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Houses of Parliament
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- Name:
- Houses of Parliament
- Continent:
- EUROPE
- Alt Name:
- Palace of Westminster
- Country:
- United Kingdom
- Period:
- Late Modern (1800AD-1945AD)
- Sub-Region:
- -
- Date:
- 1800AD - 1899AD
- City/Town:
- London
- Figure:
- Charles I of England
- Resorts:
- London, Watford, Epsom,
- Related:
- Jewel Tower, Cabinet War Rooms,
Museum of London, Big Ben,
about Houses of Parliament
The Houses of Parliament or 'Palace of Westminster' is where both houses of the UK Parliament are located.
Originally part of the great royal palace that had been home to English monarchs for over 500 years, Westminster Palace became the home of parliament in the 16th century after reign of King Henry VIII, when Henry moved the royal family out of the Palace of Westminster following a fire.
The monarch left the Palace of Westminster for the use of Parliament and some government offices. The House of Commons met in the choir stalls of St Stephens Chapel, the Speaker taking the place of the altar, and the government and opposition sitting on opposite sides in the choir stalls. Interestingly, there is still a line in front of the seats, being two sword lengths apart, thus keeping the two sides from killing each other in House...
The great hall of the Houses of Parliament was used for state trials including those of Sir Thomas More, William Wallace and King Charles I.
The original Westminster Palace burned down in 1834, and the building you see today is the result of the subsequent rebuilding by Sir Charles Barry and Augustus Pugin.
The iconic clock tower, housing Big Ben, is probably the most famous part of this building and the complex is a UNESCO World Heritage site.
Just as empires rise and fall so do entry fees and opening hours! While we work as hard as we can to ensure the information provided here about Houses of Parliament is as accurate as possible, the changing nature of certain elements mean we can't absolutely guarantee that these details won't become a thing of the past. If you know of any information on this page that needs updating you can add a comment above or now.
contact details
Address: Westminster Palace, St Margaret Street, London SW1A 0AA
Phone: Contact tourist office
useful information
Directions:
Visitors travelling on the London Underground can use the District, Circle or Jubilee lines to get to Westminster station.
Ticket Information:
UK residents can tour the Houses of Parliament all year by arranging a tour through their MP or a Lord or by purchasing summer tour tickets direct. Overseas visitors can only tour the Houses of Parliament during the summer (Aug, Sept, Oct). Tours last 75 minutes and run from 9.15am – 4.30pm (closed Wed/Thurs mornings). Summer tour tickets can be booked in advance or purchased on the day, though demand is high.
Local Amenities:
The Houses of Parliament are very centrally located and there are numerous cafes/shops nearby. Parking is very restricted and it is within London's Congestion Charge zone.
Links:
http://www.parliament.uk/
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