The Palace of Westminster
The Palace of Westminster, commonly known as the Houses of Parliament, is the meeting place of the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom—the House of Commons and the House of Lords. This magnificent building represents over 900 years of parliamentary tradition and democratic governance.
The current Gothic Revival palace, designed by Charles Barry with interiors by Augustus Pugin, replaced the medieval palace that was largely destroyed by fire in 1834. It remains one of the most recognisable buildings in the world.
The Palace of Westminster was the primary residence of English monarchs from the 11th century until 1512, when a fire destroyed much of the medieval complex. Henry VIII relocated the royal residence to Whitehall Palace, and Westminster became the permanent home of Parliament.
Despite no longer being a royal residence, the building retains its status as a royal palace, which is why the monarch must request permission to enter the House of Commons.
On 16 October 1834, a fire broke out when workmen burning wooden tally sticks (medieval accounting devices) overheated the furnaces beneath the House of Lords. The fire destroyed most of the medieval palace, with only Westminster Hall, the Cloisters, and the Jewel Tower surviving.
The disaster provided an opportunity to create a purpose-built parliament building, resulting in the Gothic masterpiece we see today.
The oldest surviving part of the palace, Westminster Hall was built by William II (William Rufus) in 1097. Its magnificent hammerbeam roof, added by Richard II in the 1390s, remains the largest medieval timber roof in Northern Europe.
The hall has witnessed some of history's most momentous events: the trials of William Wallace, Thomas More, and Charles I all took place here. It continues to serve as a venue for state occasions and the lying-in-state of monarchs and distinguished statesmen.
The elected chamber of Parliament, where 650 Members of Parliament debate and pass legislation. The Commons chamber, with its famous green benches, was destroyed by bombs in 1941 and rebuilt after the war. Winston Churchill insisted it remain the same intimate size to maintain the adversarial atmosphere of British debate.
The upper house features the magnificent Lords Chamber with its red leather benches and ornate golden throne from which the monarch delivers the King's Speech at the State Opening of Parliament. The chamber is considered one of the finest examples of Gothic Revival design anywhere in the world.
Address: Westminster, London SW1A 0AA
Tours: Available on Saturdays and during recesses
UK Residents: Can arrange free tours through their MP
Nearest Tube: Westminster (Jubilee, District, Circle lines)
