Palace of Westminster or Westminster Palace is the official name of the Houses of Parliament, the British parliament at the center of government of the United Kingdom. The building is a meeting place of the two houses United Kingdom, the House of Lords (the Council of Lords, the upper house) and the House of Commons (the People’s Council, the lower house). Palace of Westminster, located in central London, precisely at the Middlesex bank of the River Thames, City of Westminster, London.
Westminster Palace was once a model of a medieval castle (therefore called palace) is home to the royal family, built in the 11th century. But after experiencing severe damage caused by fires in 1512 and 1834, this palace was built and redesigned, into buildings that now stand, as the parliament building with the architectural style neo-gothic style.
Westminster Palace was rebuilt by a classical architect named Charles Barry and his assistant, Augustus Pugin (gothic style architect which later also designed the iconic city of London, Big Ben. Construction began in 1840, and take up to 30 years to complete because it has many obstacles and delay.
Because it has a high value in the field of architectural and historical, Palace of Westminster (along with Westminster Abbey and St Margaret’s Church) established as one of the world heritage site by UNESCO since 1987, and has been entered in the Listed Building * grade 1 by the UK government since 1970.
As one of the most famous landmarks in England, Palace of Westminster or now more commonly called the Houses of Parliament, became one of the places most likely to be visited by tourists. Take a photo with a background outside the building part of the Houses of Parliament is one of the usual activities. Meanwhile, the inside of the palace is not fully open to the public. Local tourist who is a citizen of the United Kingdom can take a tour around the Houses of Parliament, attended the debate, witnessed the trial, attending the parliamentary session, or climb the Big Ben clock tower.
A tour of the Houses of Parliament includes stateroom, Lords Chamber, the Commons Chamber, and Westminster Hall, and lasts for 75 minutes. While on tour for foreign tourists slightly different. For more detailed information and up to date, please check the official website of the Houses of Parliament atwww.parliament.uk.
Houses of Parliament was opened to traffic every Saturday and during the summer, which is in August, September, and October, when the MPs do their work outside. So if you’re planning to go on tour, come at these times and try to buy tickets before the H.