What Is the Palace of Westminster?
The Palace of Westminster is the grand, Gothic building that houses the Parliament of the United Kingdom!
What Makes It Historical?
What is now the Palace of Westminster was built around Westminster Hall, the largest hall in Europe when it was completed under William II in 1099 CE! With thick stone walls and a unique lead and timber roof, the endurance of this hall made the Westminster area the ceremonial center of the kingdom, then the government center under King John (1199-1216), who was immortalized as the villain of The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood!
The representative system of government known as Parliament first began meeting in Westminster in 1259, using parts of the King’s palace, like the Painted Chamber and White Chamber, or Westminster Abbey! The whole palace became the home of Parliament in 1512 when Henry VIII moved out because of a fire, and in 1547, King Edward VI gave the House of Commons access to St. Stephen’s Chapel just south of Westminster Hall. Over the next three centuries, this was where MPs debated Reformation, abolition, and the very nature of the monarchy leading to the English Civil War! As Scotland joined the Union in 1707, and Ireland in 1801, medieval structures and art were cleared away to make room for new MPs. Space was getting tight until the night of October 16, 1834 when a huge fire destroyed most of the Palace!
Debate raged for a year over how to rebuild the Palace of Westminster, be it neoclassical, Elizabethan, or Gothic. After a public competition, the Royal Commission chose entry 64, the Gothic design submitted by Charles Barry! Mr. Barry predicted it would take 6 years and £724,986 to build in 1840, but it actually took more than 30 years and cost over £2 million! While the Palace was under construction, the House of Lords started work in their new chamber in 1847, while the House of Commons did the same five years later. The iconic, jeweled Elizabeth Clock Tower, and its bell, “Big Ben,” first chimed the world’s most accurate time in 1859! The Palace was damaged by bombs 14 times during World War II, as Parliament met at Church House instead, and the House of Commons was completely destroyed. Authorized by Winston Churchill and designed by Giles Gilbert Scott, the House of Commons was rebuilt between 1945 and 1950, and the completed Palace of Westminster has lined the shore of the River Thames ever since!
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Pay the entrance fee to help maintain trails, signs, structures, and other visitor services!
- Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!
How Do I Get There?
3 St Margaret St
London SW1P 3JX
United Kingdom
(Take Me There!)
When Should I Visit?
Tours run on Saturdays from 9:00 AM until 4:00 PM all year, but during Parliamentary recess, they’ll run Monday to Saturday! Visit their website to see what’s available!
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