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Palace of Westminster
Houses of Parliament
London, England

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A page from Enjoy-Europe.com by John Bermont

The Palace of Westminister, usually referred to as simply Westminster, is the home of the Houses of Parliament, more or less equivalent to the American Congress. Parliament consists of the House of Commons and the House of Lords. The Lords are mostly inherited titles. The members of Commons are elected. They in turn chose the Prime Minister who is the leader of the government.

The palace dates from the reign of William I, a.k.a. William the Conqueror. He and his Norman army from France invaded and beat the native Anglo-Saxons in 1066 AD. The Hall is the oldest surviving part of the Palace, having been in use for over 900 years. Westminster Palace was the home of the British monarch until the early 1500s. Guy Fawkes and fellow Catholics attempted to blow up Westminister in the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. He and his fellows were convicted of treason, hanged, drawn, and quartered. That's a triple execution for sure. Later in 1834 the Palace burned to its foundations and was subsequently rebuilt in the ensuing decades. The next big damage was brought on by German bombs in World War Two, and it was rebuilt again.

The most notable feature of Westminster at its north end is the clock tower, housing the huge bell "Big Ben" and its accompanying clock, 316 feet in the air. The sound of this bell is known to people around the world thanks to BBC radio.

From the Parliament website:
During the Summer Opening, UK residents and overseas visitors can buy tickets to tour Parliament. It is arranged during the summer recess, when Parliament does not sit and Members work away from Westminster. Tours run from Monday to Saturday inclusive, but not on Sunday or Bank Holidays. Tours take about 75 minutes. The 2007 opening will be from 31 July to 3 October.

Houses of Parliament
Location:	Old Palace Yard
Telephone:	+44 (0) 870 906 3773
Hours for House of Commons Visitors Galleries:	Use St. Stephen's entrance. Stand in line two hours. Monday: 14h30 – 22h30 Tuesday: 14h30 – 22h30 Wednesday: 11h30 – 19h30 Thursday: 10h30 – 18h30 Sitting Friday: 9h30 – 15h00
Hours for House of Lords Visitors Galleries:	Use St. Stephen's entrance. Stand in line two hours. Monday: 14h30 – 22h00 Tuesday: 14h30 - 22h00 Wednesday: 15h00 - 22h00 Thursday: 11h00 – 19h30 Sitting Friday: from 11h00 – close of business
Cost during Summer Opening:	Adults: £12 Family: £30 for a family ticket (max 2 adults) Seniors and students: £8 Children: £5 for children (5 – 15 years) Under five: free. Tours are not recommended for young children as there is a lot of walking.
Disabled:	Wheelchairs are allowed, but larger models will not fit in certain areas.
Underground, "Tube"	Westminster
Regulations:	No photography. Cell phones must be switched off. No bags larger than an airline carry-on.

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Recommended books for further information:

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Books about Westminster Palace and the Houses of Parliament
The Palace of Westminster by Sir Robert Cooke
The Houses of Parliament: A Guide to the Palace of Westminster by Bryan H. Fell and Kenneth R. MacKenzie
Westminster Kings and the Mediaeval Palace of Westminster (British Museum Occasional Papers) by John F. Cherry and Neil Strafford
The Houses of Parliament: An illustrated guide to the Palace of Westminster by Bryan H Fell

Posters and Prints
New Palace of Westminster from the River Thames Art Giclee Poster Print by David Roberts, 16x12
New Palace of Westminster from the River Thames Art Giclee Poster Print by David Roberts, 56x42
Palace of Westminster London, V Day Celebrations, End of WW2 in Europe, May 1945 Photographic Poster Print by Mirrorpix, 32x24

Guidebooks
Great Britain (Eyewitness Travel Guides)
Scotland (Eyewitness Travel Guides)
Michelin Red Guide 2007 Great Britian & Ireland: Hotels & Restaurants
Michelin Red Guide 2007 London
Michelin the Green Guide Great Britain
Michelin the Green Guide Scotland
Michelin the Green Guide Wales
Lonely Planet Wales
Lonely Planet London
London (Eyewitness Travel Guides)

Maps

Michelin Great Britain Ireland Map
Michelin Scotland Regional Map
Lonely Planet City Map London
Pocket Map and Guide London (Eyewitness Travel Guides)
London A-Z (Street Atlas)

History

The Holy Blood: King Henry III and the Westminster Blood Relic (Hardcover) by Nicholas Vincent
Bill Nye's History of England: From the Druids to the Reign of Henry (Paperback) by Bill Nye
Instant European History: From the French Revolution to the Cold War (Paperback) by Robert P. Libbon

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Keywords for this chapter:

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London, England

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