Palace of Westminster: History and Parliament

• The Palace of Westminster is where the Parliament of the United Kingdom meets, situated in London.
• Often called the Houses of Parliament, it houses the House of Commons and House of Lords.
• "Westminster" is a term used to refer to the UK Parliament and British Government.
• The Elizabeth Tower, or Big Ben, is a famous London landmark.
• The Palace of Westminster has been a Grade I listed building since 1970.
• It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.
• Originally built in the 11th century, it served as a royal palace.
• It was the primary home for the kings of England until a fire in 1512.
• The monarch relocated to the Palace of Whitehall after the fire.
• Parliament has been meeting at the Palace of Westminster since the 13th century.
• A large fire in 1834 destroyed most of the palace.
• Westminster Hall, dating back to the 12th century, was preserved
• Charles Barry won the competition to design the new palace.
• Barry selected a Gothic Revival style for the rebuilt palace.
• Construction began in 1840 and lasted three decades.
• The construction phase faced delays, cost issues, and the deaths of the architect and his assistant, Augustus Pugin.
• The palace contains chambers for the House of Commons, House of Lords, and the monarch.
• It has a floor area of 112,476 m2 (1,210,680 sq ft).
• Post-World War II, extensive repairs were necessary, which included rebuilding the Commons chamber.
• The palace is in dire need of extensive repairs, despite previous conservation efforts.

Explore the Palace of Westminster, home to the UK Parliament. Learn about its history from royal palace to parliamentary meeting place since the 13th century. Discover key facts about this Grade I listed building and UNESCO World Heritage Site.