Palace of Westminster - Culture and tourism

The Palace of Westminster, known also as the Houses of Parliament, is where the two Houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom (the House of Lords and the House of Commons) conduct their sittings. The Palace lies on the north bank of the River Thames in the London borough of the City of Westminster, close by other government buildings in Whitehall. The 1097. The palace originally served as a royal residence, but no monarch has lived in it since the 16th century. Most of the present structure dates from the 19th centu ...

Including:

• Palace of Westminster - History
• Palace of Westminster - Exterior
• Palace of Westminster - Stonework
• Palace of Westminster - Towers
• Palace of Westminster - Grounds
• Palace of Westminster - Interior
• Palace of Westminster - Lords Chamber
• Palace of Westminster - Commons Chamber
• Palace of Westminster - Westminster Hall
• Palace of Westminster - Other rooms
• Palace of Westminster - Security
• Palace of Westminster - Culture and tourism
• Palace of Westminster - External link

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The exterior of the Palace of Westminster—especially the Clock Tower—is one of the most visited tourist attractions in London. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) classifies the Palace of Westminster as a World Heritage Site. It is also a Grade I listed building. There is no casual access to the interior, but it may be seen in a number of ways: Viewing debates from the public galleries of the House of Commons or the House of Lords: UK residents may obtain tickets in advance fr ...

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Palace of Westminster, Palace of Westminster - History, Palace of Westminster - Exterior, Palace of Westminster - Stonework, Palace of Westminster - Towers, Palace of Westminster - Grounds, Palace of Westminster - Interior, Palace of Westminster - Lords Chamber, Palace of Westminster - Commons Chamber, Palace of Westminster - Westminster Hall, Palace of Westminster - Other rooms, Palace of Westminster - Security, Palace of Westminster - Culture and tourism, Palace of Westminster - External link

Read more here: » Palace of Westminster: Encyclopedia II - Palace of Westminster - Culture and tourism

The Palace of Westminster includes approximately 1,100 rooms, 100 staircases, and 3 miles (5 km) of passageways. The building includes four floors; the ground floor includes offices, dining rooms, and bars. The first floor houses the principal rooms of the Palace, including the Chambers, the lobbies, and the libraries. The Robing Room, the Royal Gallery, the Prince's Chamber, the Lords' Chamber, the Peers' Lobby, the Central Lobby, the Members' Lobby, and the Commons' Chamber all lie in a straight line from south to north, in the order noted. (Westminster Hall lies to a side at the Commons end of the Palace.) The top tw ...

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Palace of Westminster, Palace of Westminster - History, Palace of Westminster - Exterior, Palace of Westminster - Stonework, Palace of Westminster - Towers, Palace of Westminster - Grounds, Palace of Westminster - Interior, Palace of Westminster - Lords Chamber, Palace of Westminster - Commons Chamber, Palace of Westminster - Westminster Hall, Palace of Westminster - Other rooms, Palace of Westminster - Security, Palace of Westminster - Culture and tourism, Palace of Westminster - External link

Read more here: » Palace of Westminster: Encyclopedia II - Palace of Westminster - Interior

Sir Charles Barry's design for the Palace of Westminster uses the Perpendicular Gothic style, which was originally popular during the 15th century and returned during the Gothic revival of the 19th century. Barry was himself a classical architect, but he was aided by the Gothic architect Augustus Pugin. Westminster Hall, which was built in the 11th century and survived the fire of 1834, was incorporated in Barry's design. Pugin was displeased with the result of the work, especially with the symmetrical layout designed by Barry; he famously remarked, "All Grecian, sir; Tudor details on a classic body." < ...

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Palace of Westminster, Palace of Westminster - History, Palace of Westminster - Exterior, Palace of Westminster - Stonework, Palace of Westminster - Towers, Palace of Westminster - Grounds, Palace of Westminster - Interior, Palace of Westminster - Lords Chamber, Palace of Westminster - Commons Chamber, Palace of Westminster - Westminster Hall, Palace of Westminster - Other rooms, Palace of Westminster - Security, Palace of Westminster - Culture and tourism, Palace of Westminster - External link

Read more here: » Palace of Westminster: Encyclopedia II - Palace of Westminster - Exterior

The Palace of Westminster was strategically important during the Middle Ages, as it was located on the banks of the River Thames. Buildings have occupied the site since at least Saxon times. Known in mediæval times as Thorney Island, the site may have been first used for a royal residence by Canute the Great (reigned 1016 to 1035). The penultimate Saxon monarch of England, St Edward the Confessor, built a royal palace in Thorney Island just west of the City of London at about the same time as he built Westminster Abbey (1045 to 1050). Thorn ...

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Palace of Westminster, Palace of Westminster - History, Palace of Westminster - Exterior, Palace of Westminster - Stonework, Palace of Westminster - Towers, Palace of Westminster - Grounds, Palace of Westminster - Interior, Palace of Westminster - Lords Chamber, Palace of Westminster - Commons Chamber, Palace of Westminster - Westminster Hall, Palace of Westminster - Other rooms, Palace of Westminster - Security, Palace of Westminster - Culture and tourism, Palace of Westminster - External link

Read more here: » Palace of Westminster: Encyclopedia II - Palace of Westminster - History

The Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod oversees security for the House of Lords, whilst the Serjeant-at-Arms does the same for the House of Commons. These officers, however, have primarily ceremonial roles outside the actual chambers of their respective Houses. Security is the responsibility of the Palace of Westminster Division of the Metropolitan Police, the police force for the Greater London area. Probably the most famous attempt to breach the security of the Palace of Westminster occurred with the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. The plot w ...

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Palace of Westminster, Palace of Westminster - History, Palace of Westminster - Exterior, Palace of Westminster - Stonework, Palace of Westminster - Towers, Palace of Westminster - Grounds, Palace of Westminster - Interior, Palace of Westminster - Lords Chamber, Palace of Westminster - Commons Chamber, Palace of Westminster - Westminster Hall, Palace of Westminster - Other rooms, Palace of Westminster - Security, Palace of Westminster - Culture and tourism, Palace of Westminster - External link

Read more here: » Palace of Westminster: Encyclopedia II - Palace of Westminster - Security