Palace of Westminster: UK Parliament

• The Palace of Westminster, located in London, is where the Parliament of the United Kingdom meets.
• It is often called the Houses of Parliament, referring to the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
• "Westminster" is a metonym for the UK Parliament, the British Government, and the Westminster system of government.
• The Elizabeth Tower, nicknamed Big Ben, is a London and UK landmark.
• The palace has been a Grade I listed building since 1970 and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.
• It was originally built in the eleventh century as a royal palace.
• It served as the primary royal residence until 1512, when a fire destroyed the royal apartments.
• The monarch moved to the Palace of Whitehall, but the remainder of the palace continued to house the Parliament of England, which had met there since the 13th century.
• A second, larger fire destroyed most of the palace in 1834, but the twelfth-century Westminster Hall was saved.
• Charles Barry won the competition to design the new palace, choosing a Gothic Revival style.
• Construction began in 1840 and lasted 30 years, facing delays, cost overruns, and the deaths of Barry and his assistant, Augustus Pugin.
• The palace includes chambers for the House of Commons, House of Lords, and the monarch.
• The palace has a floor area of 112,476 m2 (1,210,680 sq ft).
• Extensive repairs were needed after World War II, including rebuilding the Commons chamber.
• The palace is in urgent need of major repairs despite further conservation work.

The Palace of Westminster in London hosts the UK Parliament. Also known as the Houses of Parliament, it includes the House of Commons and House of Lords. This Grade I listed building and UNESCO site has evolved from a royal palace to a key government center.