The Palace of Westminster is one of the symbols of London, the place where the country's government sits. Located on the banks of the Thames in the London Borough of Westminster. In 1987 the palace was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
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| Palace of Westminster |
General Information
The Palace of Westminster has 1200 rooms, 100 staircases and 5 kilometers of corridors. Anyone can observe the work of the House of Commons and the House of Lords - the premises of Parliament are open all week at different times of the day. Line up at St. Stephen's Gate and after passing through several security checkpoints, you can reach the visitor's gallery.
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| Palace of Westminster |
In August and September, when Parliament is closed, you can take a guided tour of the entire building.
Of the palace towers, the most famous clock tower is the Elizabeth Tower, most often called Big Ben, although this is actually the name of the 13-ton bell that rings in the chiming system. Big Ben is known all over the world, and the tower is a universally recognized symbol of London. Perhaps the best view of the Houses of Parliament is from the south side, from the river, and at night the illuminated towers and spiers look extremely romantic.
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| Palace of Westminster |
History
In the 11th century, Edward the Confessor built the first Palace of Westminster on the banks of the Thames. All monarchs lived here until Henry VIII, who had to move from Westminster after the fire. Since then it has housed the parliament. In 1834, the old palace burned down again, leaving only the Palace Hall and the Jewel Tower. After the fire, it was decided to rebuild the complex, and as a result, the building acquired its present appearance with the famous Gothic spiers.