Palace of Westminster

The elaborate Palace of Westminster is home to both houses of the Parliament of the UK - the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

The palace dates back to 1097, when the oldest part of the complex, Westminster Hall, was built. It was used as the primary residence of the Kings of England back then. In the 16th century, it was destroyed by fire and after that, it became the seat of the Parliament of England and the Royal Courts of Justice. The complex was destroyed again by fire in 1834 and the only original structures to survive were Westminster Hall, the Cloisters of St Stephen's, the Chapel of St Mary Undercroft, and the Jewel Tower.

The following reconstruction was executed by Charles Barry who redesigned the palace in the Gothic Revival Style you can admire today. The building is an outstanding example of Neo-Gothic architecture and it was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.

Apart from the regular audio and guided tours (which are offered in several languages), a special tour (English only) which is adjusted for children is offered as well so do not hesitate to take your whole family with you.

Since it is such an iconic London sight, you might remember the Palace appearing in many films and TV series (e.g. V for Vendetta or Sherlock).