Once the home of the royal family and still officially a royal palace, the Palace of Westminster, is better known as the Houses of Parliament. Together with its famous clock tower known as Big Ben which rises nearly 330 ft and contains a 13 ton bell that strikes the hour, it has long been one of London's most famous sights.
Parliament officially remains a royal palace and is still referred to as the Palace of Westminster. The site was used as a royal residence until Henry VIII moved out in 1512 and transferred his court to the Palace of Whitehall.
Westminster Hall began in 1078, with its magnificent hammer-beamed roof, together with a small crypt chapel and the Jewel Tower (across the road from parliament) are the only buildings to survive from the old palace. The hall has been witness to several notable trials, including that of Sir William Wallace (1305), Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot conspirators (1606) and King Charles I accused of treason against Parliament(1649).
Today the hall is often used for important State occasions such as the Queen's Golden Jubilee in 2002 and the lying-in-State of the late Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.
The Houses of Parliament, as we know them today, were rebuilt after a fire in 1834, which almost destroyed the ancient, old palace. The new building by Architect Charles Barry, was created in Gothic style and incorporated Westminster Hall and the remains of St Stephen's Chapel.
The Public Gallery is open to the public free of charge when the House is sitting, which is usually:
14.30 - 22.30 on Mondays
14.30 - 22.30 on Tuesdays
11.30 - 19.30 on Wednesdays
10.30 - 18.30 on Thursdays
09.30 - 15.00 on Fridays, when the House is sitting.
During the Summer Opening, UK residents and overseas visitors can buy tickets to tour Parliament.
Location: Westminster, London SW1A 0AA
Nearest tube: Westminster.
website: www.parliament.uk
