House of Parliament and Big Ben, Iconic symbol of London's heritage

Houses of Parliament, London, SW1A 0AA

One of London's iconic buildings

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Introduction

Westminster Palace, also known as the Palace of Westminster, is the home of the British Parliament, located on the west bank of the River Thames, adjacent to other government buildings within the Whitehall area. The building was constructed in the Gothic Revival style and was renovated heavily in the 19th century, making it a world heritage site. The famous Big Ben clock tower is located at the northwest corner. Westminster Palace is very large, with around 1,100 individual rooms, 100 staircases, and 4.8 kilometers of corridors. Many historical artifacts from its founding are preserved in the palace, such as the Westminster Hall, which dates back to 1097 and is now used for important public ceremonies and displays for state funerals. Big Ben is the nickname for the clock tower of Westminster Palace, one of the iconic symbols of London. The clock tower is 95 meters tall, with a 9-foot diameter clock face and weighing 13.5 tons. It chimes every 15 minutes with the Westminster chimes. The clock was built in 1858 and is the largest bell in Britain, with the tower standing at least 320 feet (about 97.5 meters) tall with a minute hand measuring 14 feet (about 4.27 meters). Big Ben is hand-wound and illuminated during sessions of Parliament, chiming every hour.

Address

Houses of Parliament, London, SW1A 0AA

Opening hours

Monday 13:20-17:30, Tuesday to Friday 9:20-17:30, Saturday 9:20-16:30
Opening times vary by day of the week. The opening times for the next few months will be published on the website in advance. Please check the website in advance: http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/visiting-and-tours/tours-of-parliament/audio-tours/

Transportation

Take Jubilee Line/Circle Line/District Line and get off at Westminster Station.

Phone +44 20 7219 4272

Website http://www.parliament.uk