Palace of Westminster

• The Palace of Westminster, located in London, is where the Parliament of the United Kingdom meets
• It's often referred to as the Houses of Parliament, named after the House of Commons and the House of Lords
• "Westminster" is a term synonymous with the UK Parliament, the British Government, and the Westminster system of government
• The Elizabeth Tower, also known as Big Ben, is a famous London landmark
• The Palace has been a Grade I listed building since 1970
• It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987
• Originally built in the eleventh century as a royal palace
• It served as the primary residence for English kings until 1512
• A fire in 1512 led the monarch to move to the Palace of Whitehall
• Parliament of England had been meeting at the Palace since the 13th century
• A major fire in 1834 destroyed most of the Palace
• Westminster Hall, from the twelfth century, survived and was included in the rebuilt structure
• Charles Barry won the competition to design the new palace
• Barry selected a Gothic Revival style for the design
• Construction began in 1840 and lasted three decades
• Delays, cost increases, and the deaths of Barry and his assistant, Augustus Pugin, marked the construction period
• The Palace includes 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)
• Major repairs were necessary after the Second World War, especially to reconstruct the Commons chamber
• Despite ongoing conservation efforts, the Palace requires significant repairs

The Palace of Westminster in London is the meeting place for the UK Parliament. Often called the Houses of Parliament, it includes the House of Commons and House of Lords. It is a Grade I listed building and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.