The Palace of Westminster and Big Ben

No trip to London is complete without a visit to the Palace of Westminster and Big Ben - home to the Houses of Parliament

Gothic Spires of the Palace of Westminster with Westminster Bridge in the Foreground
Gothic Spires of the Palace of Westminster with Westminster Bridge in the Foreground cc licensed photo by _gee_

The Houses of Parliament and their famous the Clock Tower, properly called the Palace of Westminster, are probably the single most recognized landmark in all of London. In fact the 316 foot high Clock Tower, which is commonly refered to as Big Ben after the nickname of it's heaviest bell, is famous throughout the world. The giant bell chimes each hour while four smaller bells chime every 15 minutes.

The site of the Palace of Westminster has a rich history going back nearly 1000 years to the 11th century. While it originally served as a royal residence it has been the location for meetings of the Parliament of England since 1295. In 1834 a huge fire broke out and destroyed the majority of the complex. Two Chambers where quickly repaired in order to be used by the Houses of Lords and Commons by February of the following year. After debating different designs for rebuilding the palace it was finally decided to stay with a convservative Gothic style. Rebuilding was completed in stages between 1840 and 1870. Palace of Westminster and the famous Clock Tower were again damaged heavily by a total of 14 different bomb strikes during the course of World War II, however everything was again rebuilt and repaired after the war.

During your visit to Houses of Parliament (Palace of Westminster) you can enjoy viewing and photographing the impressive architectural details and you can enjoy the Tower Gardens, a park that runs along the Thames River next to the Palace.

Public tours are available on Saturdays and during the Summer Opening. Tickets are required. For more information see Parliamentary Tours for overseas visitors

There are many other attractions within easy walking distance of Houses of Parliament (Palace of Westminster). Some of these include Saint James's Park, Buckingham Palace, Hyde Park, Westminster Abbey, Westminster Cathedral and the Westminster Cathedral. These attractions can be nicely combined into a memorable one or two day walking tour.

Facts For Your Visit

Fee: No

Address: London SW1A 0AA, UK

Phone: 020 7219 3000

Official Website: Palace of Westminster

Reviews

Rated 4.6 out of 5 Star Rating

4 Star Rating Cold 🥶 we were invited down for the day by our MP....an opportunity not to be missed. A meet and greet session with a good question time. Lunch and then a guided tour of the Palace.....Definitely a good day out, Definitely a recommendation to visit hopefully we will return
Petter Guldner - 3 months ago

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4 Star Rating One of the main attractions of London, known throughout the world. The Palace of Westminster is one of the symbolic buildings of the capital of Great Britain. The attraction is located in the very center of the city, on the north bank of the Thames in Westminster. The palace was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Impressive details and magnificent architecture. The Palace of Westminster was only seen from the outside.
Yeiva - a month ago

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5 Star Rating Probably the most famous site in London, aside from Buckingham Palace. The tour was great and explained the history of both houses and Parliament's power in relation to the monarchy. One bonus thing was hearing Big Ben strike 12 in the courtyard outside the tour entrance, past the security checkpoint. Really neat experience and great staff!
Stephen Boyd - a month ago

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5 Star Rating An amazing experience, it was second time there and I never get tired of it. The multimedia tour is really well done, you can go at your own pace and you get the choice to dive dipper into more knowledge if you wish to do so. I spent an hour and a half doing the tour but I probably could have stayed a lot longer. From the hall, to House of Lords and the House of Commons, everything you look at, brings you to our amazing heritage and is a constant reminder that even in the darkest times of our lives we can raise back from the aches and be even greater than we were in the first place.
Ricky Laurens - 4 months ago

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4 Star Rating I enjoyed looking around Parliament. Most parts you can't take pictures which is a shame but hot a few in the parts you can.
Miah Tyllyer - 3 weeks ago

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Directions

Tube Line Nearest Station Walking Time
Circle, District and Jubilee LineWestminster2 Minutes
Northern and Bakerloo LineCharing Cross14 Minutes
Victoria LineVictoria19 Minutes

How to get to Palace of Westminster by Tube

From Westminster Station you will exit onto Bridge St. right across from Big Ben.

From Charing Cross Station walk west on Strand then bear right at Trafalger Square and head south along Whitehall St.

From Victoria Station walk east along Victoria Street.

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