Palace of Westminster, London, England. By John Bermont.

INTRODUCTION

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.

Palace of Westminster
Location:	Old Palace Yard
Telephone: (TicketMaster)	0844 847 1672 (calling from the UK) +44 161 425 8677 (from outside the UK)
Hours: House of Commons Visitors Galleries:	Use St. Stephen's entrance. Monday: 14h30 - 22h30 Tuesday: 14h30 - 22h30 Wednesday: 11h30 - 19h30 Thursday: 10h30 - 18h30 Sitting Friday: 9h30 - 15h00.
Hours: House of Lords Visitors Galleries:	Use St. Stephen's entrance. Monday: 14h30 - 22h00 Tuesday: 14h30 - 22h00 Wednesday: 15h00 - 22h00 Thursday: 11h00 - 19h30 Sitting Friday: 11h00 - close of business
Cost, Audio Tour during Summer Opening:	Adults: £17.50 Seniors and students: £15.00 Children (5 - 15 years): One free with each adult and £7.00 beyond one child. Under five: free. Tours are not recommended for young children as there is a lot of walking.
Cost, Guided Tour during Summer Opening:	Adults: £25.00 Seniors and students: £20.00 Children (5 - 15 years): £10.00 Under five: free.
Disabled:	Wheelchairs are allowed, but larger models will not fit in certain areas. Escorts are allowed free entry.
Underground	Westminster
Regulations:	Cell phones must be switched off. No bags larger than an airline carry-on.
Web Site:	United Kingdom Parliament

Source: Information has been extracted from United Kingdom Parliament official web site April 2014.

MORE MUSEUMS

For similar information on other museums in Europe see the directory at Major European Museums: Travelers Portfolio™. This is a work in process.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

These pages provide additional basic information about the United Kingdom, a.k.a. The UK.

United Kingdom: Prime Travel Data.

Prime Travel Data: Elementary Travel Information for Europe.

Enjoy-Europe.com: Home page.

Recommended books for further information:

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