Description

Essentials about the Palace of Westminster in brief

The Palace of Westminster is an absolute must-see attraction when visiting London. Picturesquely located on the banks of the Thames, almost everyone knows the monumental neo-Gothic palace from photos or from television, as the two houses of the British Parliament, the House of Commons and the House of Lords, sit here. For this reason, Westminster Palace is often referred to as the Houses of Parliament. Together with the adjacent Westminster Abbey and St. Margaret’s Church, the Palace of Westminster has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.

The history and parts of the Palace of Westminster

The oldest surviving parts of the palace are Westminster Hall from 1097 and the Jewel Tower from the end of the 14th century. Originally, the palace served as the residence of English kings, but no monarch has lived there since 1529. Hardly anything of the original palace remains, as the building was almost completely destroyed in a devastating fire in 1834. Probably the most famous part of the palace is the clock tower, officially named Elizabeth Tower since 2012, which is more commonly known as Big Ben. The most important and famous rooms of Westminster Palace are the council chambers of the House of Commons and the House of Lords. In addition, there are around 1,100 other rooms in the sprawling complex, such as meeting rooms, libraries, dining rooms, bars and even gymnasiums.

Visiting the Palace of Westminster

The interior of the Palace of Westminster is not freely accessible, but there are several options for viewing: UK citizens can reserve tickets for the public visitor galleries from their constituency MP to watch debates in the House of Commons or the House of Lords. Both UK residents and those from other countries can queue at the visitors’ entrance in the morning before the start of each parliamentary debate to get a ticket. However, due to the limited number of tickets, there is no guarantee of admission. In addition, UK citizens can request a ticket from their constituency MP for one of the few tours during Parliament’s sitting hours. Foreign citizens can also visit Westminster Palace on a guided tour, either on Saturday during session time or during the week during the two-month summer session recess (usually in August and September).

Website

parliament.uk

Opening hours

During Parliament’s sessions, guided tours only take place on Saturdays and, during the period when sittings are not in progress, from Monday to Friday.

Admission fees

Adults: £28.00

Concessions: £23.00

Children (Ages 5 – 15): £12.00

Small children (Ages 4 and under): free

There is a discount for the early booking of guided tours. See the website for more information.

Address

Getting there

By public transport:

Circle, District and Jubilee line: Stop Westminster

Bus lines 3, 12, 24, 87, 88, 211, 748, N3, N11, N44, N87, N135, N136 and N155: Stop Parliament Square

Bus lines 12, 24, 748 and N155: Stop Westminster Station Parliament Square

Bus line 211: Stop Westminster Station Bridge Street

Bus lines 3, 87, N3 and N87: Stop Abingdon Street

By car:

The nearest parking garage is Q-Park Westminster.