of the royal Regiment of Fusillers, and a Queen’s Guard still protects the tower.The famous Big Ben clock tower was only a few decades old in the 1860s. The name Big Ben actually refers to the bell inside and not the clock or the tower, which was renamed Elizabeth Tower in 2012 to celebrate Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee. It remains one of the world’s most famous tourist attractions.During the 19th century, the Thames River was used primarily as a central artery for barges and boats. Back then it also served as a receptacle for the city’s raw sewage.
