The original do-it-yourself travel guide to Europe SM

Palace of Westminster
Houses of Parliament
London, England

The Houses of Parliament.

A page of the Travelers Portfolio TM section from enjoy-europe.com with John Bermont


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The Palace of Westminster, 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.

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,
"The Tube"
Westminster
Regulations: No photography.
Cell phones must be switched off.
No bags larger than an airline carry-on.
Note: Information extracted from United Kingdom Parliament web site January 2010.


Affiliates
London Sightseeing visit
50 London Attractions
1 Ticket
The London Pass
1 ticket - 600 attractions
Nearly 600 UK attractions
for one low price!

Recommended books for further information:

The links below take you directly to a page at Amazon.com with details about the book. In many cases the Amazon.com listing includes readers' comments and sample pages from the book. You then have the opportunity to add the book to your shopping cart and buy it. I buy virtually all of my books at Amazon.com and have had excellent service for years.

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

Guide Books
  Great Britain (Eyewitness Travel Guides)
  Scotland (Eyewitness Travel Guides)
  Michelin Red Guide London 2011: Hotels & Restaurant
  Michelin the Green Guide Great Britain
  Michelin the Green Guide Scotland
  Michelin the Green Guide Wales
  Lonely Planet Wales
  Lonely Planet England
  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


This is a great pocket map of London.
Streetwise London Map - Laminated City Street Map
Streetwise London
Laminated City Street Map


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Have a good trip in life,
John Bermont



Who is John Bermont?

Home and general index.
Table of Contents
HOW TO EUROPE
The Complete Travelers Handbook

All of the text, updated to July 2011, is available on line, FREE. Updated photographs with captions are available on line for those chapters as noted "with illustrations."
The entire book, copyright 2003, can be purchased by clicking Amazon.com.
Chapter 1, with illustrations.
What's It All About?
In Europe, Travel Like a Native


Chapter 2
On Budget in Europe
Travel Costs


Chapter 3
Passport and Visas
Identity and Travel Documents for Europe


Chapter 4
Flying to Europe
Travel Starts at the Airport


Chapter 5
What to Wear in Europe
Travel Clothes for all Occasions


Chapter 6
Your Packing List for Europe
A Short List for Travelers


Chapter 7
Luggage for Europe
Let It Roll


Chapter 8
Cash, ATMs, Credit Cards
Travel Money in Europe


Chapter 9
Your Travel Diary of Europe
Notes Supplement Your Photos


Chapter 10
Europe Guide Books and Maps
Travel in Europe with a Good Guide Book


Chapter 11
Electricity in Europe
Travel Voltage Fundamentals


Chapter 12, with illustrations.
Photography in Europe
Travel with Your Camera


Chapter 13
Bring a Smile
Travel Europe in Good Attitude


Chapter 14
European Hotels, Hostels, B&Bs, and Private Homes
Sleep Options for Travel in Europe


Chapter 15
Eating In Europe
Travel on Your Belly


Chapter 16
City Transport in Europe
Travel by Bus, Streetcar, Subway, Taxi, Bike, and Shoe Leather


Chapter 17, part 1,
with illustrations.
Trains in Europe
Travel Europe by Train, Bus, and Ferry


Chapter 17, part 2,
with illustrations.
European Rail Stations
Travel Europe by Train


Chapter 17, part 3,
with illustrations.
Night Trains in Europe
City to City While You Sleep


Chapter 17, part 4,
with illustrations.
Europe's Bus and Ship Services
Hit the Road or Take a Ferry


Chapter 18, with illustrations.
Driving in Europe
Travel by Car, Van, or Motorcycle


Chapter 19, part 1
Telephoning to, from, and within Europe
City Codes, 10-10, telephone cards, cell phones, PTT


Chapter 19, part 2
Sending Snail Mail to & from Europe
Air Mail, Priority Mail, PTT, Poste Restante, Amex


Chapter 19, part 3
Internet and Email in Europe
Cyber Cafes, Keyboards, Password, Your Laptop


Chapter 19, part 4
Telegrams
Wiring Cash and Keeping in Touch


Chapter 20
Health and Safety in Europe
Travel in Confidence but with Caution


Chapter 21
Working in Europe
Travel for Free


Chapter 22, part 1
Moving to Europe
Travel to the Max as an Expatriate


Chapter 22, part 2
Living in Europe
Travel to the Max as an Expatriate


Chapter 23, with illustrations.
Shopping in Europe
Buy Your Souvenirs, Gifts, and Stuff You Can't Live Without


Chapter 24
Shipping Your Treasures Home from Europe
Travelers Have a Number of Options


Chapter 25
Passing Customs in Europe
Know the Rules When Crossing Borders


Chapter 26
European Languages, Numbers, Alphabets
Encounter The Tower of Babel in Europe


Chapter 27
Metric System in Europe
Travel with Grams, Meters, Liters, and Celsius


Chapter 28
Time and Dates in Europe
Travel in a Different Time Zone


Chapter 29
Weather in Europe
Travel with Your Umbrella


Chapter 30
Melding with Europe
Travel Is Interesting and Entertaining




The Finale
Packing List and Last Call
For Travel In Europe
Learn the basic infrastructure:

Prime Travel Data
Elementary Travel Information for Europe
Austria
Belgium
Czech Republic
Denmark
Finland

France
Germany
Greece
Ireland
Italy
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Norway
Portugal
Slovakia
Spain
Sweden
Switzerland
United Kingdom

Utilize John Bermont's exclusive:

TRAVELERS YELLOW PAGES
A Directory of Links to Products, Services, and Information
Airlines to Europe
National Tourist Offices
City Tourist Offices
City Information and Tours
Country Information and Tours
Luggage and Backpacks
Discount Air Travel
Villas and Homes for Rent
Hostels in Europe
Hotels in Europe
Auto Rental in Europe
Rail Services of Europe
Eclectic Travel Sites
Internet Search Engines
Photography
Guide Books for Europe
Educational Programs
Newsletters from Europe
Personal Travel Pages
Personal Trip Planning

Get open hours, costs, locations, and more:

Travelers Portfolio
Essential Visitors Information for the Top Sights of Europe
       Amsterdam       
Anne Frank Huis
Rijksmuseum
Van Gogh Museum
       London       
British Museum
Buckingham Palace
National Gallery
Natural History Museum
Palace of Westminster
St. Paul's Cathedral
Tower of London
Westminster Abbey
       Paris coming soon       
Arc de Triomphe
Tour Eiffel
Hôtel des Invalides
Musée de l'Armée
Opera
Montmarte
Cathédrale Notre Dame
Musée d'Orsay
Musée du Louvre

Exchange rates, weather, maps:

Up-To-The-Minute
Be informed before you go.
       Money Exchange
Currency exchange rates, including the euro, British pound, Swiss Frank.
       Weather in Europe
Current European weather conditions and forecasts. Good luck.
    Maps and Time Zones
Free online maps of Europe. Guide to setting your watch ahead.

Captioned photos from Europe

PhotoLog
Pictures of what we do in Europe.
       Queen's Day
Holland hosts a great one-day party, annually on April 30. Here is the action in Haarlem and Amsterdam.
       Keukenhof
A beautiful huge tulip garden blooms during middle spring. We made a leisurely bike ride from Haarlem.
       Bull Flight
My daughter Stephanie enters the ring and encounters a baby bull in Spain, then flies for her life!
O hey Europe Stephanie's Blog. A 22 year old spends a month in Paris, with a weekend diversion to La Baule on the Atlantic coast.

Didn't find what you need yet?
Google It !!
 

Copyright
Internet edition
© 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007 James J. Broad
All rights reserved. Tous droits réservés.
This is copyrighted material. Do not reproduce, copy, plagiarize, store, modify, extract,
transmit, or purloin any part of this publication in any nation in any form or by any means
or for any purpose whatsoever without permission in writing.
Webmasters:
You may link the URL http://www.enjoy-europe.com/portfolio/westminsterpalace.htm freely. Please do. When you link please send the URL for your linking page and a crosslink will be installed in one of the categories of the TRAVELERS YELLOW PAGES to your site if it has significant content for travelers in Europe.

Travelers:
You may print one copy of this chapter for your personal use. To order the complete book with all of the captioned photographs see the next section below.

Permissions:
If you want to copy any of this material to your web site, book, article, or term paper please ask first. Note that plagiarism includes paraphrasing text and even copying ideas. Everything on this page is original. Students, professors, journalists, and writers are outed almost every day, caught stealing the works of others and presenting it as their own work. Then they make excuses when caught. Then they are thrown out of school or fired, or they run for Vice President when they get away with it. At least one other travel writer has plagiarized heavily from my work, claiming and getting credit for writing a few dozen books every year. Some of his books have included my work for years on end, without credit. For honorable people, permissions are freely granted so you don't need to steal and lie. Just say where you found the information and ideas. For permissions contact: johnbermont@enjoy-europe.com.

Privacy Policy:
No personal information is collected when you visit this site. To read the complete privacy policy go to Privacy Policy.

Site Map:
To see everything on this site in one compact listing go to Site Map


Buy it here:

The original
do-it-yourself
travel guide to
Europe.
SM


470 pages
7" x 10" softcover
345 b/w photos
Last Call checklists
and detailed index
© 2003
ISBN 0-940792-69-9
$28.50


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The cover of How To Europe shows the interior of Centraal Station in Antwerp, Belgium.

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HOW TO EUROPE
The Complete Travelers Handbook
2011 — Our 29th Anniversary!


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FLAGS of EUROPE

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Keywords for this chapter:
palace of westminster
london england
houses of parliament
house of commons
house of lords
big ben