Cities
United Kingdom London City of Westminster Tourist attractions

Palace of Westminster

Palace of Westminster
About

The Houses of Parliament, officially known as the Palace of Westminster, is one of the most iconic buildings in the United Kingdom. Located along the banks of the River Thames in central London, it serves as the meeting place for the two houses of the UK Parliament: the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The current Gothic Revival-style structure was largely rebuilt in the 19th century after a devastating fire in 1834 destroyed much of the original medieval palace. Designed by Sir Charles Barry and Augustus Pugin, the building features stunning architecture, intricate stonework, and magnificent interiors, including the famous Central Lobby and Westminster Hall, one of the oldest parts of the original palace, dating back to 1097. The complex also includes the Elizabeth Tower, which houses Big Ben, and the Victoria Tower, which holds the parliamentary archives. The Palace of Westminster is both a working government building and a historic site, open to visitors for guided tours when Parliament is not in session. It remains a powerful symbol of British democracy, tradition, and architectural grandeur, drawing millions of visitors every year who come to witness debates, admire the craftsmanship, or simply take in the view from across the river.

London United Kingdom
Location

The Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament, is situated in the heart of central London, along the north bank of the River Thames. Its official address is Westminster, London SW1A 0AA, in the City of Westminster, Greater London. The palace is extremely easy to reach, with Westminster Underground Station located directly across the road. This station is served by the Jubilee, District, and Circle lines, providing fast access from all parts of the city. Several London bus routes also stop nearby, and the area is well connected by footpaths and cycle lanes. The Palace is instantly recognizable by its grand Gothic architecture and towering spires, including the iconic Elizabeth Tower that houses Big Ben. Nearby, visitors can explore Westminster Abbey, just a short walk away, as well as St. James’s Park, one of London’s oldest royal parks. The London Eye is located just across the Westminster Bridge, offering a panoramic view of the Palace and central London. Also within walking distance are 10 Downing Street, Trafalgar Square, and the cultural attractions of the South Bank. Whether arriving by tube, on foot, or by boat along the Thames, the Palace of Westminster is an essential stop for anyone exploring historic and political London.

Tower Bridge Tower Bridge London Tower of London Tower of London London Buckingham Palace Buckingham Palace London The National Gallery The National Gallery London Big Ben Big Ben London Victoria and Albert Museum Victoria and Albert Museum London The London Eye The London Eye London Trafalgar Square Trafalgar Square London Tate Modern Tate Modern London British Museum British Museum London Tate Britain Tate Britain London Natural History Museum Natural History Museum London Science Museum Science Museum London Millennium Bridge Millennium Bridge London St. Paul’s Cathedral St. Paul’s Cathedral London The National Portrait Gallery The National Portrait Gallery London Covent Garden Covent Garden London Royal Opera House Royal Opera House London Neal's Yard Neal's Yard London Piccadilly Circus Piccadilly Circus London Soho Soho London Hyde Park Hyde Park London Regent's Park Regent's Park London Richmond Park Richmond Park London Kew Gardens Kew Gardens London Greenwich Park Greenwich Park London Royal Obervatory Greenwich Royal Obervatory Greenwich London Leadenhall Market Leadenhall Market London Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre London Old Royal Naval College Old Royal Naval College London Borough Market Borough Market London Camden Market Camden Market London Portobello Road Market Portobello Road Market London Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Museum London Guildhall Art Gallery Guildhall Art Gallery London William Morris Gallery William Morris Gallery London Sky Garden Sky Garden London Westminster Abbey Westminster Abbey London Kensington Palace Kensington Palace London Hampton Court Palace Hampton Court Palace London St. James's Palace St. James's Palace London Clarence House Clarence House London Imperial War Museum Imperial War Museum London Jewel Tower Jewel Tower London Museum of London Museum of London London Sir John Soane's Museum Sir John Soane's Museum London Wallace Collection Wallace Collection London Courtauld Gallery Courtauld Gallery London National Maritime Museum National Maritime Museum London Queen's House Queen's House London BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir London BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir London London The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities The Viktor Wynd Museum of Curiosities London Design Museum Design Museum London Bank of England Museum Bank of England Museum London Churchill War Rooms Churchill War Rooms London Florence Nightingale Museum Florence Nightingale Museum London Postal Museum Postal Museum London Museum of Childhood Museum of Childhood London Jewish Museum London Jewish Museum London London St James's Park St James's Park London Green Park Green Park London Hampstead Heath Hampstead Heath London Battersea Park Battersea Park London Holland Park Holland Park London National Theatre National Theatre London Barbican Centre Barbican Centre London Charles Dickens Museum Charles Dickens Museum London Brixton Academy Brixton Academy London Brick Lane Market Brick Lane Market London Columbia Road Columbia Road London Spitalfields Market Spitalfields Market London Maltby Street Market Maltby Street Market London Sherlock Holmes Museum Sherlock Holmes Museum London Madame Tussauds London Madame Tussauds London London London Dungeon London Dungeon London Hampstead Pergola Hampstead Pergola London SEA LIFE SEA LIFE London ZSL London Zoo ZSL London Zoo London Crystal Palace Park Crystal Palace Park London Dennis Severs' House Dennis Severs' House London Wilton's Music Hall Wilton's Music Hall London Electric Cinema Electric Cinema London God's Own Junkyard God's Own Junkyard London Museum of Brands Museum of Brands London Cartoon Museum Cartoon Museum London Severndroog Castle Severndroog Castle London Eltham Palace Eltham Palace London Fulham Palace Fulham Palace London Lambeth Palace Lambeth Palace London Royal Observatory Greenwich Royal Observatory Greenwich London Hampstead Observatory Hampstead Observatory London UCL Observatory UCL Observatory London Norman Fisher Observatory Norman Fisher Observatory London King’s Observatory King’s Observatory London Serpentine Gallery Serpentine Gallery London Whitechapel Gallery Whitechapel Gallery London Camden Art Centre Camden Art Centre London South London Gallery South London Gallery London The Photographers’ Gallery The Photographers’ Gallery London Goldsmiths Centre for Contemporary Art Goldsmiths Centre for Contemporary Art London Dulwich Picture Gallery Dulwich Picture Gallery London Institute of Contemporary Arts Institute of Contemporary Arts London King’s Gallery King’s Gallery London Newport Street Gallery Newport Street Gallery London

User attributes