Palace of Westminster

About Palace of Westminster

The Palace of Westminster is the home of the UK Parliament, sitting right on the north bank of the River Thames in central London. The current building is largely Victorian, rebuilt in a Gothic Revival style after a fire destroyed most of the old medieval palace in 1834. What survived, including Westminster Hall with its vast 14th-century oak hammerbeam roof, was folded into the new design by architects Charles Barry and Augustus Pugin. The result is the long, pinnacled riverside front most people picture when they think of this part of London, with the Elizabeth Tower and its clock, usually just called Big Ben after the great bell inside, at the north end.

Inside, the palace is still a working seat of government, which shapes what you can see and when. The two debating chambers, the green House of Commons and the red House of Lords, are the heart of it, along with the lobbies, voting corridors and richly decorated rooms that connect them. Guided and self-guided visits take you through Westminster Hall, the central spaces and the chambers themselves, with the route and availability depending on whether Parliament is sitting. Because it's an active political building, access can be limited around debates and events, so arrangements are worth checking before you go.

The palace is easy to reach on foot, with Westminster underground station almost next door and Westminster Bridge giving some of the best views of the whole frontage from across the water. It pairs naturally with Westminster Abbey across the road and a walk along the Thames toward the London Eye. Entry to tour the interior is a separate, paid arrangement, and security screening applies on the way in, so leave time for that. Allow a couple of hours if you want to do a full tour rather than just photograph the exterior.